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Christopher Guard

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Christopher Guard
Chris Guard performing at the Lively Bird Festival in Nottingham on 26 May 2012
Chris Guard performing at the Lively Bird Festival in Nottingham on 26 May 2012
Born (1953-12-05) 5 December 1953 (age 70)
Hammersmith, London, England
OccupationActor
SpouseLesley Dunlop[1] (divorced)
PartnerCathy Shipton
Children3
Parent(s)Charlotte Mitchell (mother)
Philip Guard (father)
RelativesDominic Guard (brother)
Candy Guard (sister)
Pippa Guard (cousin)

Christopher Guard (born 5 December 1953) is an English actor, musician and artist. He is known for roles such as Jim Hawkins in Return to Treasure Island (1986), Bellboy in Doctor Who serial The Greatest Show in the Galaxy (1988), Marcellus in I, Claudius (1976), Marius in Les Misérables (1978), Ken Hodges in the medical drama Casualty (1993), and voicing Frodo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings (1978).

Guard has appeared in Memoirs of a Survivor (1981) and A Woman of Substance (1985). His first role on television was the young David Copperfield in the BBC's 1966 TV serial adaptation, followed by Pip in Great Expectations (1967). A long list of credits include appearances in Dixon of Dock Green, Z-Cars, Secret Army, Shoestring, The Professionals, Lovejoy, Bugs, Poirot, The Bill and Doctors. He has played roles in two works by Dennis Potter: Play For Today: Joe's Ark (1974) and Blackeyes (1989). He demonstrated his singing ability in the film version of Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music (1977) in the role of Henrik Egerman alongside Elizabeth Taylor. He played Ferdinand in the BBC Shakespeare production of The Tempest (opposite his cousin Pippa as Miranda) in 1980.

In recent years, Guard has worked on expanding his musical career and developing his artwork for private sale online.

Early life

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Guard was born in Hammersmith, London and educated at Latymer Upper School.[2]

Career

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Guard's on-screen debut came aged 12 as the young David Copperfield in BBC television's 1966 serial adaptation of the Charles Dickens novel. Producer Campbell Logan and Director Joan Craft had failed to find a suitable young actor from a drama academy and started to enquire about children of actors. Guard said: "I never went to any kind of stage school... I went up once, twice, and three times [to Threshold House for auditions] – third time it was just me and one other boy and they chose me. The next thing I knew, there were four big, fat BBC scripts on the doormat and I was learning the lines and rehearsing in an old church hall and working with amazing people like Joss Ackland."[3] Only one episode to feature Guard (episode 3, "A Long Journey") is known to exist.[4]

Further television work followed, including an episode of Dixon of Dock Green and in 1967 he landed the role of young Pip in another BBC Dickens serial, Great Expectations, directed by Alan Bridges, who also directed Guard in a Play For Today called "Joe's Ark" written by Dennis Potter. In 1974, Guard became a member of the National Theatre at the age of 20.[5]

Further roles in high-profile BBC TV productions followed, including Marcellus in I, Claudius (1976) and Marius in Les Misérables (1978). In 1978, Guard and his brother, Dominic both voiced characters in an animated film version of The Lord of the Rings (1978). Chris voiced Frodo Baggins and Dominic voiced Pippin.[6][7]

The late seventies and early eighties were a busy time for Guard with appearances in Shoestring, The Professionals and leading roles in period costume dramas such as My Cousin Rachel (1983) by Daphne du Maurier and A Woman of Substance (1985) written by Barbara Taylor Bradford, Guard worked alongside Jenny Seagrove, Deborah Kerr and Liam Neeson.[8]

The actor's next project was with Brian Blessed, playing the lead character of Jim Hawkins in Return to Treasure Island (1986). The 10-part miniseries was filmed in Wales, Spain and Jamaica and directed by Piers Haggard and Alex Kirby. It is a sequel to the Robert Louis Stevenson classic and again features Long John Silver.[9]

Guard entered the world of science fiction for the role of Bellboy in the Doctor Who serial The Greatest Show in the Galaxy (1988). His character builds and repairs robotic clowns at the Psychic Circus. Guard considered Bellboy a victim: "All these things were happening to him. Although he has had power, the power is all kind of taken away from him. Ultimately, he turns his own creations, in a Frankenstein way, upon himself".[10] The episodes were filmed in Dorset and famously at the BBC Elstree Centre using the car park to house the large circus top. Summing up the experience on location, Guard said "There was a vibe about the whole shoot. It was very hot out there...but it just felt good."[11]

