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Michael Smiley
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Michael Smiley (born 29 January 1963) is a Northern Irish comedian and actor. He is known for his roles in the films Kill List (2011) and The Lobster (2015). He has also made appearances in British television series such as Spaced, Luther, Utopia, Black Mirror and Doctor Who.
Key Information
Early life
[edit]Smiley was born on 29 January 1963 in Belfast and grew up in Holywood with an older brother and sister.[1][2] He was raised Catholic.[3]
He moved to London with his first wife in 1983. He began doing stand-up in 1993, after accepting a bet at an open-mic night.[2] He had worked as a cycle courier, like his character in Spaced, and as an acid house DJ.[4]
Career
[edit]He became well known for his role as Tyres O'Flaherty, the bicycle riding raver, in two episodes of the Channel 4 sitcom Spaced, and for his appearances at the Edinburgh Fringe and the Melbourne Comedy Festival.[4] He played Mac, a former member of the British Army's Parachute Regiment in the 2008 horror film Outpost and as a zombie in Shaun of the Dead.[citation needed]
In 2003, he guest starred in the Doctor Who audio drama Creatures of Beauty. In 2004 he appeared in season 2, episode 4 of Hustle as Max the forger.[5] He also was a small character in episode 2 "The Model" of 15 Storeys High.[citation needed]
He has appeared in all three series of The Maltby Collection on Radio 4 as Des Wainwright, an eccentric security guard who keeps repeating himself and reminding people he was in the SAS. He plays the part of Benny "Deadhead" Silver in the BBC drama series Luther. In 2010, he had a major role in the film Burke & Hare alongside his Spaced co-stars Simon Pegg and Jessica Hynes.
In 2011, he starred in British horror film Kill List. The film received critical acclaim, and earned him the "Best Supporting Actor" Award at the 2011 British Independent Film Awards.[6]
In 2013, he has appeared in an episode of BBC One's Ripper Street as George Lusk, and the critically acclaimed Channel 4 shows Utopia as Detective Reynolds and Black Mirror in the episode "White Bear" as Baxter.[citation needed] He also starred in A Field in England as the main antagonist, the alchemist O'Neill. He also played Roddy in Father Figure. In November 2013 he appeared in the third episode of the BBC Two Mitchell and Webb comedy Ambassadors as Mr Jackson. In 2014, he played Micky Murray in BBC Four's The Life of Rock with Brian Pern.[7]
To coincide with the opening stages of the Giro d'Italia in May 2014, Michael Smiley: Something to Ride Home About was a travelog programme for BBC Northern Ireland, directed by George Kane, featuring Smiley cycling around Northern Ireland and meeting local people.[8][9][10] A second series was commissioned for 2015.[8]

In 2014 Smiley played Colonel Morgan Blue in the Doctor Who episode "Into the Dalek".[11]
In 2019, Smiley co-starred with Elijah Wood and Martin Donovan in the film Come to Daddy directed by Ant Timpson.[12]
In 2020, he starred in Dead Still, a six-part Irish-Canadian television drama series, alongside Eileen O'Higgins & Kerr Logan. It premiered on May 18, 2020 on Acorn TV and May 15, 2020 Citytv.[13] The series is a co-production between Ireland's Deadpan Pictures and Canada's Shaftesbury Films and is written by John Morton, and directed by Imogen Murphy and Craig David Wallace.[14][15]
In 2021, Smiley appeared in the lead role in The Toll, a Welsh black comedy film later released in the United States with the title Tollbooth.
In 2025 he appeared in Alien: Earth as the character 'Schmuel'.
