Edward Tudor-Pole
Edward Tudor-Pole | |
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![]() Tudor-Pole in Cardiff, 2013 | |
Born | Edward Felix Tudor-Pole 6 December 1955 |
Other names | Eddie "Tenpole" |
Occupation | Television presenter and actor |
Edward Felix Tudor-Pole[1] (also known as Edward Tenpole, though he introduced himself as "Ed" on several episodes of The Crystal Maze; born 6 December 1955)[2] is an English musician, television presenter and actor.
Originally gaining fame in the United Kingdom in the late 1970s as the lead singer of the punk rock band Tenpole Tudor, Tudor-Pole began an acting career following the group's split in 1982. Outside of his music career Tudor-Pole is probably best known in the UK as the presenter of the game show The Crystal Maze from 1993 to 1995 and in the US for his roles as Enaros in the 1997 fantasy film Kull the Conqueror and Mr Borgin in the Harry Potter film series.
Personal life[]
Tudor-Pole was born on 6 December 1955 in Lambeth, London,[3] to David W. and Shirley C. (née Brown) Tudor-Pole. The family's name derives from that of John de la Pole, 2nd Duke of Suffolk (great-grandson of Geoffrey Chaucer) via Tudor-Pole's grandfather, spiritualist Wellesley Tudor Pole. Wellesley's mother was a descendant of Welsh courtier Owen Tudor, and added the 'Tudor' to her son's name.[4][5]
Tudor-Pole was educated at Pennthorpe School, Rudgwick, Sussex and King Edward's School in Witley, Surrey. He later attended RADA (the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art). He lives in London and has one son. He was a keen biker for many years; his motorcycling skills can be witnessed in the 1997 film Tunnel of Love, in which he played the lead role of Dodge.[6]
Musical career[]
Tudor-Pole formed the band Tenpole Tudor in 1977, and eventually came to prominence after appearing in the film The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle as a possible replacement for Johnny Rotten in the Sex Pistols.[7] He sang "Who Killed Bambi?", "The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle" and a cover version of "Rock Around the Clock" in the film and on the soundtrack. Tenpole Tudor returned in 1980, signing to Stiff Records and releasing two successful albums, Eddie, Old Bob, Dick and Gary and Let the Four Winds Blow.[8][9] They had three hit singles, including UK Top 10 hit "Swords of a Thousand Men" which he performed on Top of the Pops in May 1981.[10][11]
Acting career[]
Tudor-Pole has appeared in numerous films and plays, and was the presenter on The Crystal Maze,[12] replacing Richard O'Brien from 1993 until the show's hiatus in 1995. He appeared in Between the Lines in 1992, playing a Liverpudlian villain. His film and play credits include The Rocky Horror Show[13] (written by his Crystal Maze predecessor), Jim Cartwright's play Road at the Royal Court Theatre,[14] The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle (1980),[15] Absolute Beginners (1986),[16] Drowning by Numbers (1988),[17] White Hunter Black Heart (1990) with Clint Eastwood,[18] Princess Caraboo (1994),[19] and several films by Alex Cox including Sid and Nancy (1986),[20] Straight to Hell (1987)[21] and Walker (1987).[22]
In Kull the Conqueror (1997) he played Enaros, the antagonist of the film.[23] The following year he appeared as a slumlord in the film version of Les Misérables,[24] and as a blind man in Russell Mulcahy's horror film Tale of the Mummy.[25] He also was seen in Quills (2000),[26] The Life and Death of Peter Sellers (2004) as Spike Milligan,[27] and The Queen's Sister (2005).[28] Most recently he had a small part in an episode of Agatha Christie's Marple entitled "A Pocket Full of Rye", shown in 2009.[29] His appearance in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002) as Mr Borgin, the owner of Borgin and Burke's store, was cut from the theatrical release, but is included in the extended edition DVD.[30] He also appeared as a ranting street preacher in season two of Game of Thrones.[31]
Filmography[]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1980 | The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle | Tadpole | |
1986 | Absolute Beginners | Ed the Ted | |
1986 | Sid and Nancy | UK Hotelier | |
1987 | Straight to Hell | Rusty Zimmerman | |
1987 | Walker | Doubleday | |
1988 | Drowning by Numbers | Mr 71 Van Dyke | |
