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Carl Rice
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Carl Rice (born April 1980) is a British actor from Liverpool. He has appeared in Brookside, Brassic, Jimmy McGovern’s Hearts and Minds and more.
Key Information
Early life
[edit]In 1980, Rice was born in Liverpool, England. Rice attended St Joseph's R.C High School in Widnes, Cheshire.
Career
[edit]Rice first appeared on screen at the age of eight in a late 1980s advert for milk.[1] The advert famously proclaimed "Accrington Stanley, Who Are They?"
Following this, he appeared in other advertisements. He also starred alongside Tony Robinson for three years on Channel 4's Storyworld, Children's Ward for 2 series, Brookside for one year playing Gavin Matthews[1][2] and numerous TV shows including Jimmy McGovern's Hearts and Minds alongside Christopher Eccleston and Willy Russell's Terraces alongside Mark Womack.
In 1999, Rice made his stage debut in Guiding Star, a play by Jonathan Harvey that was premiered at the Everyman Theatre, Liverpool before transferring to the Royal National Theatre for a 10-month run. Rice was shortlisted for a Laurence Olivier Award for his performance as Liam Fitzgibbon.[1]
In 2000, he played Rene Montandon in Monsignor Renard, an ITV drama set in Nazi-occupied France, starring John Thaw, Dominic Monaghan and Juliette Caton.
21st century
[edit]2000s
[edit]He starred in two series of the comedy sketch show Scallywagga on BBC Three[1] playing over fifty characters. He starred in comedy series Massive on BBC Three playing Shay Finnegan alongside Johnny Vegas, Ralf Little, Joel Fry, Christine Bottomley and Craig Parkinson.
2010s
[edit]In February 2011, he guest-starred on Shameless, playing Mimi Maguire's long-lost transgender sister, Bobbi Hepburn.[1] In August 2011, Rice started filming on the Sky comedy Trollied. Rice played Colin,[1] a lazy supermarket worker who has appeared in every episode.[3] In 2012, he also appeared in the feature film Papadopoulos & Sons, in which he played Dave, a gardener to a wealthy Greek family.[4] Rice also filmed a guest lead in Holby City in December 2011.[2] Rice shot a Guest Lead on Benidorm in late 2011, playing Danny, a lothario who runs the booze cruise on the island.[needs update]
Rice starred in Good Cop in 2012.[needs update] Good Cop was a dark, RTS Award-winning drama for BBC1 written by Stephen Butchard and directed by Sam Miller (Luther). Rice played Philip Davenport, one of the regular police in the series and worked alongside Warren Brown, Mark Womack, Stephen Graham, Stephen Walters and Kerrie Hayes.
Rice has shot a series each year of Trollied and completed filming on Series 6 in July 2016. He appeared in eight episodes of Coronation Street from late 2015 to early 2016. Rice appeared in two episodes of Stan Lee's Lucky Man alongside James Nesbitt. Rice guest starred in Jimmy McGovern's Moving On in 2016 (Series 8).
Rice recently starred in the ITV drama Deep Water alongside Anna Friel and Sinead Keenan. He has appeared in every series of Brassic, playing Ronnie Croft and returns for Brassic's final 2025 series, series 7.