Personal life
[edit]Smiley has been married twice and has four children: two with his first wife and childhood sweetheart Merilees, and two with his second wife, journalist/broadcaster Miranda Sawyer.[2] He resides near Brockwell Park in Herne Hill, London.[16]
He shared a flat with Simon Pegg and Nick Frost in the 1990s.[17] He is an avid cyclist.[2]
Filmography
[edit]Films
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Shaun of the Dead | Zombie Tyres O’Flaherty | Uncredited |
| 2006 | Breaking and Entering | Thaddeus | |
| Perfume: The Story of a Murderer | Porter | ||
| Land of the Blind | Thorne's Lieutenant | ||
| 2008 | Outpost | McKay | |
| The Other Boleyn Girl | Physician | ||
| Terra Firma | Quentin | Short film | |
| 2009 | Down Terrace | Pringle | |
| Believe | Lewis | Short film | |
| 2010 | Burke & Hare | Patterson | |
| 2011 | Kill List | Gal | |
| Big Fat Gypsy Gangster | Mad Mick | ||
| 2012 | Shell | Hugh | |
| The ABCs of Death | Father Tom | Segment: ""U Is for Unearthed" | |
| 2013 | For Those in Peril | Frank | |
| A Field in England | O'Neil | ||
| Svengali | Irish Pierre | ||
| We Are the Freaks | Killer Colin | ||
| The World's End | Reverend Green | ||
| 2014 | Glassland | Jim | |
| Black Sea | Reynolds | ||
| 2015 | The Hallow | Garda Davey | |
| The Lobster | Loner Swimmer | ||
| Orthodox | Shannon | ||
| My Name is Emily | Robert | ||
| Tank 432 | Capper | ||
| 2016 | Free Fire | Frank | |
| Rogue One: A Star Wars Story | Dr. Cornelius Evazan | ||
| 2017 | Madame | David | |
| Jawbone | Eddie | ||
| 2018 | Birthmarked | Gertz | |
| The Nun | Priest | ||
| 2019 | Come to Daddy | Jethro | |
| Rialto | Noel | ||
| 2021 | Censor | Doug Smart | |
| Gunpowder Milkshake | Dr. Ricky | ||
| The Toll | Toll Booth | ||
| 2022 | The Silent Twins | Tim Thomas | |
| 2024 | Bookworm | Arnold | [18] |
| TBA | The Riders | TBA | Filming |
Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | The Heist | Detective | Television film; uncredited |
| 1999–2001 | Spaced | Tyres O'Flaherty | 2 episodes |
| 2000 | Burnside | Matthew Hutchins | Episode: "Back with a Vengeance: Part 1" |
| 2000–2002 | Time Gentlemen Please | Martin | 3 episodes |
| 2002 | 15 Storeys High | Insistent Irish visitor | Episode: "The Model" |
| 2004 | Murder Prevention | DC Maurice Gibney | 4 episodes |
| 2005 | Bleak House | Phil Squod | 8 episodes |
| Hustle | Max | Episode: "Missions" | |
| ShakespeaRe-Told | Peter | Episode: "Much Ado About Nothing" | |
| Rose and Maloney | DS Mallam | Episode: "Rise & Fall" | |
| 2007 | In the Spider's Web | Phil | Television film |
| Y Pris | Captain | Episode: "Episode #1.3" | |
| Nearly Famous | Danny | Episode: "Episode #1.5" | |
| 2008 | The Wrong Door | 2 episodes | |
| HolbyBlue | Brendan Duffy | Episode: "Episode #2.10" | |
| Wire in the Blood | Dr. Liam Kerwin | 7 episodes | |
| 2009 | Law & Order: UK | Danny Doyle | Episode: "Unsafe" |
| 2010 | One Night in Emergency | Mortuary Attendant | Television film |
| 2010–2019 | Luther | Benny Silver | 16 episodes |
| 2011 | Stolen | Sean | Television film |
| 2012 | Coming Up | Ricky | Episode: "Spoof or Die" |
| Good Cop | Tom Lomax | Episode: "Episode Two" | |
| New Tricks | Tinker | Episode: "Part of a Whole" | |
| 2013 | Ripper Street | George Lusk | Episode: "In My Protection" |
| Utopia | Detective Reynolds | Episode: "Episode 1" | |
| Black Mirror | Baxter | Episode: "White Bear" | |
| Father Figure | Roddy | 6 episodes | |
| Ambassadors | Mr Jackson | Episode: "The Tazbek Spring" | |
| 2013–2014 | Monumental | Self | |
| 2014 | The Life of Rock with Brian Pern | Micky Murray | 2 episodes |
| Doctor Who | Colonel Morgan Blue | Episode: "Into the Dalek" | |
| Edge of Heaven | Snowy | 2 episodes | |
| 2014–2015 | Michael Smiley: Something to Ride Home About | Self | |
| 2015 | Comedy Feeds | Les | Episode: "Fishbowl" |
| 2016 | The Aliens | Antoine Berry | 5 episodes |
| Murder | Whitmore Harris | Episode: "The Big Bang" | |
| 2020 | Dead Still | Brock Blennerhasset | Series lead |
| 2021 | Bloodlands | Dinger | 4 episodes |
| Intergalactic | Professor Hague Blake | Episode 1.4 | |
| 2022 | The Curse | 2 episodes | |
| Ragdoll | DS Finlay | 6 episodes | |
| 2022–2024 | Bad Sisters | Roger Muldoon | 13 episodes |
| 2023 | Obituary | Ward Clancy | 6 episodes |
| 2024 | Generation Z | Wrollen | |
| 2025 | Alien: Earth | Shmuel | 2 episodes |
| Blue Lights | Paul "Colly" Collins | 6 episodes |
Radio
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Eye Witness | BBC Radio 3 | |
| 2007–2009 | The Maltby Collection | Des Wainwright | BBC Radio 4 |
References
[edit]- ^ "BBC One - Monumental - Michael Simley". BBC One. Archived from the original on 9 April 2013. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
- ^ a b c d "Michael Smiley: 'I'm an overnight success after 20 years!'". Belfast Telegraph. 21 April 2014. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
- ^ Nolan, Larissa. "Michael Smiley: My Holywood love story had hardship and a happy ending". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
- ^ a b "Living the life of Smiley". BBC News. 10 August 1998. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
- ^ "Hustle - what time is it on TV? Episode 4 Series 2 cast list and preview". RadioTimes. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
- ^ Exley, Gemma (5 December 2012). "British Independent Film Awards 2011: Fassbender, Ramsey & Sophie from Peep Show win". Holy Moly. Archived from the original on 3 January 2014. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
- ^ "BBC Four - Brian Pern, the Life of Rock with Brian Pern, Birth of Rock".
