Philip Haywood Glenister (born 10 February 1963) is an English actor. He is known for his role as DCI Gene Hunt in the BBC series Life on Mars (2006–2007) and its sequel Ashes to Ashes (2008–2010). He also played DCI William Bell in State of Play (2003) and Reverend Anderson in Outcast (2016–2018).

Early life and education Glenister was born on 10 February 1963 in Harrow, Middlesex, and grew up in Hatch End. He is the son of director John Glenister and Joan Fry Lewis, and the younger brother of fellow actor Robert Glenister.

He attended Hatch End High School.

In his early career, he worked as a runner for the Robert Stigwood Organisation. Following this, he worked until the age of 23 as a film publicist, but developed an interest in acting after watching his brother perform in a student play about the Sex Pistols. With the encouragement of his then-sister-in-law, Amanda Redman, he pursued acting and attended the Central School of Speech and Drama.

Career In the early 1990s, Glenister appeared in various TV series including Minder, The Ruth Rendell Mysteries, Heartbeat, The Chief, Dressing for Breakfast and Silent Witness. In 1997, he appeared in Sharpe's Justice as Richard Sharpe's half-brother Matt Truman."Projects – Sharpe" , Philip Glenister – The Official Site. Retrieved 18 February 2011. He played William Dobbin in the 1998 mini-series Vanity Fair.James, Caryn, "TV Weekend; Ruthless in a Greedy World. Sounds Familiar, Doesn't It?", New York Times, 22 October 1999. Retrieved 18 February 2011.

From 1998 to 1999, Glenister co-starred as a mini-cab driver who aspires to be a rock star in the series Roger Roger. He also played factory boss Mack Mackintosh in the first three series of Clocking Off from 2000 to 2002.Gould, Phil, "Time to Clock Off and move on!; Clocking Off star Philip Glenister is moving on once the latest series of the award-winning drama ends", Daily Post (Liverpool), 26 January 2002. Retrieved 18 February 2011. In 2001, he appeared in two of the Hornblower TV films as Horatio's antagonist Gunner Hobbs.Pardi, Robert, "Horatio Hornblower, the Adventure Continues: Mutiny Review", TV Guide. Retrieved 18 February 2011.

Glenister played the photographer who took nude photos for a Women's Institute fundraising calendar in the 2003 feature film Calendar Girls."Philip Glenister on Calendar Girls", Radio Times, August 2003. Retrieved 8 February 2011. Also in 2003, he appeared in the mini-series State of Play."State of Play", BBC Drama. Retrieved 18 February 2011. Glenister played the German commandant, Baron Heinrich von Rheingarten, in the 2004 mini-series Island at War about the Occupation of the Channel Islands during World War II."Island at War", PBS. Retrieved 18 February 2011.

In April 2006, Glenister read the Bedtime Story for the BBC's children's channel, CBeebies. He returned to the slot in February/March 2007.

Glenister played social reformer and estate manager Mr Carter in the 2007 BBC costume drama Cranford, as part of a cast including Judi Dench and Francesca Annis."Philip Glenister Plays Mr Carter", BBC Press Office, 5 November 2007. Retrieved 18 February 2001.

Glenister is probably best known for his role as DCI Gene Hunt in Life on Mars (2006–07), co-starring with John Simm as Sam Tyler, and its sequel Ashes to Ashes (2008–10), with Keeley Hawes as Alex Drake. Glenister also worked with Simm on State of Play and Clocking Off and the 2008 crime film Tuesday. Upon announcement of the film, Glenister joked that he and Simm were contractually obliged to work with each other once a year.

Glenister starred as demon hunter Rupert Galvin in the 2009 ITV drama Demons. He used an American accent for the role,"Philip Glenister Is Rupert Galvin" , STV, 31 December 2008. Retrieved 18 February 2011. which received some criticism from reviewers.Rawson-Jones, Ben, "Television Review: Demons S01E01: "They Bite"", Digital Spy, January 2009. Retrieved 18 February 2011.Clay, Jeremy, , Leicester Mercury, 5 January 2009. Retrieved 18 February 2011. After the series was cancelled, he said he had problems with the role and felt that he may have been miscast.Millar, Paul, "Philip Glenister Regrets Demons Role", Digital Spy, 3 August 2010. Retrieved 18 February 2011.

