Sean Carl Roland Pertwee (born 4 June 1964) is an English actor, narrator and producer. His credits include Chancer (1990), Leon the Pig Farmer (1992), Cadfael (1994), Bodyguards (1997), Event Horizon (1997), Stiff Upper Lips (1998), Soldier (1998), Cleopatra (1999), Love, Honour and Obey (2000), Dog Soldiers (2002), Julius Caesar (2003), Ancient Rome: The Rise And Fall of an Empire – Caesar (2006), Doomsday (2008), Honest (2008), Devil's Playground (2010), Four (2011), Wild Bill (2011), Elementary (2013–2014), Howl (2015), Gotham (2014–2019), Agatha Christie's The Pale Horse (2020), You (2023), Silent Witness (2024), and The Night Caller (2024).
Early life Pertwee was born on 4 June 1964 in Hammersmith, London to actor Jon Pertwee, who played the Third Doctor in Doctor Who, and his German second wife, Ingeborg Rhoesa. Playwright and screenwriter Roland Pertwee was his grandfather; his sister is actress Dariel Pertwee.
Pertwee was educated at Teddington Boys' School, in Richmond upon Thames, and then Sunbury College, Surrey. He later studied acting at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, graduating in 1986.
Career Theatre Pertwee joined the Royal Shakespeare Company and toured with them for three years. During this time, he appeared in Titus Andronicus at the Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon (1987), and The New Inn at the People's Theatre, Newcastle upon Tyne (1988).
TV and film He appeared in Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot – The King of Clubs alongside David Suchet (12 March 1989). In 1992, he starred as Keith Chadwick in Leon the Pig Farmer.
In 1994, he appeared as Hugh Beringar alongside Derek Jacobi in the first series of the television series Cadfael. In 1997, he starred alongside Laurence Fishburne, Sam Neill, Joely Richardson, and Jason Isaacs in the space based science fiction horror film Event Horizon (1997). In 1998, he starred alongside Kurt Russell in the science fiction action film Soldier (1998).
In 1999 he portrayed Brutus in the Hallmark Channel film Cleopatra. He co-owned the Natural Nylon film production company along with Sadie Frost, Jude Law, Jonny Lee Miller, and Ewan McGregor.Boehm, Erich (18 February 2002). "Natural Nylon to go public ".Variety. Retrieved 1 July 2009. and starred alongside them in Love, Honour and Obey (2000). Pertwee became known for his portrayal of grimacing death, particularly in the Neil Marshall Werewolf film Dog Soldiers (2002), a skill which led to him being awarded 'Best Death Face' at Bristol Old Vic.
He appeared in the film Devil's Playground (2010), a horror film directed by Mark McQueen, starring alongside Danny Dyer, Jaime Murray, and Craig Fairbrass. Pertwee appeared in the Nazi zombie film The 4th Reich which he filmed in 2010, directed by Shaun Smith.
In 2014, he was cast in Fox's TV series Gotham, a series presenting an origin for the characters of the Batman franchise. Pertwee portrays Alfred Pennyworth, an ex-special forces soldier from London who works as the Wayne family's loyal butler. After Thomas and Martha Wayne are murdered, he becomes guardian and mentor to the future Batman.
In 2024, he played Detective Inspector John Flynn in Silent Witness in the episodes "Death by a Thousand Hits" Part 1 and 2. He played a late night disc jockey in Channel 5's four part mini-series The Night Caller, broadcast in 2024.
Voice He appeared in the 2008 film Doomsday as Doctor Talbot. His voice is frequently heard in a variety of television commercials, documentaries and video games, including the medieval empire-building computer game Medieval: Total War and futuristic war games Killzone (as Colonel Gregor Hakha), Killzone 2 (as Colonel Mael Radec), and Fire Warrior (as Governor Severus). He is also the voice behind the Northeast's tourism advertisement which started broadcasting at the start of 2009. He replaced India Fisher from the fourth series onwards, as the narrator of Masterchef: The Professionals. He starred alongside John Hurt as Brother Proteus in the animated film Ultramarines: The Movie (2010) a Warhammer 40,000 Movie.
Pertwee has been in several dramatic works for BBC Radio 4, including playing the actor Oliver Reed in the play Burning Both Ends by Matthew Broughton in 2011.
Personal life Pertwee married Jacqueline Jane "Jacqui" Hamilton-Smith, a make-up artist, daughter of Anthony Hamilton-Smith, on 12 June 1999 at the House of Lords. His wife gave birth to twins, in 2001. They were born prematurely; one died four days later.
