Paul Hugh Moriarty (23 September 1938 – 2 February 2025) was a British character actor and voice actor, known for his role as 'Razors' in John Mackenzie's The Long Good Friday, and "Hatchet" Harry Lonsdale in the Guy Ritchie film Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.
Life and career Paul Hugh Moriarty was born on 23 September 1938 in Deptford, London, England, where he was also raised.
Moriarty came to acting late in life; he had previously worked as a boxer and as a docker at the Surrey Commercial Docks. He began acting when he was discovered by a film crew shooting a scene on the English docks. He adopted the stage name of P. H. Moriarty in order to distinguish himself from the actor Paul Moriarty.
As well as being known for his role as 'Razors' in John Mackenzie's The Long Good Friday (1980), and as a hitman in Peter Hyams film Outland (1981), he also portrayed 'Hatchet Harry' in Guy Ritchie's Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) and Gurney Halleck in the Sci Fi Channel's 2000 miniseries Frank Herbert's Dune and its 2003 sequel, Frank Herbert's Children of Dune.
Moriarty died in London on 2 February 2025, at the age of 86.
Filmography
Television YearTitleRoleNotes1978Law & OrderTelevision miniseries1979Play for TodayDavid BrayEpisode: "Billy"1980Bloody KidsPolice 1Television filmFoxWesleyEpisode: "Shim-Me-Sha-Wabble"1981The Chinese DetectiveRoseEpisode: "Release"1982The Gentle TouchDealerEpisode: "One of Those Days"Bird of PreySecurity Guard2 episodesBBC2 PlayhouseTaylorEpisode: "Jake's End"StrangersJimmy McNemanyEpisode: "With These Gloves You Can Pass Through Mirrors (Part 2)"The ProfessionalsHarrisEpisode: "Operation Susie"The Nation's HealthChris Hogan4 episodes1984Number OneMike the ThroatTelevision film1986The Monocled MutineerWall EyeEpisode: "Before the Shambles"1989Screen OneAnthony James MayEpisode: "The Accountant"1990Dear SarahWarder DeansTelevision filmThe Paradise ClubEvil Jim DaltonEpisode: "Lord of the Flies"1991PalmerClaytonTelevision filmFor the Greater GoodDAC SpittalEpisode: "Member"1997Thief TakersMaxEpisode: "After the Goldrush"1989–2000The BillVarious4 episodes2000Frank Herbert's DuneGurney Halleck3 episodes2003Frank Herbert's Children of DuneGurney Halleck2004DoctorsArchie ReeceEpisode: "Rolling Stone"2005Judge John DeedSteve Gross3 episodesGB3-Being YoungMr. ElakTelevision film
Film YearTitleRoleNotes1979QuadropheniaVillain Club BarmanScumHunt1980The Long Good FridayRazors1981A Sense of FreedomPrison WarderOutland1st Hitman1983Jaws 3Jack TateSlaygroundSeeley1992Patriot GamesCourt GuardChaplinWorkhouse Official1998Lock, Stock and Two Smoking BarrelsHatchet Harry2005SubmergedChiefVideo2006The Battersea Ripper2007The RiddleD. I. WillisVideo2014Evil Never DiesEugene McCann2015Persian EyesJamesShort film2021Rise of the Footsoldier: OriginsIan Jarvis Last film role prior to death in 2025
Music videos 2021: Macky Gee - "Not That Guy (ft. Tempa T)"
References
External links
P. H. Moriarty at BFI