Simon Merrells

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. 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.^[1][2]

Career

Stage

Merrells appeared with his brother Jason in a production of The Comedy of Errors in 2007, playing twins.^[3]

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.^[1] 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";^[4] The Independent said he "brings his own brand of studied vulnerability and sullen pride to the part".^[5]

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.^[1] He was nominated for a Stage Award for Best Actor for that role.^[6] 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".^[7]

He has appeared on television in London's Burning as DSO Griggs, Family Affairs (as bouncer Conrad Williams),^[1][2] and Merseybeat.^[3]

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

In 2014, Merrells starred in a small sci-fi film named Index Zero as Kurt, a main character, and two films in 2015,