Adam Godley

English-American actor (b. 1964)

Adam Godley

Godley in April 2019

Born|  (1964-07-22) 22 July 1964 (age 59)

Amersham, England

Occupation| Actor
Years active| 1974–present
Spouse|

Alex Belcourt

(m. 1999; div. 2004)​

Partner| Jon Hartmere

Adam N. Godley (born 22 July 1964) is a British actor.

Godley has been nominated for two Tony Awards and four Laurence Olivier Awards for his performances on the New York and London stages, including Private Lives in 2001, The Pillowman in 2002, Anything Goes in 2011, and The Lehman Trilogy in 2019. He made his Broadway debut in 2002 in a revival of Noël Coward's Private Lives, for which he earned a Theatre World Award for Outstanding Broadway debut. In 2011, he returned to Broadway in the musical Anything Goes for which he earned a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical nomination. In 2021, The Lehman Trilogy made its Broadway transfer to great critical acclaim, and securing Godley another Tony nomination for Best Actor in a Play.

Godley's film roles include Love Actually (2003), Nanny McPhee (2005), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005), Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007), and The Theory of Everything (2014). He has also had television roles as Elliott Schwartz in Breaking Bad (2008–2013), Nigel Nesbitt in Suits (2013), Phinneus Pogo in The Umbrella Academy (2019–present), and Archie the Archbishop in The Great (2020–2023).

## Early life[edit]

Adam N. Godley was born to Jewish parents in Amersham on 22 July 1964, the son of a magistrate mother and solicitor father. He grew up near Watford and went to Rickmansworth School in Croxley Green.[1]

## Career[edit]

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Godley began his acting career at the age of nine in a BBC radio production of Hemingway's My Old Man. His first stage role came at age 11, as Prince Giovanni in The White Devil at The Old Vic.[2] His childhood career also included work at the National Theatre, in Lillian Helman's Watch on the Rhine, and Close of Play, directed by Harold Pinter.[3] Godley achieved national prominence after playing the lead in the 1984 BBC TV adaptation of J. Meade Falkner's Moonfleet.[4]

In 1986, Godley joined Alan Ayckbourn's theatre company in Scarborough, where he stayed for three seasons. Productions included June Moon and The Revengers' Comedies, both of which transferred to the West End, and Mr A's Amazing Maze Plays, which transferred to the National Theatre.[5]

He spent one season as a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company, before creating the role of Cliff in Sam Mendes's production of Cabaret at the Donmar Warehouse in 1993. Several major productions followed, including Mouth to Mouth at the Royal Court, The Front Page at the Donmar, and The Rivals in the West End, after which Godley went on to create a series of roles at the National, including Kenneth Williams in Cleo, Camping, Emmanuelle and Dick; and the title role in Howard Davies' production of Paul. In 1999 he played Jack Worthing in the West End production of The Importance of Being Earnest.

Godley in November 2008

In 2002 he made his film debut in Claude Lelouch's And Now... Ladies and Gentlemen starring Jeremy Irons and Patricia Kaas which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. He continued acting in films such as the Christmas classic Love Actually (2003), Around the World in 80 Days (2004), Nanny McPhee (2005), and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005).

In 2002 he starred as Victor Prynne alongside Alan Rickman and Lindsay Duncan in a revival of Noël Coward's Private Lives at the Richard Rogers Theatre in New York City, where Godley made his Broadway debut. For his performance he earned a Theatre World Award. The following year Godley starred as Michal in Martin McDonagh's The Pillowman opposite Jim Broadbent and David Tennant at the Royal National Theatre.

