NICK BERRY

'Nick Berry' (born 16 April, 1963 in Woodford, Essex) is a British television actor and musician.

Contents

Career

Personal life

References

External links

Career

Berry started acting at the age of eight. After attending the Sylvia Young Theatre School in London he played minor parts on television, film, and stage before he got his big break playing Simon 'Wicksy' Wicks in the popular BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'' (1985-90). Berry's character was thought up overnight and was introduced to restore the cast balance distorted by the unexpected departure of actor David Scarboro who played the original Mark Fowler. Scarboro's departure meant many of his functions as the slightly eldest of the young characters would need to be taken over by another character and thus Wicksy was invented and Berry was cast with minimal delay. EastEnders - The Inside Story, , Julia, Smith, Book Club Associates, 1987, ISBN 0-563-20601-2 He was quickly hailed as ''EastEnders'' top pin-up and during this time was besieged by fanmail from female admirers.{{cite book |last= Kingsley|first= Hilary|title= The EastEnders Handbook |year=1990|publisher=BBC books|id=ISBN 0-563-36292-8
Berry took a break from ''Eastenders'' to tour and make an album from which the number one single 'Every Loser Wins' came in 1986. The song was heavily featured within ''EastEnders'' in a plotline referred to as The Banned in which the youths of Walford all formed a pop group and performed the songs on screen. EastEnders - The Inside Story, , Julia, Smith, Book Club Associates, 1987, ISBN 0-563-20601-2 It was the second biggest selling single in the UK that year, remaining at number one for three weeks. Its composer Simon May received an Ivor Novello Award.

Berry returned to ''Eastenders'' after his musical career stalled but left again in an 'open to return' storyline in 1990 for the role of ITV's Yorkshire policeman PC (later Sgt) Nick Rowan in ''Heartbeat'' (1992-98). Berry recorded the title 'Heartbeat' in 1992, a cover of the 1959 Buddy Holly hit which reached number two in the UK singles chart and spawned a second album.^[1] His son Louis and wife Rachel Robertson also appeared on the series. He returned for a one off twin episode spin off special in 2002, the episodes based on his character's new career as a Royal Canadian Mounted Police Officer.
In 1998 Berry left ''Heartbeat'' for the BBC 1 self written, produced, and directed series ''Harbour Lights''. Less successful than his two previous character based programmes, it ran for two series.
Berry's other credits include ''The Mystery of Men'' with Neil Pearson and Warren Clarke, ''Paparazzo'', ''The Black Velvet Band'' with Todd Carty, and playing the maverick cop Liam Ketman alongside Stephen Tompkinson in the BBC crime drama ''In Deep''.
Berry also runs his own production company called Valentine Productions.
He also owns a succesful burger bar at White Hart Lane.

Personal life

Berry had a terrible car crash when he was twenty-one: he fractured his skull when he was thrown through a windshield. Miraculously he survived the experience unscarred.
During his time in ''EastEnders'' Berry dated his costar Gillian Taylforth who played Kathy Beale.^[2]
Berry married actress Rachel Robertson in 1994 and they have two boys, Louis and Finlay.
He supports West Ham United FC.

References

1. 'Nick Berry chart positions', ''everyhit.com''. URL last accessed on 2006-12-15.
2. name='EEHandbook'

External links

★

★ Nick Berry - BBC Drama

★ Nick Berry as Nick Rowan - 'Heartbeat'