- ^ a b "'Michael Smiley: Something To Ride Home About' Gets Second Series". Irish Film and Television Network. 18 August 2014. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
- ^ Jarlath Regan (14 October 2013). "Michael Smiley". An Irishman Abroad (Podcast) (7 ed.). SoundCloud. Archived from the original on 15 December 2014. Retrieved 28 November 2014.
- ^ Jarlath Regan (11 June 2014). "George Kane". An Irishman Abroad (Podcast) (56 ed.). SoundCloud. Archived from the original on 15 December 2014. Retrieved 28 November 2014.
- ^ Mulkern, Patrick (30 August 2014). "Into the Dalek ****". Radio Times. London, UK. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
- ^ Come to Daddy Review by Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, February 6, 2020.
- ^ Yeo, Debra (15 May 2020). "He shoots dead people: Acorn TV's delightful 'Dead Still' blends the macabre art of post-mortem photography with period mystery". Toronto Star. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
- ^ Clarke, Stewart (30 May 2020). "Acorn TV, Ireland's RTE Team for Morbidly Comic Drama 'Dead Still'". Variety. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
- ^ Keller, Joel (18 May 2020). "Stream It Or Skip It: 'Dead Still' On Acorn TV, Where A Memorial Photographer Looks Into Murders In Victorian Dublin". Decider. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
- ^ Tyler, Simon (7 June 2013). "Miranda Sawyer Interview". Not a Bad Dad. Archived from the original on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
- ^ Marsh, Hannah. "Welcome to the bonkers world of Michael Smiley". The Echo. Basildon. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
- ^ "Bookworm". New Zealand Film Commission. Archived from the original on 3 August 2024. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
External links
[edit]Michael Smiley
View on GrokipediaBiography
Early life
Michael Smiley was born on 29 January 1963 in Belfast, Northern Ireland.[1] He grew up in the town of Holywood, County Down, specifically in the Redburn area, where his parents often recounted the story of his birth.[6] During his youth, Smiley attended boarding school from the ages of 11 to 16 and described himself as a wild child in his formative years.[7] Smiley's first marriage to his childhood sweetheart Merilees Taylor was a shotgun wedding in 1982. In the early 1980s, following the birth of their son Dillon on 1 January 1984, the couple relocated to London, where Smiley experienced a period of homelessness lasting nine months before finding steady work. They later had a daughter, Jasmine, in 1988, before divorcing in the early 1990s.[7] He spent over a decade employed as a bicycle courier, navigating the city's streets and delivering to various offices, including those in the media industry.[6][8] Smiley showed no initial interest in the performing arts, but in 1993, following a bet with a friend, he spontaneously performed at an open-mic comedy night, marking the beginning of his entry into entertainment.[2]Personal life
Smiley married British journalist and broadcaster Miranda Sawyer in July 2007.[9] The couple has two children together: a son born in 2006 and a daughter born in 2011.[10][11] The family resides primarily in south London, near Brockwell Park in Herne Hill.[9] They occasionally return to Northern Ireland, where Smiley has expressed a strong pull toward his roots, including plans during the COVID-19 lockdown to visit with his family.[8] Smiley maintains a keen interest in cycling, a passion rooted in his early days as a bicycle messenger in London, which he credits for providing both exercise and mental health benefits like endorphin boosts.[6][12]Professional career
Comedy
Michael Smiley entered the stand-up comedy scene in 1993 when he accepted a £50 bet to perform at a London open-mic night, marking his debut on stage. This impromptu appearance quickly propelled him into the vibrant 1990s comedy circuit, where he secured regular gigs across various venues.[13][14] Smiley's comedic style emerged as distinctly observational, drawing heavily from his experiences in club culture, which he would dissect and mock with sharp wit, all delivered through his unmistakable Northern Irish accent. Central to his routines were self-deprecating anecdotes from his days as a bicycle messenger in London, recounting the absurdities and hardships of the job with humorous candor. Early performances at iconic spots like The Comedy Store helped solidify his presence, allowing him to hone this blend of personal storytelling and cultural commentary that resonated with audiences.