Filmography
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 and 2015 | Casualty | Nathan Cowan | |
| 2011-2018 | Trollied | Colin | |
| 2012 | Good Cop | PC Phil Davenport | |
| 2012 | Papadopoulos & Sons | Dave the Gardener | |
| 2012 | Benidorm | Danny | S5, E5 |
| 2014 | Cuckoo | Terry | |
| 2015 | Coronation Street | Ian Rigby | |
| 2016 | Stan Lee's Lucky Man | Sol | |
| 2016 | Moving On | Wilko | |
| 2017 | Doctors | Pete Blake | |
| 2018 | Damned | Darren | |
| 2019 - present | Brassic | Ronnie Croft | |
| 2021 | Cruella | Viking Gala Security Guard #2 |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f "Liverpool actor Carl Rice is the boy from the White Stuff". Liverpool Echo. 3 September 2013. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
- ^ Shennan, Paddy (3 September 2013). "Liverpool actor Carl Rice is the boy from the White Stuff". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
- ^ Papadopoulos & Sons (2012) - IMDb, retrieved 11 November 2022
External links
[edit]| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
Carl Rice
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Early life and education
Early life
Carl Rice was born on 29 April 1980 in Liverpool, England, growing up in the Netherley area as part of a working-class Liverpudlian family with no connections to the entertainment industry.[2][5][6] His early childhood was shaped by the city's vibrant cultural environment.[2] When Rice was about six or seven, his family relocated from Liverpool to Widnes, but the move did not diminish the lasting impact of his Scouse roots and early brushes with performance.[2] Around the age of eight, Rice received his first taste of performing when he was cast in the 1989 Milk Marketing Board advertisement promoting milk consumption among children.[7] In the iconic spot, filmed at Shepperton Studios, he portrayed a young Liverpool FC fan in a Liverpool shirt who explained that footballer Ian Rush advised drinking milk to avoid ending up "only good enough to play for Accrington Stanley," responding "Exactly!" to his co-star's line "Accrington Stanley, who are they?".[2][7] The role, for which he earned £90, aired widely and sparked his initial interest in acting, drawing on the fun of the experience amid Liverpool's football-mad youth culture.[2] This period laid the groundwork for his passion for the arts, influenced by the city's rich tradition of storytelling.[2]Education
Carl Rice attended St Joseph’s R.C. High School in Widnes, Cheshire, during his teenage years following his family's move from Liverpool.[6] His early exposure to acting through a childhood television advert at age eight served as a key motivator, fostering his interest in performance amid his formal schooling.[2]Acting career
Early roles (1980s–1990s)
Carl Rice began his professional acting career as a child in British television during the early 1990s. His breakthrough role came in the ITV children's medical drama Children's Ward, where he portrayed the patient James Boyce across multiple episodes from 1990 to 1991.[8] This series, set in a Manchester children's hospital, provided Rice with his first substantial television exposure, building on earlier appearances in advertisements and educational programs like Channel 4's Storyworld.[2] In 1992, at the age of 12, Rice joined the cast of the long-running Channel 4 soap opera Brookside as Gavin Matthews, the son of established characters Lyn and Barry Matthews. He appeared in the series for one year, through 1993, contributing to storylines involving family dynamics in the fictional Liverpool suburb of Brookside Close.[2] This role marked his entry into prime-time soap opera television and solidified his presence in the regional Merseyside acting scene. Rice continued with guest appearances in major dramas as he transitioned into his mid-teens. In 1995, he played Jason Lester in the episode "Learning Curve" of the BBC medical series Casualty, depicting a young character navigating personal and health-related challenges.[9] By the end of the decade, Rice made his professional stage debut at age 18 in Jonathan Harvey's play Guiding Star at Liverpool's Everyman Theatre, taking on the role of Liam Fitzgibbon; the production later transferred to London's National Theatre.[2] This shift from screen to theatre highlighted his adaptability amid the competitive landscape of Liverpool's local productions, where opportunities for young actors often centered on regional venues.Television work
