Biography

Born In Edinburgh, his Scottish father was a teacher and his Italian mother a lecturer. One of his first ambitions was to be a rock star and for a short time in the 70s he played in a group called Tandem. But his desire to become an actor was stronger and he soon left Edinburgh to study drama at London's Mountview Drama School. He has lived in London ever since. His acting career began to gain momentum when director Jenny Killick cast him as Otto in Franz Xaver Kroetz's Through The Leaves in 1985 at the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh. Since then he has enjoyed a long and successful stage career.

Interviews with Ken seem to indicate that he is very protective of his privacy, therefore, i don't have a lot of personal details about him. A recent article stated he was 48 but last year, several articles had him as being 44 (so he's in his forties!). He currently lives with his partner, actress DI Sherlock (Secret & Lies) and he has a son Bill (14) from a previous relationship. As mentioned, he lives in London (and has done for years). I have read that he speaks fluent Italian and has recently bought a house in Italy which he is currently renovating!

He returns to Edinburgh every so often to visit friends and family and to watch his beloved football team Hearts!

 

Yvan in Art (1996) (Nominated for an Olivier for Best Actor)

Scotty Scot in The Prince's Play (1996)

Harry Hyman in Broken Glass (1995) (Won an Olivier for Best Supporting Actor)

Alceste in The Misanthrope (1995)

Kite in The Recruiting Officer (1993) (Nominated for an Olivier for Best Supporting Actor)

Macbryde in Colquhoun and Macbryde (1992)

Alvaro Mangiacavallo in The Rose Tattoo (1991)

Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman (1990)

Alexei Salomaten in The White Rose (1985)

Otto in Through The Leaves (1985)

For The Royal Shakespeare Company

Douglas in Henry IV Part 1

Gower in Henry IV Part 2

Captain Jamy in Henry V

Jack Ruby in The Merry Wives of Windsor

Dates Unknown

Nocella in Franco Zefferelli's Filumena

Ali Hakim in Oklahoma

Three Men and a Horse

Rosencrantz in Hamlet

Sullen in The Beaux Stratagem

Willie Naudie in American Bagpipes

1953

The Magistrate

Jacobowsky and the Colonel

Antonio in The Tempest

Cloten in Cymbeline

Autolycus in The Winter's Tale

Hatch in The Sea

In terms of television he has appeared in outstanding drama's such as The Singing Detective (1986) but it was Scotland that gave Ken his biggest acting break as DJ Eddie McKenna in Donna Franceschild's Takin' Over The Asylum (1995). He then went on to appear in Franceschild's A Mugs Game (1996) as well as the BBC production Rhodes (1996). Since then he has appeared in episodes of acclaimed dramas such as Silent Witness and Taggart as well as appearing opposite the brilliant Juliet Stevenson in the TV film Stone, Scissors, Paper (1997). Television appearances in 1999 have been highly prolific for Ken. First came the ITV police series The Vice, followed by the BBC film Vicious Circle. His last TV outing was a moving portrayal as a sacked Docker in Jimmy McGovern's hard hitting docu-drama Dockers. Next up will be a new series of The Vice in January 2000.

Ken is also no stranger to films, with notable appearances in Shallow Grave (1995) The Boxer (1997) Fever Pitch (1997) and Plunkett and Macleane (1999). His last film outing The Debt Collector (1999) was also his first lead role.