{{short description|English actor (born 1980)}} {{Other people}} {{BLP sources|date=September 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}} {{Infobox person | name = David Leon | image = | image_size = | caption = | birth_name = David Jeremy Leon | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1980|07|24|df=yes}}{{citation needed|date = January 2022}} | birth_place = Newcastle upon Tyne, England | alma_mater = | occupation = Actor, director, writer, producer | years_active = 2004–present | spouse = | children = }} '''David Jeremy Leon'''<!--This citation is misplaced, and is otherwise both WP:OR and an valid source (for name, etc.). It is a primary source not traceable/verifiable; anything drawn from this content content still requires a source that any general editor here can check. A registry office document, absent a URL, does not meet the standard of there being an actual traceable, non-primary record.<ref>Birth Certificate at General Register Office. Retrieved May 2014.</ref>--> (born 24 July 1980) is an English actor, director, writer and producer. As an actor, he is known for appearing in Rankin and Chris Cottam's 2002 feature film, ''Lives of the Saints'' (as the character Othello),<ref>{{Cite web | author = Macnab, Geoffrey | date = August 4, 2006 | title = Review: The Lives Of The Saints | work = ScreenDaily.com | url=https://www.screendaily.com/the-lives-of-the-saints/4028191.article | access-date = January 16, 2022}}</ref> and director Guy Ritchie's 2008 feature, ''RocknRolla'', as Malcolm.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ferrero |first=Berta |date=2014-07-22 |title=The future is hiding out in Rascafría |url=https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2014/07/22/inenglish/1406025621_975119.html |access-date=2024-04-02 |website=EL PAÍS English |language=en}}</ref> From 2011 to 2014, Leon co-starred with Brenda Blethyn in the ITV detective series ''Vera.''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vera's David Leon on whether he'd return as Joe Ashworth again |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/vera-david-leon-return-joe-ashworth-exclusive-newsupdate/ |access-date=2024-04-02 |website=Radio Times |language=en-GB}}</ref> He returned to the series in 2024.
Leon's directorial debut, the 2010 short, ''Man and Boy'', co-directed with Marcus McSweeney, won the award for best narrative short at the Tribeca Film Festival. His next short film, the 2012 ''Orthodox'', an entry in the 58th BFI's London Film Festival, led to his first feature-length film of the same name, which was released in 2015.
==Early life and education== Leon was born on 24 July 1980 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, where his mother, Ann J. Brown, was a secretary and his father, Anthony N. Leon,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-11-12 |title=David Leon: 4 Quick Things About The British Actor! |url=https://www.dailyhawker.co.uk/david-leon-4-quick-things-about-the-british-actor/ |access-date=2024-04-02 |website=DailyHawker |language=en-US}}</ref> worked in a power station.<!--The DOB is unsourced, reliably, both in lede and here. The following source, the Guardian article, does not state the DOB or the names of the actors parents, hence the further two tags.--><ref name="Guardian-ballgame">{{cite news|author=Saner, Emine | date = 27 April 2011 | title=David Leon: A Whole New Ball Game | newspaper = The Guardian | url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2011/apr/27/david-leon-vera | access-date = 27 December 2013 }}</ref> He is Jewish on his father's side and describes himself as half-Jewish.<ref>{{cite web | author= Applebaum, Stephen | date = 2 November 2015 | title=Fighting Back to Put Antisemitism on the Ropes | work = TheJC.com | url=http://www.thejc.com/arts/film/149217/fighting-back-put-antisemitism-ropes | access-date=29 April 2016}}</ref> He briefly played for Blackburn Rovers F.C.<ref name="Guardian-ballgame"/> He is a graduate of the National Youth Theatre. He was educated at Dame Allan's School.<ref>{{cite web | author = Wonfor, Sam | date = 23 February 2016 | title=Vera Actor David Leon Teams Up with Boardwalk Empire's Stephen Graham for Debut Feature| work = ChronicleLive.co.uk | url = https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/whats-on/film-news/vera-actor-david-leon-teams-10935854 | access-date = 10 March 2018}}</ref>
==Career== {{BLP sources section|date = January 2022}}
===Acting and presenting=== In 2002, Leon worked as a presenter on CITV.{{citation needed|date = January 2022}} He dropped out of drama school in 2004 to shoot the film ''Alexander'' with Oliver Stone in Morocco.{{citation needed|date = January 2022}}<!--IndieLondon source a dead link, and untraceable because incompletely sourced.<ref name=indieLondon />--> From 2004–2005 he acted in 12 episodes of the TV series, ''Cutting It'', playing the character Troy Gillespie.{{citation needed|date = January 2022}} In 2006, Leon's acting roles<!--There is no formal film designation as "main role".--> included the film ''These Foolish Things,'' which also starred Lauren Bacall, Anjelica Huston, Terence Stamp, and Zoë Tapper,{{citation needed|date = January 2022}}<!--Irrelevant to this actor, and unsourced: The film's lead actress was Zoë Tapper, who guest-starred in an episode of ''Cutting It.''