1990 | White Hunter Black Heart | Reissar, British partner | |
1994 | Princess Caraboo | Lord Neville | |
1994 | Blackout | Brother Francis | |
1996 | Different for Girls | Prosecuting Solicitor | |
1996 | La lengua asesina | Flash | |
1997 | Kull the Conqueror | Enaros | |
1997 | Tunnel of Love | Dodge | |
1998 | Tale of the Mummy | Blind Man | |
1998 | Les Misérables | Landlord | |
2000 | Some Voices | Lighter Seller | |
2000 | Quills | Franval | |
2002 | Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets | Mr Borgin | (scenes deleted) |
2004 | The Life and Death of Peter Sellers | Spike Milligan | |
2005 | GamerZ | Dr Denham | |
2005 | The Queen's Sister | Cecil Beaton | TV movie |
2008 | Faintheart | Lollipop Man / Death Metal Singer | |
2010 | Straight to Hell Returns | Rusty Zimmerman |
References[]
- ^ Dictionary of Pseudonyms: 13,000 Assumed Names and Their Origins, 5th ed. Adrian Room, p. 483
- ^ GRO Births Dec 1955: TUDOR-POLE, Edward, mmn = BROWN, Lambeth 5c 1516
- ^ England & Wales, Birth Index: DEC 1954 vol 5c, p. 1516
- ^ Gerry Fenge, 'The Two Worlds of Wellesley Tudor Pole', Lorian Association, 2010.
- ^ "Ed Tudor-Pole in conversation with Phil Singleton", philjens.plus.com; accessed 9 March 2013.
- ^ "Tunnel of Love (1997)". BFI. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Tenpole Tudor | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
- ^ "Tenpole Tudor - Eddie, Old Bob, Dick And Gary". Discogs. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
- ^ Let the Four Winds Blow - Tenpole Tudor | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic, retrieved 17 April 2020
- ^ "Top of the Pops - TV Episode Calendar". episodecalendar.com. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
- ^ "swords of a thousand men | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
- ^ "The Crystal Maze[18/05/95] (1995)". BFI. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
- ^ "RockyMusic - The Rocky Horror Show (London Cast - The Whole Gory Story) (1990)". www.rockymusic.org. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
- ^ Gussow, Mel (10 July 1986). "Critic's Notebook; the Royal Court Redux". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
- ^ "The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle (1980)". BFI. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
- ^ "Absolute Beginners". Empire. 25 August 2006. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
- ^ "Drowning by Numbers (1988)". BFI. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
- ^ "White Hunter Black Heart (1990)". BFI. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
- ^ "Princess Caraboo (1994)". BFI. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
- ^ Sid and Nancy (1986) - Alex Cox | Cast and Crew | AllMovie, retrieved 17 April 2020
- ^ "Straight to Hell (1987)". BFI. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
- ^ Walker (1987) - Alex Cox | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie, retrieved 17 April 2020
- ^ Kull the Conqueror (1997) - John Nicolella | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie, retrieved 17 April 2020
- ^ Les Miserables (1998) - Bille August | Cast and Crew | AllMovie, retrieved 17 April 2020
- ^ "Talos the Mummy (1998)". BFI. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
- ^ Quills (2000), retrieved 17 April 2020
- ^ McCarthy, Todd (22 May 2004). "The Life and Death of Peter Sellers". Variety. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
- ^ The Queen's Sister (2005) - Simon Cellan Jones | Cast and Crew | AllMovie, retrieved 17 April 2020
- ^ "A Pocket Full of Rye (2009)". BFI. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
- ^ "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2003)". BFI. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
- ^ "Game of Thrones: The Ghost of Harrenhal". TV.com. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
External links[]
- 1955 births
- People educated at King Edward's School, Witley
- English male singers
- English punk rock singers
- English television presenters
- Living people
- Sex Pistols
- English male film actors
- English male stage actors
- Male actors from London
- 20th-century English male actors
- 21st-century English male actors
- Alumni of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art