Tom Riley (actor)

Tom Riley
Riley in 2026
Born (1981-04-05) 5 April 1981 (age 45)
Maidstone, Kent, England
EducationUniversity of Birmingham
London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
OccupationsActor, producer, director
Years active2002–present
Spouse
​
(m. 2017)​
Children1

Tom Riley (born 5 April 1981) is an English actor, producer, and director known for his work in theatre, both on the West End, Broadway and Off-Broadway. He has been nominated for a Drama Desk Award for his performance in Tom Stoppard's Arcadia on Broadway in 2011.

Early life

Riley was born in Maidstone, Kent, England. He became involved in drama in his hometown at the age of four, and spent his school years writing and directing plays. He attended Maidstone Grammar School. He studied English literature and Drama at the University of Birmingham, graduating in 2002 with first class honours, and graduated from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) in 2005. After his undergraduate studies, he formed the theater company Article 19, and while attending the LAMDA began working with the Royal Court Theatre company, appearing in the play The Woman Before.

Career

In 2008 Riley performed alongside Indira Varma and Anton Lesser in the UK premiere of David Hare's The Vertical Hour, directed by Jeremy Herrin at The Royal Court Theatre, London.

Riley made his Broadway debut in 2011, in a revival of Tom Stoppard's Arcadia. He is set to return to New York to appear in the 2026 production of Nick Payne's The Unbelievers at Manhattan Theatre Club as David opposite Lauren Ambrose.

Personal life

In May 2016, Riley became engaged to American actress Lizzy Caplan. They had met in January 2015 while Caplan was filming in London, and made their red carpet debut as a couple at the Prague Opera Ball in February 2016. They were married in September 2017, and their son was born in 2021.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Ref.
2006A Few Days in SeptemberDavid
2007I Want CandyJoe
Return to House on Haunted HillPaul
2009Happy Ever AftersFreddie Butler
St Trinian's 2: The Legend of Fritton's GoldRomeo
2015Kill Your FriendsParker-Hall
2016Pushing DeadMike
StarfishTom Ray
2017Modern Life Is RubbishAdrian
2018Ghost LightThomas Ingram / the Scottish King
2023The Caine Mutiny Court-MartialLieutenant Willis Keith

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2006Casualty 1906Dr. James Walton1 episode
2007Agatha Christie's MarpleBobby ArgyleEpisode: "Ordeal by Innocence"
FreezingDave Beethoven
2008Casualty 1907Dr. James Walton1 episode
LewisPhilip HortonEpisode: "And the Moonbeams Kiss the Sea"
FreezingDave Beethoven2 episodes
Agatha Christie's PoirotRaymond BoyntonEpisode: "Appointment with Death"
Lost in AustenGeorge Wickham
2009No HeroicsNigel / BrainstormPilot
2010Bouquet of Barbed WireGavin Sorensen
2011BedlamRob
2011–12MonroeDr. Laurence Shepherd12 episodes
2013–15Da Vinci's DemonsLeonardo da Vinci28 episodes
2014Doctor WhoRobin HoodEpisode: "Robot of Sherwood"
2015Inside No. 9AdamEpisode: "The 12 Days of Christine"
2016The CollectionClaude SabineAmazon Prime UK
Dark HeartDI Will Wagstaffe6 episodes
2017Angie TribecaDoctor Frederick Wurst
Ill BehaviourCharlie6 episodes
2021–23The NeversAugustus "Augie" BidlowMain cast
2022The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the WindowNeilLimited series; main cast
2023Murder is EasyLord WhitfieldTwo-part drama
2025Down Cemetery RoadMarkMain cast

Stage

Year Title Role Venue Ref.
2006The Woman BeforeAndiWest End, Royal Court Theatre
2008The Vertical HourPhilip Lucas
2010Hurts Given and ReceivedBachRiverside Studios
2011ArcadiaSeptimus HodgeBroadway, Ethel Barrymore Theatre
My CityRichard KentonWest End, Almeida Theatre
2018Dry PowderSethWest End, Hampstead Theatre
2023Dancing at LughnasaGerryWest End, Royal National Theatre
2026The UnbelieversDavidOff-Broadway, Manhattan Theatre Club

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2011 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play Arcadia Nominated

2014 BAFTA Awards Cymru Best Actor Da Vinci's Demons Won

References

  1. ↑ "Tom Riley, Lizzy Caplan and Their Infant Had an Explosive In-Flight Mishap". Late Night Feud. 28 January 2022. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Tom Riley". TVGuide.com. Archived from the original on 14 June 2014.
  3. ↑ "Theatre". tom-riley.com. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  4. ↑ "2011 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
  5. ↑ Billington, Michael (23 January 2008). "The Vertical Hour". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  6. ↑ "The Unbelievers". Manhattan Theatre Club. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  7. ↑ "Lauren Ambrose, Tom Riley Set For Off-Broadway Play 'Unbelievers'". Deadline. 15 June 2026. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  8. ↑ Schnurr, Samantha (22 July 2016). "Lizzy Caplan and Tom Riley Are Engaged". E! News. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  9. ↑ Martin, Annie (25 July 2016). "Lizzy Caplan engaged to English actor Tom Riley". United Press International. Archived from the original on 5 September 2017. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
  10. ↑ Brianne, Tracy (4 September 2017). "Lizzy Caplan Marries Tom Riley in Italy, Florence — See Their Adorable Wedding Photo!". People. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
  11. ↑ Late Night with Seth Meyers (28 January 2022). Tom Riley, Lizzy Caplan and Their Infant Had an Explosive In-Flight Mishap. Retrieved 5 April 2026 – via YouTube.
  12. ↑ Del Rosario, Alexandra (8 December 2021). "'The Woman In the House': Netflix Limited Series Starring Kristen Bell Reveals New Title, Premiere Date & Teaser". Deadline. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  13. ↑ "Casting revealed for Murder is Easy, based on the classic mystery by Agatha Christie". bbc.co.uk/mediacentre. 10 July 2023. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  14. ↑ "Review: The Unbelievers". British Theatre Guide. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  15. ↑ Billington, Michael (23 January 2008). "Theatre review: The Vertical Hour". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
  16. ↑ "Review: The Unbelievers". British Theatre Guide. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  17. ↑ Brantley, Ben (17 March 2011). "The 180-Year Itch, Metaphysically Speaking". The New York Times. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
  18. ↑ Billington, Michael (16 September 2011). "My City – review". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
  19. ↑ "Dry Powder". Hampstead Theatre. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  20. ↑ "Dancing at Lughnasa review". Time Out. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  21. ↑ "Dancing at Lughnasa review: a handsome revival of Friel's flawed memory play". The Times. 23 April 2023. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  22. ↑ "Lauren Ambrose and Tom Riley Will Star in The Unbelievers Off-Broadway for MTC". Playbill. 15 June 2026. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  23. ↑ "2011 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
  24. ↑ Kenneth Jones (24 May 2011). "Drama Desk Awards Go to Book of Mormon, Normal Heart, War Horse, Sutton Foster, Norbert Leo Butz". Playbill. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
  25. ↑ David Rooney (23 May 2011). "Book of Mormon, Anything Goes Top Drama Desk Awards". Variety. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
  26. ↑ "Da Vinci's Demons: Tom Riley Wins Best Actor BAFTA Cymru". tom-riley.com. Retrieved 15 June 2026.