Charlie Condou
Birth nameCharles Lomax David Condou
Birth date8 January 1973 (age 53)
Birth placeHammersmith, London, England
OccupationActor, writer
Years active1985–present
SpouseCameron Laux (m. 2015)
Television

Charlie Condou (born 8 January 1973) is a British actor, columnist and LGBT rights activist. Condou secured a series of television movie roles during his teenage years in the 1980s. He later had guest roles in British television series during the 1990s. In 2007, Condou gained wider recognition when he took the role of sonographer Marcus Dent in the soap opera Coronation Street, in which he remained until 2014. He also played the role of Ben Sherwood in the medical drama Holby City. Condou has used his fame as a platform to promote LGBT rights, becoming a patron for charities and being an advocate for same-sex parenting.

Career

Condou's acting career began in the 1985 American television movie, The Key to Rebecca as Billy Vandam, the young son of the main character, William, played by Cliff Robertson.[1] He then appeared in the 1985 movie Exploits at West Poley at the age of twelve. His television career continued throughout his teens with appearances in the shows Robin of Sherwood and A Sense of Guilt. In 1988, Condou appeared in the television movie Every Breath You Take as a thirteen-year-old chorister. He worked with actress Connie Booth, who played his on-screen mother in the movie.[2] He went onto secure the role of Stuart Wolvis in the six part British comedy drama series The Wolvis Family.[3] The show focuses on the Wolvis' family issues, with Stuart being the problematic teenager of the family.[4] He continued in his twenties, playing a variety of roles in series like Martin Chuzzlewit, Pie in the Sky, The Bill, Peak Practice, Urban Gothic, The Infinite Worlds of H. G. Wells and Midsomer Murders.[5] Other roles included a guest appearances as Nino in television series Gimme, Gimme, Gimme alongside Kathy Burke,[6] and Giles in the film Dead Babies.[7] He then played the role of Auguste in the 2001 thriller film Charlotte Gray alongside Cate Blanchett.[8]

In 2005, the actor played editor Jonatton Yeah? in Channel 4 sitcom Nathan Barley.[9] In 2006, Condou appeared as Renoir in the BBC drama The Impressionists.[10] He had a cameo role as an elf in the film Fred Claus. In 2007, Condou joined the cast of the British soap opera Coronation Street, playing Marcus Dent. In 2008 he left the show and stated that "I have had a fantastic time in Coronation Street, but as a jobbing actor I believe it is time to move on." A publicist from the show added "we'll be sad to see Charlie leave".[11] At the time, Condou indicated that "there are a few things in the pipeline, one of which is a feature film which is being made abroad. But all that's under wraps at the moment." This film turned out to be Good, released later that year.[11]

After having returned as Marcus in 2011, it was announced in 2013 that Condou would be leaving Coronation Street the following year.[12] In September 2014, he took the lead role of Adam in the West End production of Next Fall.[13] From September to December 2016, he took part in the UK tour of The Rocky Horror Show.[14] In February 2017, Condou played Reverend Hale in the UK tour of Arthur Miller's play The Crucible.[15] That year, he was cast in the role of Simon Osborne in the second series of the ITV drama Unforgotten.[16]

In 2019, Condou joined the cast of Holby City in a guest role, playing doctor Ben Sherwood.[17]

In September 2024, it was announced that Condou had been cast in Doctor Who.[18] He appeared in "The Interstellar Song Contest" as Gary Gabbastone, an engineer in May 2025.[19]

Personal life

Condou is openly gay and he married his long-term Canadian boyfriend Cameron Laux on 8 June 2015.[20] He lives in Islington with his husband and his children,[21] Georgia and Hal, who split their time between him and their mother, the actress Catherine Kanter. Condou and Kanter first met in 1998 and made a mutual agreement that they would have a child if she was still single at the age of 40.[20][22] In a number of interviews, Condou has revealed that the children were conceived through IVF treatment, following Kanter's fortieth birthday and relationship breakup.[23] From October 2011 until July 2012, he wrote a column for The Guardian newspaper on the subject of same-sex parenting.

