| Owen Brenman | |
| Birth Place: | London, England |
| Education: | University College School, London |
| Alma Mater: | University of Birmingham Webber Douglas School of Singing and Dramatic Art, London |
| Occupation: | Actor |
| Television: | Doctors Love Soup One Foot in the Grave Woof! |
| Yearsactive: | 1983-present |
Owen Brenman (born 17 December 1956) is an English actor best known for his role as next-door neighbour Nick Swainey in the multi-award-winning BBC sitcom One Foot in the Grave, which ran for ten years (1990–2000) and was written by David Renwick. He subsequently played Heston Carter in the BBC drama series Doctors from 2008 to 2018.[1]
Brenman was educated at University College School, an independent day school for boys in Hampstead in north west London, followed by the University of Birmingham, where he obtained a BA Honours in Drama, and the Webber Douglas School of Singing and Dramatic Art, now known as the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art.[2]
In addition to One Foot in the Grave Brenman also played Lloyd Drewitt in two series of David Renwick's BBC dramedy Love Soup (2005/8). He also starred in People Like Us, three series of the children's television series Woof!, and three series of Alexei Sayle's Stuff. He played Mark Thatcher opposite John Wells and Angela Thorne in the political sitcom Dunrulin.[3]
On the London stage Brenman played Theo in the 2006 European premiere of Steve Martin's The Underpants at the Old Red Lion Theatre - a reworking of Carl Sternheim's 1911 satirical comedy, Die Hose.[4] Brenman also played Ian in the football comedy An Evening with Gary Lineker at the Duchess Theatre, and Tariq Ali's and Howard Brenton's New Labour satire Ugly Rumours (Tricycle Theatre), The Ghost Train (Lyric Hammersmith Theatre), C4 Sitcom Festival (Riverside Theatre) which resulted in the C4 comedy series In Exile and a rarely performed Ionesco play, Journeys Among The Dead (Riverside Theatre).
Outside London, Brenman played Felix in Elly Brewer's and Sandi Toksvig’s Shakespeare deconstruction The Pocket Dream (York Theatre Royal), Brian in Terry Johnson's Dead Funny (Nottingham Playhouse), toured with Butterflies Are Free, appeared in The Winslow Boy and The Trial of Lady Chatterley (Nottingham Playhouse) and Richard Hope's black comedy about serial killers and the press, Good Copy, in which he played a paedophile priest opposite Robert Bathurst's prostitute murderer (West Yorkshire Playhouse).
In 2008, Brenman completed a UK tour, with Richard Wilson, of Steve Thompson’s political comedy Whipping It Up[5] and featured in a new series of Doctor Who for BBC Radio 7. He played Heston Carter in BBC television series Doctors from 2008 to 2018.
He was nominated for Best Actor at the 2010, 2011 and 2016 British Soap Awards.[6]
| Year | Film | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Teacher | |||
| 2000 | One of the Hollywood Ten | Dalton Trumbo | ||
| 1983 | Policeman |
| Year | TV Show | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Father Brown | Lord St John Sprockett | 1 episode: The Hermit of Hazelnut Cottage |
| 2023 | Sister Boniface Mysteries | Captain Pargiter | 1 episode : Stage Fright |
| 2008–2018 | Doctors | Heston Carter | 1,234 episodes |
| 2010 | Decade of Doctors | Himself | 3 episodes: Behind the Scenes / Amazing Facts / Storylines |
| 2009 | Himself - Audience Member | ||
| 2008 | Filthy Rich | James Stewart | |
| 2005–2008 | Love Soup | Lloyd Drewitt | 8 episodes |
| 2007 | Comedy Connections | Himself | 1 episode : One Foot in the Grave |
| 2005 | Bremner, Bird and Fortune | Climate Adviser | 1 episode : Episode #7.2 |
| Absolute Power | Anthony Dewson | 1 episode: The Trial | |
| 2004 | Casualty | Brian Wallace | 1 episode : Who Cares? |
| 2003 | Doctors | Adam Cardwell | 1 episode : Doppelgänger |
| My Family | Headmaster | 1 episode : Loco Parentis | |
| 2001–2002 | Oscar Charlie | Alan Spinner | 13 episodes |
| 1990–2000 | One Foot in the Grave | Nick Swainey | 15 episodes |
| 2000 | Fat Friends | Harvey Lipman | 1 episode: When the Fat Lady Sings |
| Victor | 1 episode: Desperately Seeking Susan | ||
| 1999 | People Like Us | Graham Broadbent | 1 episode : The Solicitor |
| 1998 | Drop the Dead Donkey | Sally 1 | 1 episode: A Bit of an Atmosphere |
| In Exile | Bishop | 6 episodes | |
| 1997 | Heartbeat | Lester | 1 episode: What the Butler Saw |
| Underworld | Headmaster | 3 episodes: Episode #1.1 / Episode #1.3 /Episode #1.4 | |
| Sharpe | Witherspoon | 1 episode: Sharpe's Waterloo | |
| 1996 | Dangerfield | Wills | 1 episode: "Eden" |
| Paul Merton in Galton and Simpson's | Englishman/actor (voice) | 1 episode: The Radio Ham | |
| 1993–1995 | Woof! | Mr Thomas | 24 episodes |
| 1995 | Health and Efficiency | Mr. Lester | 1 episode: Finders Keepers |
| 1992 | Mr. Bean | Store Clerk | 1 episode: Merry Christmas Mr. Bean |
| Perfect Scoundrels | Alan Reynolds | 1 episode: Dirty Tricks | |
| 1988–1991 | Alexei Sayle's Stuff | Actor / Various Roles | 13 episodes |
| 1991 | 2point4 Children | Yuppy | 1 episode: Leader of the Pack |
| Actor | 1 episode: Episode #5.6 | ||
| Dighton | 1 episode: With Intent | ||
| Actor | 1 episode: And the Winner Is... | ||
| About Face | Chris | 1 episode: Briefcase Encounter | |
| 1990 | Birds of a Feather | The Snatcher | 1 episode: Sweet Smell Of Success |
| 1988 | Solicitor | 1 episode: The Assassins | |
| 1987–1988 | 'Allo 'Allo! | Guard / London Calling (voice) / Kingfisher (voice) / French' Radio Voice (voice) | 4 episodes |
| 1987 | No Place Like Home | Barman | 1 episode: Fortyfying the Over |
| 1986 | Screen Two | Actor | 1 episode: "Honest, Decent and True" |
| 1984 | Spitting Image | Writer (written by) | Episode #1.6 |
| 1983 | Sweet Sixteen | Youth | 1 episode:Episode #1.3 |
| Orthopaedic S.H.O | 1 episode: Chronic |