Michael Smiley

Irish actor and comedian Michael Smiley began his performing career in the early '90s on a whim; he took the stage during an open-mic night in London after participating in a bet with a friend. Some of his claims to fame stem from his collaborations with past roommates Simon Pegg and Nick Frost on the cult British sitcom "Spaced," directed by a young Edgar Wright. Smiley played the role of Tyres O'Flaherty on the show, and later popped up in Wright, Pegg, and Frost's 2004 zombie parody "Shaun of the Dead" as a zombified take on his "Spaced" character. The early-to-mid-2000s saw him landing several supporting roles on series such as the zany "Time Gentlemen Please," police procedural "Murder Prevention," and con-artist drama "Hustle." In 2006, Smiley was cast as a Porter in Tom Tykwer's stylishly twisted drama "Perfume: The Story of a Murderer," starring Dustin Hoffman and Ben Whishaw. After a small role in the high-profile period drama "The Other Boleyn Girl," Smiley portrayed Dr. Liam Kerwin during a seven-episode stint on the popular British crime drama "Wire in the Blood" during the show's sixth season. The 2010s saw a significant boost in the actor's resume, with a recurring role on the well-received BBC drama "Luther," a reunion with Pegg in John Landis' creepy comedy "Burke & Hare," and a leading role in the horror film "Kill List," which earned Smiley the British Independent Film Award for Best Supporting Actor.