Condou supported the UK remaining a member of the European Union in the 2016 EU referendum.[24][25]

Activism

Condou has been listed on various LGBT influence lists and polls during his career. He was listed at number fifteen in the World Pride Power List 2012 and rose to number eleven on the 2013 list.[26][27] Additionally, he was placed eighth on The Independent's Pink Power list 2011[28] and forty-second on the Pride Power List of 2011.[29] He is a patron of the charities Diversity Role Models and the akt, and has volunteered for the Terrence Higgins Trust.[30][31] Condou has also worked with Stonewall on fundraisers.[32][33] In October 2012, he was named in the British gay publication, Attitude, as the magazine's "Man of the Year" at the inaugural Attitude awards and appeared on the cover of the November 2012 issue.[34] In 2014 he was nominated for the "Advocate for change" award at the GLAAD awards in Los Angeles.[35]

Condou has also been an advocate for LGBT families. In 2013, he set up the company, Out With the Family, which puts on events for LGBT families.[27] In 2016, Condou wrote the introduction for Eric Rosswood's Journey to Same-Sex Parenthood: Firsthand Advice, Tips and Stories from Lesbian and Gay Couples.[36] In December 2019, Condou spoke at a seminar focusing on "non-traditional families".[37]

In August 2014, Condou was one of 200 public figures who were signatories to a letter to The Guardian opposing Scottish independence in the run-up to September's referendum on that issue.[38]

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1985The Key to RebeccaBilly VandamTV movie
1985Exploits at West PoleyLeonardTV movie
1986Robin of SherwoodMartinGuest role
1988Every Breath You TakeTomTV movie
1988The StorytellerBrother 2Guest role
1988To Kill a PriestMirekFilm
1991A Sense of GuiltPeter MurrayRecurring role
1991CasualtyDavid WilliamsonGuest role
1991The Wolvis FamilyStuart WolvisRegular role
1992EldoradoClive MitchellGuest role
1993Frank Stubbs PromotesJason StubbsGuest role
1994Martin ChuzzlewitFootmanGuest role
1994The BillMichael KenyonGuest role
1995CasualtyCal McGregorGuest role
1995Pie in the SkyKarl ElvesGuest role
1995The BillSteve DowningGuest role
1999Gimme Gimme GimmeNinoGuest role
1999Peak PracticePrivate Benedict GrinterGuest role
1999Honky SausagesO.G.Guest role
2000Urban GothicLennyGuest role
2000Dead BabiesGilesFilm
2001The Infinite Worlds of H. G. WellsSamGuest role
2001Charlotte GrayAugusteFilm
2003TrustMaxGuest role
2005Midsomer MurdersJake FoleyGuest role
2005Nathan BarleyJonatton Yeah?Regular role
2005Secret SmileLawrenceGuest role
2006The ImpressionistsRenoirRecurring role
2007Flirting with FlamencoWarrenFilm
2007Fred ClausElfFilm
2007Holby CityTony ButlerGuest role
2007–2008,
2011–2014		Coronation StreetMarcus DentRegular role
2008GoodBekemeierFilm
2009CasualtyGalGuest role
2015Time CrashersSelfRegular role
2016You, Me and the ApocalypseFather AlphonseFilm
2017UnforgottenSimon OsborneRegular role
2019−2020Holby CityBen SherwoodRecurring role
2023Midsomer MurdersPerry FlemingGuest role
2025The Madame Blanc MysteriesPierreGuest role
2025Doctor WhoGary GabbastoneGuest role
Sources:[5]

