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Ian Mercer
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Ian Cameron Mercer (born 10 July 1961) is an English actor. He is known for playing Gary Mallett in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street from 1995 to 2000, having previously appeared in 1987 as Pete Jackson. His other television credits include Brookside (1982–83), Cracker (1993), and The Street (2007).
Key Information
Early life
[edit]Mercer was born in Oldham, Lancashire. On leaving school, Mercer trained as an electrical engineer but decided to become an actor when he became an assistant stage manager at the Oldham Coliseum Theatre in 1979.
Career
[edit]His first television appearance was as Mile in Starting Out (1982), a series made by ATV for schools and written by Grazyna Monvid.
Mercer went on to work in such stage productions as Bent, Spend Spend Spend, Saturday Night, Sunday Morning, Billy Liar, Stop The Children's Laughter, Welcome Home, Romeo and Juliet, The Fancy Man, The York Realist, Beauty and the Beast and Revengers Tragedy.[1]
His television and film acting credits include leading roles as a butcher in Blue Money (1985), Coronation Street (as Gary Mallett and in 1987, Pete Jackson), Shackleton (with Kenneth Branagh), Heartbeat, The Monocled Mutineer, A Touch of Frost, Cracker, Common As Muck, Peak Practice, New Tricks and Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (with Russell Crowe).[1] In 2009 he appeared in an episode of Doctors and two episodes of Waking the Dead. He appeared as Blackbeard's chief zombie henchman in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. During August and September 2015 he returned to Doctors playing the recurring role of Andy Weston in an ongoing sub-plot.
In 2018, Mercer appeared in the Mike Leigh film, Peterloo, playing the "buffoonish" Dr Healey.[2]
Personal life
[edit]In 2007, Mercer completed three years of study at Northumbria University, gaining a degree in English and Art History.[3]
In May 2011, he was convicted of benefit fraud, having falsely claimed £2,300 in council tax benefit despite being in work at the time. He was fined £165 with a £15 victim surcharge and £100 costs.[4]
He lives in Northumberland with his two daughters, Scarlett Rae (b. 1997) and Carmine Mae (b. 2000).
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Alex | John | Beeban Kidron | Short film |
| 2002 | Re-inventing Eddie | Dougie | Jim Doyle | |
| 2003 | Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World |
Mr. Hollar, Boatswain | Peter Weir | |
| 2005 | Lassie | Yorkshire Policeman | Charles Sturridge | |
| 2009 | The Boat That Rocked | Transfer Boatman | Richard Curtis | |
| Creation | Goodman | Jon Amiel | ||
| 2010 | Poor Wee Me | Mike | Simon Powell | |
| Gold Top | Terry | Satvinder Johal | Short film | |
| 2011 | Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides |
Quartermaster (Thomas Miller) |
Rob Marshall | |
| 2016 | The Legend of Tarzan | Freckled Force Publique | David Yates | |
| 2018 | Peterloo | Dr. Joseph Healey | Mike Leigh | |
| 2022 | The Sea Beast | Old Nick (voice) | Chris Williams | Netflix film |
Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Starting Out | Milo | 5 episodes |
| 1982–1983 | Brookside | Demon Duane | 5 episodes |
| 1984 | Crown Court | Michael Rofe | 1 episode |
| Weekend Playhouse | Brian | ||
| 1984–1985 | How We Used to Live | Freddy Selby | 3 episodes |
| 1985 | One by One | Colin | 2 episodes |
| 1986–1990 | ScreenPlay | Brad
Peters |
1 episode (1986)
1 episode (1990) |
| 1986 | The Monocled Mutineer | Wheelchair | 1 episode |
| 1987 | Coronation Street | Pete Jackson | 13 episodes |
| 1991 | The Bill | D.S. Dave Lindsay | 1 episode |
| 1993 | Cracker | D.C./D.S. George Giggs | 4 episodes |
| 1994 | Screen Two | Local Reporter
Probation Officer |
1 episode (March)
1 episode (June) |
| Peak Practice | "Clarkey" Clarke | 2 episodes | |
| Common As Muck | Guy Simmons | 6 episodes | |
| 1995 | The Final Cut | Graham Glass | 1 episode |
| 1995–2000 | Coronation Street | Gary Mallett | 425 episodes, Series regular |
| 1996 | A Touch of Frost | P.C. Craven | 3 episodes |
| 2003 | Sweet Medicine | Tony Durston | 1 episode |
| 2006 | The Afternoon Play | Eddie Connolly | |
| Doctors | Billy Collis | 1 episode | |
| 2007 | Damien Giggs | 1 episode | |
| New Tricks | Paul Wilmslow | ||
| Heartbeat | Ronald Kirby | ||
| The Chase | D.I. Proctor | ||
| The Street | Richard Watts | 2 episodes | |
| 2009 | Red Riding: In the Year of Our Lord 1974 | Paul Bosker | TV movie |
| Red Riding: In the Year of Our Lord 1983 | |||
| Holby City | Ken O'Dowd | 2 episodes | |
| Doctors | Lenny Aston | 1 episode | |
| Spanish Flu: The Forgotten Fallen | Stanford | TV movie | |
| Waking the Dead | Jason Bloch | 2 episodes | |
| 2010 | Shameless | Roscoe | |
| Lewis | Lester Garvey | 1 episode (Your Sudden Death Question) | |
| 2011 | Doctors | George Arnott | 1 episode |
| 2012 | The Scapegoat | Fincher | TV movie |
| 2013 | Doctors | Jim Grove | 1 episode |
