Christopher Eccleston

Date of Birth: 16th February 1964
Place of Birth: Eccles, Salford, Manchester
Education: Salford Technical College & Central School of Speech and Drama, London

BIOGRAPHY

Eccles actor Christopher Eccleston comes from a working-class background, the youngest, by 8 years, of three brothers. One of his brothers is a builder whilst the other is a furniture maker and upholsterer, both now working in TV & Film (Alan has worked on Cold Feet). Chris doesn't share their manual dexterity but has always been keen on sport, including playing football and long-distance running. Academically he wasn't so keen, leaving school without qualifications despite re-sitting his exams, but it was his English teacher, Mrs Sorah, who influenced his direction into the dramatic arts.

After graduating from London's Central School of Speech and Drama in 1986, he made his stage debut at the Bristol Old Vic, followed by work at the National, Royal Court and Bush theatres. Meaningful work was hard to come by for about three years but he then made his film debut in the true story Let Him Have It. This film was about Derek Bentley, a mentally retarded 19-year old epileptic, who was hanged for supposedly inciting his accomplice to kill a policeman in 1952. The execution was seen as a miscarriage of justice for many years and the film, coupled with other campaigns, led to the Court of Appeal, in 1998, finally pardoning Bentley, posthumously. (Christopher was an invited guest at a Memorial service at Southwark Cathedral).

Chris was raised on what he describes as 'the Golden Age of British TV" when there was a lot of great dramas and comedies being produced. Consequently he has always enjoyed working in TV and whilst he prefers gritty working class roles to "pissing about doing Noel Coward" he is anxious to avoid being type-cast. He cites Alan Bleasdale, Ken Loach and Siegfried Sassoon amongst his influences and would like to work with Martin Scorsese and John Sayles. He greatly admired the late John Cassavetes. Pride Of Manchester's list of TV and Film Credits includes a lot of classy work but stand-outs in terms of his career progression must be his role as Detective Chief Inspector Bilborough in Cracker, as the title role in Jude, and as David in Shallow Grave.

He is quite selective about the parts he takes and even as recently as 1998 spent the best part of nine months without work, having moved back from London to his native Eccles in 1996 after ending a relationship. One role he did turn down was that of Begbie in Trainspotting (1996), eventually played by Robert Carlyle.

Away from work he is a keen Manchester United supporter and once played alongside United legend Eric Cantona (not on the pitch but in the movie Elizabeth!)

Chris has made a strong mark already and interest in him is so strong that his future must be assured. He has recently starred alongside Cameron Diaz in "Invisible Circus" and will share the billing with Nicole Kidman in "The Others".

He is currently filming with Johnny Depp, Vanessa Paradis, Miranda Richardson and Bill Paterson in Terry Gilliam's "The Man Who Killed Don Quixote" but the shooting of this $48M film was put on hold in Autumn 2000 when the star Jean Rochefort suffered a double disc hernia.

Friedrich Robert Donat was born on 18/03/1905 at Everett Road in Withington Manchester. He was 6 Foot tall, married twice and had three children. He starred in numerous films, most famous was,Goodbye, Mr Chips. He died of a Chronic Asthma Attack on 9 of June 1958, in London.

The above photo and information sent in via email by Carl. K 15/04/05

Many thanks Carl

Don Knight.

Don Knight was born on February 16, 1933 in Manchester England, (Wythenshawe, I believe?). After a short stint in the British Army, he left England for Canada. He studied at Sir George Williams University in Montreal and later at the Wesley Seminary in Washington DC. He held degrees in English, Philosophy, Theology, and Drama.

Don was the Pastor at several churches over the years (From New Haven NY, Trapp MD, to MANY in Southern California) most of this while playing various roles on stage and screen.

In 1965 Don and his family moved from Maryland to So. California. He quickly landed roles on "It takes a Thief", "Time Tunnel", "Voyage to the bottom of the Sea", "Combat", and "Hogan's Heroes". Don continued to act throughout his lifetime.

Above words from Don's son's website. To visit for a more comprehensive coverage of his career, and more photos, click here: www.knightrec.net/DonKnight/index.html

*ManMates Quote.

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