[15][6][14] His transition to television comedy came through key appearances in sketch shows, which served as his debut in broadcast comedy formats. These roles showcased his timing and improvisational skills, bridging his live stand-up roots with scripted humor.[1] By the 2000s, Smiley's style had evolved toward more character-driven comedy, incorporating vivid personas inspired by his eclectic life experiences. He undertook live tours and made repeated appearances at major festivals, such as the Edinburgh Fringe—where he performed annually from 1993 to 1998 and was a runner-up in the "So You Think You're Funny" competition—along with international events like the Melbourne Comedy Festival. This development in his stand-up work laid a foundational influence on his emerging acting persona, emphasizing versatile, relatable characters rooted in everyday absurdity.[14][16][17]Radio presenting
Michael Smiley began his radio career as a house music DJ in the 1980s and 1990s, leveraging his background in club culture to develop a distinctive presenting style characterized by observational humor and energetic delivery.[18] His expertise was sought by various stations, including Kiss 100 in London, where he contributed to dance and electronic music programming, and BBC Radio 4, incorporating witty anecdotes drawn from his experiences as a comedian and former cycle courier.[18][15] In the 2010s and 2020s, Smiley transitioned to freelance radio work, frequently appearing as a guest co-presenter on BBC Radio Ulster's Rock and Soul show hosted by Ralph McLean. These appearances involved curating playlists spanning soul, rock, and indie tracks—such as selections from Marvin Gaye to The Jesus and Mary Chain—while sharing humorous personal stories and insights into Northern Irish music influences.[19][20] Notable episodes include a 2017 collaboration where he discussed songs significant to his life, and a 2021 special emphasizing tall tales alongside music picks.[21][22] This format highlighted Smiley's ability to blend music enthusiasm with comedic storytelling, appealing to audiences interested in both entertainment and cultural reflection.[19]Acting
Michael Smiley's acting career gained prominence with his breakthrough role as the eccentric bicycle courier Tyres O'Flaherty in the Channel 4 sitcom Spaced (1999–2001), where his manic energy and improvisational style, honed from his stand-up comedy background, helped define him as a go-to supporting actor for quirky, offbeat characters.[23] This performance marked his transition from comedy circuits to scripted television, showcasing his ability to blend humor with underlying pathos in ensemble settings.[24] Smiley's collaboration with director Ben Wheatley elevated his profile in independent cinema, beginning with the lead supporting role of Gal, a hitman grappling with personal demons, in the psychological horror Kill List (2011), for which he earned the British Independent Film Award for Best Supporting Actor.[25] He followed with roles in Wheatley's dark comedy road-trip film Sightseers (2012) as the hapless Macca and as the menacing alchemist O'Neill in the hallucinatory historical horror A Field in England (2013), delivering intense, layered performances that highlighted his command of tension and ambiguity in genre-blending narratives.[26][27] These films solidified his niche in British indie horror and dark comedy, praised for his naturalistic intensity and versatility in portraying morally complex figures.[28] On television, Smiley portrayed the reliable yet haunted Detective Sergeant Benny "Deadhead" Silver across multiple seasons of the BBC crime drama Luther (2010–2019), contributing to the series' gritty ensemble dynamic opposite Idris Elba.[2] He also appeared as Colonel Morgan Blue, a seasoned space traveler, in the Doctor Who episode "Into the Dalek" (2014), bringing a grounded authority to the sci-fi adventure.[29] More recently, Smiley has continued to diversify with roles such as the mentor-like Ward Clancy in the Irish thriller series Obituary (2023), demonstrating his range in dramatic and suspenseful formats. Critics have lauded his adaptability across dark comedy and horror, noting his skill in infusing roles with wry humor and emotional depth, as seen in Wheatley's films and beyond, earning nominations and acclaim for elevating ensemble casts.[30] Smiley played the recurring character Shmuel in the first season of the FX sci-fi series Alien: Earth (2025), a high-profile project that underscores his ongoing evolution in genre television.[31]Filmography
