Ian Cameron Mercer (born 10 July 1961) is an English actor. He is known for playing Gary Mallett in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street from 1995 to 2000, having previously appeared in 1987 as Pete Jackson. His other television credits include Brookside (1982–83), Cracker (1993), and The Street (2007).
Early life Mercer was born in Oldham, Lancashire. On leaving school, Mercer trained as an electrical engineer but decided to become an actor when he became an assistant stage manager at the Oldham Coliseum Theatre in 1979.
Career His first television appearance was as Mile in Starting Out (1982), a series made by ATV for schools and written by Grazyna Monvid.
Mercer went on to work in such stage productions as Bent, Spend Spend Spend, Saturday Night, Sunday Morning, Billy Liar, Stop The Children's Laughter, Welcome Home, Romeo and Juliet, The Fancy Man, The York Realist, Beauty and the Beast and Revengers Tragedy.Mercer on the Internet Movie Database
His television and film acting credits include leading roles as a butcher in Blue Money (1985), Coronation Street (as Gary Mallett and in 1987, Pete Jackson), Shackleton (with Kenneth Branagh), Heartbeat, The Monocled Mutineer, A Touch of Frost, Cracker, Common As Muck, Peak Practice, New Tricks and Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (with Russell Crowe). In 2009 he appeared in an episode of Doctors and two episodes of Waking the Dead. He appeared as Blackbeard's chief zombie henchman in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. During August and September 2015 he returned to Doctors playing the recurring role of Andy Weston in an ongoing sub-plot.
In 2018, Mercer appeared in the Mike Leigh film, Peterloo, playing the "buffoonish" Dr Healey.
Personal life In 2007, Mercer completed three years of study at Northumbria University, gaining a degree in English and Art History.'Street' star's times are a-Changeling – BBC Nottingham website 3 October 2007
In May 2011, he was convicted of benefit fraud, having falsely claimed £2,300 in council tax benefit despite being in work at the time. He was fined £165 with a £15 victim surcharge and £100 costs.'Pirates of the Caribbean star convicted of benefit fraud', The Daily Telegraph – 27 May 2011
He lives in Northumberland with his two daughters, Scarlett Rae (b. 1997) and Carmine Mae (b. 2000).
Filmography Film Year Title Role Director Notes 1990 Alex John Beeban Kidron Short film 2002 Re-inventing Eddie Dougie Jim Doyle 2003 Master and Commander:The Far Side of the World Mr. Hollar, Boatswain Peter Weir 2005 Lassie Yorkshire Policeman Charles Sturridge 2009 The Boat That Rocked Transfer Boatman Richard Curtis Creation Goodman Jon Amiel 2010 Poor Wee Me Mike Simon Powell Gold Top Terry Satvinder Johal Short film 2011 Pirates of the Caribbean:On Stranger Tides Quartermaster(Thomas Miller) Rob Marshall 2016 The Legend of Tarzan Freckled Force Publique David Yates 2018 Peterloo Dr. Joseph Healey Mike Leigh 2022 The Sea Beast Old Nick (voice) Chris Williams Netflix film
Television Year Title Role Notes1982Starting OutMilo5 episodes 1982–1983 Brookside Demon Duane5 episodes 1984 Crown Court Michael Rofe 1 episode Weekend Playhouse Brian 1984–1985 How We Used to Live Freddy Selby3 episodes 1985 One by One Colin 2 episodes 1986–1990 ScreenPlay Brad Peters1 episode (1986) 1 episode (1990) 1986 The Monocled Mutineer Wheelchair1 episode 1987 Coronation Street Pete Jackson 13 episodes 1991 The Bill D.S. Dave Lindsay 1 episode 1993 Cracker D.C./D.S. George Giggs4 episodes 1994 Screen Two Local Reporter Probation Officer 1 episode (March) 1 episode (June) Peak Practice "Clarkey" Clarke 2 episodes Common As Muck Guy Simmons6 episodes 1995 The Final Cut Graham Glass 1 episode 1995–2000 Coronation Street Gary Mallett 425 episodes, Series regular 1996 A Touch of Frost P.C. Craven3 episodes 2003 Sweet Medicine Tony Durston 1 episode 2006 The Afternoon Play Eddie ConnollyDoctors Billy Collis1 episode 2007Damien Giggs 1 episode New Tricks Paul Wilmslow Heartbeat Ronald Kirby The Chase D.I. Proctor The Street Richard Watts2 episodes 2009 Red Riding: In the Year of Our Lord 1974 Paul Bosker TV movie Red Riding: In the Year of Our Lord 1983 Holby City Ken O'Dowd2 episodes DoctorsLenny Aston1 episode Spanish Flu: The Forgotten Fallen StanfordTV movie Waking the Dead Jason Bloch 2 episodes 2010 Shameless Roscoe Lewis Lester Garvey 1 episode (Your Sudden Death Question) 2011 Doctors George Arnott1 episode 2012 The Scapegoat FincherTV movie 2013 Doctors Jim Grove1 episode 2014 Scott & Bailey Frankie Waddington1 episode 2015 Doctors Andy Weston15 episodes 2016 Churchill's Secret Sgt MurrayTV movie In the Club Mickey2 episodes 2022 All Creatures Great and Small Mr Sunningwell S3 Ep52024The ListenersTom3 episodes
Theatre credits
Year Title Role Venue(s) 2001–2002 The York Realist ArthurThe Lowry (15–17 November 2001)Theatre Royal, Bristol (20–24 November 2001)Royal Court Theatre (6 January-9 February 2002)Strand Theatre (8 March-20 April 2002) 2019 Calendar Girls Rod Theatre Royal, Norwich (15 February)
References
External links
Mercer on Corrie.net Mercer on tv.com Interview with Mercer Mercer on Filmbug.com