| 2014 | Scott & Bailey | Frankie Waddington | 1 episode |
| 2015 | Doctors | Andy Weston | 15 episodes |
| 2016 | Churchill's Secret | Sgt Murray | TV movie |
| In the Club | Mickey | 2 episodes | |
| 2022 | All Creatures Great and Small | Mr Sunningwell | S3 Ep5 |
| 2024 | The Listeners | Tom | 3 episodes |
Theatre credits
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Venue(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001–2002 | The York Realist | Arthur | The Lowry (15–17 November 2001) Theatre Royal, Bristol (20–24 November 2001) Royal Court Theatre (6 January-9 February 2002) Strand Theatre (8 March-20 April 2002) |
| 2019 | Calendar Girls | Rod | Theatre Royal, Norwich (15 February) |
References
[edit]- ^ a b Mercer on the Internet Movie Database
- ^ John Bleasdale. "Peterloo first look: Mike Leigh's cudgel for a massacre". BFI. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
- ^ 'Street' star's times are a-Changeling – BBC Nottingham website 3 October 2007
- ^ 'Pirates of the Caribbean star convicted of benefit fraud', The Daily Telegraph – 27 May 2011
External links
[edit]Ian Mercer
View on GrokipediaEarly life
Upbringing in Oldham
Ian Mercer was born in 1962 in Oldham, Lancashire, England.[6] He grew up in the working-class town of Oldham, a former mill town in Greater Manchester known for its industrial heritage in textiles and engineering.[6] Upon leaving school, Mercer trained as an electrical engineer, reflecting the manual trade opportunities prevalent in the local economy during his formative years.[6] Little is documented about his immediate family background or specific childhood influences, though his early environment in Oldham likely exposed him to community-based activities and the region's cultural scene, which included local theatres. This period laid the groundwork for his later pivot toward the performing arts, leading him to seek professional training in his late teens.[6]Initial career steps
After leaving school in Oldham, Ian Mercer pursued training as an electrical engineer, reflecting an initial career direction rooted in technical skills rather than the performing arts.[6] In 1979, Mercer joined the Oldham Coliseum Theatre as an assistant stage manager, a role that immersed him in the operational side of live theatre production for two years. This position provided behind-the-scenes exposure to staging, lighting, and crew coordination, fostering his growing interest in performance.[6] Mercer's time at the Coliseum marked a pivotal shift from technical duties to on-stage involvement, as he began contributing to amateur and ensemble acting opportunities within the theatre's repertory system. He appeared in early productions including Bent (1980), Spend Spend Spend (1980), and Romeo and Juliet (1981), gaining practical experience in character portrayal and ensemble work that built his foundational acting skills.[6] These experiences culminated in Mercer's professional acting debut on television in 1982, playing the character Milo in the ITV educational drama series Starting Out. The series, aimed at young audiences and exploring social themes through short plays, offered Mercer his first credited screen role and served as a crucial entry point into the broadcasting industry.[7]Career
Television work
Mercer began his television career with a supporting role as Pete Jackson, an old army friend of Terry Duckworth, in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street in 1987, appearing across 13 episodes during April and June.[8] This early stint introduced him to the world of British television drama, portraying a working-class character entangled in the show's community conflicts. Mercer's breakthrough came with his portrayal of Gary Mallett in Coronation Street from 1995 to 2000, spanning 425 episodes as a series regular.[2] As a builder and window cleaner, Gary's arc centered on his marriage to Judy Mallett (played by Gaynor Faye), their relocation to No. 9 Coronation Street, and the birth of their twins, Billy and Becky, which added layers of family dynamics and everyday struggles to the soap's narrative.[9] The storyline culminated tragically in 1999 when Judy died from a blood clot following a car accident, leaving Gary to grieve and eventually depart the street with new partner Paula Shipley in 2000.[10] This role solidified Mercer's presence in British television, contributing to the soap's depiction of resilient working-class families and earning him recognition for his authentic portrayal of domestic life amid adversity. Following his Coronation Street tenure, Mercer took on varied supporting roles in prominent British series, often embodying gritty, blue-collar figures. In 1996, he appeared as Police Constable Craven in three episodes of ITV's A Touch of Frost, assisting in procedural investigations. He later played Ernest Holness, a crew member, in the 2002 miniseries Shackleton, depicting the Endurance expedition's hardships. In 2007, Mercer featured as Richard Watts in two episodes of BBC's The Street, exploring themes of familial loyalty and regret in a northern English setting.