Simon Merrells
Simon Merrells is an English actor best known for his portrayal of the Roman general Marcus Licinius Crassus in the Starz television series Spartacus: War of the Damned (2013).[1] Born on July 14, 1965, in Essex, England, he is the elder brother of fellow actor Jason Merrells and has built a versatile career spanning stage, television, and film, often embodying authoritative or intense characters in historical dramas and genre projects.[2][1] Merrells trained at the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts but briefly dropped out to work as a minicab driver, using the earnings to fund a period living in Mexico before returning to the UK to pursue fringe theatre in Brighton.[3][2] His professional stage debut came in the mid-1990s, leading to prominent roles with prestigious institutions such as the National Theatre, where he played Ammianus in Emperor and Galilean (2011), the Royal Shakespeare Company in productions like The Comedy of Errors (2007), and Shakespeare's Globe as Oberon in A Midsummer Night's Dream.[1][3] He also took the title role in Sophocles' Oedipus at the Edinburgh Festival.[3] Transitioning to screen work, Merrells made his television debut in 1997 on The New Adventures of Robin Hood and gained early recognition as a series regular playing firefighter Griggs in the long-running ITV drama London's Burning (2000–2001).[2] His film breakthrough arrived with the role of Ben Talbot in the Universal Pictures horror remake The Wolfman (2010), opposite Benicio del Toro and Anthony Hopkins.[3] Subsequent notable television performances include Tancrede in the History Channel series Knightfall (2017–2019), Julius Caesar in DC's Legends of Tomorrow (2017), Watchwarden Revion in Amazon's The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022), and Gundleus in MGM+'s The Winter King (2023).[1][3] More recent credits encompass Irving Hoffman in the Paramount+ miniseries Miss Fallaci (2024), Uncle Malcolm 'Mac' Grant in Outlander: Blood of My Blood (2025–), and the Tank Commander in the sci-fi action film Afterburn (2025).[4]Personal life
Early life
Simon Merrells was born on 14 July 1965 in Epping, Essex, England.[1] He grew up in the London area, developing an early interest in performance through films and theatre. As a child, he attended evening classes at the Sylvia Young Theatre School alongside his younger brother Jason Merrells, who later became an actor.[5][2] At age 13, Merrells participated in a school production of A Man for All Seasons, taking on the role of Cardinal Wolsey, which further sparked his fascination with acting. He enrolled at the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts at age 17 but soon dropped out, later reflecting that the experience "cured me of wanting to be an actor."[5][2] Following this, he worked as a minicab driver to fund personal travels.[2] In 1988, at age 23, Merrells traveled to Mexico for a year, where he worked as a male model for magazines and fashion shows while exploring painting as a means of self-discovery.[6][5] Upon his return to England in 1989, he began participating in fringe theatre productions in Brighton, serving as his initial foray into the entertainment industry.[5][2]Family
Simon Merrells is the elder brother of actor Jason Merrells, who was born on 9 March 1968.[7] The brothers share a family background rooted in the London and Essex areas, where they were both born and raised.[1] Their parents played a key role in nurturing their interest in performing arts by enrolling them in drama classes from a young age, an experience that sparked Simon's early passion for acting and influenced his decision to pursue a career in the field.[6]Career
Stage
Merrells began his professional stage career in the fringe theatre scene in Brighton after returning to the UK from travels abroad in the early 1990s.[2] His initial roles included supporting parts in productions such as Richard III as Tyrell/Lord Grey at Derby Playhouse and Pride and Prejudice as Mr. Darcy at Perth Repertory Theatre, establishing a foundation in classical repertoire.[3] He continued with ensemble work in smaller venues, including The House of Correction as Steve at MPS and Coriolanus as part of the ensemble in Steven Berkoff's production for East Productions, which marked the start of a significant collaboration and featured a world tour in the early 2000s.[3] Merrells' partnership with director Steven Berkoff became a cornerstone of his stage work, highlighting his affinity for intense, physical theatre styles. In 2009, he portrayed Terry Malloy in Berkoff's adaptation of On the Waterfront at Nottingham Playhouse, later transferring to the Edinburgh Festival and Haymarket Theatre.[3] This was followed by his titular role in Berkoff's Oedipus at Nottingham Playhouse in 2011, also presented at the Edinburgh Festival, earning him a nomination for Best Actor in a Play at The Stage Awards.[8] These collaborations showcased Merrells' ability to embody complex, tormented characters in Berkoff's stylized verse adaptations of classic texts. Beyond Berkoff, Merrells took on prominent roles in major institutions, including Antipholus of Ephesus in the Royal Shakespeare Company's The Comedy of Errors in 2007, where he appeared alongside his brother Jason Merrells as the twin Antipholus of Syracuse, bringing authentic fraternal chemistry to the farce.[9] That same year, he played Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing at Liverpool Playhouse.[3] In 2011, Merrells starred as the hard-boiled detective Philip Marlowe in Raymond Chandler's The Big Sleep at The Mill at Sonning, delivering a charismatic performance noted for its suave intensity amid the thriller's web of deceit.[10] He also appeared at the National Theatre in roles such as Ammianus in Emperor and Galilean (2011) and earlier in The Life of Galileo as Philosopher/Clavius.[3] Later, in 2016, he played Robert in Harold Pinter's Betrayal at Exeter Northcott Theatre.[11] Additionally, in 2010, he portrayed Oberon in A Midsummer Night's Dream at Shakespeare's Globe.[12] Merrells' stage career, spanning fringe origins to leading roles at the RSC and National Theatre, solidified his reputation for portraying authoritative yet vulnerable figures in classical and modern dramas, emphasizing physicality and emotional depth that transitioned effectively to screen work.[3]Film