References

  1. ^ Gardella, Kay (28 April 1985). "Cliff Robertson: again, a star". Daily News. Retrieved 25 January 2020. – via Newspapers.com
  2. ^ Smithies, Sandy (9 April 1988). "Watching brief". The Guardian. Archived 25 January 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 25 January 2020. – via Newspapers.com
  3. ^ "Green guide - Tuesday". The Age. 6 May 1993. Retrieved 25 January 2020. – via Newspapers.com
  4. ^ Gill, Raymond (6 May 1993). "Comedy on the couch". The Age. Retrieved 25 January 2020. – via Newspapers.com
  5. ^ "Charlie Condou". United Agents. Archived 29 August 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  6. ^ "Gimme Gimme Gimme". The Sydney Morning Herald. 16 April 2004. Archived 31 January 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  7. ^ Bradshaw, Peter (26 January 2001). "Dead Babies". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  8. ^ McCarthy, Todd (16 December 2001). "Charlotte Gray". Variety. Archived 31 January 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  9. ^ Mansell, Tom (11 February 2015). "Nathan Barley: 10 years on". Digital Spy. Archived 31 January 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  10. ^ Crawford, Sue (2 November 2012). "'I had a girlfriend in my 20s... just like Marcus and Maria': Charlie Condou says Coronation Street storyline is more true-to-life than you'd think". Daily Mirror. Reach plc. Archived 29 August 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  11. ^ "Coronation Street star Charlie Condou to leave the soap". Daily Mirror. Reach plc. 10 April 2008. Archived 5 August 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  12. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (26 November 2013). "Corrie actor quits Marcus Dent role". Digital Spy. Archived 24 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  13. ^ Martin, Jane (30 September 2014). "Next Fall (Southwark Playhouse) | WhatsOnStage". WhatsOnStage.com. Archived 29 August 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  14. ^ "Charlie Condou talks Rocky Horror". itv.com. 15 September 2016. Archived 31 January 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  15. ^ Longman, Will (30 October 2016). "Exclusive: Charlie Condou to star in The Crucible". WhatsOnStage.com. Archived 31 January 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  16. ^ Gardner, Alison (3 February 2017). "The murder mystery that has put former Corrie star Charlie Condou back on TV". What's on TV. Archived 31 January 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  17. ^ Dainty, Sophie (19 December 2019). "Exclusive: Corrie's Charlie Condou speaks out on his Holby City debut tonight". Digital Spy. Archived 8 January 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  18. ^ Mensah, Katelyn (5 September 2024). "Exclusive: Doctor Who casts Unforgotten and Coronation Street star in season 15". Radio Times. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
  19. ^ Griffin, Louise (16 May 2025). "Doctor Who star addresses leaks – teases jaw-dropping surprises in new episode". Radio Times. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
  20. ^ Leyfield, James (9 June 2015). "Ex-Coronation Street star Charlie Condou marries partner Cameron Laux". Daily Mirror. Reach plc. Archived 10 February 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  21. ^ "Interview: Charlie Condou talks about leaving Coronation Street and being a gay parent". PinkNews. 6 January 2014. Archived 14 February 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  22. ^ Morgan, Joe (8 June 2015). "Charlie Condou set to marry partner of 10 years today". Gay Star News. Archived from the original on 10 February 2019. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  23. ^ "Coronation Street's Charlie Condou on why he's delighted to be returning to Weatherfield to play a gay dad". Daily Mirror. Reach plc. 19 January 2011. Archived 12 June 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  24. ^ Condou, Charlie (1 October 2011). "Charlie Condou: My real 'gay celebrity dad' life". The Guardian
  25. ^ "Charlie Condou". The Guardian. Archived 29 August 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  26. ^ Jolin, Lucy & Delgado, Chance (7 July 2012). "World Pride Power List 2012: 100 most influential LGBT people of the year". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  27. ^ "Pride in London launches exclusive LGBT+ miniseries". Pride in London. Archived from the original on 9 November 2021. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  28. ^ Herbert, Ian (23 October 2011). "The IoS Pink List 2011". The Independent. Archived 4 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  29. ^ "Introducing the Pride Power List 2011". pridepowerlist.co.uk. Archived 7 June 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  30. ^ THT: Media Centre: News and press releases: 2011: November Archived 8 November 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  31. ^ "Patrons". diversityrolemodels.org. Archived 24 January 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  32. ^ Gregory, Katie (5 May 2011). "TV stars and Mayor support Brighton gay equality walk". The Argus. Archived 24 January 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  33. ^ "Stonewall sets sail and raises over £64,000 for LGBT equality". Stonewall. 16 June 2015. Archived 1 October 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  34. ^ "Charlie Condou". Diversity in Media Awards. Archived from the original on 24 January 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  35. ^ Murray, Ross (1 April 2014). "GLAAD Global Voices: Charlie Condou is a gay parent who advocates for LGBT youth". GLAAD. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  36. ^ "Journey to Same-Sex Parenthood". New Horitzon Press. Archived 7 May 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  37. ^ "Seminar Set To Put Families Streets Ahead On LGBT Parenting". irwinmitchell.com. 26 November 2019. Archived 24 January 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  38. ^ "Celebrities' open letter to Scotland – full text and list of signatories | Politics". The Guardian. 7 August 2014. Archived 8 December 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 26 August 2014.