David Hayman (born 9 February 1948) is a Scottish film, television and stage actor and director from Glasgow. His acting credits include Sid and Nancy (1986), Hope and Glory (1987), Rob Roy (1995), The Jackal (1997), Trial & Retribution (1997–2009), Legionnaire (1998), Ordinary Decent Criminal (2000), Vertical Limit (2000), The Tailor of Panama (2001), Flood (2007), The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (2008), The Paradise (2012), Taboo (2017), Our Ladies (2019), The Nest (2020), Bull (2021) and Andor (2022).
Early life Hayman was born in Glasgow. At the age of six, his family were relocated to Drumchapel, Glasgow. He had a happy upbringing in Drumchapel, nearer to the countryside, as part of a working class family with three children.
He left school at 16 years of age without any academic qualifications, but like his father, secured a job in the shipyards as an apprentice electrician. Despite having no family history of acting, he heeded advice from a local amateur dramatics group to apply for a position at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (now Royal Conservatoire of Scotland) in Glasgow. After work one day, he stepped off the bus and headed to the academy in his boiler suit, despite normally being very shy, and enrolled.
Career He began his acting career at the Citizens Theatre in the city. At the venue, Hayman played roles such as Hamlet, the lead in the Beaumarchais directed plays, The Marriage of Figaro, and Al Capone. On television, he gained national prominence playing the role of the notorious Barlinnie Prison convict turned sculptor, Jimmy Boyle, in the tv movie A Sense of Freedom (1981).Star David Hayman reveals how playing gangster-turned-artist Jimmy Boyle made him a prisoner in his hometown, Steve Hendry, Daily Record, 25 Oct 2015 He also made uncredited appearances in early episodes of the comedy sketch show Scotch and Wry (1978).
After this film for television, Hayman focused on performing character roles rather than the lead. His long list of film credits include appearances supporting Gary Oldman in Sid and Nancy (1986), Bruce Willis in The Jackal (1997), Kevin Spacey in Ordinary Decent Criminal (2000) and Pierce Brosnan in The Tailor of Panama (2001). He also appeared in Hope and Glory (1987), directed by John Boorman, as well as The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (2008).
Hayman is known for his role as Chief Supt. Michael Walker in Lynda La Plante's long-running crime thriller Trial & Retribution, which ran for twelve series from 1997 to 2009. He has a distinct scar over his left eye, which he chose to use as character makeup, along with a shaved head, for his part in the series.
Hayman has also had success in directing film and TV productions. Silent Scream (1990), is a study of convicts in Barlinnie Prison, examining the life of convicted murderer Larry Winters. The film was entered into the 40th Berlin International Film Festival. Later followed The Hawk (1993), starring Helen Mirren as a woman who begins to suspect that her husband is a serial killer. He was also in The Near Room, a film about child abuse and corruption set in Glasgow. A talk on the industry given by Hayman to pupils at James McAvoy's Glasgow school in the 1990s was referenced by the latter as the inception of his own successful acting career.The real McAvoy, Harriet Lane, The Guardian, 15 October 2006, At school, a director called David Hayman came to address a class... 'I went up at the end and said, "Thanks very much, that was very interesting," and asked him if I could come and make the tea, do some work experience, if he was ever doing another film... he called me back about four months later and asked if I'd audition for a part. And that's how I got into acting.'
In 2009, Hayman appeared in an episode of the BBC series Robin Hood. In September 2011, Hayman hosted a documentary reconstructing the unsolved murders of Glasgow serial killer Bible John, who murdered three young women in the late 1960s. The documentary was named In Search of Bible John, and looked at the evidence which links Peter Tobin to the killings.
In 2012, Hayman played the Earl of Worcester in the BBC2 adaptation of Henry IV, Part I.
On stage, Hayman appeared as Chris in the 2011 production of Eugene O'Neill's Anna Christie at the Donmar Theatre, London. In 2012, he returned to the Citizens Theatre in Glasgow to play the lead in King Lear alongside George Costigan.