[11] Subsequent guest spots included Jason Bloch, a suspect in a cold case, across two episodes of BBC's Waking the Dead in 2009; Ken O'Dowd, a patient, in two episodes of Holby City that same year; and Roscoe, a drug dealer, in Shameless (2010), highlighting his versatility in crime and social dramas.[12][13] He also portrayed Lester Garvey, a quiz contestant, in a 2010 episode of ITV's Lewis.[14] In recent years, Mercer has continued with selective television appearances, maintaining his affinity for character-driven British productions. He played Micky in two episodes of BBC's In the Club (2014–2016), a drama about motherhood and friendships. In the 2016 ITV telefilm Churchill's Secret, he depicted Sgt. Murray, a military figure in the historical narrative of Winston Churchill's stroke. Mercer guest-starred as Mr. Sunningwell, a local farmer, in the 2022 episode "Edward" of Channel 5's All Creatures Great and Small. His most recent role is Tom, the husband of a protagonist grappling with auditory phenomena, in four episodes of BBC's The Listeners (2024). Throughout his career, Mercer has been frequently typecast in working-class roles, from soap opera families to procedural cops and historical ensemble pieces, demonstrating longevity in British television through over three decades of consistent, impactful contributions to drama series.[2]Film roles
Mercer transitioned from television roles to feature films in the early 2000s, leveraging his established presence on British screens to secure parts in high-profile productions. His film debut came with a supporting role as Mr. Hollar, the boatswain, in the historical naval epic Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003), directed by Peter Weir and adapted from Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin novels. In this ensemble cast led by Russell Crowe and Paul Bettany, Mercer's character contributed to the film's authentic depiction of early 19th-century British naval life during the Napoleonic Wars, emphasizing the hierarchical dynamics aboard HMS Surprise through his portrayal of a disciplined warrant officer responsible for the ship's rigging and crew discipline.[15] Following this breakthrough, Mercer's film appearances remained selective, often aligning with period dramas and adventure blockbusters. He played the Transfer Boatman in Richard Curtis's comedy The Boat That Rocked (2009), a satirical take on 1960s pirate radio, where his minor role supported the chaotic ensemble aboard a North Sea broadcasting ship. In 2011, Mercer portrayed the Quartermaster, Blackbeard's loyal zombie enforcer in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, directed by Rob Marshall; the character, bound to serve the pirate captain, featured in key action sequences involving supernatural elements and interactions with leads Johnny Depp and Penelope Cruz, underscoring themes of undead servitude in the franchise's quest for the Fountain of Youth.[16]) Mercer continued with supporting parts in subsequent films, including the Yorkshire Policeman in Charles Sturridge's family adventure Lassie (2005), a remake of the classic tale set during World War II. He appeared as Freckled Force Publique, a colonial soldier, in David Yates's action-adventure The Legend of Tarzan (2016), contributing to the film's exploration of Belgian exploitation in the Congo amid Tarzan's return to the jungle. In Mike Leigh's historical drama Peterloo (2018), Mercer played Dr. Joseph Healey, a radical figure in the lead-up to the 1819 Manchester massacre, delivering a performance that highlighted the era's political tensions and working-class agitation through the character's involvement in reformist gatherings. Marking a shift to voice acting, Mercer lent his voice to Old Nick, a grizzled sailor, in the Netflix animated adventure The Sea Beast (2022), directed by Chris Williams, where the character aids in the story's nautical quests against mythical creatures, blending humor and heroism in a family-oriented narrative. Throughout his film career, Mercer's roles have been sporadic yet prestigious, frequently in period pieces and big-budget spectacles that showcase his ability to embody authoritative or rugged supporting figures, building on his television foundation without dominating the screen.[17]Theatre performances
