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Famous people of North Wales

Gary Turner, actor with a connection to Rhyl

  • Person's Name: Gary Turner
  • Fame as?: Actor raised in Rhyl
  • Fame Hilite: English actor raised in north Wales, best known for Emmerdale's Carlos Diaz.
  • Birth info: Born 1968, Chester, Cheshire
  • Body Text 2:

    Turner trained at RADA, graduating in 1991, before building a long career across British television and theatre.

  • Career Highlights:
    • Career Highlight: Played Carlos Diaz in ITV's Emmerdale (2000-2001, 2004)
    • Career Highlight: Founding member of The Spontaneity Shop improvisation company
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  • External Profile Pic: https://www.famouswelsh.com/images/
  • Connection: Raised in Chester and north Wales; local record associates him with Rhyl High School.
  • Related Material:
  • Location String: Rhyl, Wales
  • Connection Place Map: 53.3184,-3.4906

Ian Saynor, actor born in Caernarfon

  • Person's Name: Ian Saynor
  • Fame as?: Film, Television and Stage Actor
  • Fame Hilite: Welsh-speaking actor best known for playing Morgan opposite Katharine Hepburn in 'The Corn Is Green' (1979) and Merak in Doctor Who's 'The Armageddon Factor'.
  • Birth info: Ian was born in Caernarfon, North Wales
  • Body Text 2:

    Saynor made his breakthrough playing Morgan opposite Katharine Hepburn in the 1979 television film 'The Corn Is Green', based on Emlyn Williams' play, and the same year appeared as Merak in the Doctor Who serial 'The Armageddon Factor'. He went on to a long career working for BBC Wales, BBC South and S4C, appearing in numerous stage productions mostly based in Cardiff and London, and most recently played the father of the lead detective in the 2018 bilingual drama 'Hidden'.

  • Career Highlights:
    • Career Highlight: Played Morgan opposite Katharine Hepburn in 'The Corn Is Green' (1979)
    • Career Highlight: Played Merak in the Doctor Who serial 'The Armageddon Factor' (1979)
    • Career Highlight: Played Adam Lockett in the sitcom 'The Cuckoo Waltz'
    • Career Highlight: Extensive work for BBC Wales, BBC South and S4C
    • Career Highlight: Played the father of the lead detective in the 2018 drama 'Hidden'
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  • External Profile Pic: https://www.famouswelsh.com/images/
  • Connection: Born in Caernarfon (probably) to Welsh parents and is a Welsh speaker
  • Related Material:
  • Location String: Caernarfon, North Wales
  • Comments:
    • Comment By: goutherns , This Comment: Grew up in Holywell, Flintshire, currently in Oxfordshire.
    • Comment By: avalon13 , This Comment: I first saw Ian Saynor in 'The Mallens' and admired his ability and personality. It may have something to do with the name we share, although my only link with Caernarfon is that the boy I went to sea with lived there. I personally hope to see more of Ian.

Jonathan Pryce, (Sir) actor from Carmel, Flintshire

  • Person's Name: Sir Jonathan Pryce
  • Fame as?: Actor from Carmel, Flintshire
  • Fame Hilite: Knighted Welsh actor from Carmel, Flintshire, known for Brazil, Evita, and his Oscar-nominated turn as Pope Francis in The Two Popes.
  • Birth info: Born John Price, 1 June 1947, Carmel, Flintshire, Wales.
  • Body Text 2:

    Pryce took his stage name from a near-clash with an actor already registered with the actors' union Equity, dropping the birth surname Price for the similar-sounding Pryce. Despite his international career, his voice has retained a distinct Welsh lilt, and he has often spoken of the influence of his Flintshire upbringing on his work.

