James Louis de Zogheb Dreyfus (born 9 October 1968) is an English actor most notable for roles on television sitcoms The Thin Blue Line as Constable Kevin Goody, and Gimme Gimme Gimme as Tom Farrell. Dreyfus is most recently known for a role as the Reverend Roger Jones in Mount Pleasant.
In London's West End, Dreyfus starred in The Producers in 2004 as Carmen Ghia. In 2006, he starred as the Emcee in Cabaret.
Early life James Louis de Zogheb Dreyfus was born on 9 October 1968 in Islington, London. His parents divorced when he was very young.Fletcher, Mary, Why life's looking Goody for James, TV Times, pg 31. His mother, Margo de Zoghels, was a model. His maternal grandfather was of Syrian descent and his family immigrated to the United Kingdom from Damascus. He also has English, Italian, Greek, Norwegian, French and Swiss ancestry."Mum is staying overnight. I don’t think she’s ever actually said “hello” when she sees me. She just launches into a conversation straight away, regardless of whether I might know what the HELL she’s on about.
Today she said “My father once told me his family originally came from Damascus… so you’re part Syrian… the traffic was fucking awful…”" via X To be honest, I'm a complete mongrel. Italian, Greek, English, Norwegian, French, Swiss and ,believe it or not, Syrian. But I'm British!!! via X
He was educated at Harrow School. He then trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.
Career
At the 1998 Laurence Olivier Awards, Dreyfus won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Supporting Performance in a Musical for his work in Lady in the Dark at the National Theatre. In the same year, Dreyfus won Second Prize at the Ian Charleson Awards for his 1997 performance as Caius Cassius in William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar at the Birmingham Rep.Harlow, John. "Winning in a double act". Sunday Times. 26 April 1998. (Online reprint: ).
Dreyfus's first television break came with the BBC comedy series Absolutely Fabulous. followed by roles as Constable Kevin Goody in Ben Elton's sitcom The Thin Blue Line and Tom Farrell, the gay flatmate of Linda la Hughes (Kathy Burke) in Gimme Gimme Gimme. Dreyfus played opposite Bette Midler in the short-lived American sitcom Bette.
Known for portraying "camp, endearing characters," Dreyfus (in a Sheengate Publishing interview) compared the character Frank Spencer from Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em, whom he described as a campy but married heterosexual, to Dreyfus's character Kevin Goody from The Thin Blue Line. Regarding his character Tom Farrell from Gimme Gimme Gimme, Dreyfus hypothesized that, even if the character were heterosexual, the actor would still portray Tom as camp and flamboyant. Furthermore, Dreyfus said that he felt that he became typecast due to his portrayals of "flamboyant" characters.Our interview with James Dreyfus . Interviewed by Rob Edwards. Sheengate Publishing. 31 January 2013.
He played Thermoman in the BBC One comedy My Hero, a role he took over in the sixth series from Ardal O'Hanlon. Although the same character, he used the name George Monday, as opposed to O'Hanlon's character's name, George Sunday. After disappointing ratings, the show was cancelled.
Dreyfus also starred as Mr Teasy-Weasy in the 2004 comedy film Churchill: The Hollywood Years.
From 2012 to 2017, Dreyfus appeared as the Reverend Roger Jones in the Sky Living series Mount Pleasant.
In 2017, he voiced an incarnation of The Master from Doctor Who in the Big Finish Productions release The First Doctor Adventures Volume One, going on to appear as the character in 2019's "The Home Guard", 2020's "The Psychic Circus" and 2022's "Blood of the Time Lords". In an interview on SpectatorTV, Dreyfus said he was dismissed from the role following comments he made on Twitter in support of author J. K. Rowling.
Personal life Dreyfus is gay.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes1995Thin Ice Greg1995–1996The Thin Blue LineConstable Kevin Goody TV series (14 episodes)Absolutely FabulousChristopher TV series (2 episodes)1996BoyfriendsPaul1999Notting HillMartin1999–2001Gimme Gimme GimmeTom FarrellTV series (19 episodes)2000The Nearly Complete and Utter History of EverythingSwedish AmbassadorTwo-part BBC special celebration for the new millennium.GormenghastProfessor FlukeTV2000–2001BetteOscarU.S. TV series (18 episodes)2004Fat SlagsFidor KonstantinTVAgent Cody Banks 2: Destination LondonGordonThe ProducersCarmen GhiaTheatre Royal, Drury LaneWaking the DeadRaymond Carstairs2005Willo the WispAll voicesRevival to original 1981 series2006Colour Me KubrickMelvyn Prescott My HeroGeorge Monday / Thermoman TV series (8 episodes)2006–2007CabaretEmceeLyric Theatre, London2007Double TimeLawrence Nixon/George McCabe Nina and the NeuronsFelix (voice)2009CasualtyRoryTV2011The Sarah Jane AdventuresJohn HarrisonEpisode: "The Man Who Never Was"2012Midsomer MurdersRalph FordEpisode: "A Rare Bird"Holby CityFelixTVWhitechapelCharlie CrossTV series, 2 episodes2012–2017Mount PleasantThe Reverend Roger JonesTV series2013Dandelion & BurdockDandelionTV2013–2014CandideDr. PanglossMenier Chocolate Factory, London2013ShamelessEdward ClayhillEpisode: "An Inspector Calls"2015 Father Brown Binkie Cadwaller Episode 3.10 "The Judgment of Man" Scottish Mussel Headmaster 2018Doctor Who: The First Doctor Adventures Volume 01The MasterAudio Drama, Episode: The Destination WarsTales from New EarthThe Most Exalted High PersianAudio Drama, Episode: The Cats of New Cairo2019 Harry & Meghan: Becoming Royal Sir Leonard Briggs TV movie The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance Lath'N Agatha RaisinHarry WitherspoonS3 E1 Episode: "Agatha Raisin and The Haunted House"Doctor Who: The Early AdventuresThe MasterAudio Drama, Episode: The Home Guard2020Doctor Who: The Monthly AdventuresAudio Drama, Episode: The Psychic Circus Supernova Tim The Hollow TV movie The Harbour Robert Short2021 The Kindred Mr. Mulvaney 2022Doctor Who: The Fourth Doctor AdventuresThe MasterAudio Drama, Episode: Blood of the Time Lords Lips Michael Short2023 One Foot in the Grave - 30 Years Of Laughs Himself Documentary 2024 House of the Dragon Lord Gormon MasseyTV series, 6 episodes Cara Greg Wilson
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