{{Short description|British actor}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2014}} {{Use British English|date=March 2014}} {{Infobox person | name = Simon Scott Merrells | image = | caption = Simon Merrels at the premiere of "Spartacus: War Of The Damned" in Los Angeles on January 22, 2013 | image_size = 200px | birth_name = | birth_date = | birth_place = Epping, Essex, England | occupation = Actor | partner = | years_active = | relatives = Jason Merrells (brother) | height = }} '''Simon Merrells''' is an English film, television and stage actor best known for his portrayal of Marcus Licinius Crassus in ''Spartacus: War of the Damned''.

==Early life== Merrells was born in London, three years before his brother Jason Merrells.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2007-10-30 |title=Brothers' double trouble |url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/1796742.brothers-double-trouble/ |access-date=2024-11-08 |website=Bradford Telegraph and Argus |language=en}}</ref> He started drama school, but soon left to work as a minicab driver to fund travelling to Mexico, where he painted. He became involved in fringe theatre in Brighton, where his brother was living, when he returned to England.<ref name=liverpool/><ref name=dailypost/>

==Career== ===Stage=== Merrells appeared with his brother Jason in a production of ''The Comedy of Errors'' in 2007, playing twins.<ref name=argus/>

Merrells has worked with director Steven Berkoff several times, first in a world tour of the play ''Coriolanus''. In 2009, he played Terry Malloy in ''On the Waterfront'', directed by Berkoff.<ref name=liverpool/> ''Variety'' said that "Compact and bristling with contained energy, Simon Merrells has the right physicality to play Terry but never quite emerges from Brando’s long shadow";<ref>{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2008/legit/reviews/on-the-waterfront-4-1200522889/|title=Review: "On the Waterfront"|last=Fricker|first=Karen|date=29 April 2008|work=Variety|accessdate=10 August 2013}}</ref> ''The Independent'' said he "brings his own brand of studied vulnerability and sullen pride to the part".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/reviews/on-the-waterfront-pleasance-courtyard--edinburgh-festival-886018.html|title=On The Waterfront, Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh Festival: Up front and fiery|last=Walker|first=Lynn|date=6 August 2008|work=The Independent|accessdate=10 August 2013}}</ref>

Merrells performed as Benedick in ''Much Ado About Nothing'' at the Liverpool Playhouse in 2007, and starred as Oedipus in another Berkoff production at the same venue in 2011.<ref name=liverpool>{{cite news|url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/actor-simon-merrells-talks-taking-3381966|title=Actor Simon Merrells talks about taking on the role of Oedipus and working with Steven Berkoff|last=Jones|first=Catherine|date=4 February 2011|work=Liverpool Echo|accessdate=10 August 2013}}</ref> He was nominated for a Stage Award for Best Actor for that role.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thestage.co.uk/news/previous-winners-guy-masterson-and-nts-in-running-for-stage-edinburgh-awards/|title=Previous winners Guy Masterson and NTS in running for Stage Edinburgh Awards|last=Smith|first=Alistair|date=August 2011|work=The Stage|access-date=10 August 2013}}</ref> Later that year he played detective Philip Marlowe in ''The Big Sleep''; ''The Stage'' said he was "charismatic" but "a touch too suave and slick".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/the-big-sleep-review-at-the-mill-at-sonning|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130811101416/http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/34041/the-big-sleep|url-status=live|archive-date=11 August 2013|title=The Big Sleep|last=Tripney|first=Natasha|date=28 October 2011|work=The Stage|access-date=10 August 2013}}</ref>

