Roger Ashton-Griffiths

Roger Ashton-Griffiths was born on January 19, 1957, in Hertfordshire, England. He holds dual British and Canadian nationalities. His academic background includes reading Music at Lancaster University from 1975 to 1978, followed by a period as a singer with the English National Opera from 1979 to 1981. He later pursued further education, earning an MA in fine art from the University of East London in 2003 and a PhD in creative writing from the University of East Anglia in 2016. In 2010, Lancaster University appointed him a Fellow of Furness College.

His acting career spans several decades, featuring roles in high-profile films such as Terry Gilliam’s ‘Brazil’ (1985) and ‘The Brothers Grimm’ (2005), Martin Scorsese’s ‘Gangs of New York’ (2002) where he played P.T. Barnum, and Woody Allen’s ‘You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger’ (2010). On television, he gained significant recognition for his portrayal of Lord Mace Tyrell in the HBO fantasy series ‘Game of Thrones’ across Seasons 4, 5, and 6 (2014-2016). His television credits also include appearances in ‘Doctor Who’ (2014), ‘Coronation Street’ (2014–15), and ‘Taboo’ (2017).

Beyond acting, Ashton-Griffiths is also a screenwriter and film director. His directorial and writing credits include the short films ‘Deflation’ (2001) and ‘And Beyond’ (2000). His debut novel, ‘The Case of Cat Adam’, was published in 2023. His varied career demonstrates a sustained contribution to the arts, marked by consistent work in diverse creative roles.