Kristopher Marshall (born 1 April 1973) is an English actor. He has played Nick Harper in My Family, Colin Frissell in the 2003 film Love Actually, Gratiano in The Merchant of Venice, DS Luke Stone in Murder City (2004–2006), and Dave in the first series of Citizen Khan (2012). He played DI Humphrey Goodman in Death in Paradise from 2014 to 2017 and reprised the role in Beyond Paradise in 2023. He also played Tom Parker in the historical drama Sanditon from 2019 to 2023.

Early life and education Kristopher Marshall was born in 1973 in Bath, Somerset. His father was a Royal Air Force (RAF) navigator, whose career included a posting to the Queen's Flight, eventually becoming a squadron leader. His parents divorced when he was 12.

Marshall moved with his family to Hong Kong and later to Canada. Upon their return to England, he was educated at Wells Cathedral School as a boarding pupil. After failing his initial A-levels in his first year of sixth form and being expelled, he worked various jobs and enrolled at the Redroofs Theatre School in Maidenhead, Berkshire.

Career Marshall made an early career appearance on the police series The Bill but it was in 2000 that his major breakthrough role came as Nick Harper in the BBC sitcom My Family. In 2003, he appeared in the film Love Actually as Colin Frissell, an Englishman who goes to Milwaukee, Wisconsin to find love.

In 2004, Marshall appeared as DS Luke Stone in the police drama series Murder City. From 2005 to 2011, Marshall appeared on TV and in print for BT Retail adverts, where he played the character Adam; with Esther Hall portraying his character's eventual wife Jane. He also played The Ginger Dave in the BBC comedy series Citizen Khan in 2012 but left after season 1.

Since departing his full-time role in My Family in 2003, Marshall made guest appearances three times appearing in 2 episodes of season five in 2004 and his final appearance in a short Comic Relief special in 2005. He finished working on the film Heist at the end of 2006, which aired in April 2008 on BBC Four. During the summer of 2008, Marshall appeared at Trafalgar Studios in the first UK run of Neil LaBute's play Fat Pig. He became a regular cast-member, playing the character of Ethan on the series Traffic Light in 2011.

In April 2013, it was announced that Marshall would be joining the cast of BBC drama Death in Paradise as the island's new lead detective, DI Humphrey Goodman. His character was introduced in the first episode of the third series which aired in 2014, with his first case being to solve the murder of his predecessor, DI Richard Poole (played by Ben Miller). In January 2017 it was leaked that Marshall would be leaving the series citing the pressures it placed upon his family and that he would be replaced by Ardal O'Hanlon who plays DI Jack Mooney.

Marshall starred as Tom Sanger in the 2015 independent British romantic comedy Sparks and Embers.

Marshall reprised the role of DI Humphrey Goodman from Death in Paradise in a BBC spin-off Beyond Paradise, set in South Devon, which first aired in February 2023.

Personal life Marshall was hit by a car in Bristol in 2008. The crash happened in the early hours of 28 April as he enjoyed a night out with friends in Bristol city centre. He was taken to Bristol Royal Infirmary, where a scan revealed head injuries. He made a full recovery and began his performances in the play Fat Pig three weeks later as scheduled. Marshall passionately supports Aston Villa and said that a card from the club helped him through his recovery.

In October 2011, Marshall was charged with failing to provide a breath test after police stopped his car in the Tesco car park in Wells, Somerset.

Marshall married Hannah Dodkin in 2012 when he was 39. He and Dodkin have a son and daughter. As of December 2019 they were living in Bath.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes2000Dead BabiesSkipThe Most Fertile Man in IrelandÉamonn ManleyFive Seconds to SpareMartinJe t'aime John WayneBelmondoShort film2001IrisDr. Gudgeon2002MexicanoJake MortonShort filmThe Four FeathersEdward CastletonDeathwatchPvt. Barry Starinski2003Love ActuallyColin Frissell2004The Merchant of VeniceGratiano2006Free JimmyErik (voice)English version2007The Amazing TrousersHenryShort filmDeath at a FuneralTroyWorld of WrestlingThe KidShort film2008Easy VirtueFurber2010Meant to BeArchie2011Oka! AmerikeeLarryA Few Best MenTom2015Sparks & EmbersTom Sanger2017A Few Less MenTom2018Royal AffairsAmbassadorShort film2019Trick or TreatThe Cop2021Paul Dood's Deadly Lunch BreakBronsonPromisesLouisFather Christmas Is BackPeter Hope

Television Year Title Role Notes1993Closing NumbersFredericksTelevision film1996The BillTerry CullenSeries 12; episode 71: "Overstepping the Mark"1998Trial & RetributionPC HenshawSeries 2; episodes 1 & 2: "Trial & Retribution II: Part One & Part Two"1999The BillHugh KaneSeries 15; episode 48: "Screwdriver"2000MetropolisFrank GreenMini-series; episodes 1–52000–2005My FamilyNick HarperSeries 1–5; 45 episodes2002Dead Casual(unknown)Television filmDoctor ZhivagoPasha Antipov / StreinkovMini-series; episodes 1–32004My Life in FilmArtEpisodes 1–62004–2006Murder CityDS Luke StoneSeries 1 & 2; 10 episodes2005FunlandDudley SuttonMini-series; episodes 1–112007Catwalk DogsMichael PurvisTelevision filmSoldMattEpisodes 1–6Jackanory JuniorHimself - StorytellerEpisode: "King Arthur and the Mighty Contest"2008HeistDick PuddlecoteTelevision filmSex, Drugs and Rock 'n' Roll: The 60s RevealedHimself - NarratorEpisodes 1–32010Human TargetDoug SlocumSeries 1; episode 7: "Salvage & Reclamation"D.O.A.Tom LassiterTelevision film2011Traffic LightEthanEpisodes 1–13201215 Kids and CountingHimself - NarratorTelevision SpecialCitizen KhanDaveSeries 1; episodes 1–6201316 Kids and CountingHimself - NarratorTelevision SpecialDerekHimselfCameo appearanceLightfieldsPaul Fenner / Paul WillardMini-series; episodes 1–52014–2017Death in ParadiseDI Humphrey GoodmanSeries 3–6; 30 episodes2016AmbulanceHimself - NarratorSeries 1; episodes 1–32017BorderlineBaron of SandwichSeries 2; episode 1: "New Terminal"2018Sky Comedy ShortsMaxEpisode: "Kris Marshall's Whodunnit"20 Kids and CountingHimself - NarratorTelevision Special2019Better ThingsTiborSeason 3; episodes 2 & 4: "Holding" & "Monsters in the Moonlight"21 Kids and CountingHimself - NarratorTelevision Special2019–2023SanditonTom ParkerSeries 1–3; 20 episodes2020We Hunt TogetherCian FitzgeraldSeries 1; episodes 3–5: "103", "104" & "105"2023–presentBeyond ParadiseDI Humphrey GoodmanSeries 1–4; 27 episodes. Also executive producer

Radio Year Title Role2008Spending My InheritanceHarry2011–2013The Diary of Samuel PepysSamuel Pepys

Theatre Year Title Role2006The HypochondriacCleanteThe Revenger's TragedyVindici2007TreatsDave2008Fat PigCarter2017Ugly Lies the BoneKelvinGlengarry Glen RossJohn Williamson2023Charlotte and TheodoreTheodore

Music video Chicane - "No More I Sleep"

Awards 2002 – British Comedy Awards – Best Newcomer

References

External links

BBC Comedy profile