He has appeared on television in ''London's Burning'' as DSO Griggs, ''Family Affairs'' (as bouncer Conrad Williams),<ref name=liverpool/><ref name=dailypost>{{cite news|url=http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-culture/liverpool-arts/2011/02/16/simon-merrells-on-starring-as-oedipus-in-steven-berkoff-s-new-liverpool-playhouse-production-99623-28177954/|title=Simon Merrells on starring as Oedipus in Steven Berkoff's new Liverpool Playhouse production|last=Davis|first=Laura|date=16 February 2011|work=Liverpool Daily Post|accessdate=10 August 2013}}</ref> and ''Merseybeat''.<ref name=argus>{{cite news|url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/1796742.brothers_double_trouble/|title=Brothers' double trouble|last=Clayton|first=Emma|date=30 October 2007|work=Bradford Telegraph and Argus|accessdate=10 August 2013}}</ref>

===Film and television=== In 2009, Merrells had a lead role in the 2009 film, ''Invisible Eyes''. In 2010, he portrayed Ben Talbot, brother of Lawrence Talbot in remake of ''The Wolfman''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2010/05/30/check_out_the_wolfman_on_bluray_dvd_j|title=Check Out 'The Wolfman' On Blu-ray & DVD June 1|date=30 May 2010|work=Starpulse|accessdate=10 August 2013}}</ref> In 2013, he portrayed the Roman commander Marcus Licinius Crassus in the Starz series ''Spartacus: War of the Damned''. He had to undergo a strict diet and four-week fitness boot camp in preparation for the role, losing 21&nbsp;lbs.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mensfitness.com/training/success-stories/a-spartacus-fitness-transformation|title=A Spartacus Fitness Transformation|last=Dehority|first=Sam|work=Men's Fitness|accessdate=10 August 2013}}</ref> Also that year, he portrayed character Mark Vega in the British horror film Judas Ghost. He also plays The Founder in the 2013 American remake of ''The Tomorrow People''.

In 2014, Merrells starred in a small sci-fi film named ''Index Zero'' as Kurt, a main character, and two films in 2015, ''Billionaire Ransom'' (originally titled ''Take Down'') and ''Victrix''. In 2015, Merrells guest-starred in the Syfy channel series ''Dominion'' as a dyad named Julian. Also in 2015 Merrells starred in a futuristic short film called The Leap as an enforcement agent whose job it is to stop people trafficking on an interplanetary scale. In 2016, Merrells was cast as Tancrede de Hautville in the History channel's series ''Knightfall'', which premiered in the United States in December 2017.

==Filmography== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role |- | 2009 | ''Invisible Eyes'' | Dan |- | 2010 | ''The Wolfman'' | Ben Talbot |- | 2013 | ''Spartacus: War of the Damned'' | Marcus Licinius Crassus |- | 2013 | Judas Ghost | Mark Vega |- | 2014 | ''Index Zero'' | Kurt |- | 2014 | ''The Tomorrow People'' | Hugh Bathory / The Founder |- | 2015 | ''Billionaire Ransom'' | Jonathan Tilton-Scofield |- | 2015 | ''Dominion'' | Julian |- | 2016 | ''Victrix'' | Marius |- | 2017–18 | ''Legends of Tomorrow'' | Julius Caesar |- | 2017–19 | ''Knightfall'' | Tancrede de Hautville |- | 2018 | ''12 Monkeys'' | Andrus |- |2019 | ''Good Omens'' | Leslie the International Express Man |- |2022 | ''The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power'' | Watchwarden Revion |- |2023 | ''A Million Days'' | Anderson |- |2023 | ''The Winter King'' | Gundleus |- |2024 | ''Miss Fallaci'' | Irving Hoffman |- |2025 | ''Afterburn'' | Tank Commander |- |2025 | ''Outlander: Blood of My Blood'' | Malcom MacKinnon Grant |}

==References== {{reflist|30em}}

==External links== * {{IMDb name|0581163}} * [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/01/spartacus-final-season-episode-2-recap_n_2600350.html Simon Merrells On Playing Crassus], Huffington Post (video interview)

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Merrells, Simon}} Category:Living people Category:English male Shakespearean actors Category:English male stage actors Category:English male television actors Category:Male actors from London Category:Year of birth missing (living people)