From September 1993, Guard played the role of Clinical Nurse Specialist Ken Hodges in long-running BBC drama, Casualty. The nurse left Holby after admitting he loved established character, Charlie Fairhead. Guard said about the character: "He's someone whose life is outside my experience, but we're not making any great statement by including a man who happens to be gay".[12]

Music

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As a musician and songwriter Guard has written award-winning songs and his bands Leapfrogtown[13][14] and What the Fox[15] have played festivals supporting Toploader and venues such as The Troubadour and Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club. His song 'Attention Deficit Girl' won the Guild of International Songwriters Rock Award in 2004.[16]

In 2001, Christopher composed a song to celebrate the promotion of Fulham to the Premier Division. The song, entitled 'Here to Stay' by his band Lucky Revolution, features lead vocals by his daughter Daisy and backing vocals by his daughter Rosie and partner, Cathy Shipton.[17]

Songwriting has been a life-long passion and his original songs have featured on radio, television and film. This included collaborating on Candy Guard's animated series, Pond Life for Channel 4 (1996 and 2000) and recently contributions to the soundtrack for the film 'Mercy' (2020), directed and written by Wendy Morgan.[18]

Many of these songs can be viewed and purchased online. 'Blind Side' is Chris's latest release, in 2021.

Indians in Moscow

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In 1991, Stuart Walton and Pete Riches reformed the band, Indians in Moscow and recruited Guard as lead singer. Together they released an initial single, 'Wrong Love' (1991) and then recorded an album, 'Ten Days to Live' (1994) on Nemesis Records. Walton and Guard continued to work together as part of The Bloogs up until 2012 and then as Leapfrogtown.[19]

Art

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Alongside his work in film and music Chris is an established artist. His work is inspired by nature and 'our strange and paradoxical relationship with it'. His clients include British and American actors and musicians.[20]

Family

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Guard has two daughters from his marriage with Lesley Dunlop and one daughter with actress Cathy Shipton.[21]

Christopher ran the London Marathon in 1995 in aid of the 'Save the Cottage Campaign' and in total he has run five marathons and many half-marathons supporting Leukemia Research and the British Heart Foundation and other charities.[22]

He has been a committed vegetarian since childhood.[23]

Selected filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Director Notes
1977 A Little Night Music Erich Egerman Harold Prince
1978 The Lord of the Rings Frodo Ralph Bakshi Voice
1981 Loophole Cliff John Quested
Memoirs of a Survivor Gerald David Gladwell
2003 Butterfly Boy's Brother Corin Hardy
2020 Mercy Lawyer Wendy Morgan
2021 Swim Z Wendy Morgan Pre-production

Television

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Year Title Role Director Notes
1966 David Copperfield Young David Joan Craft Serial (5 episodes)
Dixon of Dock Green Tommy Harris David Askey Series (1 episode)
1967 Great Expectations Young Pip Alan Bridges Serial (3 episodes)
1971 Tom Brown's Schooldays Darcy Gareth Davies
1972 Z-Cars Michael Gerald Blake Series (1 episode)
1973 Vienna 1900 Hugo Heinold Herbert Wise
1974 Play For Today: Joe's Ark John Alan Bridges
1976 I, Claudius Marcellus Herbert Wise
1977 Secret Army Peter Romsey Paul Annett
The Duchess of Duke Street John Cyril Coke
1978 Les Miserables Marius Glenn Jordan TV movie
1979 Shoestring Charles Roger Tucker
You Me and Him Conrad Bernard Thompson
Malice Aforethought Denny Bourne Cyril Coke
1980 Company and Co Keith Farmer Douglas Camfield
The Tempest Ferdinand John Gorrie TV movie
The Professionals Tony Chris Burt
1981 John Diamond John Diamond Eric Davidson TV movie
Wilfred and Eileen Wilfred David Green Serial (4 episodes)
Jackanory Storyteller Nel Romano 'The Miller's Boy' (5 episodes)
1983 My Cousin Rachel Philip Ashley Brian Farnham Serial (4 episodes)
Bouncing Back Colin Bucksey TV Movie
1985 A Woman of Substance Gerald Fairley Don Sharp
The Tripods Cognosc Bob Blagden
1986 Dead Man's Folly Alec Legge Clive Donner
Return to Treasure Island Jim Hawkins Piers Haggard Series (10 episodes)
1988 Doctor Who: The Greatest Show in the Galaxy Bellboy Alan Wareing Series (3 episodes)
1989 Blackeyes Nigel Bennon Dennis Potter
1990 She-Wolf of London Hatchard Brian Grant
1993 Casualty Ken Hodges Charles Beeson/Richard Bramall/Laura Sims/George Case/Matthew Evans Series (7 episodes)
1994 Lifeboat Jonathan Breem Dewi Humphreys
Lovejoy Jake Ian White 'Somewhere - Over the Rainbow?'
1995 The Haunting of Helen Walker Peter Quint Tom McLoughlin TV movie
Jackanory Storyteller 'Treasure Island' (5 episodes)
1996 Testament: The Bible in Animation Jonathan Gary Hurst Voice
1997 Bugs David Lance John Stroud
1998 The Bill Phil Gough Barbara Rennie
2000 Poirot Alton Brian Farnham
The Worst Witch Icy Stevens Alex Kirby
2001 Doctors John Shephard John Greening

