Craig Charles
A sci-fi slob turned soap stalwart, his career is a masterclass in reinvention, from cult spaceship to the cobbles of Coronation Street.
Born 1964 (age 62)·English actor·Birthday: July 11·Baby Boomers
Biography
Craig Charles emerged from the Liverpool poetry scene, a wiry figure with a quick wit that landed him the role of a lifetime. As Dave Lister, the last human alive on the mining ship Red Dwarf, he became the relatable, curry-obsessed heart of a sci-fi comedy that forged a devoted, lasting fandom. He later traded deep space for a Manchester pub, playing the charmingly roguish Lloyd Mullaney on Coronation Street for a decade, proving his dramatic chops to a prime-time audience. Between acting chapters, he helmed the chaotic arena of Robot Wars and brought his distinctive northern cadence to the narration of Takeshi's Castle. His parallel life as a soul and funk DJ on BBC Radio 6 Music reveals the rhythm beneath the roles, a lifelong passion that keeps him connected to the beat.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Craig was born in 1964, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Craig Was Born
The biggest hits of 1964
#1 Movie
Mary Poppins
Best Picture
My Fair Lady
#1 TV Show
Bonanza
Craig's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1964Born
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1969Started school
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1977Became a teenager
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1980Could drive
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1982Could vote
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1985Turned 21
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1994Turned 30
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2004Turned 40
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2014Turned 50
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 60
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 62 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played the iconic role of Dave Lister, the last human, in the long-running sci-fi sitcom Red Dwarf.
- Portrayed Lloyd Mullaney on Coronation Street for ten years, becoming a central figure in the show's recent history.
- Hosted the cult BBC show Robot Wars for its initial six-year run, guiding viewers through mechanical carnage.
- Has hosted a popular soul and funk show on BBC Radio 6 Music since 2014.
- His narration of the UK version of Takeshi's Castle became synonymous with the show's absurd challenges.
Did You Know?
He was a performance poet and part of the '80s Liverpool arts scene before his acting break.
He was wrongly arrested and spent time in prison on charges that were later dropped, an experience he has spoken about.
He is a distant relative of the author Charles Dickens.
He provided the voice of the 'Coronation Street' tram in a 2010 storyline.
“I'm not a star, I'm a satellite. I just reflect the light that's given to me.”
