Charley Boorman
Charley Boorman | |
---|---|
Born | Wimbledon, England | 23 August 1966
Occupation(s) | Writer, television presenter, traveller |
Years active | 1972–present |
Spouse |
Olivia Boorman
(m. 1990) |
Children | 2 |
Parent(s) | John Boorman Christel Kruse |
Charley Boorman (born 23 August 1966) is a British television presenter, travel writer and actor. A motorbike enthusiast, Boorman has made three long-distance motorcycle rides with his friend Ewan McGregor, documented in Long Way Round (2004), Long Way Down (2007), and Long Way Up (2020).
Early life and background
Born in Wimbledon, London, Boorman spent much of his formative years in County Wicklow, Ireland. Boorman is the son of German costume designer Christel Kruse and film director Sir John Boorman.[1] Lee Marvin, a lifelong friend of his father, was Charley's godfather.
Boorman attended three schools in Ireland:
Marriage
He and his wife Olivia have two daughters and live in London.[citation needed]
Acting career
At an early age, Boorman started appearing in films directed by his father. His first role was in Deliverance (1972).
In 1981 Boorman played a young
His further acting appearances include The Serpent's Kiss (1997), on which he met Ewan McGregor, and The Bunker (2001).
Theatre show
In 2007, Boorman appeared on stage in
Boorman also began promoting African Adventures, which are commercial 17-day BMW motorcycle trips across Africa. Taking 50 riders from Cape Town to Victoria Falls, Boorman used various technologies to help promote the trip, including a GPS satellite tracking device allowing people to follow the trip day by day.
Charity work
Boorman has supported the
In 2009, Boorman went to
In February 2014 and November 2016 Boorman presented Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Awards [1] at St James's Palace, on behalf of The Duke of Edinburgh.
Accident
Boorman was involved in a serious accident test riding a motorbike with journalists in Portugal in 2016.[3] Boorman broke both legs[4] after colliding with a wall while avoiding a car that pulled out in front of him. He then broke his hip riding a Vespa while still in recovery.[3] After a period reliant on a wheelchair, Boorman is back riding, but now walks with a limp as his left leg is 1 cm shorter than his right after operations to repair the breaks.[3]
Presenting career
Long Way Round
In 2004, Ewan McGregor and Boorman undertook an international motorcycle journey from London to New York, riding east across Europe, Asia, and North America. This was recorded for a popular television series and book.[5] Critical responses were mixed, with one noting 'Boorman comes across as a copper-bottomed, ocean-going, 24-carat prick.'[6]
Race to Dakar
Along with producer
Long Way Down
In 2007, he took another journey with McGregor:
By Any Means
In 2008, Boorman produced By Any Means, which started in his hometown in County Wicklow, ending in Sydney.[10] He set out to complete the journey "by any means", using local transport appropriate to the area being travelled, and using air travel only when necessary.[11]
Right to the Edge: Sydney to Tokyo By Any Means
In 2009, Boorman undertook a journey titled Right to the Edge: Sydney to Tokyo By Any Means, travelling from Sydney to Tokyo via the Pacific Rim. The programme documenting this trip has been shown on BBC2.
