Michael Smiley
Encyclopedia
Michael Smiley is a British comic
and actor
currently living in England
.
, and moved to London
in his 20s with his wife. He became well-known for his role as Tyres O'Flaherty the bicycle riding raver in two episodes of Simon Pegg
and Jessica Stevenson
's television series Spaced
, and for his appearances at the Edinburgh Fringe
and the Melbourne Comedy Festival. He also played Jordan, a former member of the British Army
's Parachute Regiment in the 2008 horror film Outpost
as well as a zombie in Shaun of the Dead
.
He began doing stand-up in 1993, after accepting a bet at an open-mic night. He had worked previously as a cycle courier (like his character in Spaced
, Tyres O'Flaherty) and as a DJ.
In 2003, he guest starred in the Doctor Who
audio drama Creatures of Beauty
. In 2004 he appeared in season 2, episode 4 of Hustle
as Max the forger. He also was a small character in episode 2 "The Model" of 15 Storeys High
.
He has also appeared in all three series of The Maltby Collection
on Radio 4 as Des Wainwright, an eccentric security Guard who keeps repeating himself and reminding people he was in the SAS. He is presently playing the part of Benny "Deadhead" Silver in the BBC drama series Luther
.
He appears as "Smiley" in the latest Betfair
"Front Room" adverts.
In 2010 he had a major role in the film Burke & Hare
, also starring Pegg and Stevenson (now Hynes after her marriage).
He is married to the journalist and broadcaster Miranda Sawyer
.
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
and actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
currently living in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Biography
Smiley was born in 1963 in BelfastBelfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, and moved to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in his 20s with his wife. He became well-known for his role as Tyres O'Flaherty the bicycle riding raver in two episodes of Simon Pegg
Simon Pegg
Simon Pegg is an English actor, comedian, writer, film producer, and director. He is best known for having co-written and stared in various Edgar Wright features, mainly Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, and the comedy series Spaced.He also portrayed Montgomery "Scotty" Scott in the 2009 Star Trek film...
and Jessica Stevenson
Jessica Stevenson
Jessica Hynes is an English actress and writer. She was known professionally as Jessica Stevenson until 2007.She is possibly best known as one of the creators, writers and stars of the British sitcom Spaced....
's television series Spaced
Spaced
Spaced is a British television sitcom written by and starring Simon Pegg and Jessica Stevenson, and directed by Edgar Wright. It is noted for its rapid-fire editing, frequent pop culture references and jokes, eclectic music, and occasional displays of surrealism and non-sequitur humour...
, and for his appearances at the Edinburgh Fringe
Edinburgh Fringe
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is the world’s largest arts festival. Established in 1947 as an alternative to the Edinburgh International Festival, it takes place annually in Scotland's capital, in the month of August...
and the Melbourne Comedy Festival. He also played Jordan, a former member of the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
's Parachute Regiment in the 2008 horror film Outpost
Outpost (film)
-Plot:In a seedy bar in a town ravaged by war, scientist and businessman Hunt hires mercenary and former Royal Marine D.C. to assemble a crack team of ex-soldiers to protect him on a dangerous journey into no-man's land...
as well as a zombie in Shaun of the Dead
Shaun of the Dead
Shaun of the Dead is a 2004 British zombie comedy directed by Edgar Wright, starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, and written by Pegg and Wright. Pegg plays Shaun, a man attempting to get some kind of focus in his life as he deals with his girlfriend, his mother and stepfather...
.
He began doing stand-up in 1993, after accepting a bet at an open-mic night. He had worked previously as a cycle courier (like his character in Spaced
Spaced
Spaced is a British television sitcom written by and starring Simon Pegg and Jessica Stevenson, and directed by Edgar Wright. It is noted for its rapid-fire editing, frequent pop culture references and jokes, eclectic music, and occasional displays of surrealism and non-sequitur humour...
, Tyres O'Flaherty) and as a DJ.
In 2003, he guest starred in the Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
audio drama Creatures of Beauty
Creatures of Beauty
Creatures of Beauty is a Big Finish Productions audio drama based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who.-Plot:...
. In 2004 he appeared in season 2, episode 4 of Hustle
Hustle (TV series)
Hustle is a British television drama series made by Kudos Film and Television for BBC One in the United Kingdom. Created by Tony Jordan and first broadcast in 2004, the series follows a group of con artists who specialise in "long cons" – extended deceptions which require greater commitment, but...
as Max the forger. He also was a small character in episode 2 "The Model" of 15 Storeys High
15 Storeys High
15 Storeys High is a critically acclaimed British sitcom, set in a tower block. The main characters are Vince Clark, a misanthropic, cynical recluse played by Sean Lock, and Errol Spears, Vince's exact opposite and whipping boy, played by Benedict Wong....
.
He has also appeared in all three series of The Maltby Collection
The Maltby Collection
The Maltby Collection is a BBC Radio 4 sitcom set in a small, threatened art gallery. The first series was broadcast in six parts, at 11.30am on Fridays from 15 June 2007. Its theme tune is "I'm on My Way". The show was written by David Nobbs. A second series began broadcasting on 2 June 2008,...
on Radio 4 as Des Wainwright, an eccentric security Guard who keeps repeating himself and reminding people he was in the SAS. He is presently playing the part of Benny "Deadhead" Silver in the BBC drama series Luther
Luther (TV series)
Luther is a British psychological crime drama television series starring Idris Elba as the title character Detective Chief Inspector John Luther. A first series of six episodes was broadcast on BBC One from 4 May to 8 June 2010. The second series of four episodes was shown on BBC One in summer 2011...
