{{Short description|Welsh actor}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox person |name = Craig Gallivan |image = |imagesize = | caption = | birth_name = Craig Gallivan | birth_date = | birth_place = Swansea, Wales | death_date = | death_place = | occupation = Actor | spouse = | domesticpartner = | website = }}
'''Craig Gallivan''' is a Welsh actor best known for playing Luke in the long-running Sky1 television series ''Stella'' and Callum Watson in the ITV series ''Footballers Wives'' and ''Footballers' Wives: Extra Time'', and his musical theatre roles. From 2018 to 2019, he played the lead role of Dewey in the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical ''School of Rock'', and since 2021 he has been playing Olaf in Disney's ''Frozen'', both in the West End.
==Early years== Gallivan spent his early years playing rugby. At the age of 12, he was selected to play for his home city of Swansea and went on to represent West Wales.<ref name=SWL>[https://southwaleslife.com/frozen-the-musical-olaf-is-from-south-wales "''Frozen the Musical'' – Olaf is From South Wales!"], ''South Wales Life'', 27 December 2021</ref>
The same year, his younger sister Hayley was part of a youth drama group who travelled to London to audition for a revival of the musical ''Oliver!'' at the London Palladium in the West End. Gallivan was persuaded to join them and later was offered the small part of Charlie Bates in the production.<ref>Desai, Hira. [https://officiallondontheatre.com/news/tell-us-in-10-craig-gallivan-disneys-frozen "Tell Us In 10: Craig Gallivan from Disney's ''Frozen''"], ''Official London Theatre'', 6 October 2021</ref><ref>Clements, Carly-Ann. [https://officiallondontheatre.com/news/craig-gallivan-talks-school-rock-turning-2 "Craig Gallivan talks ''School of Rock'' turning 2"], ''Official London Theatre'', 8 November 2018</ref>
==Career== Gallivan was trained as an actor at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Craig-Gallivan |title=Craig Gallivan|work=BroadwayWorld|accessdate=December 5, 2023}}</ref> In 2000 he portrayed Young Terry in the BBC drama ''Care''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/search/0/20?filt=3ae35d734c5553fca770e222038910b5|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205174104/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/search/0/20?filt=3ae35d734c5553fca770e222038910b5|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 December 2023|title=Care, BBC One|work=BBC Archives, Programme Index|accessdate=December 5, 2023}}</ref> In 2006 he played Callum Watson in the ITV1 series ''Footballers' Wives'' and the ITV2 spin-off ''Footballers' Wives: Extra Time''<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/film-and-tv/wives-kick-off-again-1020865|title=Wives kick off again|work=Manchester Evening News|date=1 February 2007}}</ref> and has appeared in the roles of Jamie in ''Days of Significance'' with the Royal Shakespeare Company and Soldier in ''Crime and Punishment'' with the National Theatre (both in 2008) in London.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/reviews/days-of-significance-tricycle-theatre-london-797718.html|title=Days Of Significance, Tricycle Theatre, London|author=Paul Taylor|work=The Independent|date= 19 March 2008}}</ref> Also in 2008, he portrayed Jonathan in the episode "From Out of the Rain" on the BBC's ''Doctor Who'' spin-off ''Torchwood''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/tv/torchwood-season-2-ep-10-from-out-of-the-rain/|author= Joan O'Connell Hedman|date=April 1, 2008|title=Torchwood Recap: Season 2, Episode 10, "From Out of the Rain"| work=Slant Magazine}}</ref> He played Tony Elliot in the musical ''Billy Elliot'' in 2010, directed by Stephen Daldry at the Victoria Palace Theatre.<ref>Khomami, Nadia. [https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/jan/24/tom-holland-actor-billy-elliot-to-spider-man "From Billy Elliot to Spider-Man: how Tom Holland won the world’s heart"], ''The Guardian'', 24 January 2022</ref>