In 2010, Glenister had a small role (credited as 'Poker Friend') in Woody Allen's You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger, and he played Charles Forestier in a 2011 feature film of Guy de Maupassant's Bel Ami."Bel Ami Cast" , Bel Ami, A Film. Retrieved 8 February 2011. He starred in the 2011 conspiracy thriller Hidden on BBC One."Philip Glenister returns to BBC One in Ronan Bennett's complex new thriller, Hidden", BBC Press Office, 28 March 2011, updated 14 September 2011. Retrieved 15 September 2011.

In 2011, Glenister reunited with John Simm once more in the Sky TV mini-series Mad Dogs about a group of old friends whose holiday in Mallorca takes an unexpected turn."Mad Dogs Preview" , Sky TV. Retrieved 8 February 2011. After a successful reception, the cast returned for a second run of the series in 2012."Mad Dogs Series 2 Confirmed for Early 2012", British Sky Broadcasting. Retrieved 15 September 2011. The show ran for two more series after that in 2013. Those two series consisted of four and two episodes respectively. Glenister played Captain Smollett in Sky1's adaptation of Treasure Island, broadcast at Christmas 2012.Fletcher, Alex, "Elijah Wood joins Sky1 'Treasure Island'", Digital Spy, 14 January 2011. Retrieved 15 September 2011. Glenister also appeared in the 2012 premiere of the play This House.

In 2013, Glenister played Sir William Boyd-Carrington in the final episode of Agatha Christie's Poirot, starring David Suchet, entitled "Curtain". He also played the role of Mr Trevor Gunn, a lothario PE teacher in David Walliams' BBC One comedy series Big School.

In 2014, Glenister had a leading role in the Kudos-produced BBC drama, From There to Here, which focuses on the aftermath of the IRA bombing of Manchester in 1996. The show featured his Life on Mars co-star Liz White as his love interest. That same year, he presented the Channel 4 series For The Love Of Cars with fellow classic car enthusiast Ant Anstead. The pair were set the challenge of restoring classic cars including a Mini Cooper, Land Rover, DeLorean, MG T-type, Ford Escort and a Triumph Stag. The first series ended after six episodes, in which all six classic cars were sold at a London auction, with the second series being aired in 2015.

Also in 2014, Glenister starred in an advertising campaign for energy price comparison service Uswitch.

In 2016, Glenister had a leading role in Robert Kirkman's TV adaptation of Outcast, where he played Reverend Anderson, and used an American accent. The show ran for two series on Cinemax, before it was cancelled in 2017.

In 2017, Glenister appeared in an episode of Inside No. 9 called The Bill. He also worked with his Clocking Off co-star, Lesley Sharp in Living the Dream. This show was about a British family who moved to America. It ran for 2 series before being cancelled in 2019. That year, Glenister presented the true-crime show, What the Killer Did Next on Crime & Investigation.

Glenister appeared in Julian Fellowes' 2020 television adaptation Belgravia, based on Fellowes' novel of the same name. It aired on ITV in the UK and Epix in the USA.

Publications A book by Glenister on 1970s and 1980s culture, Things Ain't What They Used to Be, was published in October 2008.

Charity work Glenister is patron of the charity Momentum in Kingston upon Thames, which aims to help children and the families of children undergoing treatment for cancer in Surrey.

Personal life Glenister has been married to actress Beth Goddard since 2006. They have two daughters."About Phil" , Philip Glenister – The Official Site. Retrieved 11 November 2017.

Glenister is a supporter of non-league football team Wealdstone FC. He is also known to be a fan of Arsenal FC.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role 1995 I.D. Charlie 2003 Calendar Girls Lawrence 2005 Kingdom of Heaven Squire 2008 Tuesday Earp 2010 You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger Poker Friend 2012 Bel Ami Charles Forestier

