- Born
- Height5′ 10″ (1.78 m)
- Robert Glenister is a popular British actor probably best known, among other roles, as con man Ash "Three Socks" Morgan in the hit British TV series Hustle (2004) and his appearances in MI-5 (2002). His impressive career has spanned nearly three decades, and he has starred in several hit British television shows and acted in films.
He is the son of director John Glenister and the brother of actor Philip Glenister, who plays DCI Gene Hunt in Life on Mars (2006). His ex-wife is actress Amanda Redman, with whom he has a daughter, Emily Glenister, born in 1987. He and his current wife, Celia Glenister, have a son, Thomas Glenister, born in 1996. His sister-in-law is actress Beth Goddard.
Glenister appeared regularly in the BBC sitcom Sink or Swim (1980) from 1980 until 1982. He has also appeared in shows such as Soldier Soldier (1991), Doctor Who (1963) (in the serial "The Caves of Androzani," opposite his Sink or Swim (1980) co-star Peter Davison), Only Fools and Horses (1981), and A Touch of Frost (1992), as well as several films.
He is probably best known for his starring role in the BBC drama Hustle (2004), which has been exported to audiences across the globe. His character in the drama, Ash Morgan, is a high-level con man who has to convincingly play various roles or characters in order to pull off a con and lure a mark. This perfectly showcases Glenister's versatile acting range and ability. He also had a regular starring role in the BBC drama MI-5 (2002).
His renowned on-screen presence and charismatic performances mean that Glenister continues to be a much sought-after actor on British television.
- IMDb mini biography by: A J Lewis
- SpousesAmanda Redman(1984 - 1992) (divorced, 1 child)Celia de Wolff(? - present) (1 child)
- ChildrenThomas Glenister
- Parents
- RelativesPhilip Glenister(Sibling)
- He narrated the audio-book versions of J.K. Rowling's private eye novels "The Cuckoo's Calling" (2014) and "The Silkworm" (2015).
- He played Peter Davison's brother in the sitcom Sink or Swim (1980). He later appeared opposite Davison in The Caves of Androzani: Part One (1984), which was voted the best Doctor Who story ever by fans of the series in 2009.
- Son of director John Glenister, older brother of actor Philip Glenister, father, with Amanda Redman, of Emily Glenister, born in 1987, brother-in-law of Beth Goddard, and father, with Celia Glenister, of Tom Glenister, born in 1996.
- Got his first acting experience with the National Youth Theatre.
- Spoke the opening narration for "Law & Order: UK".
- [speaking in 2007] There may be things wrong with TV in this country, but I spent six weeks in Los Angeles last year and what we have in the UK is like manna from heaven compared to American TV. Okay, they have some great programmes that we see over here like The Sopranos (1999), but that is surrounded by dross and adverts. I still think we do great TV drama and that is a benchmark, but I think we have to be careful that we don't get too blasé about it.
- [speaking in 2007] In the eighties you went for a TV job and you met the director and producer, and they decided whether to cast you in the role. You went along and you read with another actor or you met the cast. Now you have to go before a committee. I have to say it's bloody galling when you have been in the game as long as I have. You also get typecast easily. People only think of you in your last role, in my case Hustle (2004). If I were up for a costume drama, a committee would say, 'He doesn't do costume, he does Hustle (2004).' That's how television has changed. Your qualities as an actor are valued less now than they were in the past and it is a far more formal process. I think most actors find that. Technically, working in TV is much quicker these days. It's a bit like working on the hop. There was a time when if you filmed two pages a day that would be okay. Now it has to be six a day because TV is very expensive. And I think that when analogue changes to digital it will be spread even thinner. Twenty years ago you had two weeks' studio rehearsal for a teleplay but now as an actor you have to make decisions very quickly. Before, you could think about them and discuss. Today you have one day's rehearsal if you are lucky and you turn up for shooting. You hope you have a director who is making the right decisions and if you haven't, you're on your own.
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