In March 2014, Hayman presented a BBC Two documentary exploring how shipbuilding industry along the river Clyde and four resulting ships; Cutty Sark, CS Mackay-Bennett, CSS Robert E. Lee and helped shaped up the Commonwealth. In July 2016, Hayman presented a BBC Two documentary highlighting Scapa Flow's key role in World War I.
In November 2018, Hayman presented a BBC One documentary telling the story of Captain Jack McCleery and his role, alongside his colleagues, in pioneering Royal Navy's naval aviation with their trial flight on HMS Furious and the subsequent Tondern raid. In 2019, he appeared in the Scottish film Our Ladies (2019), alongside Marli Siu.
In 2021, he starred in the British crime movie Bull (2021), alongside Neil Maskell. The same year, he presented Wonders of Scotland with David Hayman (documentary series) (2021) on ITV.
Charity work and awards In 1992, Hayman was awarded the Glasgow Lord Provost's award for outstanding services to the performing arts. In 2001 he founded the humanitarian charity Spirit Aid which is dedicated to children of the world whose lives have been devastated by war, genocide, poverty, abuse or lack of opportunity. Hayman is currently Head of Operations of the charity which undertakes humanitarian relief projects from Kosovo to Palestine, Guinea-Bissau, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Malawi and South Africa.
Personal life David Hayman has three sons, including David Jr..
Theatre Year Title Role Company Director Notes2011 Anna Christie Chris Donmar Theatre, London Michael Grandage play by Eugene O'Neill 2012 King Lear King Lear Citizens Theatre, Glasgow Dominic Hill play by William Shakespeare 2023 Cyprus Avenue Eric Tron Theatre, Glasgow Andy Arnold play by David Ireland 2025 Death of a Salesman Willy Loman Trafalgar Theatre Andy Arnold play by Arthur Miller
Filmography
Acting
Just Your Luck (1972, TV Series) as Alec Axe (1974) as Radio and Television Shows (voice) The Eagle of the Ninth (1977, TV mini-series) as Liathan Scotch & Wry (1978, TV series) Time of the Eagle (1979) A Sense of Freedom (1979) as Jimmy Boyle Enemy at the Door (1980, TV series) as Oberleutnant Hellman Eye of the Needle (1981) as Canter Ill Fares The Land (1982) Fame Is the Spur (1982, TV mini-series) as Arnold Ryerson Coming Out of the Ice (1982, TV movie) as Guard Commander 1 Love Story: Mr. Right (1983, TV series) It'll All Be Over in Half an Hour (1983, TV series) Reilly: The Ace of Spies (1983, TV mini-series) as Von Jaegar Fell Tiger (1985, TV mini-series) as Joe Borrow Murphy's Law (1986) as Jack Sid and Nancy (1986) as Malcolm McLaren Heavenly Pursuits (1986) as Jeff Jeffries Hope and Glory (1987) as Clive Walker (1987) as Father Rossiter Venus Peter (1989) as Kinnear Silent Scream (1990) as PO 4 – Barlinnie Prison Staff Grave Secrets: The Legacy of Hilltop Drive (1992, TV movie) as Plumber Underbelly (1992, TV series) as Stephen Crowe Between the Lines (1993, TV series) as David Lindsay Finney (1994, TV series) as McDade Ghosts (1995, TV series) as Les Rudkin Rob Roy (1995) as Sibbald The Near Room (1995) as Dougie Patterson The Short Walk (1995, short) as Captain Smilla's Sense of Snow (1997) as Telling Twin Town (1997) as Dodgy Regeneration (1997) as Maj. Bryce The Jackal (1997) as Terek Murad The Boxer (1997) as Joe Hamill's Aide Friendly Voices (1997, Short) as Alec Trial & Retribution (1997–2009, TV series) as Det. Supt. (later