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David SuchetActor
Date of Birth: 02.05.1946
Country:  Great Britain |
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Biography of David Suchet
David Suchet, a renowned English actor of film, television, and theatre, is best known for his portrayal of detective Hercule Poirot in the British television series "Poirot" which aired for 24 years from 1989 to 2013. Despite the conclusion of the series, Suchet's career did not come to a halt, and he continued to act in various television and film projects.
Early Life and Education
David Suchet was born on May 2, 1946, in London, England, to Jack Suchet, an obstetrician-gynecologist, and Joan Patricia, a stage actress. His father had Lithuanian and Jewish roots, with his grandfather, Isidor Suchedowitz, being a Lithuanian Jew who later changed his surname to "Suchet" after moving to South Africa. Joan Patricia's ancestors were also Jewish, with her great-grandfather, Arnold Jarche, hailing from a Jewish family in Dinaburg (now Daugavpils), Latvia and her great-grandmother, Amelie Solomon, being from Grodno, a city in the Russian Empire (now located in Belarus). David has an older brother named John and a younger brother named Peter.
David and his brothers attended the boarding school Grenham House in Bercingthon-on-Sea, Kent. It was during his time at Wellington Secondary School in Somerset that he became interested in acting. At the age of 18, he joined the National Youth Theatre of London and later enrolled in the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, graduating in 1971.
Career
Suchet began his theater career at the Watermill Theatre in Berkshire before joining the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1973. Some of his notable early theater performances include "Romeo and Juliet" (1973), "Richard II" (1973), "King John" (1974), "Cymbeline" (1974), "The Common Pursuit" (1974), and "Love's Labour's Lost" (1974).
Parallel to his theater work, Suchet made his television debut in 1970 in an episode of the series "The Mating Machine" and later appeared in "Public Eye" (1971) and took a seven-year hiatus to focus on his theater career. In 1978, he appeared in an episode of "The Professionals" and subsequently in TV movies like "Schiele in Prison" and "A Tale of Two Cities," as well as the mini-series "Oppenheimer".
Suchet's career flourished as he appeared in numerous film and television projects from 1982 to 1988, including "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" (1982), "The Missionary" (1982), "The Professionals" (1984), "Freud" (1984), "Thirteen at Dinner" (1985), "Mussolini" (1985), "Harry and the Hendersons" (1987), and "To Kill a Priest" (1988).
In 1989, Suchet agreed to take on the role of the Belgian detective Hercule Poirot in the television series "Poirot," which became his most iconic role. Prior to this, he had portrayed Inspector Japp in "Thirteen at Dinner." Interestingly, during a break in filming, actor Peter Ustinov, who had previously played Poirot in "Thirteen at Dinner," told Suchet that he would make an excellent Poirot. At the time, Suchet had no idea that he would eventually become synonymous with the character for many years to come.
While the role of Poirot became his defining work, Suchet did not limit himself to just one character. He continued to have a successful career, appearing in a variety of films, television shows, and stage productions. Some notable works during the run of "Poirot" include "Executive Decision" (1996), "Perfect Murder" (1998), "Sabotage!" (2000), "Victoria & Albert" (2001), "Live from Baghdad" (2002), "Relative Values" (2003), "Henry VIII" (2003), "The Bear Named Winnie" (2004), "Flushed Away" (2006), "Arthur and the Minimoys" (2006), "The Bank Job" (2008), "Solomon Kane" (2009), and television series such as "The Way We Live Now" (2001), "Going Postal" (2010), "Great Expectations" (2011), "The Hollow Crown" (2012), and "Doctor Who" (2017).
Some of his most acclaimed theater performances include "Richard II" (1980), "Richard III" (1980), "The Merchant of Venice" (1981), "Othello" (1985), "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" (1996), "Amadeus" (1998), "Long Day's Journey Into Night" (2012), and "Black Coffee" (2012), in which he played his famous screen character Hercule Poirot.
Personal Life
In 1972, David Suchet met his future wife, actress Sheila Ferris. They got married on June 30, 1976. They have two children together: a son named Robert, who served in the Royal Marines and achieved the rank of Captain, and a daughter named Katherine, who is currently working as a physiotherapist.
Legacy and Honors
Though his main work as an actor did not receive major awards, Suchet was honored with the Order of the British Empire in 2010, becoming a Commander. This recognition is considered the most significant in his career.
In his upcoming projects, Suchet will appear in the American action film "The Courier" alongside Dylan O'Brien, Michael Keaton, and Taylor Kitsch. The film, which centers around the fight against international terrorism, will be released on September 8, 2017.
