Geoff Bell (actor)
Geoff Bell (born 24 February 1963) is an English actor. Known for his "hard-man" roles, he has appeared in many films and TV shows including Mike Bassett: England Manager (2001), Mean Machine (2001), The Business (2005), Green Street (2005), Stardust (2007), RocknRolla (2008), Brighton Rock (2010), Big Fat Gypsy Gangster (2011), War Horse (2011), Rogue One (2016), The End of the F***ing World (2017), His Dark Materials (2019), Once Upton a Time in London (2022), Poison Arrows (2022), Kindling (2023), Rise of the Footsoldier: Vengeance (2023), and MobLand (2025).
Early life
[edit]Bell was born in Peckham, London,[1] and had a tough upbringing in the working class high rise flats[2] of Lambeth Walk.[3] His first experience of entertainment industry had been at the age of ten, entering caravan holiday talent competitions.[3] Bell married and raised a family, whilst running a cleaning business, until the age of 28, when he and his wife separated.[3] He decided to pursue acting at Morley College in Westminster, later graduating at age 30.[2] He returned to the drama education environment to teach acting at The Flats Film School in Deal in 2012.[2]
Career
[edit]In 2001, he played the captain of England's football team, Gary Wackett, known as Wacko, an extremely violent centre back, a parody of Stuart Pearce and Vinnie Jones, in the film Mike Bassett: England Manager.[4] he appeared in Girl with a Pearl Earring (2003),[4] Stardust (2007),[4] The Long Firm (2004), Making Waves (2004), The Business (2005), and RocknRolla (2008).[4] Another of his most notable roles was playing Tommy Hatcher, rival of the main characters in the film Green Street (2005).[4]
In 2008, Bell starred in the UK film Freebird, directed by Jon Ivay.[4] Appearing alongside Gary Stretch and Phil Daniels, the film followed three bikers across a drug fuelled ride in the Welsh countryside.[4] In 2009, he appeared in the British film Tormented, as the sports teacher, alongside Alex Pettyfer, April Pearson and Calvin Dean.[4] He has appeared in a supporting role in Wild Target as Dixon's assistant, alongside Rupert Grint, Bill Nighy and Martin Freeman.[4] In spring 2010 Bell appeared in Five Daughters as DC Roy Lambert in the drama about the five prostitutes murdered in Ipswich, Suffolk.[4]
In 2011, he starred as horse keeper Sergeant Sam Perkins of the British Army, In War Horse.[4] The same year, he appeared in Channel 4's four part drama series Top Boy. In 2012, he played John Morgan in Comes a Bright Day.[4]
In 2019, Bell played Jack Verhoeven in the television adaptation of the novel series His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman.[4] In 2020, Bell appeared in the Louis Tomlinson music video for "Don't Let It Break Your Heart".[5] in 2022, he played the lead role in the darts Mockumentary ''Poison Arrows (2022), alongside former World BDO darts champion Martin Adams, presenter Ray Stubbs, and promoter Barry Hearn.[6]
In 2025, he stars as Richie Stevenson, leader of south London gang 'the Stevensons', a rival to the shows protagonist criminals 'the Harrigans', led by Pierce Brosnan's Conrad Harrigan in the Paramount+ London gangster series MobLand (2025), directed by Guy Ritchie;[7] Part of a cast which also includes Tom Hardy, Dame Helen Mirren, Paddy Considine, and Joanne Froggatt.[7]
Personal life
[edit]He lives in Deal, Kent.[2] Bell played for charity in the Premier League All Stars football in 2008, alongside fellow actors Danny Dyer, Leo Gregory, and Tamer Hassan.[8] Bell is a supporter of Millwall F.C.[8]
Filmography
[edit]| † | Denotes film or TV productions that have not yet been released |
Film
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Mike Bassett: England Manager | Gary Wackett | |
| Mean Machine | Ratchett | ||
| 2002 | AKA | Brian Page | |
| 2003 | Oh Marbella! | Stan | |
| I'll Sleep When I'm Dead | Arnie Ryan | ||
| Girl with a Pearl Earring | Paul The Butcher | ||
| 2005 | Green Street | Tommy Hatcher | |
| The Business | Sammy | ||
| 2006 | Scoop | Strombel's Co-Worker | |
| 2007 | Love Me Still | Bobby | |
| Stardust | Receptionist | ||
| Botched | Boris | ||
| The Seeker: The Dark Is Rising | Security Guard #1 | ||
| 2008 | Freebird | Tyg | |
| Daylight Robbery | Alex | ||
| RocknRolla | Fred the Head | ||
| 2009 | Night Train | Detective | |
| Tormented | Games Teacher | ||
| Solomon Kane | Beard | ||
| 2010 | The Heavy | Frank Marshall | |
| The Reeds | Croker | ||
| Wild Target | Fabian | ||
| Route Irish | Alex Walker | ||
| Brighton Rock | Kite | ||
| 2011 | Mercenaries | Vladko | |
| Big Fat Gypsy Gangster | Geoff | ||