.
He appears as "Smiley" in the latest Betfair
Betfair
Betfair is the world's largest Internet betting exchange. The company is based in Hammersmith in West London, England. Since Betfair was launched in June 2000 it has become the largest online betting company in the UK and the largest betting exchange in the world. Betfair claim to have over 3...
"Front Room" adverts.
In 2010 he had a major role in the film Burke & Hare
Burke and Hare (film)
Burke and Hare is a British black comedy film, loosely based on the Burke and Hare murders. Directed by John Landis, the film stars Simon Pegg and Andy Serkis as William Burke and William Hare respectively. It was Landis's first feature film release in twelve years, the last being 1998's Susan's...
, also starring Pegg and Stevenson (now Hynes after her marriage).
He is married to the journalist and broadcaster Miranda Sawyer
Miranda Sawyer
Miranda Sawyer is an English journalist and broadcaster.She grew up in Wilmslow, Cheshire with her brother Toby, who is an actor. She has a degree in Jurisprudence from Pembroke College, Oxford...
.
Television
- SpacedSpacedSpaced is a British television sitcom written by and starring Simon Pegg and Jessica Stevenson, and directed by Edgar Wright. It is noted for its rapid-fire editing, frequent pop culture references and jokes, eclectic music, and occasional displays of surrealism and non-sequitur humour...
(1999-2001) - Time Gentleman Please (2000-2002)
- Murder PreventionMurder PreventionMurder Prevention was a British police drama inspired by the real-life Homicide Prevention Unit within the Metropolitan Police. It was produced for Five by World Productions who previously produced the television series The Cops. The series consisted of three two-part stories...
(2004) - Bleak HouseBleak HouseBleak House is the ninth novel by Charles Dickens, published in twenty monthly installments between March 1852 and September 1853. It is held to be one of Dickens's finest novels, containing one of the most vast, complex and engaging arrays of minor characters and sub-plots in his entire canon...
(2005) - The Wrong DoorThe Wrong DoorThe Wrong Door is a comedy sketch show, first aired on BBC Three on 28 August 2008. The programme is the first comedy show in which almost all of the sketches have a CGI element. As such, it was produced under the working title of The CGI Sketch Show...
(2008) - Wire in the BloodWire in the BloodWire in the Blood was a British crime drama television series, devised and produced by Coastal Productions for the ITV network that ran from 2002 to 2009. The series is based on characters created by Val McDermid; a university clinical psychologist, Dr Anthony "Tony" Valentine Hill , is teamed with...
(2008) - LutherLuther (TV series)Luther is a British psychological crime drama television series starring Idris Elba as the title character Detective Chief Inspector John Luther. A first series of six episodes was broadcast on BBC One from 4 May to 8 June 2010. The second series of four episodes was shown on BBC One in summer 2011...
(2010-2011)
Films
- Shaun of the Dead (Cameo)Shaun of the DeadShaun of the Dead is a 2004 British zombie comedy directed by Edgar Wright, starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, and written by Pegg and Wright. Pegg plays Shaun, a man attempting to get some kind of focus in his life as he deals with his girlfriend, his mother and stepfather...
(2004) Cameo as a Zombified version of Tyres, his Character in TV sitcom SpacedSpacedSpaced is a British television sitcom written by and starring Simon Pegg and Jessica Stevenson, and directed by Edgar Wright. It is noted for its rapid-fire editing, frequent pop culture references and jokes, eclectic music, and occasional displays of surrealism and non-sequitur humour... - OutpostOutpost (film)-Plot:In a seedy bar in a town ravaged by war, scientist and businessman Hunt hires mercenary and former Royal Marine D.C. to assemble a crack team of ex-soldiers to protect him on a dangerous journey into no-man's land...
(2008) - Burke & HareBurke and Hare (film)Burke and Hare is a British black comedy film, loosely based on the Burke and Hare murders. Directed by John Landis, the film stars Simon Pegg and Andy Serkis as William Burke and William Hare respectively. It was Landis's first feature film release in twelve years, the last being 1998's Susan's...
(2010) - Kill ListKill ListKill List is 2011 British horror film from Ben Wheatley, starring Neil Maskell, Michael Smiley and MyAnna Buring. When a British soldier returns home from Kiev, he joins an old friend as contract killers. His disturbed past surfaces as he spins out of control during jobs and ominous employers...
(2011)
Radio
- Eye Witness (2007) Eye
- The Maltby CollectionThe Maltby CollectionThe Maltby Collection is a BBC Radio 4 sitcom set in a small, threatened art gallery. The first series was broadcast in six parts, at 11.30am on Fridays from 15 June 2007. Its theme tune is "I'm on My Way". The show was written by David Nobbs. A second series began broadcasting on 2 June 2008,...
(2007-2009) Des Wainwright