Gerard Paul Greenhalgh (born 12 April 1979), known professionally as Paul Nicholls, is an English actor. He is known for his roles as Joe Wicks in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, DS Sam Casey in the ITV drama Law & Order: UK, and Steve Bell in the Channel 4 drama Ackley Bridge.
Career Nicholls made his television debut in 1990 at the age of 10, in Children's Ward. In 1994, he appeared in the BBC children's drama Earthfasts and The Biz, a teenage performing arts drama filmed at Hampton Court. In 1996, he appeared in an episode of Out of the Blue. Later that year, Nicholls began portraying the role of Joe Wicks in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, a role which he played until 1997, and a cameo appearance in 2024.
Nicholls appeared in several teenage stage roles, notably as Aladdin in Aladdin - Genie of the Ring at the Central Theatre in Chatham (1996–1997), and he made his London stage debut as Billy Fisher in the 1998 production of Billy Liar, at the King's Head Theatre in Islington.
Nicholls' 2008 career began as the character Robert Fielding in Harley Street alongside Suranne Jones. He also played Harry Keegan in Secret Diary of a Call Girl, Judas in another BBC series entitled The Passion, and appeared in A Thing Called Love. He then appeared in the 2012 feature film Life Just Is.
Nicholls also appeared as Simon Marshall in the BBC hospital drama serial Holby City between May and July 2012, and played Cal Beckett in Channel 4's crime thriller, The Fear. He played the role of DS Sam Casey in ITV's Law & Order: UK until the end of series 7 in 2013.
From 2017 to 2018, Nicholls portrayed the role of Steve Bell in the Channel 4 drama Ackley Bridge. From September to October 2018, Nicholls starred alongside Iwan Rheon in Foxfinder at the Ambassadors Theatre. In January 2019, Nicholls took over the role of Raymond from Mathew Horne in the British touring production of Rain Man.
Personal life Nicholls lives in Hampstead, London.
From 2008 to 2015, Nicholls was married to Chantal Brown.
In July 2017, Nicholls was badly injured while on holiday in Thailand after falling from a waterfall in Ko Samui. As his mobile phone was broken, he was left stranded at the bottom of the waterfall for three days, and only rescued by volunteer rescuers, police and medics after locals alerted police to the motorcycle he had travelled on, which lay abandoned nearby. He was later taken to hospital, suffering from broken legs and a shattered knee. Nicholls' agent said he was "recovering well".
In May 2021, Nicholls revealed that he suffered a stroke in 2018. The stroke caused him to experience deep depression, which led to him becoming addicted to dihydrocodeine and cocaine throughout 2020. He confirmed that he was attending Narcotics Anonymous meetings and was glad to be in recovery, stating that if he were to relapse again, he "would die".
Filmography + Film Year Film Role Notes 1999 The Trench Pte. Billy Macfarlane 1999 The Clandestine Marriage Richard Lovewell 2000 Self Help Greene Short Film 2001 Goodbye Charlie Bright Charlie Bright 2002 High Speed Ruben Also known as The Ride and Joy-Rider 2004 If Only Ian Wyndham 2004 Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason Jed 2008 Daylight Robbery Chubby 2008 Faintheart Gary 2012 Life Just Is Bobby 2013 A Long Way From Home Mark 2018 Genesis Shane Frost
+ Television Year Show Role Notes 1990 Children's Ward 1 episode 1994 Earthfasts David Series regular 1995 The Biz Tim Marshall Series regular 1996 Out of the Blue Matt Pearson 1 episode 1996–1997, 2024 EastEnders Joe Wicks Series regular; 177 episodes 1998–1999 City Central PC Terry Sydenham Series regular 1999 Love Story Seth 1999 The Passion Daniel 2001 Table 12 Ol 1 episode2001 Gimme Gimme Gimme Himself Comic Relief Special 2003 The Canterbury Tales Jerome 1 episode: "The Wife of Bath"2003 Blue Dove Nick Weston 8 part series 2004 Gunpowder, Treason & Plot Lord Darnley 2 part mini-series2004 A Thing Called Love Gary Scant 6 part series 2006 Hustle Adam Rice Episode: "Law and Corruption" 2006 Girls Aloud: Off the Record Narrator 6 episodes 2007 Agatha Christie's Marple Ted Latimer Episode: "Towards Zero"2007 Clapham Junction Terry Television film 2008 Fairy Tales Connor Gruff Episode: "Billy Goat"2008 The Passion Judas 4 part series2008 Bonekickers James 1 episode: "Army of God"2008 Harley Street Robert Fielding 6 part series 2011 Secret Diary of a Call Girl Harry Keegan 3 episodes2011 Candy Cabs Tony McQueen 3 part series 2012–2013 Law & Order: UK DS Sam Casey Series regular 2012 Midsomer Murders Dave Foxely Episode: "A Rare Bird" 2012 Holby City Simon Marshall Recurring role 2012 Lake Placid: The Final Chapter Ryan Loflin Television film 2012 The Fear Cal Beckett Recurring role 2013 Great Night Out Scott 1 episode 2015 The C-Word Pete Lynch Television film 2016 Death in Paradise Jay Croker 1 episode 2016 Grantchester Reggie Lawson 1 episode 2016 In the Club Nathan Parker Main role; 4 episodes 2017–2018 Ackley Bridge Steve Bell Main role; 15 episodes 2023–2024 Phoenix Rise Carl Hopkins Main role
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