Richard Pettyfer

Richard Pettyfer was born in London on 2nd June 1960. The family moved to Hertfordshire in 1964. He is the son of Rita M. (Spooner) and Arthur Alexander Pettyfer. His father, who was born in Australia to English parents, died in 1988. He has one sister.

He has dual nationality, British/Australian. He played rugby and cricket for the county and rugby for England schools, was the county canoeing champion and studied karate for many years. He played percussion in the National Youth Orchestra and sang as a choirboy in Worcester cathedral. He moved to London at 16 and went to the Arts Educational Drama School for three years, winning the most promising student award. In his year at drama school were Martin Clunes, Caroline Quentin and Maria Freedman.

He is an RFU qualified rugby coach and rugby fanatic and a lifelong fan of Harlequins RFC. He speaks Italian and has done shows in both French and German.

He is the father of film actor Alex Pettyfer, of whom he is immensely proud. He has worked for over forty years on TV and in the West End theatre appearing in more than 30 West End shows ,(including the original casts of Cats and Mamma Mia),as well as seasons with the Royal Shakespeare Company, The Royal National Theatre and The New Shakespeare Company at Regents Park Open Air Theatre, appearing with Millicent Martin and Topol. He was awarded the 'Gypsy Robe' (awarded to the person in a new company who has performed in the most West End and Broadway shows), during his stint at the Royal National Theatre in 'South Pacific'.