Joseph Marcell (born 18 August 1948) is a Saint Lucian-born British actor and comedian. He is best known for his role as Geoffrey Butler, the butler on the NBC sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air from September 1990 until the show ended in May 1996.
Early life and education Born in Saint Lucia, he moved to the United Kingdom when he was nine years old and grew up in Peckham, South London. Marcell currently lives in Banstead, Surrey.
He studied speech and dance at the Central School of Speech and Drama.
Career As a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company, he appeared in productions of Othello and A Midsummer Night's Dream. He has also appeared in feature films and on television in Britain. He serves on the board of the Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in London where he featured in a nationwide production of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing and King Lear.
He played Gonzalo in Shakespeare’s play The Tempest at Sam Wanamaker Playhouse in May 2016. He also played Solly Two Kings in the play by August Wilson, Gem of the Ocean at the Tricycle Theatre, in London, in January 2016. Marcell began rehearsals as Titus Andronicus, in July 2017, for the La Grande Shakespeare Company, in La Grande, Oregon.
Film and television
Film Year Title Role Notes 1974 Antony and Cleopatra Eros TV movie 1978 Real Live Audience Second Man in Audience TV movie 1987 Playing Away Robbo Cry Freedom Moses 1990 The Loser Bartender Short 1993 David Copperfield Mr. Micawber (voice) TV movie 1994 Sioux City Dr. Darryl Reichert 2004 A Beautiful Life Juan Short 2006 Diamond Real Estate Mr. Rodeo Short 2007 Rough Crossings David George TV movie That Samba Thing Nelson Man, Broken George Short 2010 The Santa Trap Santa Short 2012 Much Ado About Nothing Leonato 2013 Fedz Eddie "Fast Eddie" 2014 Return to Zero Dr. Harrington 2016 The Complete Walk: King Lear King Lear Short The Complete Walk: Henry V Chorus (voice) Short 2017 Wrapped up in Christmas Jim Nash TV movie 2018 Battledream Chronicles: A New Beginning Zeus Thunderking TV movie 2019 The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind Chief Wembe Hero: Inspired by the Extraordinary Life and Times of Mr. Ulric Cross C. L. R. James 2020 The Man in the Hat The Old Man 2021 The Exorcism of God Father Michael Lewis 2022 Folding Errol Short 2024 Hellboy: The Crooked Man Reverend Nathaniel Armstrong Watts 2025 The Thursday Murder Club Father Mackie 2026 Seahorse Cyrus
Television Year Title Role Notes 1978–79 Empire Road Walter Isaacs Main cast 1980 Fancy Wanders Alastair Episode: "With a Little Bit of Luck" 1981 Crown Court - Episode: "Cold Turkey: Part 1" 1983 The Professionals Nero Episode: "The Untouchables" Rumpole of the Bailey Freddy Ruingo Episode: "Rumpole and the Golden Thread" 1984 The Kit Curran Radio Show Constantine Recurring cast: season 1 End of the Line Harry Main cast 1985 Juliet Bravo Bold Episode: "Hostage to Fortune" 1987 First Sight Mik Episode: "Some Day Man" 1988 Doctor Who John Episode: "Remembrance of the Daleks: Part Two" The Return of Shelley Palmer Episode: "Emergency Ward 9" 1989 CBS Summer Playhouse Doc Holmes Episode: "Outpost" Boon Charlie Fowkes Episode: "Arms and the Dog" The Bill Wilmot Episode: "Pressure" 1990 Desmond's Matthew McFarlane Episode: "Porkpies" Die Kinder Joe Episode: "Catastrophe Theory" 1990–96 The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Geoffrey Butler Main cast 1992 EastEnders Adrian Bell Episode: 782 & 783 1993 Runaway Bay Samuel Episode: "The Robbery" 1997 Living Single Reese Episode: "Moonlight Savings Time" McLibel! Robert Beavers Episode: "Episode #1.1" 1998 Renford Rejects Arthur Rodrigues Episode: "Bowled Over" In the House Minister Episode: "My Pest Friend's Wedding" The Bill Vernon Johnson Episode: "One Man, Two Faces" Brothers and Sisters Pastor Gittens Episode: "Episode #1.1" 2003–04 The Bold and the Beautiful Hudson Regular cast 2005 Jericho Clive Marlowe Episode: "A Pair of Ragged Claws" 2006 EastEnders Aubrey Valentine Recurring Guest (8 episodes) 2008 A Touch of Frost Joshua Ray Episode: "Mind Games" Holby City Professor Karl Webster Episode: "You Do it to Yourself" & "Eighteen and a Half" 2014 Death in Paradise Alexander Jackson Episode: "The Man with the Golden Gun" 2020 The Sandman African Grandfather (voice) Recurring cast Ratched Len Bronley Episode: "Ice Pick" & "The Dance" 2021, 2024 Mammoth Roger Buck Main cast 2022 I Hate You Ralph Episode 1 2024 Queenie Grandad Wilfred Recurring cast 2024 Bel-Air Roman Season 3 Episode 6
Stage King Lear, as King Lear A Midsummer Night's Dream, as Puck Gem of the Ocean (2016), as Solly Two Kings Lady Windermere's Fan (2018) as Lord Lorton, Vaudeville Theatre, London The Tempest (2016) as Gonzalo, Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, London Peter Pan (1982) as Nibs, the RSC at the Barbican Waiting for Godot (2000), Royal Festival Hall
References
External links
Alex Fletcher, "What happened to Geoffrey from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air?", TV interview, Digital Spy, 24 February 2014. "Caribbean Footsteps meets with Joseph Marcell". YouTube