Television Year Title Role Notes1991 Minder Greg Hunter Series 8, Episode 3: "Whatever Happened to Her Indoors" The Ruth Rendell Mysteries Brian Gregson Series 5, Episodes 4–6: "Murder Being Once Done" parts 1–3 Drop the Dead Donkey Harrison Series 2, Episode 11: "George's Daughter" Bergerac Philip Series 9, Episode 11: "All for Love"1992 Love Hurts Mark Series 1, Episode 6: "Stormy Weather"Series 1, Episode 7: "A Day in the Life" Heartbeat Julian Cantley Series 1, Episode 7: "Face Value" A Fatal Inversion Young Detective Episodes 2 and 31993 The Detectives Uniformed Officer Series 1, Episode 2: "Hostage" In Suspicious Circumstances Herbert Bennett Series 3, Episode 6: "Good as Gold"1994 Law and Disorder David MacNamara Series 1, Episode 6: "Safe as Houses" The Chief Angus Shadwell Series 4, Episode 8 Blue Heaven Paul Twice Series 1, Episode 61995 Loved Up Ray TV film Dressing for Breakfast Mark Series 1, Series 1, Episode 2: "Mark"1996 True Love Phil TV film Silent Witness PC Jerry Denning Series 1, Episodes 5–6: "Darkness Visible" parts 1–2 Frontiers DS Danny Curtis TV mini-series Soldier Soldier Jimmy Reece Series 6, Episode 3: "All for One" 1996–1999 My Wonderful Life Phil 20 episodes1997 The Perfect Blue Tom TV film Have Your Cake and Eat It Joe Martin TV mini-series Sharpe's Justice Matt Truman TV film Wycliffe DS Eric Findlay Series 4, Episode 9: "Dance of the Scorpions" 1998 Vanity Fair William Dobbin TV mini-series 1998–1999 Roger Roger Phil Series 1–2: 13 episodes 2000–2002 Clocking Off James 'Mack' Mackintosh Series 1–3: 11 episodes2001 Lloyd & Hill DCI Danny Lloyd TV film The Hunt Rob Campbell TV film 2002 Hornblower: MutinyHornblower: Retribution Gunner Hobbs TV film2003 The Other Boleyn Girl William Stafford TV film State of Play DCI William Bell TV mini-series The Vice Jason Grant Series 5, Episode 7: "Lust" Byron William Fletcher TV film 2004 Island at War Oberst Heinrich Baron Von Rheingarten TV mini-series2005 The Stepfather Dougie Molloy TV film The Walk Eddie TV film Last Rights Speers TV mini-series Vincent DCI David Driscoll Series 1, Episodes 1–3 2006–2007 Life on Mars DCI Gene Hunt Lead role; TV series 1–2: 16 episodes 2007 Cranford Mr Carter TV mini-series The Catherine Tate Show Police Officer 2007 Christmas Special 2008–2010 Ashes to Ashes Gene Hunt Lead role; TV series 1–3: 24 episodes 2009 Demons Rupert Galvin Lead role; TV series: 6 episodes 2011 Hidden Harry Venn Lead role; TV mini-series: 4 episodes 2011–2013 Mad Dogs Quinn TV mini-series 1-4: 14 episodes 2012 Treasure Island Captain Smollet TV mini-series 2013 Agatha Christie's Poirot Sir William Boyd-Carrington Episode: "Curtain" 2013–2014 Big School Trevor Gunn Television sitcom series2014 Jumbo: The Plane that Changed the World Documentary Narrator From There to Here Daniel Cotton TV series 2014–2016 For the Love of Cars Presenter Documentary TV series 2015 Prey David Murdoch Lead role; Second series: 3 episodes 2016 The Hollow Crown Talbot BBC2 TV series (Henry VI, Part I) The Level Frank Le Saux TV mini-series 2016–2017 Outcast Reverend Anderson Lead role; TV series: 20 episodes 2017 Inside No. 9 Craig TV series, Episode The Bill 2017–2019 Living the Dream Mal Pemberton Lead role; TV series: 12 episodes 2019 What the Killer Did Next Presenter Documentary TV series 2019–present The Rubbish World of Dave Spud Betty Spud (voice) Except Season 2 Episode 7, Two Toots Spud 2020Belgravia James Trenchard Lead role; TV mini-series: 6 episodes2022CarthagoLord DavidsonTV series2023Steeltown MurdersDCI Paul BethellLead role.Foundation Commdor Argo Season 22024After the FloodJack Radcliffe Main role 2025Bergerac Arthur Wakefield In Production2026The LadyDCI DouglasITV 4-part series

Audio Year Title Role 2013 The Minister of Chance The Summer King

References