--> and in 2007 he played Billy the Kid in the BBC's mini series ''The Wild West''.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-telegraph-todays-highlights/149753783/ |title=Today's Highlights |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |publication-place=London |page=35 |date=2007-03-02 |access-date=2024-06-21 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> In 2010 he played the theatrical role of Jesus in Mark Haddon's play ''Polar Bears'' at the Donmar Warehouse.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-independent-the-burden-of-bipolarity/149753829/ |title=The burden of bipolarity |newspaper=The Independent |publication-place=London |page=14 |date=2010-04-07 |access-date=2024-06-21 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>
From 2011 to 2014, he played DS Joe Ashworth in the ITV detective series ''Vera'' alongside Brenda Blethyn.<!--<ref name=indieLondon>{{cite web | author = Carnevale, Rob | title=Vera-David Leon interview|url=http://www.indielondon.co.uk/TV-Review/vera-david-leon-interview|work=indieLondon|accessdate=27 December 2013}}</ref>. THIS SOURCE UNTRACEABLE.--><ref name="Journal-Orthodox">{{cite web | author=Wonfor, Sam | date=3 April 2013 | title=TV Star David Leon Back Home to Flesh Out Impressive Short film | work=The Journal (Newcastle) | url=http://www.thejournal.co.uk/culture/film-tv/tv-star-david-leon-back-4814589 | access-date=27 December 2013 | archive-date=19 April 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170419101657/http://www.thejournal.co.uk/culture/film-tv/tv-star-david-leon-back-4814589 | url-status=dead }}</ref> On 30 March 2023, it was confirmed that Leon would reprise his role as Joe Ashworth after a decade away from the series.<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 March 2023 |title=Brenda Blethyn welcomes back David Leon for a 13th series of the hit ITV crime drama Vera |url=https://www.itv.com/presscentre/media-releases/brenda-blethyn-welcomes-back-david-leon-13th-series-hit-itv-crime-drama-vera |website=ITV Press Centre}}</ref> He returned as the character, promoted to DI, in the first episode of series 13, called ''Fast Love''.
===Writing and directing=== Leon wrote and co-directed the short film, ''Father'', with Marcus McSweeney, premiering in 2009.{{citation needed|date = January 2022}} The next year, the same team premiered the short, ''Man and Boy'', which was entered in film festivals, including the Tribeca.<ref name="TFF-Guardian">{{cite news|last=Quinn|first=Ben|title=Tribeca Film Festival: British Film About Paedophile Suspect Among Winners|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/apr/29/british-film-paedophile-suspect-award|accessdate=27 December 2013|newspaper=The Guardian (UK)|date=29 April 2011}}</ref>
''Orthodox'', Leon's third short film as writer/director, was accepted into several international festivals including the 58th BFI London Film Festival. The feature-length version of ''Orthodox'' was completed in 2015.<ref name="HR-Ortho">{{cite web | author =Kemp, Stuart | date=19 March 2013 | title='Orthodox' Filmmaker David Leon Plans Feature Version Starring Stephen Graham | work = HollywoodReporter.com | url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/orthodox-filmmaker-david-leon-plans-429757 | access-date=27 December 2013}}</ref>
==Awards and recognition== Leon's and McSweeney's 2010 ''Man and Boy'' won the award for the best narrative short at that year's Tribeca Film Festival.<ref name="TFF-Guardian"/>
==Filmography== {{BLP unreferenced section|date = January 2022}}
===As actor in film and television=== *2004: ''Alexander'' as Hermolaous *2004–2005: ''Cutting It'' as Troy Gillespie (TV series) - 12 episodes *2005: ''Boy Eats Girl'' as Nathan *2006: ''These Foolish Things'' as Robin Gardner *2006: ''The Wild West'' as Billy the Kid (TV mini-series) *2006: ''The Lives of the Saints'' as Othello *2006: ''Strictly Confidential'' as Jeff (TV series) - 1 episode *2007: ''Clapham Junction'' as Alfie Cartwright (TV one-off Drama) *2008: ''Love Me Still'' as Freddie *2008: ''RocknRolla'' as Malcolm *2010: ''Coming Up'' as Dan (TV series) - 1 episode *2011–2014, 2024-2025: ''Vera'' as DS/DI Joe Ashworth (TV series) - 21 episodes (Series 1-4, 13-14) *2012: ''The Glass House'' as Lajos *2013: ''Walking with the Enemy'' *2013: ''Grace and Danger'' as Cifaretto *2014: ''The Refugees'' as Álex *2017: ''In The Dark'' BBC TV Drama as DI Adam Perrin *2019: ''Gold Digger'' as Kieran
===As actor in theatre=== *2010: Polar Bears as Jesus
===As director=== *2009: ''Father'' (short) (co-director with Marcus McSweeney) *2010: ''Man and Boy'' (short) (co-director with Marcus McSweeney) *2012: ''Orthodox'' (short) *2016: ''Orthodox'' (feature) *2017: ''Vera''
===As producer=== *2009: ''Father'' (short) *2010: ''Man and Boy'' (short) *2012: ''Orthodox'' (short) *2016: ''Orthodox'' (feature)
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name|1952567}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Leon, David}} Category:1980 births Category:Living people Category:English people of Jewish descent Category:English male film actors Category:English male television actors Category:Male actors from Newcastle upon Tyne Category:National Youth Theatre members Category:People educated at Dame Allan's School