Richard Armitage (actor)
A British actor whose commanding presence and rich voice brought brooding heroes from Victorian mills to Middle-earth to life.
Born 1971 (age 55)·British actor·Birthday: August 22·Generation X
Biography
Richard Armitage built a career on a foundation of intense, physically committed performances, often portraying men of weighty responsibility and hidden vulnerability. The Leicester-born actor, a former musician, trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. His breakthrough came not with a blockbuster, but with the BBC's 2004 adaptation of 'North & South,' where his portrayal of the conflicted industrialist John Thornton created a lasting impression. He honed his craft in British television, from the spy drama 'Spooks' to the superhero series 'Robin Hood.' Then, Peter Jackson cast him as Thorin Oakenshield, the proud and doomed Dwarf king in 'The Hobbit' film trilogy. Armitage disappeared into the role, his performance beneath prosthetics and armor conveying a tragic grandeur that launched him to international audiences. He continues to choose varied projects, from gritty thrillers to narrating audiobooks, always bringing a distinctive gravity and depth.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Richard was born in 1971, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Richard Was Born
The biggest hits of 1971
#1 Movie
Fiddler on the Roof
Best Picture
The French Connection
#1 TV Show
Marcus Welby, M.D.
Richard's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1971Born
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1976Started school
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1984Became a teenager
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1987Could drive
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1989Could vote
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1992Turned 21
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2001Turned 30
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2011Turned 40
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 50
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 55 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Gained widespread recognition for his leading role as John Thornton in the BBC television adaptation of 'North & South' (2004).
- Played the pivotal role of Thorin Oakenshield in Peter Jackson's three-film adaptation of 'The Hobbit'.
- Portrayed Francis Dolarhyde in the acclaimed television series 'Hannibal'.
- Starred as Daniel Miller in the hit Netflix thriller series 'Stay Close'.
- Is an accomplished audiobook narrator, winning awards for his readings of classic novels.
Did You Know?
He is a trained ballet dancer and studied at the Pattison College in Coventry.
He provided the voice for the character Trevor in the popular video game 'Grand Theft Auto: Vice City'.
He initially worked as a musician for a touring circus before pursuing acting.
He is taller than many of his co-stars, standing at 6'2.5" (189 cm).
“I'm always drawn to characters who are slightly isolated or on the periphery, who have a secret or a duality.”