Rice's television career gained momentum in the late 2000s with his versatile performance in the BBC Three sketch comedy series Scallywagga (2007–2008), where he portrayed over 50 diverse characters across two series, showcasing his comedic range in a Northern English setting.[10][11] His breakthrough came with a regular role as the indolent supermarket shelf-stacker Colin in the Sky1 sitcom Trollied (2011–2018), appearing in all 71 episodes and contributing to the show's portrayal of retail life absurdities, which helped establish Rice as a reliable comic actor in British ensemble casts.[12][2] Throughout the 2010s, Rice balanced guest spots that highlighted his dramatic depth, including the role of Bobbi Hepburn, Mimi Maguire's long-lost transgender sister, in Shameless (2011), adding emotional layers to the Channel 4 series' family dynamics.[5] He followed with Phil Davenport, a police constable, in the BBC One miniseries Good Cop (2012), and a guest appearance as the charming lothario Danny in Benidorm (2012).[13] In 2016, Rice played Sol in the Sky1 superhero drama Lucky Man, exploring themes of fate and power, while also appearing in eight episodes of Coronation Street as the prison inmate Ian Rigby, whose interactions influenced storylines around incarceration and redemption.[14] His guest role as Pete Blake in the BBC One soap Doctors (2017) delved into personal deception and relationships, and he portrayed the hapless Darren in three episodes of the Channel 4 sitcom Damned (2018), satirizing social services chaos.[15] Rice returned to Casualty in 2014 as Nathan Cowan, a survivor grappling with guilt in a high-stakes medical emergency storyline, marking a recurrence to the long-running BBC series after an earlier appearance in 1995.[16] In the ITV miniseries Deep Water (2019), he played Pete Toovey, a family member entangled in suspenseful disappearances and betrayals, contributing to the thriller's tense exploration of suburban secrets.[17][18] Since 2019, Rice has portrayed the dim-witted ex-convict Ronnie Croft in the Sky Max comedy-drama Brassic, appearing in series 1–3, 5, and 7 (the latter airing in 2025), where his character's bungled schemes and loyalty drive much of the show's humor and camaraderie among a group of working-class friends in Northern England.[19] In 2025, Rice appeared in the Channel 4 drama Pushers as Kango.[1] This ongoing role has solidified Rice's status in contemporary British television, blending comedy with poignant social commentary.Film work
Carl Rice's film work features a limited but notable selection of supporting roles in British and international productions, often leveraging his established presence in regional television to secure these opportunities. In the 2012 British comedy-drama Papadopoulos & Sons, directed by Marcus Markou, Rice played the character Dave the Gardener, a minor but memorable supporting role in a story about a bankrupt fish-and-chip shop owner and his sons who turn to street trading to survive. The film, which premiered at the 2012 London Film Festival and received praise for its heartfelt portrayal of family resilience, marked one of Rice's early forays into feature-length cinema.[20] Rice's most prominent film appearance to date came in 2021 with the role of Viking Gala Security Guard #2 in Disney's Cruella, directed by Craig Gillespie and starring Emma Stone as the origin of the iconic villain. This brief but visually striking cameo occurs during a lavish gala scene, contributing to the film's extravagant aesthetic inspired by 1970s punk fashion. The production, which grossed over $233 million worldwide despite pandemic-era challenges, offered Rice significant international visibility, contrasting his primarily UK-based television career.[21] While Rice has no other documented credited feature film roles from the 2000s through 2020s, his selective film engagements underscore a focus on character-driven narratives that complement his comedic timing seen in smaller-scale projects.Theatre work
Carl Rice made his professional stage debut in 1998 at the age of 18, appearing in Jonathan Harvey's play Guiding Star, a poignant drama exploring a young man's emotional reckoning with the aftermath of the 1989 Hillsborough disaster.[22] The production, a co-presentation between Liverpool's Everyman Theatre and the Royal National Theatre, premiered at the Everyman on September 17, 1998, before transferring to London's Cottesloe Theatre on November 5, 1998, where it ran for an extended 10-month engagement.[2][23] Rice portrayed a key supporting role in the ensemble, contributing to the play's intimate portrayal of grief, family dynamics, and Liverpool's working-class resilience under director Gemma Bodinetz. The London transfer elevated Guiding Star to critical attention, earning Rice a nomination for the Laurence Olivier Award for Outstanding Newcomer in 1999, recognizing his raw, authentic performance as a breakthrough talent from the regional theatre scene.[24] This accolade highlighted the production's impact, with reviewers praising its unflinching depiction of urban tragedy and the cast's Scouse authenticity, though some critiqued the script's occasional sentimentality. The play's success marked a significant milestone in Rice's early career, bridging his Liverpool roots—where local theatre had sparked his interest in acting—to a prominent West End platform.[6] Following Guiding Star, Rice's theatre involvement shifted toward regional productions in Liverpool, including appearances in Everyman Theatre revivals such as Scouse and Brown Bitter Wet Nellies, which allowed him to explore comedic and ensemble roles rooted in Merseyside culture.[25] He also performed in Alan Bleasdale's On the Ledge during a 2008 Royal Court Theatre revival, embodying the playwright's signature themes of economic hardship and personal isolation in a stark, site-specific staging.[26] These post-2000s credits, primarily in intimate venue runs rather than major West End transfers, underscored Rice's affinity for live performance's immediacy and audience connection, contrasting the controlled retakes of screen work by demanding unfiltered emotional delivery night after night.[2] No major comedy sketches adapted from his television roles appear in his stage portfolio, though his theatre background informed the improvisational energy in later on-screen comedic turns.[27]Producing and writing