Television
Michael Smiley has appeared in a variety of television series, mini-series, and specials throughout his career, often in supporting or guest roles that showcase his versatility in comedy and drama.| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1999–2001 | Spaced | Tyres O'Flaherty [3] |
| 2000–2002 | Time Gentlemen Please | Martin [3] |
| 2002 | 15 Storeys High | Insistent Irish Visitor [32] |
| 2004 | Murder Prevention | DC Maurice Gibney [3] |
| 2005 | Bleak House | Phil Squod [33] |
| 2005 | Hustle | Max [3] |
| 2008 | Wire in the Blood | Dr. Liam Kerwin [3] |
| 2010–2019 | Luther | DS Benny Silver [33] |
| 2011 | Black Mirror | Baxter [1] |
| 2014 | Doctor Who ("Into the Dalek") | Colonel Morgan Blue [29] |
| 2014 | 37 Days | John Burns |
| 2019 | The Capture | Carey [32] |
| 2020 | Dead Still | Brock Blennerhasset [34] |
| 2022– | Bad Sisters | Roger Muldoon [35] |
| 2023– | Blue Lights | Paul 'Colly' Collins [36] |
| 2025 | Alien: Earth | Shmuel [32] |
Film
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Shaun of the Dead | Bicycle Courier Zombie (uncredited) [37] |
| 2006 | Perfume: The Story of a Murderer | Porter |
| 2006 | Breaking and Entering | Thaddeus |
| 2008 | Hunger | Gerry Campbell [1] |
| 2008 | The Other Boleyn Girl | Physician [3] |
| 2008 | Outpost | McNocher |
| 2009 | Down Terrace | Pringle |
| 2010 | Burke and Hare | Charles Patterson |
| 2011 | Kill List | Gal |
| 2012 | Sightseers | Man with Dog |
| 2013 | A Field in England | Captain O'Neil |
| 2013 | The World's End | Reverend Green |
| 2015 | The Lobster | Loner Swimmer |
| 2016 | Free Fire | Frank |
| 2016 | Rogue One: A Star Wars Story | Dr. Cornelius Evazan (uncredited) |
| 2021 | Censor | Doug [1] |
| 2021 | In the Earth | Dr. Martin |
| 2022 | You Won't Be Alone | Wondjina (Father) |
| 2024 | Bookworm | Arnold |
Radio
Michael Smiley began his radio acting career in the mid-2000s with dramatic roles on BBC platforms, contributing to a range of plays and adaptations that showcased his versatile voice work in comedy-dramas, personal narratives, and historical reconstructions.[38] His early credits include the 2007 BBC Radio 3 production Eye Witness by Tom Kelly, where he portrayed the central character Eye in a raw, autobiographical exploration of growing up amid Belfast's Troubles.[39] That same year, he joined the BBC Radio 4 comedy-drama series The Maltby Collection, recurring across all three series (2007–2009) as Des Wainwright, an eccentric former SAS security guard known for his repetitive anecdotes and deadpan humor.[38] In 2008, Smiley featured in two notable BBC Radio 4 dramas: Death of a Pirate by Jo Hartley and John Hardwick, in which he played Finn, a key figure in the story of a pirate radio operator's final broadcast; and Bloody Sunday: Scenes from the Saville Inquiry, a two-part dramatic reconstruction of civilian testimonies from the 1972 events, where he appeared as part of the ensemble cast voicing witnesses and participants.[40][41] Moving into the 2010s, Smiley took on supporting roles in more intimate productions. In 2013, he voiced Beany in the BBC Radio 4 afternoon drama Neurotics Anonymous by Ben Crompton, a satirical look at a support group for the emotionally unstable.[42] Two years later, in 2015, he served as the reader for the BBC Radio 4 adaptation of Robert McLiam Wilson's An Irishman's Guide to Paris, delivering a solo narration of the humorous memoir reflecting on Irish expatriate life.[43]| Year | Title | Role | Station | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Eye Witness | Eye | BBC Radio 3 | Written by Tom Kelly; autobiographical drama.[39] |
| 2007–2009 | The Maltby Collection | Des Wainwright | BBC Radio 4 | Recurring role in three series; comedy-drama.[38] |
| 2008 | Death of a Pirate | Finn | BBC Radio 4 | Written by Jo Hartley and John Hardwick.[41] |
| 2008 | Bloody Sunday: Scenes from the Saville Inquiry | Ensemble cast | BBC Radio 4 | Two-part historical reconstruction.[40] |
| 2013 | Neurotics Anonymous | Beany | BBC Radio 4 | Afternoon drama by Ben Crompton.[42] |
| 2015 | An Irishman's Guide to Paris | Reader | BBC Radio 4 | Adaptation of Robert McLiam Wilson's memoir.[43] |
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