Det. Ch. Supt.) Michael Walker Getting Hurt (1998, TV movie) as Corvin My Name Is Joe (1998) as McGowan Legionnaire (1998) as Recruiting Sergeant The Lost Son (1999) as Nathalie's Pimp The Match (1999) as Scrapper Ordinary Decent Criminal (2000) as Tony Brady Last Orders (2000, short) Best (2000) as Tommy Dougherty / The Barman Vertical Limit (2000) as Frank 'Chainsaw' Williams The Tailor of Panama (2001) as Luxmore Murder Rooms: The Photographer's Chair (2001, TV mini-series) as Mitchell The Last Great Wilderness (2002) as Ruaridh As the Beast Sleeps (2002, TV movie) as Alec The Wild Dogs (2002) as Victor Tough Love (2002, TV movie) as Barry Hindes Still Game (2002, TV series) as Vince Gifted (2003, TV movie) as Michael Sanderson De drabbade (2003, TV mini-series) as Häxjägaren Gladiatress (2004) as General Rhinus Fuse (2004, short) as Lem Where the Truth Lies (2005) as Reuben Rag Tale (2005) as Picture Editor – The Rag, Geoff (P3) Randal A Shot in the West (2006, short) as Henry Wynn Small Engine Repair (2006) as Jesse Gold Speed Dating (2007) as Doctor Birmingham Flood (2007) as Major General Ashcroft Unknown Things (2007) as Dr MacGregor The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (2008) as Pavel The Promise (2008) Wasted (2009, TV series) as Joe Lewis (2009, TV series) as Richie Maguire Robin Hood (2009, TV series) as Abbott Burke & Hare (2010) as Danny McTavish Screwed (2011) as Keenan Birthday (2011) as Prison Warden Top Boy (2011–2013, TV series) as Joe In Search of Bible John (September 2011, TV series) Sawney: Flesh of Man (2012) as Sawney Bean The Domino Effect (2012) as Robert Henry IV, Part I (2012, TV series) The Paradise (2012–2013, TV series) as Jonas Franks The Field of Blood (2013, TV series) as Red Willie McDade Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (2014) as Ambassador Sergey Dostal Shetland (2014, TV series) TV as Joe Dalhousie Queen and Country (2014) as Clive Rohan Castles in the Sky (2014) as Frederick Lindemann New Tricks (2014, TV series) as Ralph Paxton Macbeth (2015) as Lennox Dartmoor Killing (2015) as Tom Viceroy's House (2017) as Ewart Taboo (2017, TV series) as Brace Finding Your Feet (2017) as Ted Two Graves (2018) as Tommy The Break (2018) Dirt Road to Lafayette (2018) as Uncle John Blinded by the Light (2019) as Mr Evans Fisherman's Friends (2019) as Jago The Corrupted (2019) as DCI Raymond Ellery Dad's Army: The Lost Episodes (2019, TV series) as Private Frazer Our Ladies (2019) The Nest (2020) as Souter Bull (2021) as Norm Landscapers (2021) as William Wycherley Doc Martin (2022) as George Fisherman's Friends: One and All (2022) as Jago Andor (2022) as Chieftain The Walk-In (2022) as Older Lenny My Neighbor Adolf (2022) as Mr. Polsky Raging Grace (2023) as Mr. Garrett Son of a Critch (2024) as Leo Critch Protection (2024, TV series) as Sid Nyles
Directing Silent Scream (1990) Firm Friends (1992) TV Black and Blue (1992) TV A Woman's Guide to Adultery (1993) TV The Hawk (1993) Cardiac Arrest (1994) TV Finney (1994) TV The Near Room (1995) Harbour Lights (1999) TV
Presenter Clydebuilt: The Ships That Made The Commonwealth (documentary series) (2014) TV Scotland's War at Sea (documentary series) (2016) TV The Battle for Scotland's Countryside (documentary) (2018) TV Hayman's Way (documentary series) (2020) TV Wonders of Scotland with David Hayman (documentary series) (2021) TV
References
External links
Spirit Aid home page