| War Horse | Sgt. Sam Perkins | ||
| 2012 | Comes a Bright Day | Mr. Morgan | |
| Boys on Film 8: Cruel Britannia | Frank | ||
| Storage 24 | Bob | ||
| Comedown | The Tenant | ||
| 2013 | Dementamania | David Snodgrass | |
| 2014 | C.O.O.L.I.O. Time Travel Gangster | Chaney | |
| Kingsman: The Secret Service | Dean | ||
| 2015 | North v South | Bill Vincent | |
| Suffragette | Norman Taylor | ||
| 2016 | Mine | Mike's Father | |
| Rogue One | 2nd Lieutenant Frobb | ||
| 2017 | King Arthur: Legend of the Sword | Mischief John | |
| The Man with the Iron Heart | Müller | ||
| 2019 | Once Upton a Time in London | Darky Mulley | |
| 2020 | The Rhythm Section | Green | |
| 2022 | Poison Arrows | Rocky Goldfingers | |
| 2023 | Kindling | Sid's Dad | |
| Rise of the Footsoldier: Vengeance | Jonny Knight | ||
| 2025 | Marching Powder | ||
| TBA | The Thursday Murder Club † | TBA | Post-production |
Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | The Tooting Lions | Bouncer | Television film |
| 1996 | Eastenders | Security Guard | 2 episodes |
| London's Burning | Area Rep | Episode #9.8 | |
| 1996–2002 | The Bill | Joe Nash / Robbie Stafford / Tucker | 3 episodes |
| 2003 | Secret History | Kenneth Noye | Episode: "Brinks Mat: The Greatest Heist – Part 2" |
| 2004 | Making Waves | Buffer | Episode #1.1 |
| The Long Firm | Jock McClusky | 4 episodes | |
| 2006 | The Virgin Queen | Dentist | 2 episodes |
| Saxondale | Crusty | Episode: "Pigeons" | |
| 2010 | Five Daughters | Supt Roy Lambert | 2 episodes |
| 2011 | Top Boy | Bobby Raikes | 4 episodes |
| 2012 | Treasure Island | Israel Hands | 2 episodes |
| Above Suspicion | Harry James | 3 episodes | |
| Ripper Street | Joseph Smeaton | Episode: "I Need Light" | |
| 2013 | Power to the People | Terry | Episode: "Ops Populus" |
| Southcliffe | Uncle Alan | 3 episodes | |
| Whitechapel | Gerard Watts | 2 episodes | |
| 2014 | DCI Banks | Jimmy Chivers | 2 episodes |
| The Smoke | Maybrick | Episode #1.3 | |
| Power to the People | Terry | Television film | |
| The Great Fire | Wilson | 4 episodes | |
| 2015 | Cradle to Grave | Woody | Episode #1.5 |
| 2016 | The Hollow Crown | Murderer I | Episode: "Richard III" |
| The Level | Duncan Elliot | 5 episodes | |
| 2017 | Tin Star | Malcolm | Episode: "Fortunate Boy" |
| The End of the F***ing World | Martin | Episode #1.2 | |
| 2019 | Hatton Garden | Carl Wood | 3 episodes |
| His Dark Materials | Jack Verhoeven | 4 episodes | |
| 2020 | Silent Witness | Brian Collyer | 2 episodes |
| The Great | General Ekberg | Episode: "Meatballs at the Dacha" | |
| Absentia | Colin Dawkins | 10 episodes | |
| 2022 | The Curse | Detective Saunders | 5 episodes |
| Whitstable Pearl | Bill Tate | 2 episodes | |
| 2023 | Death in Paradise | Gerry Stableforth | Episode: "Christmas Special" |
| 2024 | Mr. Bigstuff | Steve[9] | Episode: "Episode 2" |
| 2025 | MobLand | Richie | [10][11] |
| TBA | King and Conqueror † | Godwin[12] | Post-production |
References
[edit]- ^ "Geoff Bell Goes Deep". southwarknews.co.uk. 7 November 2021.
- ^ a b c d "Movie actor Geoff Bell to pass on his knowledge at school". 12 June 2012.
- ^ a b c "For whom the Bell tolls". southwarknews.co.uk. 13 August 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Geoff Bell credits". tvguide.com. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
- ^ "Louis Tomlinson's 'Don't Let It Break Your Heart' Video Features a Romantic Heist". rollingstone.com/. 2 December 2019.
- ^ "POISON ARROWS 2023 trailer". funnyman films. vimeo.com. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
- ^ a b James Hibbs (29 March 2025). "MobLand cast: Full list of actors and characters in Guy Ritchie's crime drama". radiotimes.com.
- ^ a b "An All Star display". Sky Sports. 23 August 2008.
- ^ Mangan, Lucy (17 July 2024). "Mr Bigstuff review – Danny Dyer does the business". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
- ^ Szalai, Georg (13 February 2025). "Geoff Bell, Lisa Dwan, Emily Barber, Daniel Betts Join Guy Ritchie Crime Series With Tom Hardy (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Penske Media Corporation.
- ^ Shanfeld, Ethan (26 February 2025). "Guy Ritchie's MobLand — Starring Tom Hardy, Pierce Brosnan and Helen Mirren — Sets March Premiere on Paramount+". Variety. Penske Media Corporation.
- ^ Shafer, Ellise; Yossman, K.J. (18 March 2024). "'The Crown's' Luther Ford, 'Game of Thrones' Actor Joseph Mawle and More Join Period Drama 'King & Conqueror' (Exclusive)". Variety. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
External links
[edit]- Geoff Bell at IMDb
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