Production work
In 2021, Carl Rice co-founded the independent production company MILK Pictures Ltd, where he serves as Managing Director.[28] The company draws its name from Rice's iconic 1989 milk advert appearance, reflecting his early entry into the entertainment industry.[7] Leveraging over 30 years of accumulated experience in television as an actor and writer, Rice has guided MILK Pictures toward developing original content, emphasizing comedy and drama projects suited to his creative style.[29] This background has influenced production decisions, enabling efficient collaboration with established talent and streamlining development processes.[1] Within the first few years of operation, MILK Pictures produced three pilots under Rice's leadership, marking a significant expansion into behind-the-scenes roles.[29] These pilots feature notable performers including Karl Pilkington, Mark Addy, Isy Suttie, and Rosie Cavaliero, focusing on high-concept TV comedies and character-driven narratives.[1] Rice is also developing the feature film Like, Share & Subscribe in collaboration with Keal Productions.[1]Writing credits
Carl Rice's writing career spans over 30 years in the television industry, beginning with contributions to comedy sketches during his early acting roles.[29] His initial writing efforts included additional material for established series, such as episodes of the Sky1 sitcom Trollied in its fourth series (2014), where he helped refine comedic dialogue and scenarios.[10] Similarly, Rice provided additional material for select episodes of Man Down series 2 (2015), including "Perfect Woman" and "Diversity," collaborating with creator Greg Davies after Davies reviewed early scripts from Rice's own projects.[10][30] By the early 2010s, Rice had developed standalone writing projects, notably The Last Factory, a series of scripts that showcased his narrative style and led to further industry connections.[2][30] This work marked his transition from supplementary contributions to more original storytelling, blending his Liverpool roots with character-driven humor. As managing director of MILK Pictures, co-founded in 2021, Rice has expanded into full script development, co-writing and producing pilots that leverage his production role for creative control.[28] Among these is Kid Gloves (2024), a comedy pilot he wrote and directed, featuring actors like Adam Gillen and Alexandra Monaghan in roles exploring everyday absurdities.[31][32] MILK Pictures has produced three such pilots to date, highlighting Rice's evolution toward leading multifaceted comedy projects.[29]Filmography
Television series
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990–1991 | Children's Ward | James Boyce | ITV series; multiple episodes as patient James Boyce.[5] |
| 1992–1993 | Brookside | Gavin Matthews | Channel 4 soap; recurring role over approximately 20 episodes.[33] |
| 1995 | Casualty | Jason Lester | BBC series; guest appearance in episode "Learning Curve" (Series 9, Episode 15). |
| 1999 | Holby City | Tommy | BBC series; guest appearance in episode "Destination Unknown" (Series 2, Episode 3). |
| 2007 | Scallywagga | Various | BBC Three sketch show pilot; multiple characters. |
| 2008 | Scallywagga | Various | BBC Three; Series 1, multiple sketches. |
| 2008 | Massive | Shay | BBC Three; Series 1, 6 episodes. |
| 2010 | Scallywagga | Various | BBC Three; Series 2, multiple characters. |
| 2011 | Shameless | Bobbi Hepburn | Channel 4; Series 8, Episode 12. |
| 2011 | Holby City | Kenny Tolson | BBC series; guest appearance in episode "Under the Skin" (Series 14, Episode 5). |
| 2011–2018 | Trollied | Colin | Sky1; main cast across 7 series and specials, over 50 episodes.[12] |
| 2012 | Good Cop | PC Phil Davenport | BBC One mini-series; 4 episodes. |
| 2012 | Benidorm | Danny | ITV; Series 5, Episode 5 (guest). |
| 2014 | Casualty | Nathan Cowan | BBC; Series 28, Episode "Survivor's Guilt" (guest appearance).[16] |
| 2015 | Coronation Street | Ian Rigby | ITV soap; 8 episodes as prison cellmate. |
| 2016 | Lucky Man | Sol | Sky1; 2 episodes. |
| 2017 | Doctors | Pete Blake | BBC; Series 19, Episode "Won't Get Fooled Again".[15] |
| 2018 | Damned | Darren | E4; Series 2, 3 episodes (E1, E4, E6). |
| 2019 | Deep Water | Pete Toovey | ITV mini-series; 4 episodes.[17] |
| 2019–2025 | Brassic | Ronnie Croft | Sky Max; main cast from Series 1 to Series 7 (2025), multiple episodes per season. |
| 2025 | Pushers | Kango | Channel 4; multiple episodes in Series 1. |
Films
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Papadopoulos & Sons | Dave the Gardener | Directed by Marcus Markou[20] |
| 2021 | Cruella | Viking Gala Security Guard #2 | Directed by Craig Gillespie, produced by Disney[21] |