Joe Gilgun

Joseph William Gilgun was born on March 9, 1984, in Chorley, Lancashire, England. His acting career began at the age of 10, with his first television role in “Coronation Street” in 1994, where he played Jamie Armstrong until 1997. After a period away from full-time acting, during which he worked as a plasterer and took on various odd jobs and small theatre productions, Gilgun returned to the profession in 2006. This marked a turning point in his career, leading to his role as Eli Dingle in the soap opera “Emmerdale,” a role he maintained until 2010. Concurrently, he also appeared in the film “This Is England” (2006), beginning a significant association with the franchise.

Gilgun’s career developed further with his role as Woody in the highly regarded “This Is England” film and its subsequent television mini-series: “This Is England ’86” (2010), “This Is England ’88” (2011), and “This Is England ’90” (2015). He gained wider recognition when he joined the cast of “Misfits” in 2011, taking on a lead role as Rudy Wade, which he played through 2013 over 25 episodes. His presence expanded to American television as he starred as the vampire Cassidy in AMC’s “Preacher” from 2016 to 2019, also serving as a co-executive producer for later seasons. Building on his experiences, Gilgun co-created, executive produced, and starred in the Sky One comedy series “Brassic,” which premiered in 2019. The series, inspired by his own life, has been renewed for multiple seasons, with Season 6 airing in 2024 and the final season expected in Autumn 2025 across 47 episodes. His filmography also includes roles in “Harry Brown” (2009), “Lockout” (2012), “Pride” (2014), “The Last Witch Hunter” (2015), and “The Infiltrator” (2016).

Throughout his career, Gilgun has openly discussed his personal experiences with dyslexia, ADHD, depression, and bipolar disorder, elements that have informed some of his creative work, notably in “Brassic.” He has received critical acclaim and nominations for his performances, including multiple BAFTA Television Awards nominations for Male Performance in a Comedy Programme for his role in “Brassic,” winning a RTS North West Award in 2021 for the same. His consistent work in both comedic and dramatic roles, along with his contributions as a writer and producer, demonstrate a sustained career in the industry.