  • Career Highlights:
    • Career Highlight: Won two Tony Awards on Broadway, for Comedians (1977) and Miss Saigon (1991).
    • Career Highlight: Won an Olivier Award for his title-role performance in Hamlet at the Royal Court Theatre (1980).
    • Career Highlight: Earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for playing Pope Francis in The Two Popes (2019).
    • Career Highlight: Knighted in the 2021 Birthday Honours for services to drama and charity.
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  • External Profile Pic: https://www.famouswelsh.com/images/
  • Connection: Born and raised in Carmel, Flintshire, the son of a Welsh grocer; educated at Holywell Grammar School before training as an actor in London.
  • Related Material:
  • Location String: Carmel, Flintshire, Wales
  • Connection Place Map: 53.2737,-3.2363
Sir Jonathan Pryce was born John Price on 1 June 1947 in Carmel, Flintshire, the son of Isaac Price, a former coal miner who ran a small grocery shop, and Margaret Ellen Price. Raised a Welsh Presbyterian, he was educated at Holywell Grammar School before training as a teacher and, after taking...

Lee Evans, actor with a connection to Wales (Rhyl, North Wales)

Lee Evans: photo thanks to Phil Guest, Bournemouth, UK
  • Person's Name: Lee Evans
  • Fame as?: Comedian and Actor
  • Fame Hilite: Born in Bristol to a Welsh father from North Wales — Lee Evans became one of Britain's most beloved comedians, selling out arenas and breaking Christmas DVD records with his extraordinary physical genius
  • Birth info: Born 25 February 1964 in Avonmouth, Bristol — son of Welsh comedian Dave Evans from North Wales
  • Body Text 2:

    Evans rose to prominence through the Edinburgh Festival and the Comedy Store circuit, winning the Perrier Award (now the Edinburgh Comedy Award) in 1993 — one of comedy's most coveted prizes. His film career followed swiftly: Funny Bones (1995) with Jerry Lewis won him the Paris Film Festival Award for Best Actor, then The Fifth Element (1997), Mouse Hunt (1997), There's Something About Mary (1998), The Ladies Man (2000) and The Medallion (2003) with Jackie Chan. He appeared in Doctor Who's 2009 Easter Special Planet of the Dead as Malcolm Taylor — a Welsh scientist. Entirely appropriate.

    But it was live stand-up where he truly lived. His Big tour in 2008 played 59 dates to over 500,000 people, and the DVD filmed at the O2 Arena became the best-selling Christmas DVD in the UK that year, shifting over a million copies. His 2011 Roadrunner tour grossed £12.9 million. The 2014 Monsters tour DVD surpassed even Big at Christmas. In November 2014 he announced his retirement from stand-up on The Jonathan Ross Show, saying he wanted to spend more time with his family. He was 50.

    He came briefly out of retirement in 2017 for a Shakespeare and Pinter fundraiser with Jack Whitehall, and announced a return to the stage in 2025 with a new arena tour including a date at Utilita Arena Cardiff — a homecoming of sorts, to the nation that shaped his father and, through him, him. His father Dave Evans died in June 2019 after a long illness. Lee Evans was born with a hole in his heart. He has never, as far as anyone can tell, stopped moving.

