PG
Philip Glenister
ActorBorn February 10, 1963 (62 years)
Philip Haywood Glenister is an English actor, known for his role as DCI Gene Hunt in British television series Life On Mars and its sequel Ashes To Ashes. He also played DCI William Bell in State of Play (2003) and Reverend Anderson in Outcast (2016–2018).
Glenister was born on 10 February 1963 in Harrow, Middlesex, and grew up in Hatch End. He is the son of director John Glenister and Joan Fry Lewis, and the younger brother of fellow actor Robert Glenister.
He attended Hatch End High School.
In his early career, he worked as a runner for the Robert Stigwood Organisation. Following this, he worked until the age of 23 as a film publicist, but developed an interest in acting after watching his brother perform in a student play about the Sex Pistols. With the encouragement of his then-sister-in-law, Amanda Redman, he pursued acting and attended the Central School of Speech and Drama.
In the early 1990s, Glenister appeared in various TV series including Minder, The Ruth Rendell Mysteries, Heartbeat, The Chief, Dressing for Breakfast and Silent Witness. In 1997, he appeared in Sharpe's Justice as Richard Sharpe's half-brother Matt Truman. He played William Dobbin in the 1998 mini-series Vanity Fair.
From 1998 to 1999, Glenister co-starred as a mini-cab driver who aspires to be a rock star in the series Roger Roger. He also played factory boss Mack Mackintosh in the first three series of Clocking Off from 2000 to 2002. In 2001, he appeared in two of the Hornblower TV films as Horatio's antagonist Gunner Hobbs.
Glenister played the photographer who took nude photos for a Women's Institute fundraising calendar in the 2003 feature film Calendar Girls. Also in 2003, he appeared in the mini-series State of Play. Glenister played the German commandant, Baron Heinrich von Rheingarten, in the 2004 mini-series Island at War about the Occupation of the Channel Islands during World War II.
In April 2006, Glenister read the Bedtime Story for the BBC's children's channel, CBeebies. He returned to the slot in February/March 2007.
Glenister played social reformer and estate manager Mr Carter in the 2007 BBC costume drama Cranford, as part of a cast including Judi Dench and Francesca Annis.
Glenister is probably best known for his role as DCI Gene Hunt in Life on Mars (2006–07), co-starring with John Simm as Sam Tyler, and its sequel Ashes to Ashes (2008–10), with Keeley Hawes as Alex Drake. Glenister also worked with Simm on State of Play and Clocking Off and the 2008 crime film Tuesday. Upon announcement of the film, Glenister joked that he and Simm were contractually obliged to work with each other once a year.
Glenister starred as demon hunter Rupert Galvin in the 2009 ITV drama Demons. He used an American accent for the role, which received some criticism from reviewers. After the series was cancelled, he said he had problems with the role and felt that he may have been miscast.
In 2010, Glenister had a small role (credited as 'Poker Friend') in Woody Allen's You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger, and he played Charles Forestier in a 2011 feature film of Guy de Maupassant's Bel Ami. He starred in the 2011 conspiracy thriller Hidden on BBC One.
Glenister was born on 10 February 1963 in Harrow, Middlesex, and grew up in Hatch End. He is the son of director John Glenister and Joan Fry Lewis, and the younger brother of fellow actor Robert Glenister.
He attended Hatch End High School.
In his early career, he worked as a runner for the Robert Stigwood Organisation. Following this, he worked until the age of 23 as a film publicist, but developed an interest in acting after watching his brother perform in a student play about the Sex Pistols. With the encouragement of his then-sister-in-law, Amanda Redman, he pursued acting and attended the Central School of Speech and Drama.
In the early 1990s, Glenister appeared in various TV series including Minder, The Ruth Rendell Mysteries, Heartbeat, The Chief, Dressing for Breakfast and Silent Witness. In 1997, he appeared in Sharpe's Justice as Richard Sharpe's half-brother Matt Truman. He played William Dobbin in the 1998 mini-series Vanity Fair.
