David Bedella

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David Bedella
Born (1962-09-25) September 25, 1962 (age 61)
OccupationActor
Years active1980–present
Partner(s)Pressley Sutherland
(1997–present)

David Bedella (born September 25, 1962) is an American actor. He is best known for his roles in

Olivier Awards
.

Early life

Bedella was born in Gary, Indiana, on September 25, 1962. He graduated in 1980 from Merrillville High School in Merrillville, Indiana.

Career

After performing in Showboat '81 at Opryland USA, Bedella began eight years of theatre in Chicago from 1982 to 1990. In 1985, he won his first professional acting award, the Joseph Jefferson Award (Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical)[1] for his performance in A Chorus Line.[2] After several National Tours including Dreamgirls, Jesus Christ Superstar, and 42nd Street, he relocated to New York City in the autumn of 1990 and began what would be 11 years of regional and Broadway work which included the Goodspeed Opera House in 1991 and a tour of La Cage aux Folles. From 1992 to 1995, he played Caiaphas in the 20th anniversary national tour of Jesus Christ Superstar. In 1995, he joined the original company of Smokey Joe's Cafe on Broadway, which he played on and off for five years before leaving to tour the United States in Almost Like Being in Love.

Having relocated to London in 2001, Bedalla won his most famous role in 2002, playing Jonathan Wierus in the first act and Satan in the second act of Jerry Springer: The Opera at the National Theatre.[3] For this role, he received the 2004 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical. Later that year, he appeared in a recurring role as plastic surgeon Dr. Carlos Fashola in the British medical drama series Holby City. He then played the title role in Hedwig and the Angry Inch and had a 16-month run playing as Frank-N-Furter in the UK tour of Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show from 2006 to 2007. During that period, he also had minor roles in films such as Batman Begins and Alexander.

In 2008, Bedella played Alexander Molokov in a concert version of

Blue Mountain Mystery. In 2015, he replaced Keith Wickham
as the Mayor of Sodor in the British dub.

From 2009 to 2010, Bedella reprised his role as Frank-N-Furter in the UK tour cast of The Rocky Horror Show.

.

In 2014, Bedella appeared with Bradley Walsh in Peter Pan at the Milton Keynes Theatre and in the fall of that year, he portrayed the title role in a production of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street at the Twickenham Theatre.[1] On 16 January 2015, it was confirmed that he would be joining Mel Brooks' musical The Producers as Roger De Bris.[4] He again reprised his role as Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Show alongside the show's writer Richard O'Brien.

For several years, Bedella has hosted his own live chat show called David Bedella and Friends, which won the London Cabaret Society's Best Long Running Cabaret Award in 2015.

In 2017, Bedella recorded two songs for the album Wit & Whimsy – Songs by Alexander S. Bermange, which reached No. 1 in the iTunes comedy album chart. In 2018, he returned to Chicago as part of the cast of the American premiere of Nell Gwynn at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater. In 2019, he originated the role of Lance in the musical & Juliet. The musical made its world debut at the Manchester Opera House and then transferred to London's Shaftesbury Theatre. Bedella subsequently won the 2020 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his performance. This marked his second win in this category and third Olivier win overall.[6] He left the production on 26 March 2022.

Bedella has also partnered with John Linehan in pantomime at the Belfast Grand Opera House in Northern Ireland. In 2023, he reprised his role as Frank-N-Furter in the Adelaide, Melbourne, and Gold Coast legs of the Australian 50th Anniversary Tour of The Rocky Horror Show. In March 2024, Bedella began a run reprising his role as Lance in the Broadway production of & Juliet, marking his return to the Broadway stage.[7]

Personal life

Bedella has been in a relationship with Pressley Sutherland since 1997.[8] In 2001, Sutherland was offered a job as a vicar in London, and convinced Bedella to move there with him by reminding him of the opportunities in the West End.[8] They continue to reside in the city.[8]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2004 Alexander Scribe Cadmus
2005 Batman Begins Maitre D
2009 Thomas & Friends: Hero of the Rails Victor (voice) Direct-to-video
2010 Thomas & Friends: Misty Island Rescue
2011 Thomas & Friends: Day of the Diesels
2012 Thomas & Friends: Blue Mountain Mystery Victor / Cuban Man (voice)
2013 Thomas & Friends: King of the Railway Victor (voice)
Resting Harry Boe Short Film
2016 Thomas & Friends: The Great Race Victor / Carlos (voice) Direct-to-video
Punk Strut: The Movie Walter Wall Jr.
2017 Thomas & Friends: Journey Beyond Sodor Victor (voice) Direct-to-video; uncredited
This Is Axiom Sam Short Film
2018 A Reel Life Precious Stone
2022 All the Old Knives Drew Favreau

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2003 Days That Shook the World Voiceover Artist (voice) Credited as David Bedalla
2004–2005 Holby City Carlos Fashola 19 episodes
2005 Jerry Springer: The Opera Warm-up Man / Satan TV movie
Blessed Restaurant Owner-Quentin Episode: "Just Looking (Stereophonics)"
2009 Great Performances Alexander Molokov Episode: "Chess in Concert"
2009–2020 Thomas & Friends Victor (voice) 54 episodes
2013 By Any Means Luis Velasquez Episode: "Episode #1.3"
2014 Inside No. 9 Frankie J. Parsons Episode: "Last Gasp"
2016 Resting Bernard Episode: "Fucked"
2018 Deep State Tilson 2 episodes
2022–2023 Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan President Charles Bachler 5 episodes

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result Ref
2004 Laurence Olivier Award Best Actor in a Musical
Jerry Springer - The Opera
Won [9]
WhatsOnStage Award Nominated [10]
2016 Laurence Olivier Award Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical In The Heights Won [5]
WhatsOnStage Award Best Supporting Actor in a Musical Won [11]
2020 Laurence Olivier Award Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical & Juliet Won [12]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "David Bedella - West End Performers". londontheatredirect.com. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  2. ^ "Archives - The Joseph Jefferson Awards". www.jeffawards.org. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  3. ^ "Jerry Springer: The Opera". Sydney Morning Herald. 17 April 2009.
  4. ^ "David Bedella and Phill Jupitus join the cast of The Producers". January 16, 2015. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
  5. ^ a b "Olivier Winners 2016". Olivier Awards. Retrieved 2020-10-26.
  6. ^ "Olivier Awards Twitter feed". Twitter. Retrieved 2020-10-25.
  7. ^ Masseron, Meg. "Olivier Award Winner David Bedella Joins & Juliet on Broadway March 5". Playbill. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  8. ^ a b c "David Bedella on Jumping from Jerry Springer to Billy Flynn in London's Chicago | Broadway Buzz | Theatre.com". Archived from the original on 2017-09-17. Retrieved 2017-09-17.
  9. ^ "Olivier Winners 2004". Olivier Awards. Retrieved 2020-10-26.
  10. ^ "Whatsonstage Awards 2004 |". WestEndTheatre.com – London Theatre Tickets. January 2009. Retrieved 2020-10-26.
  11. ^ "Whatsonstage Awards – Winners 2016 |". WestEndTheatre.com – London Theatre Tickets. 22 February 2016. Retrieved 2020-10-26.
  12. ^ "Olivier Awards 2020 with Mastercard – Theatre's Biggest Night". Olivier Awards. Retrieved 2020-10-26.

External links