  • Public Video Title A : 3 Hours of Lee Evans Comedy Magic — Stand-Up Compilation
  • Public Video Title B: Lee Evans' Greatest One-Liners — Stand-Up Compilation
  • Public Video Title C: Over An Hour of Lee Evans Being Hilarious — Stand-Up Compilation
  • Career Highlights:
    • Career Highlight: Won the Perrier Award at the Edinburgh Festival (1993) — comedy's most prestigious prize
    • Career Highlight: Film debut in Funny Bones (1995) with Jerry Lewis — won the Paris Film Festival Award for Best Actor
    • Career Highlight: Appeared in Hollywood films The Fifth Element (1997), Mouse Hunt (1997) and There's Something About Mary (1998)
    • Career Highlight: Big tour (2008) — 59 dates, 500,000 tickets sold; DVD became the best-selling Christmas release in the UK that year
    • Career Highlight: Roadrunner tour (2011) — grossed £12.9 million, one of the highest-grossing comedy tours in British history
    • Career Highlight: Received the Channel 4 Special Contribution to Comedy award at the British Comedy Awards (2011)
    • Career Highlight: Honorary Doctorate of Arts from the University of East London (2010)
    • Career Highlight: Announced return to the stage in 2025 with new arena tour including Utilita Arena Cardiff
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  • External Profile Pic: https://www.famouswelsh.com/images/
  • Connection: Father Dave Evans was a comedian and musician from North Wales
  • Related Material:
  • Products:
    • Product Name: Lee Evans: Big — Live at the O2 [DVD] , Product Type: Movie , Product Description: Filmed at the O2 Arena in front of over 16,000 fans, this is Lee Evans at his peak — five record-breaking nights, 80,000 people, and the best-selling Christmas DVD in the UK in 2008. , Product Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000XTBDNQ?tag=thefamouswelshwe-21 , Product Store: Amazon UK , Product Image:
    • Product Name: Lee Evans: Monsters Live [DVD] , Product Type: Movie , Product Description: His final stand-up tour before retirement — and it surpassed even Big at Christmas 2014. Lee Evans going out at the very top of his game. , Product Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00ID9Y24U?tag=thefamouswelshwe-21 , Product Store: Amazon UK , Product Image:
    • Product Name: Lee Evans: Complete Live Comedy Collection 1994–2011 [8-DVD Box Set] , Product Type: Movie , Product Description: Every stand-up DVD from his entire career in one box — from Her Majesty's Theatre in 1994 to Roadrunner at the O2 in 2011. The definitive Lee Evans collection. , Product Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B009LFUB4A?tag=thefamouswelshwe-21 , Product Store: Amazon UK , Product Image:
    • Product Name: Lee Evans: So What Now — Series 1 [DVD] , Product Type: Movie , Product Description: All eight episodes of the BBC sitcom Evans wrote and starred in himself in 2001. Slapstick, warm and very funny — a perfect companion to his live shows. , Product Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00005OCTN?tag=thefamouswelshwe-21 , Product Store: Amazon UK , Product Image:
  • Location String: North Wales — father's home
  • Public Videos:
    • Public Video Title A : 3 Hours Of Lee Evans Comedy Magic | Stand-Up Compilation | Lee Evans , Public Video A: https://youtu.be/KEmifrMEAaA , Public Video Title B: Lee Evans' GREATEST One-Liners | Stand-Up Comedy Compilation | Lee Evans , Public Video B: https://youtu.be/M2pLoshNg9c , Public Video Title C: Over An Hour Of Lee Evans Being HILARIOUS | Stand-Up Comedy Compilation | Lee Evans Lee Evans Lee Evans 280k subscribers , Public Video C: https://youtu.be/evAVd7QzJqU
  • Connection Place Map: 53.3191,-3.4903
  • Comments:
    • Comment By: ForReal , This Comment: Is his father Welsh then? — Ed: Yes — Dave Evans was from North Wales and worked the clubs circuit there. Lee has spoken about his father's influence throughout his career.
    • Comment By: Joanne , This Comment: I know that his grandfather is Welsh as he spoke about him when he played Cardiff.
    • Comment By: Harryk9 , This Comment: His father was also a stand up comedian Dave Evans from North Wales.
    • Comment By: niknak147 , This Comment: Outstanding! Funniest man alive! No doubt about it.
    • Comment By: moogmoog12 , This Comment: He is without a doubt the most gorgeous man alive!
    • Comment By: BigFan2008 , This Comment: Saw him at the O2 on the Big tour in 2008. He was on stage for nearly three hours — soaked through with sweat, utterly hilarious. I've never laughed that hard in my life. Wales should claim him with both hands.
Lee John Martin Evans was born on 25 February 1964 in Avonmouth, Bristol — the son of Dave Evans, a Welsh comedian, musician and impressionist from North Wales, and his Irish wife Shirley Hunt. The Welsh blood ran strong in the family, and Lee has spoken warmly of his father's...

Lemmy Kilmister, the Motorhead from Anglesey, Wales

Lemmy Kilmister Lead singer and bass player for monster rockers Motorhead and a member of cult 70's group Hawkwind. Lemmy was diagnosed with cancer on Boxing Day, 26th December 2015 and died just days later on the 28th December 2015. Apprently he had been quite ill for a while...