Going Postal: David Suchet Biography

David Suchet is one of Britain’s most recognisable and distinguished actors. He trained at LAMDA and began his career at the Watermill Theatre, before joining the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1973. In his time with the RSC, Suchet played many iconic roles including the villains Iago in Othello, Tybalt in Romeo and Juliet and Caliban in The Tempest.

Suchet is perhaps best known for his portrayal of Belgian detective Hercule Poirot; a role he has played for 20 years in ITV’s adaptations of Agatha Christie’s novels. Throughout his long and varied career on screen, Suchet has portrayed a range of other characters including Augsutus Melmotte in the critically acclaimed The Way We Live Now, and a depiction of the fallen press baron Robert Maxwell in Maxwell on BBC2. It was for this role that Suchet won an Emmy®, adding to the many awards and nominations he has received throughout his career.

Returning to the stage in 1998, Suchet played ageing composer Antonio Salieri in Peter Shaffer’s Amadeus, first in London and then on Broadway, receiving Laurence Olivier and Tony award nominations for his role. This year will see Suchet play Joe Keller in Howard Davies’ revival of Arthur Miller’s All My Sons in the West End.

In 2002, David Suchet was awarded an OBE for his services to drama.

SELECTED CREDITS

Television
2007        Robert Maxwell, MAXWELL, BBC
2006        Abraham Val Helsing, DRACULA, Granada
2003        Cardinal Wolsey, HENRY VIII, ITV
2001        Augustus Melmotte, THE WAY WE LIVE NOW, BBC
1999        Louis B Mayer, RKO 281, HBO
1989-2010    Hercule Poirot, AGATHA CHRISTIE’S POIROT, Carnival Films/LWT
1985        Blott, BLOTT ON THE LANDSCAPE, BBC
1985        Steve Dyer, A SONG FOR EUROPE, Channel 4 Films
1984        Sigmund Freud, FREUD, BBC

Stage
2010        Joe Keller, ALL MY SONS, Apollo Theatre
2007        Cardinal Benelli, THE LAST CONFESSION, Theatre Royal, Haymarket
1998-2000    Antonio Salieri, AMADEUS, The Old Vic/Broadway
1996        George, WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF, Aldwych Theatre
1993        John, OLEANNA, Royal Court Theatre/West End
1986        Iago, OTHELLO, RSC
1979        Angelo, MEASURE FOR MEASURE, RSC
1978        Shylock, THER MECHANT OF VENICE, RSC
1978        Caliban, THE TEMPEST, RSC
1978        Sir Nathanial, LOVE’S LABOUR’S LOST, RSC
1974        Pisanio, CYMBELINE, RSC
1973        Tybalt,     ROMEO AND JULIET, RSC