Politics
Pertwee presented a television party political broadcast on behalf of the Labour Party in the 2010 UK general election.Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine:
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes/ 1991 Coping with Cupid Peter Short 1992 Leon the Pig Farmer Keith Chadwick 1993 Dirty Weekend The Quiet One Swing Kids Uncredited 1994 Shopping Tommy 1995 Blue Juice J.C. ID Martin 1997 Event Horizon Pilot Smith 1998 Soldier Mace Tale of the Mummy Bradley Cortese Stiff Upper Lips George 1999 Cleopatra Brutus 2000 Five Seconds to Spare Piers Love, Honour and Obey Sean Martin Shaw 2001 The 51st State Detective Virgil Kane 2002 Equilibrium Father Dog Soldiers Sergeant Harry G. Wells 2005 Goal! Barry Rankin The Adventures of Greyfriars Bobby Duncan Smithie The Prophecy: Uprising Dani Simionescu The Last Drop Sgt Bill McMillan 2006 Renaissance Montoya Wilderness Jed 2007 Dangerous Parking Ray Molina Goal! 2: Living the Dream... Barry Rankin Botched Mr. Groznyi 2008 Doomsday Dr. Talbot Mutant Chronicles Nathan Rooker 2010 4.3.2.1. Mr. Richards Just for the Record Sensei Ultramarines: The Movie Brother Proteus Devil's Playground Rob 2011 Four Detective Wild Bill Jack 2012 The Seasoning House Goran Naked Harbour Robert St George's Day Proctor 2013 UFO Tramp The Magnificent Eleven Pete Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa SFO Steve Stubbs 2015 Howl Train Driver Tony 2020 The Reckoning Moorcroft 2022 The Invitation Mr. Fields 2024 Duchess Danny Oswald
Television Year Title Role Notes/ 1989Poirot: The King of Clubs Ronnie Oglander Casualty Nick "Chain Reaction" Hard Cases Dominic Lutovski 7 episodes 1990Chancer Jamie Douglas Recurring – 8 episodesCluedo Richard Forrest Episode: "Christmas Past, Christmas Present" 1991The Chief Det. Sgt. Kevin Powers "Episode 2" Clarissa John Belford 4 episodes 1992Virtual Murder Matt Andries Episode: "Dreams Imagic" The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles Captain Heinz Episode: "Trenches of Hell, Part 2" Boon David Kennedy Episode: "Whispering Grass" The Ruth Rendell Mysteries Det Sgt Barry Vine 4 episodesA Touch of Frost Dazza Scott S3 Episode 2: "Quarry" 1993Peak Practice Francis Barrat Episode: "Hope to Die" 1994CadfaelSheriff Hugh Beringar Series 1 1996Deadly Voyage Ion Plesin TV film directed by John Mackenzie and written by Stuart Urban 1997Bodyguards Ian Worell Main cast 1998MacbethMacbeth UK TV 2000Operation Good Guys The Leader Episode: "The Leader" In the BeginningIsaac Two-part biblical TV Mini-series directed by Kevin Connor 2001Cold Feet (2001) Mark Cubitt Guest star; Series 4 – 4 episodes 2003Cold Feet (2003) Mark Cubitt Guest star; Series 5 – 2 episodesWaking The Dead Carl Mackenzie Episodes: Julius Caesar Titus Labienus Two-part Miniseries directed by Uli Edel 2004Bo' Selecta! Himself "Episode Five" 2004–2005A Bear's Tail Richard Head Series 4 – 7 episodes 2006Agatha Christie's Marple Dr. Owen Griffith Episode: "The Moving Finger"Ancient Rome–The Rise And Fall of an Empire: CaesarJulius Caesar S1 E2 – "Caesar" 2007Nuclear Secrets Narrator 5 episodesThe Tudors English ambassador in the Italian Duchy of Urbino Episode: "In Cold Blood" When Evil Calls The Janitor Miniseries – 2 episodes 2008Honest DS. Ed Bain 6 episodesThe Wrong Door 4 episodesSkinsSoldier on the Train and Simon the Lecturer Episode: "Tony" Journey to the Edge of the UniverseNarratorDocumentary 2009Law & Order: UK Josh Pritchard Episode: "Vice" 2010Luther Terry Lynch"Episode 2" 2011National Geographic: Islands Series Narrator CyprusCamelot Sir Ector Recurring; Series 1 – 3 episodes 2013Jo Charlie 8 episodesThe Five(ish) Doctors Reboot Himself TV filmAgatha Christie's Poirot Sir George Stubbs Episode: "Dead Man's Folly"Death in Paradise Malcolm Powell Episode: "A Deadly Party" 2013–2014ElementaryInspector Lestrade 3 episodes 2014–2019GothamAlfred Pennyworth Main cast – 99 episodes 2014The Musketeers Sarazin Episode: "Musketeers Don't Die Easily" 2019 Prodigal Son Owen Shannon Episode: "Silent Night" 2020 Agatha Christie's The Pale Horse Inspector Lejeune 2 episodes Two Weeks to Live Jimmy 2 episodes2023 You Vic 3 episodes 2024–2025 Silent Witness Detective Inspector John Flynn 4 episodes 2024 The Night Caller Lawrence Brightway 4 episodes 2025 NCIS: Tony & Ziva Aaron Graves 4 episodes The Hack Sean Hoare 2 episodes2026 Good OmensBrian CameronEpisode: "The Finale" 2026 Agatha Christie's Tommy & Tuppence Simon2 episodes TBA The Siege TBA Upcoming drama series
Theatre YearTitleRoleNotes1997Tom JonesCaptain FitzpatrickA BBC adaptation for the stage by playwright Joan Macalpine.
Radio Year Title Role 2011 Burning Both Ends Oliver Reed
Video games Year Title Role/! 1996 The Gene Machine Piers Featherstonehaugh2001Shadowman: Second ComingAsmodeus & additional voices 2002 Medieval: Total War Narrator 2003 Primal Jared Warhammer 40,000: Fire Warrior Governor Severus Gladiator: Sword of Vengeance Invictus Thrax 2004 Killzone Colonel Gregor Hakha 2008 Fable II Additional Voices 2009 Killzone 2 Colonel Mael Radec 2010 Fable III Captain Saker 2012 PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale Colonel Mael Radec 2013 Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag Peter Chamberlaine 2026 Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag Resynced Peter Chamberlaine
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