Griff Rhys Jones

Date of Birth:
16 November 1953,
in Cardiff,
Wales


Show History:

• Oliver

Current Role

Griff Rhys Jones is currently playing the role of Fagin in Cameron Mackintosh's production of Oliver showing at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane.

Early Life

Rhys Jones was born in Cardiff and went on to study at the University of Cambridge reading history and English at Emmanuel College.

Career Highlights

Rhys Jones starred on Not the Nine O'CLock News alongside Mel Smith with who he later set up the management company TalkBack Productions. The duo worked to produce shows such as Smack the Pony and Da Ali G Show. Their company was eventually sold to Pearson for £62 million.

Interesting Facts

• When Griff Rhy Jones was at Brentwood School he met Charlie Bean (later Executive Director of the Bank of England) and Douglas Adams who went on to be the author of successful novel The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
• Rhys Jones also attended Cambridge with Bean and Adams.

Awards

• Laurence Olivier Award for Charley's Aunt (1983)
• Laurence Olivier Award for Absolute Turkey (1994)