From 1998 to 1999, Glenister co-starred as a mini-cab driver who aspires to be a rock star in the series Roger Roger. He also played factory boss Mack Mackintosh in the first three series of Clocking Off from 2000 to 2002. In 2001, he appeared in two of the Hornblower TV films as Horatio's antagonist Gunner Hobbs.
Glenister played the photographer who took nude photos for a Women's Institute fundraising calendar in the 2003 feature film Calendar Girls. Also in 2003, he appeared in the mini-series State of Play. Glenister played the German commandant, Baron Heinrich von Rheingarten, in the 2004 mini-series Island at War about the Occupation of the Channel Islands during World War II.
In April 2006, Glenister read the Bedtime Story for the BBC's children's channel, CBeebies. He returned to the slot in February/March 2007.
Glenister played social reformer and estate manager Mr Carter in the 2007 BBC costume drama Cranford, as part of a cast including Judi Dench and Francesca Annis.
Glenister is probably best known for his role as DCI Gene Hunt in Life on Mars (2006–07), co-starring with John Simm as Sam Tyler, and its sequel Ashes to Ashes (2008–10), with Keeley Hawes as Alex Drake. Glenister also worked with Simm on State of Play and Clocking Off and the 2008 crime film Tuesday. Upon announcement of the film, Glenister joked that he and Simm were contractually obliged to work with each other once a year.
Glenister starred as demon hunter Rupert Galvin in the 2009 ITV drama Demons. He used an American accent for the role, which received some criticism from reviewers. After the series was cancelled, he said he had problems with the role and felt that he may have been miscast.
In 2010, Glenister had a small role (credited as 'Poker Friend') in Woody Allen's You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger, and he played Charles Forestier in a 2011 feature film of Guy de Maupassant's Bel Ami. He starred in the 2011 conspiracy thriller Hidden on BBC One.
Known For
Filmography
| 2025 | Bergerac (2025) (TV Series) · as Arthur Wakefield |
| 2024 | After The Flood (TV Series) · as Jack Radcliffe |
| 2023 | Steeltown Murders (TV Series) · as Dci Paul Bethell |
| 2022 | Carthago (TV Series) · as Lord James Davidson |
| 2021 | Royal Bastards: Rise of the Tudors (TV Series) · as Storyteller |
| 2021 | Foundation (2021) (TV Series) · as Commdor Argo |
| 2021 | Bent Coppers: Crossing the Line of Duty (TV Series) · as Narrator |
| 2020 | Belgravia (TV Series) · as James Trenchard |
| 2020 | Tyson Fury: The Gypsy King (TV Series) · as Narrator |
| 2019 | The Rubbish World of Dave Spud (TV Series) · as Betty Spud |
| 2017 | Living the Dream (2017) (TV Series) · as Mal Pemberton |
| 2017 | The Keith and Paddy Picture Show (TV Series) · as Phil Stuckey |
| 2017 | Urban Myths (TV Series) · as Kev Wells |
| 2016 | The Level (TV Series) · as Frank Le Saux |
| 2016 | Outcast (TV Series) · as Reverend Anderson |
| 2014 | From There to Here (TV Series) · as Daniel |
| 2014 | Prey (2014) (TV Series) · as David Murdoch |
| 2014 | 747: The Jumbo Revolution · as Narrator |
| 2014 | Duck Quacks Don't Echo (UK) (TV Series) |
| 2014 | Inside No. 9 (TV Series) · as Craig |
| 2013 | Big School (2013) (TV Series) · as Mr Gunn |
| 2013 | Spying on Hitler's Army: The Secret Recordings · as Narrator |