Gallivan starred as Luke Morris in the hit Sky 1 comedy-drama ''Stella'';<ref name=Williams>Williams, Kathryn. [https://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/tv/cast-of-stella-doing-now-18850435 "What are the stars of TV comedy Stella doing now?"], ''Wales Online'', 8 September 2020</ref><ref>{{cite book|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4Ci6CwAAQBAJ&dq=%22Craig+Gallivan%22+%22Stella%22&pg=PA273|pages=273–274|chapter=Stella|title=Internet Comedy Television Series, 1997–2015|author=Vincent Terrace| year=2016| isbn=9780786497607|publisher=McFarland & Company}}</ref> the show ran for 6 seasons from 2012 to 2017.<ref>[https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/stella "''Stella''"], British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 4 December, 2023</ref>
In 2018, Gallivan took over the lead role of Dewey in the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical ''School of Rock''<ref name=Dewey>Gans, Andrew. [https://playbill.com/article/craig-gallivan-will-lead-londons-school-of-rock-new-cast-begins-in-august "Craig Gallivan Will Lead London's ''School of Rock''], ''Playbill'', July 13, 2018</ref> and played that role for longer than any other actor in the show's original West End run.<ref name=SWL/><ref name=Williams/> He originated the role of Olaf in West End production of the Disney musical ''Frozen'' at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, which opened in 2021.<ref>Wood, Alex. [https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/frozen-in-the-west-end-with-samantha-barks-and-stephanie-mckeon-first-look-photos_54829 "Frozen in the West End with Samantha Barks and Stephanie McKeon: first look photos"], WhatsOnState.com, 3 September 2021; and [https://www.londontheatredirect.com/news/new-frozen-extension-and-production-images "''Frozen'' announces West End extension"], ''London Theatre Direct'', 18 January 2023</ref> A 2023 review in ''The Daily Telegraph'' said "Gallivan’s Olaf is the irresistible scene-stealer ... a riot",<ref>Swain, Marianka. [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/theatre/what-to-see/frozen-theatre-royal-drury-lane-review "''Frozen, The Musical'': a West End spectacle of the most magical kind"], ''The Daily Telegraph'', 16 November 2023</ref> while one in ''Daily Express'' commented, "Olaf is one of my favourite characters on the show, Craig Gallivan's mastery of the puppet makes it easy to forget he's moving him at all. In Summer is a really nice number".<ref>Jones, Jada. [https://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/theatre/1836213/frozen-the-musical-review "''Frozen the Musical'' review: A magical, heart-warming adaptation"], ''Daily Express'', 17 November 2023</ref> A writer for ''South Wales Life'' found him "funny and extremely loveable in every way" as Olaf.<ref name=SWL/>
==Filmography==
===TV=== {| class="wikitable" ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Character ! scope="col" | Production ! scope="col" | Notes |- | 2000 || ''Care'' || Young Terry || BBC Films || Film |- | rowspan=2| 2006 || ''Footballers Wives'' || rowspan=2|Callum Watson || ITV1 || TV series (7 episodes) |- | ''Footballers' Wives: Extra Time'' || ITV2 || TV series (2 episodes) |- | 2008 || ''Torchwood'' || Jonathan || BBC Three || TV series (1 episode, "From Out of the Rain") |- | 2008 || ''The Edge of Love'' || Sailor Beating Dylan || BBC Films || Feature film |- | 2012–2017 || ''Stella'' || Luke Morris/Morgan || Sky 1 || Main cast (56 Episodes; 2 Christmas specials) |- | 2019 || ''Children in Need'' telethon || Dewey Fynn || BBC ''School of Rock'' || TV specials) |- | 2025 || ''Death Valley (British TV series)'' || Dean Ward || BBC || TV |- | 2025 || ''The Guest'' || Marc || BBC || TV |- |2025 |''Frozen'' |Olaf |Disney+ |Live recording of stage musical |}
== References == <references />
== External links == * {{IMDb name|id=1065292}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Gallivan, Craig}} Category:1984 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century Welsh male actors Category:Alumni of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art Category:Male actors from Swansea Category:Welsh male musical theatre actors Category:Welsh male television actors