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Invisible Eyes | Dan[13] |
| 2010 | The Wolfman | Ben Talbot[14] |
| 2013 | Judas Ghost | Mark Vega[15] |
| 2014 | Index Zero | Kurt[16] |
| 2016 | Billionaire Ransom | Jonathan Tilton-Scofield[17] |
| 2023 | A Million Days | Anderson[18] |
| 2025 | Afterburn | Tank Commander[19] |
Television
| Year(s) | Title | Role | Episodes/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995–2007 | The Bill | Various (DC Barry Glazzard, George Gosse) | Multiple episodes https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/simon-merrells/credits/3030069454/ |
| 2000–2001 | London's Burning | D.O. Griggs | 14 episodes https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094519/characters/nm0581163 |
| 2004–2005 | Family Affairs | Conrad Williams | 22 episodes https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Family_Affairs_characters |
| 2002–2003 | Merseybeat | Chris Traynor | 5 episodes https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0278246/characters/nm0581163 |
| 2013 | Spartacus: War of the Damned | Marcus Licinius Crassus | 10 episodes https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1442449/characters/nm0581163 |
| 2013–2014 | The Tomorrow People | Hugh Bathory / The Founder | 6 episodes https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2660734/characters/nm0581163 |
| 2017–2018 | Legends of Tomorrow | Julius Caesar | 2 episodes https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4532368/characters/nm0581163 |
| 2017–2019 | Knightfall | Tancrede de Hautville | 18 episodes https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4555364/characters/nm0581163 |
| 2018 | 12 Monkeys | Andrus | 2 episodes https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3786310/characters/nm0581163 |
| 2019 | Good Omens | International Express Man (Leslie) | 4 episodes https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1869454/characters/nm0581163 |
| 2022 | The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power | Watchwarden Revion | 2 episodes https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7631058/characters/nm0581163 |
| 2023 | The Winter King | Gundleus | 10 episodes https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11716756/characters/nm0581163 |
| 2024 | Miss Fallaci | Irving Hoffman | Miniseries https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26548398/characters/nm0581163 |
| 2025 | Outlander: Blood of My Blood | Uncle Malcolm 'Mac' Grant | 2 episodes https://www.imdb.com/title/tt29493542/characters/nm0581163 |
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Small Time Obsession | Racing Manager[20] |
| 2009 | Invisible Eyes | Dan[13] |
| 2010 | The Wolfman | Ben Talbot[14] |
| 2013 | Judas Ghost | Mark Vega[15] |
| 2014 | Index Zero | Kurt[16] |
| 2016 | Billionaire Ransom | Jonathan Tilton-Scofield[17] |
| 2023 | A Million Days | Anderson[18] |
| 2025 | Afterburn | Tank Commander[19] |
Television
| Year(s) | Title | Role | Episodes/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | The New Adventures of Robin Hood | Baragon | 1 episode[21] |
| 1995–2007 | The Bill | Various (DC Barry Glazzard, George Gosse) | Multiple episodes https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/simon-merrells/credits/3030069454/ |
| 2000–2001 | London's Burning | D.O. Griggs | 14 episodes https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094519/characters/nm0581163 |
| 1999–2001 | Family Affairs | Conrad Williams | 22 episodes https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Creator/SimonMerrells |
| 2002–2003 | Merseybeat | Chris Traynor | 5 episodes https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0278246/characters/nm0581163 |
| 2013 | Spartacus: War of the Damned | Marcus Licinius Crassus | 10 episodes https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1442449/characters/nm0581163 |
| 2013–2014 | The Tomorrow People | Hugh Bathory / The Founder | 6 episodes https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2660734/characters/nm0581163 |
| 2015 | Dominion | Julian | 8 episodes[22] |
| 2017–2018 | Legends of Tomorrow | Julius Caesar | 3 episodes https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4532368/characters/nm0581163 |
| 2017–2019 | Knightfall | Tancrede de Hautville | 18 episodes https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4555364/characters/nm0581163 |
| 2018 | 12 Monkeys | Andrus | 2 episodes https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3786310/characters/nm0581163 |
| 2019 | Good Omens | International Express Man (Leslie) | 4 episodes https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1869454/characters/nm0581163 |
| 2022 | The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power | Watchwarden Revion | 2 episodes https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7631058/characters/nm0581163 |
| 2023 | The Winter King | Gundleus | 10 episodes https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11716756/characters/nm0581163 |
| 2024 | Miss Fallaci | Irving Hoffman | Miniseries https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26548398/characters/nm0581163 |
| 2025 | Outlander: Blood of My Blood | Uncle Malcolm 'Mac' Grant | 2 episodes https://www.imdb.com/title/tt18332852/characters/nm0581163 |