In 2008 he played Raymond Babbitt in the West End production of Rain Man opposite Josh Hartnett. In 2010 he played Jonathan Powell in the HBO television film The Special Relationship about Tony Blair's relationship with Bill Clinton. He had recurring roles as Elliott Schwartz in AMC's Breaking Bad and Jocelyn Pugh in Lodge 49. He also appeared in BBC's A Young Doctor's Notebook (2011), CBS's The Good Wife (2012), USA Networks's Suits (2012), Showtime's Homeland (2015), and NBC's The Blacklist (2017). In 2011 he played Lord Evelyn Oakleigh in Roundabout Theatre's multi-award-winning Broadway revival of Anything Goes. The production starred Sutton Foster, John McMartin, Jessica Walter and Joel Grey. For his performance he earned a Tony Award nomination, a Drama Desk Award nomination, and an Outer Critics Circle Award. In 2013 he led a new adaptation by Dennis Kelly of Georg Kaiser's 1912 German expressionist masterpiece, From Morning to Midnight, at the National Theatre.

His most recent stage role was as one of the three Lehman brothers in the 2019 National Theatre's The Lehman Trilogy for which he was nominated for the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Play alongside Simon Russell Beale and Ben Miles.[6] The play transferred to Broadway in 2021 where he received a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor in a Play along with Adrian Lester and Simon Russell Beale.

In 2023, he portrayed pollster Darwin Perry in the HBO drama series Succession episode "America Decides".

## Personal life[edit]

Godley is openly gay.[7] He married Alex Belcourt in 1999, and they divorced in 2004.[citation needed] He is currently in a relationship with writer Jon Hartmere, with whom he lives in North Carolina.[8]

## Filmography[edit]

### Film[edit]

Year  | Title  | Role  | Notes

|
|
|

2002  | And Now... Ladies and Gentlemen | Son of London Jeweller  |
Thunderpants | Placido P. Placeedo  |
2003  | Love Actually | Mr. Trench  |
2004  | Around the World in 80 Days | Mr. Sutton  |
2005  | Charlie and the Chocolate Factory | Mr. Teavee  |
Nanny McPhee | Vicar  |
2007  | Elizabeth: The Golden Age | William Walsingham  |
Son of Rambow | Brethren Leader  |
2008  | The X-Files: I Want to Believe | Father Ybarra  |
2011  | The Forger | Pinkus  |
2012  | Battleship | Dr. Nogrady  |
2014  | The Theory of Everything | Senior Doctor - Cambridge Hospital  |
2016  | The BFG | The Manhugger / Lout No. 1  |
2018  | Nightmare Cinema | Dr. Salvadore  |
2019  | Missing Link | Lord Bilge  | Voice
2022  | The People We Hate at the Wedding | Narrator  | Voice

### Television[edit]

Year  | Title  | Role  | Notes

|
|
|

1978  | A Horseman Riding By | Simon Craddock  | 3 episodes
1979  | Thomas & Sarah | Tomlinson  | 1 episode
1984  | Moonfleet | John Trenchard  | 6 episodes
1991; 1998  | The Bill | Duxford/Nigel Penway  | 2 episodes
1992  | An Ungentlemanly Act | P.C. Anton Livermore  | Television film
1995  | Class Act | Graham  | 1 episode
1998  | Casualty | Alan Decker  | 1 episode
2000  | Cor, Blimey! | Kenneth Williams | Television film
2001  | Sword of Honour | Apthorpe  | Television film
2002  | The Inspector Lynley Mysteries | Tony Phillips  | 1 episode
2003  | Margery and Gladys | Graham Heywood  | Television film
2004  | Hawking | Frank Hawking  | Television film
2006  | Nuremberg: Nazis on Trial | Gustave Gilbert | Miniseries
2007  | Coming Up | Paul  | 1 episode
2007  | The Old Curiosity Shop | Sampson Brass  | Television film
2008; 2013  | Breaking Bad | Elliott Schwartz | 3 episodes
2008  | Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles | The Scientist  | 1 episode
2008  | Mad Men | Wayne Kirkeby  | 1 episode
2009  | Numbers | Dr. Joseph Baskin  | 1 episode
2009  | Merlin | Jonas  | 2 episodes
2009  | Dollhouse | Clyde Randolph  | 1 episode
2010  | Private Practice | Henry  | 1 episode
2010  | Agatha Christie's Marple | Lomax  | 1 episode
2010  | The Special Relationship | Jonathan Powell | Television film
2011  | Lie to Me | Sandy Baxter  | 1 episode
2011  | CHAOS | Jonathan Aldridge  | 1 episode
2011  | Case Histories | Martin Canning  | 2 episodes
2012  | A Young Doctor's Notebook | Demyan Lukich  | Main role, 8 episodes
2012  | Harry's Law | Hospital Administrator  | 1 episode
2012  | The Good Wife | Leland Carlisle  | 1 episode
2012  | Suburgatory | Mr. Jacobs  | 1 episode
2013  | Spies of Warsaw | Julius Halbech  | Miniseries
2013  | Elementary | British Man (voice)  | 1 episode, uncredited
2013  | Suits | Nigel Alexander Nesbitt  | Recurring role, 5 episodes
2014  | Perception | Teddy Brennan  | 1 episode
2014  | Manhattan | Dr. Adelman  | 3 episodes
2014  | Homeland | Jordan Harris  | 1 episode
2015–2016  | Powers | Captain Emile Cross  | Main role, 20 episodes
2015  | The Blacklist | Silas Gouldsberry  | 1 episode
2017  | Fallet | DCI Tom Brown  | Main role, 8 episodes
2018–2019  | Lodge 49 | Jocelyn Pugh  | Recurring role, 10 episodes
2019–present  | The Umbrella Academy | Phinneus Pogo | Main role, 14 episodes
Voice and motion capture role[9]
2020–2023  | The Great | Archbishop "Archie"  | Main role, 30 episodes[10]
2021–2022  | The Great North | Dick Chateau / Archie  | Voice role, 4 episode
2022  | Bob's Burgers | Ghost  | Voice role, 1 episode
2023  | Succession | Darwin Perry  | Episode: "America Decides"