World's Most Dangerous Roads: Alaska
Boorman appeared with Sue Perkins in Series 1 of the BBC TV series World's Most Dangerous Roads: Alaska, shown in 2011, in which they drove the Dalton Highway.[12]
Charley Boorman's Extreme Frontiers
In 2011, Boorman presented a prime-time adventure series for
From 9 June to 22 July 2012, Boorman and his team journeyed around South Africa on two motorbikes and a 4-wheel vehicle.[13]
Charley Boorman USA Adventure
Boorman and Malkin returned on Channel 5 at the end of 2013 for his next trip, which was in the US. Starting in Hawaii, he moves to Alaska, then to the Eastern seaboard and down to the Southern states, inland to the Gulf of Mexico, up again to the Rockies and finishing on the Pacific Coast at Los Angeles
Long Way Up
Boorman and McGregor travelled in 2019 from
Motorbike TV
In 2022 Boorman began presenting Motorbike TV, a motorcycle magazine entertainment show for Motorsport.TV.[15]
Filmography
Film
- Deliverance (1972) - Ed's Boy
- Excalibur (1981) - Boy Mordred
- Nemo (1984) - Cunegond / lift Operator
- The Emerald Forest(1985) - Tomme
- Hope and Glory (1987) - Luftwaffe Pilot
- Ada dans la jungle (1988) - Nancy
- Mister Frost (1990) - Thief
- Connemara (1990) - Loup
- Massacres (1991) - Ronny
- Beyond Rangoon (1995) - Photographer
- Two Nudes Bathing (1995, Short) - The Painter
- The Serpent's Kiss (1997) - Secretary
- Cannes Man (1997) - Himself
- Cash in Hand (1998) - George Tompkins
- The Bunker (2001) - Pfc. Franke
- I, Cesar (2003) - Charley Fitzpatrick
- In My Country (2004) - Adam Hartley
- Travellers (2011) - Brian Seaborn
- David Knight: Iron Man of Enduro (2004) - Himself - Narrator
Year | Title | Character Name | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2004 | Long Way Round | Himself | With Ewan McGregor, from London to New York City through Eastern Europe, Central Asia, Russia, Alaska, Canada. |
2006 | Race to Dakar | Himself | |
2007 | Long Way Down | Himself | With Ewan McGregor, from John o' Groats in Scotland to Cape Town in South Africa |
2008 | By Any Means | Himself | Ireland to Sydney |
2009 | Right to the Edge: Sydney to Tokyo By Any Means
|
Himself | Sydney to Tokyo |
2011 | Charley Boorman's Extreme Frontiers | Himself | 3 Seasons, Canada, South Africa and USA |
2011 | World's Most Dangerous Roads | Himself | In Episode 1, with Sue Perkins, in Alaska |
2011 | Famous and Fearless | Himself | Winner. Chosen charity: UNICEF |
2013 | Freedom Riders Asia | Himself | through six Asian courntries Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, India, Vietnam and Thailand[16] |
2014 | Me and Me Dad: A Portrait of John Boorman contributor | An intimate portrait about the iconic filmmaker John Boorman directed by his daughter Katrine Boorman. | |
2014 | Celebrity MasterChef
|
Himself | |
2020 | Long Way Up | Himself | With Ewan McGregor from Ushuaia in Argentina through South and Central America to Los Angeles |
Bibliography
- Long Way Round (2004 – With Ewan McGregor)
- Race to Dakar (2006)
- Long Way Down (2007 – With Ewan McGregor)
- By Any Means (2008)
- Right to the Edge: Sydney to Tokyo By Any Means(2009)
- Extreme frontiers (2011)
- Long Way Back - Autobiography (2017)
- “Long Way Up” (2020- With Ewan McGregor)
References
- ^ "John Boorman biography". Filmreference.com. Retrieved 5 May 2009.
- ^ "Charley Boorman becomes Dyslexia Action President". Archived from the original on 8 July 2009. Retrieved 28 January 2010.
- ^ a b c Sweeney, Joanne (11 May 2017). "Charlie Boorman tells of his Long Way Back to recovery after motorbike accident". The Irish News. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
- ^ Tibu, Florin (18 February 2016). "Charley Boorman Breaks Both Legs After Colliding with a Car". autoevolution. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
- ^ "Long Way Up". Long Way Up. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
- ^ Farndale, Nigel (13 September 2008). "Charley Boorman: the star trekker" – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
- ISBN 978-0-316-02711-3
- ^ "Long Way Down". Archived from the original on 16 October 2007. Retrieved 16 October 2007. The Long Way Down official Site
- ^ "BBC Two - Long Way Down". BBC.
- ^ "By Any Means". Archived from the original on 2 May 2008. Retrieved 29 April 2008. Itinerary on official BigEarth site
- ^ MotorcycleNews.com interview Archived 26 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "BBC Two – World's Most Dangerous Roads, Series 1, Alaska". BBC. Retrieved 11 December 2012.
- ^ "Extreme Frontiers South Africa". Retrieved 14 November 2012.
- Motorcycle News. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
- ^ "Motorbike TV". motorsport.tv. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
- ^ DeHart, Jonathan. "Freedom Riders Asia: Charley Boorman's Motorcycle Tour of the Far East". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
- Holmstrom, John. The Moving Picture Boy: An International Encyclopaedia from 1895 to 1995. Norwich, Michael Russell, 1996, p. 363.
External links
- Official website
- Charley Boorman at IMDb
- WideWorld magazine – Interview with Charley Boorman