Henry Goodman


Henry Goodman is a RADA trained English actor. He has appeared on television and radio, in film and in the theatre.

Early life

He attended the Central Foundation Boys' School and joined the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, London, in 1969.

Career

Television

In 2013 he played the role of Sir Humphrey Appleby in the remake of Yes, Prime Minister which was launched on the Gold television channel.

Theatre

Goodman appeared on Broadway in three shows. He briefly replaced Nathan Lane in The Producers in 2002, but was fired after one month due to creative differences with Mel Brooks. The following year he returned to Broadway in Tartuffe.
In 2010 he played the role of Sir Humphrey Appleby in the stage version of Yes, Prime Minister at the Chichester Festival Gielgud Theatre, in London's West End from 17 September 2010.
In 2012 he played title role in The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui in Chichester and then in the West End to critical acclaim.
In 2015 he played the title role in Ben Jonson's Jacobean comedy Volpone at the Royal Shakespeare Company, directed by Trevor Nunn co-starring Matthew Kelly and Miles Richardson. His previous RSC appearance was in 2003 as Richard III.
In 2017 he played Lucian Freud in Looking at Lucian, written by Alan Franks, at the Ustinov Studio at Theatre Royal, Bath. Of this part, he said "I share an intense hunger to want theatre to be as meaningful as he wanted painting to be."

Film

He portrayed a HYDRA doctor in the 2014 film ', though he was uncredited in the credits. He played the character again, now named Dr. List, on the second season of the TV show Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and in the 2015 film '.

Radio

Goodman is also a respected radio actor. He portrayed Leopold Bloom in BBC Radio 4's all-day adaptation of James Joyce's Ulysses for 'Bloomsday' in 2012. He has also played author and chemist Primo Levi and a large number of other, often Jewish, characters on Radio 4.

Awards and reputation

His awards include the Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical playing Charles Guiteau in Assassins at the Donmar Warehouse directed by Sam Mendes in 1993, and the Olivier Award for Best Actor for Shylock in The Merchant of Venice at the National Theatre directed by Trevor Nunn in 2000. He has also been nominated for an Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical in 1998 for Chicago, London Critics Circle Theatre Award for Best Actor, and Theatre Awards UK for Best Performance in a Play in 2012.
In his autobiography, Antony Sher says Goodman's Shylock is "quite simply the best". He reprised his role for a television film which was released in 2004.

Personal life

One of six children, Goodman is Jewish. He is married to Sue Parker, a choreographer and dance director.

Filmography

Television

Sources: Rotten Tomatoes TCM AllMovie