Mercer's early involvement in theatre began at the Oldham Coliseum, where he transitioned from assistant stage manager to performing onstage in productions such as the 1985 pantomime and Mike Stott's The Fancy Man alongside Caroline Milmoe.[18][19] These regional roles allowed him to develop his craft in intimate, community-focused settings, emphasizing ensemble dynamics and authentic Northern English characters. A pivotal moment in Mercer's stage career came with his portrayal of Arthur, the pragmatic brother in Peter Gill's The York Realist (2001–2002), which premiered at the Royal Court Theatre before transferring to the Strand Theatre in London's West End.[20] The play explores themes of rural Yorkshire life in the 1960s, class divides, and a tender homosexual relationship between a working-class farmhand and a middle-class Londoner, set against the backdrop of a family's everyday rituals like tea-making and Beatles listening. Critically acclaimed for its spare honesty and poetic realism in the Royal Court tradition, the production won the 2002 Critics' Circle Theatre Award for Best New Play and drew praise for its warm, poignant depiction of unspoken loyalties.[21][22] In 2019, Mercer joined the UK touring production of Calendar Girls the Musical as Rod, the husband of one of the ensemble's central figures, contributing to the show's heartfelt ensemble interactions during its run that included West End performances.[23] Based on the true story of Women's Institute members in the Yorkshire Dales who posed nude for a calendar in 1999 to raise funds for a local hospital following the death of a member from leukemia, the musical highlights themes of friendship, grief, and empowerment through communal support. Mercer's other theatre work includes supporting roles in David Eldridge's Under the Whaleback (2003) at the Royal Court, exploring fishing community hardships, and the 2013 UK tour of The Full Monty, where he embodied the camaraderie of unemployed steelworkers in a story of resilience and male vulnerability.[24][25] Regional appearances at venues like the West Yorkshire Playhouse in Two Tracks and Text Me further showcased his versatility in contemporary British drama.[24] Theatre has profoundly shaped Mercer's acting approach, providing the rehearsal depth absent in television to explore character motivations and emotional authenticity, rooted in both classical and modern British plays that prioritize subtle, lived-in performances over spectacle.[26] This foundation in live, audience-responsive work has informed his portrayals of grounded, relatable figures across mediums.Personal life
Education
Born in Oldham, Lancashire, Ian Mercer initially trained as an electrical engineer upon leaving school in his youth.[6] In a mid-career pivot, he then pursued higher education, enrolling at Northumbria University to study English and Art History.[27] Mercer completed his Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Art History in 2007 after three years of study.[27][2] This academic achievement marked a deliberate effort to expand his intellectual horizons beyond acting during a period of professional reevaluation.Family and relationships
Ian Mercer was married to Susan E. Fenwick, with whom he tied the knot on August 25, 2001, at St. Andrew's Church in Bothal, Morpeth, Northumberland.[28] The couple's marriage ended in 2009, after which they became estranged and ceased communication.[29] Mercer and Fenwick have two daughters: Scarlett Rae, born on May 15, 1997, in Oldham, and Carmine Mae, born in 2000.[6][2] He has spoken publicly about family life on occasion, such as during his 2001 wedding, where images captured him with his children, highlighting his role as a father amid his acting career.[30] As of 2022, Mercer resides in Northumberland with his two daughters in a quieter setting away from major urban centers like Manchester and London, which are traditional hubs for the British acting industry.[2][29] This reflects his approach to prioritizing family stability and a low-profile lifestyle, allowing him to balance the demands of sporadic acting roles with domestic responsibilities.[2]Legal issues
In 2011, Ian Mercer was convicted of benefit fraud after falsely claiming £2,300 in council tax benefits over a 12-month period while he was earning income from acting work.[31][32] The case came to light during a period of career uncertainty following his departure from Coronation Street in 2000, when Mercer was residing in a rented house in Pegswood, Northumberland.[33][31] He pleaded guilty at Bedlington Magistrates' Court, where he was fined £165, ordered to pay a £15 victim surcharge, and required to cover £100 in costs.[32] The conviction drew media attention in British outlets, highlighting Mercer's past roles in Coronation Street and Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, and portraying the incident as a fall from grace for the former soap actor.[31][33] No public statements from Mercer addressing the matter were reported at the time, and the event contributed to a temporary dent in his public reputation amid his ongoing efforts to secure new acting opportunities.[32]Filmography
Films
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Alex | Snickers [34] |
| 2003 | Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World | Mr. Hollar, Boatswain |
| 2005 | Lassie | Yorkshire Man [35] |
| 2009 | Creation | Goodman [36] |
| 2009 | The Boat That Rocked | Transfer Boatman [37] |
| 2011 | Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides | Quartermaster |
| 2012 | The Scapegoat | Fincher [38] |
| 2016 | The Legend of Tarzan | Freckled Force Publique |
| 2018 | Peterloo | Dr. Joseph Healey [39] |
| 2022 | The Sea Beast | Old Nick (voice) |
