David Bradley

Like a lot of character actors, David Bradley had a long career on the stage, big screen and television before the world would recognize him in a major role as Argus Filch, the caretaker of Hogwarts, in the Harry Potter films. For this British actor, it was an incredible breakthrough that was long overdue. David Bradley was born on April 17, 1942 in Yorkshire, England. Bradley sang in the choir at Catholic St George's Secondary Modern School, where he also performed on stage for the first time in musicals. In 1966, Bradley moved to London, and began training as an actor at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Bradley then joined the Royal Shakespeare Company, performing at Laurence Olivier's Royal National Theater in 1971. Bradley performed in the Royal Shakespeare Company for sixteen years, and he loved acting before live audiences, but soon movies and TV work beckoned. Bradley made his television debut on the British series "Nearest and Dearest" (ITV 1968-1973), and he also had a regular role on "A Family at War" (ITV 1970-1972). In addition, Bradley appeared on "The Professionals" (ITV 1977-1983), the well-known British military series. Bradley made his big screen debut in the western parody "The Frisco Kid" (1979), starring Gene Wilder and Harrison Ford. Bradley's movie and television work continued throughout the eighties and nineties until his mainstream breakthrough as Argus Filch in "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" (2001). Bradley repeated the role in the Potter sequels "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" (2002), "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" (2004), "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" (2005), "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" (2007), "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" (2009), and "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2" (2011). Bradley parlayed his "Potter" success into appearances in Edgar Wright's "Hot Fuzz" (2007), the Michael Caine thriller "Harry Brown" (2009), superhero caper "Captain America: The First Avenger" (2011), and another of Wright's comedies, "The World's End" (2013). In addition, Bradley kept up his regular TV appearances on the revamped "Doctor Who" (BBC 2005- ) and "Game of Thrones" (HBO 2011- ), where he played the role of Walder Frey. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of "Doctor Who," Bradley starred in "An Adventure in Space and Time" (BBC 2013), a docudrama based on the show's creation; he played William Hartnell, the first actor to take on the role of the Doctor.