### Theatre[edit]

Year  | Title  | Role  | Theatre

|
|
|

1976  | The White Devil  | Prince Giovanni  | The Old Vic
1979  | Close Of Play  | Matthew  | National Theatre
1980  | Watch On The Rhine  | Joshua Muller  | National Theatre
1987  | An Inspector Calls  | Eric Birling  | Westminster Theatre
1991  | The Revengers' Comedies | Oliver Knightly  | The Strand Theatre
1992  | June Moon | Fred Stevens  | Vaudeville Theatre
1993  | Mr A's Amazing Maze Plays  | Neville  | National Theatre
1993  | A Going Concern  | David  | Hampstead Theatre
1993 | Cabaret | Cliff Bradshaw | Donmar Warehouse
1994  | The Rivals | Faulkland  | Albery Theatre
1996  | The White Devil
Three Hours After Marriage
The General From America | Camilo
Underplot
Majot André  | Royal Shakespeare Company
1997  | The Wood Demon  | Fyodor  | Playhouse Theatre
1997  | The Front Page | Bensinger  | Donmar Warehouse
1998 | Cleo, Camping, Emmanuelle and Dick | Kenneth Williams | National Theatre
1999  | The Importance of Being Earnest | John Worthing  | Haymarket Theatre
2000  | Mr Kolpert  | Ralf  | Royal Court Theatre
2001  | Mouth To Mouth  | Dr Gompertz  | Royal Court Theatre
2002 | Private Lives | Victor Prynne | Richard Rodgers Theater, Broadway
2003  | The Pillowman | Michal  | National Theatre
2005  | Two Thousand Years  | Jonathan  | National Theatre
2005  | Paul | Paul | National Theatre
2008  | Rain Man | Raymond Babbitt  | Apollo Theatre
2011 | Anything Goes | Lord Evelyn Oakleigh | Stephen Sondheim Theater, Broadway
2013  | From Morning to Midnight | The Bank Clerk  | National Theatre
2018 | The Lehman Trilogy | Mayer Lehman | National Theatre
2019 | Park Avenue Armory[11]
Piccadilly Theatre
2021 | Nederlander Theater, Broadway
2023 | Once Upon a One More Time | Narrator | Marquis Theater, Broadway

