Rupert Francis Young (born 16 May 1978) is an English actor who is best known for his roles as Sir Leon in the BBC drama series Merlin and as Jack, The Lord Featherington in the Netflix series Bridgerton.
Early life Young was born on May 16, 1978 in Lambeth, London. He attended the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.
Career His television work includes episodes of Merlin, Doc Martin, Foyle's War, Hotel Babylon, The White Queen and other work. His films include Dirty Filthy Love, a 2004 television film alongside Michael Sheen, Writers Retreat, released in 2015 and The Secret Garden in 2020.
Between 2019 and 2022 (at intervals, due to covid theatre closures) he portrayed Larry Murphy in the West End debut of the stage show Dear Evan Hansen at the Noël Coward Theatre. In 2020, Young was nominated for Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical for Dear Evan Hansen at the Laurence Olivier Awards.
In 2022 he was cast as Lord Jack Featherington in series 2 of Bridgerton.
Filmography Television Year Title Role Notes 2004 Island at War British Soldier Episode: "Eve of the War" Dirty Filthy Love Josh TV film Doc Martin Adrian Pitts 2 episodes 2006 Foyle's War Armed Guard Episode: 'Bad Blood" Heartbeat Zak Episode: "Wine and Roses" 2008 Primeval Mike Episode: "Mealworms, Indeed" 2009 Hotel Babylon Justice Episode; "#4.4" 2009–2012 Merlin Sir Leon Recurring character; 39 episodes 2010 Shameless Marc Arlington Episode: "The End of The Affair"Doctor WhoRomanUncredited; Episode: "The Pandorica Opens" 2013 The White Queen Sir William Herbert Episode: "The Bad Queen" 2016 People Just Do Nothing Joshua Episode: "Record Deal" 2017 The Good Karma Hospital Sunny Macintosh Episode: "#1.3"WillSir Walter RaleighEpisode: "Brave New World"Judge Rinder's Crown CourtJames Byron2 episodes2018The BisexualJames (reporter)Episode: "#1.1" 2022 Bridgerton Lord Jack Featherington Main role (series 2); 8 episodes2024The New LookMalcom MuggeridgeEpisode: "What a Difference" 2025Death in ParadiseCallum JonesEpisode: "#14.8"
Film Year Title Role Notes 2009 Just Because You're Paranoid... Derek Short film 2012 This Love Other Man Short film 2015 Writers Retreat Alisdair 2020 The Secret Garden Marcus TBA By the ThroatAlexPost-production
Theatre Year Title Role Director VenueNotesRef.2002The Wonderful World of DissociaNurseAnthony NielsonLondon Academy of Music and Dramatic Art2003TodayEdward LongresseGari Jones2004The FixCal ChandlerAnne Durham & Stephen JamesonComedy of ErrorsLucianaStephen JamesonWild TymeJacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in ParisLinda EdwardsLandor Theatre2005H.M.S. PinaforeSailorIan TalbotRegent's Park Open Air TheatreTwelfth NightValentineTimothy SheaderCymbelineGuideriusRachel Kavanaugh2006Sleeping BeautyPrince PeterJeremy BondSalisbury Playhouse2007French Without TearsBrian CurtisPaul MillerEnglish Touring Theatre2008Never So GoodAmerican LieutenantHoward DaviesRoyal National TheatreAfterlifeKurtMichael Blakemore2010Much Ado About NothingBenedickStephen JamesonShakespeare's Globe2011CompanyBobbyJoe FredericksSouthwark Playhouse2014Tonight at 8:30SimonBlanche McIntryeNuffield Theatre2015High SocietyDexter HavenMaria FriedmanThe Old Vic2016The PhilandererLeonard CharterisPaul MillerOrange Tree TheatreWhile the Sun ShinesLieutenant MulvaneyChristopher LuscombeTheatre Royal Bath2017GaslightJack ManninghamKeith AllenNational Tour2018Twelfth NightDuke OrsinoKwame Kwei-Armah & Oskar EustisYoung Vic2019PlentyCodename LaserKate HewittChinchester Festival Theatre Dear Evan Hansen Larry MurphyMichael Greif Noël Coward TheatreOriginal West End Production
Awards and nominations YearAwardCategoryWorkResultRef.2020Laurence Olivier AwardsBest Actor in a Supporting Role in a MusicalDear Evan Hansen
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