Theatre

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Year Title Role Director
1972 I and Albert Prince Ernest John Schlesinger
Tom Brown's Schooldays Flashman Peter Coe
1974 Romeo and Juliet Paris Bill Bryden
The Tempest Francisco Peter Hall
Spring Awakening Lammermeier Bill Bryden
1975 The Taming of the Shrew Lucentio Mervyn Willis
1977 Filumena Umberto Franco Zeffirelli
1983 Custom of the Country David Jones

References

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  1. ^ Barber, Richard (28 July 2001). Lesley Dunlop - At 45, why I'm feeling broody, Daily Mirror, Retrieved 17 December 2010
  2. ^ (09/01/2020) Doctor Who Guide. Retrieved on 01/03/2021
  3. ^ (08/11/2020) Interview with Chelmsford Community Radio 104.4FM. Retrieved on 28/02/2021
  4. ^ "BFI Screenonline: David Copperfield (1966)".
  5. ^ (09/01/2020) Doctor Who Guide. Retrieved on 01/03/2021
  6. ^ Reviews of The Long of the Rings (1978) on Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved on 28/02/2021
  7. ^ The Long of the Rings (1978) casting information. Retrieved on 28/02/2021
  8. ^ A Woman of Substance (1985) casting information. Retrieved on 28/02/2021
  9. ^ Television Heaven on the making of Return to Treasure Island. Retrieved on 28/02/2021
  10. ^ (08/11/2020) Interview with Chelmsford Community Radio 104.4FM. Retrieved on 28/02/2021
  11. ^ (08/11/2020) Interview with Chelmsford Community Radio 104.4FM. Retrieved on 28/02/2021
  12. ^ Griffin, Cheryl (13/01/2010). Online interview with Holby.tv. Retrieved on 28/02/2021
  13. ^ McWilliams, Helen (06/08/2017) Chris Guard interview about Leapfrogtown. Retrieved on 28/02/2021
  14. ^ Falconer, Daniel (31/01/2016). Online interview with Chris Guard. Retrieved on 01/03/2021
  15. ^ Living Life Our Way (27/11/2017). Online interview with Chris Guard. Retrieved on 01/03/2021
  16. ^ The UK Songwriting Contest 2004. Retrieved on 28/02/2021
  17. ^ Griffin, Cheryl (13/01/2010). Online interview with Holby.tv. Retrieved on 28/02/2021
  18. ^ Cast and crew for Mercy. Retrieved on 28/02/2021
  19. ^ Falconer, Daniel (31/01/2016). Online interview with Chris Guard. Retrieved on 01/03/2021
  20. ^ Link to Christopher Guard's artwork on personal website
  21. ^ Barber, Richard (13 July 2005). I'd rather be single than go out with a loser; TV'S LESLEY DUNLOP ON FINDING LOVE AFTER 40, Daily Mirror, Retrieved 28 November 2012
  22. ^ Griffin, Cheryl (13/01/2010). Online interview with Holby.tv. Retrieved on 28/02/2021
  23. ^ (08/11/2020) Interview with Chelmsford Community Radio 104.4FM. Retrieved on 28/02/2021
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