### Audio plays[edit]

Year | Title | Role | Notes

|
|
|

1975  | My Old Man  | Joe  | BBC Radio
1977  | Sister Ninian’s Nightingale  | Johnny Dean  | BBC Radio
1977  | These Modern Ways  | Grisha  | BBC Radio
1979  | The Rocking Horse Winner  | Paul  | BBC Radio
1979  | The Happiest Days of your Life  | Hopcroft  | BBC Radio
1994  | The Wide Sargasso Sea  | Rochester  | BBC Radio
1998  | The Ghost Train  | Teddy Deakin  | BBC Radio
2001 | Tess of the d'Urbervilles | Alec d'Urberville | BBC Radio
2003 | Strangers and Brothers | Lewis Eliot | BBC Radio
2004  | Black Beauty  | Black Beauty  | BBC Radio
2004  | Mort  | Cutwell  | BBC Radio
2004  | Christopher Himself  | Christopher Isherwood  | BBC Radio
2004–2007 | The Brothers | Nigel | BBC Radio
2005  | The Madness of George Iii  | The Prince of Wales  | BBC Radio
2006  | Another Country  | Vaughan  | BBC Radio
2009  | Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde  | Dr Jekyll  | BBC Radio
2010 | She Stoops to Conquer | Tony Lumpkin | LA Theatre Works
2011  | Strangers and Brothers  | Lewis Elliot  | BBC Radio
2011 | The Bungler | Lélie | LA Theatre Works
2018  | An Enemy of the People  | Peter Stockman  | BBC Radiio
2022 | Moriarty: The Devil's Game | Dr. Watson | Audible Original[12]

## Awards and nominations[edit]

Year  | Award  | Category  | Work  | Result

|
|
|
|

2011 | Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical | Anything Goes | Nominated
2008 | Evening Standard Theatre Awards | Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Play | Rain Man | Nominated
1999 | Laurence Olivier Awards | Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play | Cleo, Camping, Emanuelle and Dick | Nominated
2002 | Mouth to Mouth | Nominated
2009 | Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Play | Rain Man | Nominated
2019 | Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Play
shared with Simon Russell Beale and Ben Miles | The Lehman Trilogy | Nominated
2011 | Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical | Anything Goes | Won
2022 | Outstanding Actor in a Play | The Lehman Trilogy | Nominated
2021 | Screen Actors Guild Award | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series | The Great | Nominated
2022 | Nominated
2002 | Theatre World Award | Outstanding Broadway Debut | Private Lives | Won
2011 | Tony Award | Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical | Anything Goes | Nominated
2022 | Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play | The Lehman Trilogy | Nominated

## References[edit]

1. ^ Nathan, John (29 August 2008). "Mr shy and mighty". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 15 December 2019 - via PressReader.
2. ^ "RSC Performances- The White Devil". Royal Shakespeare Company. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
3. ^ "Adam Godley - Profiles". National Theatre. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
4. ^ "Moonfleet". BFI. Archived from the original on 28 March 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
5. ^ "THEATRE / A choice evening: Paul Taylor on Mr A's Amazing Maze Plays at the Cottesloe". The Independent. 8 March 1993. Archived from the original on 3 January 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
6. ^ "'The Lehman Trilogy' has been a critical standout on Broadway this fall. Its superb cast sheds light on how that happened". Washington Post. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
7. ^ "Let Actors Act". The New York Times. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
8. ^ "Adam Godley and Jon Hartmere attends 'The Upside' cocktail party". 9 September 2017.
9. ^ ‘The Umbrella Academy’: Cameron Britton, Colm Feore, Adam Godley & Ashley Madekwe Join Netflix Series
10. ^ Petski, Denise (4 February 2020). "'The Great': Sebastian De Souza Joins Elle Fanning & Nicholas Hoult In Hulu Comedy Series". Deadline. Archived from the original on 21 May 2020. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
11. ^ ‘The Lehman Trilogy’ is so good, it expands your sense of what three actors on a stage can conjure
12. ^ "Moriarty". Audible. 2022. Retrieved 28 November 2022.

## External links[edit]

* Adam Godley at IMDb
* http://www.playbill.com interview

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*[m.]: married
*[div.]: divorced