 |
Steve ToussaintBritish actor
Date of Birth: 22.03.1965
Country:  Great Britain |
Content:
- Childhood and Early Life
- Transition to Acting
- Theater Career
- Film and Television
- Personal Life
- Recent Projects
Childhood and Early Life
Steve Toussaint, a British actor of Barbadian descent, was born on March 22, 1965, in Birmingham, England. At the age of four, he relocated to London with his family. Despite living in the capital, Toussaint maintained a strong connection to his hometown, visiting his cousin during summer holidays.
In interviews, Toussaint has fondly recalled performing in a children's Christmas play as a Roman centurion, donning cardboard armor. He also shared his frustration with his mother for tardily delivering his costume to the performance. At 10 years old, he was cast as the mayor of London in a play about a witch who stopped time.
After completing secondary school, Toussaint enrolled in the University of Sussex, majoring in politics. His goal was to avoid getting a job while he explored his career options. Despite considering law, he ultimately settled on politics due to its appealing nature and the high cost of law books.
During his time at university, Toussaint participated in a play where he portrayed a "chancer" who believed himself to be irresistible to women. After a brief stint at a merchant bank, he spent three months traveling and relaxing in the United States.
Transition to Acting
Upon returning to England, Steve Toussaint decided to pursue acting. He applied to a drama school but was dismayed to learn they required a non-refundable application fee. Instead, he opted to attend evening classes to gain experience and later audition for smaller roles.
"Luckily for me, one of the people who taught the evening classes had a theater company, and I did a little bit of work with them," Toussaint explained. "And then, I auditioned at the Bromley Theatre and got into Equity, the British union. My first professional job was as a genie in 'Aladdin' at the Churchill Theatre in about 1990-91."
Theater Career
In 2014, Toussaint highlighted two notable theater productions in which he starred: "Ruined" by Lynn Nottage, which won the Pulitzer Prize, and "A Doll's House" by Henrik Ibsen. The former, staged at the Almeida Theatre, featured Toussaint in the challenging role of Commandant Osembenga. The latter, performed at the Young Vic, Duke of York's Theatre, and Brooklyn Academy of Music, was a dream come true for the actor.
Toussaint has also appeared in "Father Comes Home from the Wars" at the Royal Court, "Riots" at the Tricycle Theatre, and "Macbeth" with the Royal Shakespeare Company. Additionally, he has graced the stage of the Royal National Theatre.
Film and Television
Steve Toussaint's film debut came in 1994 when he appeared in an episode of "The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes" based on Arthur Conan Doyle's "The Adventure of the Three Gables." He also landed the lead role in the television series "Knocker," a drama centered around customs and excise.
In 1995, he starred in "Judge Dredd," a superhero action film that earned Sylvester Stallone a Golden Raspberry Award nomination and brought Toussaint wider recognition.
Other notable film credits include the drama "Shooting Dogs" with John Hurt, Hugh Dancy, and Dominic Horwitz, which won the Heartland Film Festival award, and the action film "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time." Between these projects, Toussaint appeared in "A Purely English Murder," "CSI: Miami," and "Doctors."
Subsequent television appearances include "Silent Witness," "Lewis," "Pine Gap," and "Doctor Who." He also portrayed Othello in "Will," and ventured into voice acting for the video games Jurassic World Evolution, World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth, and Jurassic World Evolution 2.
Personal Life
Steve Toussaint, standing at 6'3" (191 cm), is known for keeping his personal life private. It is reported that he was married but divorced, and the union produced a daughter.
Recent Projects
In 2022, fans of the popular television series "Game of Thrones" were thrilled to learn that the prequel "House of the Dragon" had completed filming. Toussaint joined the cast as Corlys Velaryon, Lord of House Velaryon and the renowned Sea Snake of Westeros.
