David Alan Johns (born 15 July 1956) is an English stand-up comedian, actor, and writer. He is best known for his breakthrough role as Daniel Blake in the 2016 Ken Loach film I, Daniel Blake.
Career Johns has appeared on Never Mind the Buzzcocks (four times), 8 Out of 10 Cats, Rob Brydon's Annually Retentive, 28 Acts in 28 Minutes and, as an actor, he has appeared on Mud, Time Gentlemen Please, Inspector George Gently, and Harry Hill as God.
In 2009, he and Owen O'Neill dramatised Stephen King's Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption for the Gaiety Theatre, Dublin.
In 2016, he starred as the title character in the Ken Loach film I, Daniel Blake in a critically acclaimed performance described as "powerful", "a welcome comic touch", and "all the more moving for its restraint". He later wrote a stage version of the film updated to the 2021/2022 cost of living crisis which premiered at the Northern Stage, Newcastle upon Tyne in May 2023.
Johns hosts “Desert Island Flicks” at the Tyneside Cinema in Newcastle where famous figures are invited to watch a film of their choice with an audience followed by a discussion and a question and answer session.
Filmography Film
Year Title Role Notes 2016 I, Daniel Blake Daniel 2017 Howay! Terry Short film Me, the Elephant Dad Short film 2018 Walk Like a Panther Trevor 'Bulldog' Bolton 2019 The Keeper Roberts Fishermen's Friends Leadville Trebilcock 2020 23 Walks Dave Blithe Spirit Harold 2022 Fisherman's Friends: One and All Leadville Trebilcock Making Up Ted Bickerstaff 2023 Turtles (Les Tortues) Thom Halford TBA Filming
Television Year Title Role Notes 1995 Mud Trev Episode #2.11997 Rag Nymph Man Episode #1.1 The Moth Man UncreditedTV movie1998 Harry Hill God Episodes #2.2, #2.7 & #2.8 Colour Blind Auctioneer Episode #1.2TV Mini-series 2001 Time Gentlemen Please 'Cheesy' Alan Supple Episode: "New Year's Steve"2006 Cattle Drive The Burglar Episode #1.1 Dogtown Norm 2010 Inspector George Gently Comedian Episode: "Gently Evil" 2013 It's Kevin Various Episode #1.6 2017 The Nightly Show Himself 1 episode 2025– The Dumping Ground Bernie Series 13 Onwards
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Title Result Ref2016 British Independent Film Awards Best Actor I, Daniel Blake Most Promising Newcomer Dublin Film Critics Circle Awards Best Actor European Film Awards European Actor 2017 Empire Awards Best Male Newcomer London Critics Circle Film Awards British/Irish Actor of the Year
References
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