| 2012 | The Big Fat Quiz of the 00s · as Gene Hunt |
| 2012 | The Hollow Crown (TV Series) · as Talbot |
| 2012 | Bel Ami · as Charles Forestier |
| 2012 | Treasure Island (2012) (TV Series) · as Captain Smollett |
| 2011 | Hidden (TV Series) · as Harry Venn |
| 2011 | Exposure (2011) (TV Series) · as Narrator |
| 2011 | Mad Dogs (TV Series) · as Quinn |
| 2010 | The Secret Life of the National Grid (TV Series) · as Narrator (voice) |
| 2010 | You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger · as Poker Friend |
| 2009 | Comic Relief 2009 · as Pierce Brosnan |
| 2009 | Demons (TV Series) · as Rupert Galvin |
| 2008 | The Big Fat Quiz of the Year · as Gene Hunt |
| 2008 | Tu£sday · as Earp |
| 2008 | Ashes to Ashes (TV Series) · as Gene Hunt |
| 2007 | The Big Fat Quiz of the Year · as Gene Hunt |
| 2007 | Cranford (TV Series) · as Mr Carter |
| 2007 | Jamie's Chef (TV Series) · as Narrator |
| 2006 | New Street Law (TV Series) |
| 2006 | Life on Mars (TV Series) · as Gene Hunt |
| 2005 | Vincent (TV Series) |
| 2005 | Kingdom of Heaven · as Squire |
| 2005 | Last Rights (TV Series) · as Speers |
| 2005 | The Walk · as Eddie |
| 2005 | The Stepfather · as Dougie Molloy |
| 2004 | Island at War (TV Series) · as Oberst Heinrich Baron Von Rheingarten |
| 2004 | The Catherine Tate Show (TV Series) · as Copper |
| 2004 | 'Calendar Girls': Creating the Calendar · as Lawrence |
| 2004 | 'Calendar Girls': The Naked Truth · as Lawrence |
| 2003 | Byron · as William Fletcher |
| 2003 | Calendar Girls · as Lawrence Sertain |
| 2003 | State of Play (TV Series) · as Dci William Bell |
| 2003 | The Other Boleyn Girl · as William Strafford |
| 2001 | Lloyd & Hill · as Daniel Lloyd |
| 2001 | Horatio Hornblower: Retribution · as Gunner Hobbs |
| 2001 | Hornblower: Mutiny · as Hobbs |
| 2000 | Clocking Off (TV Series) · as James 'mack' Mackintosh |
| 1999 | The Vice (TV Series) |
| 1998 | Vanity Fair (1998) (TV Series) · as William Dobbin |
| 1998 | Hornblower (TV Series) · as Gunner Hobbs |
| 1998 | Roger Roger (TV Series) · as Phil |
| 1997 | The Perfect Blue · as Tom |
| 1997 | Sharpe: The Legend · as Truman |
| 1997 | Sharpe's Justice · as Matt Truman |
| 1996 | Silent Witness (TV Series) |
| 1995 | Dressing for Breakfast (TV Series) · as Mark |
| 1995 | Loved Up · as Ray |
| 1995 | I.D. · as Charlie |
| 1994 | Blue Heaven (TV Series) · as Paul Twice |
| 1994 | Law and Disorder (TV Series) |
| 1993 | |
| 1993 | Sharpe (TV Series) · as Matthew Truman |
| 1993 | The Detectives (TV Series) · as Uniformed Officer |
| 1993 | A Fatal Inversion · as Young Detective |
| 1992 | Covington Cross (TV Series) · as Samuel |
| 1992 | A Fatal Inversion (TV Series) · as Young Detective |
| 1992 | |
| 1992 | Love Hurts (TV Series) · as Mark |
| 1991 | London Kills Me · as Suited Man |
| 1991 | Soldier Soldier (TV Series) · as Jimmy Reece |
| 1990 | Drop The Dead Donkey (TV Series) |
| 1990 | The Chief (1990) (TV Series) · as Angus Shadwell |
| 1989 | Agatha Christie's Poirot (TV Series) · as Sir William Boyd Carrington |
| 1987 | The Ruth Rendell Mysteries (TV Series) · as Brian Gregson |
| 1984 | The Bill (TV Series) · as Richard Cox |
| 1981 | Bergerac (TV Series) · as Philip |
| 1979 | Minder (TV Series) · as Greg Hunter |