Stephen Greif


Stephen John Greif is an English actor known for his roles as Travis in Blake's 7, Harry Fenning in three series of Citizen Smith, Signor Donato in Casanova and Commander John Shepherd in Shoot on Sight.

Early life

Greif was born in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, England, in a building originally belonging to Anne Boleyn as a gift from King Henry VIII.
He was educated at Sloane Grammar School, where he was school champion at athletics and swimming and represented the school and the county at athletics at the White City Stadium amongst others. He briefly attended the Regent Street Polytechnic before entering a variety of jobs including trouble shooter at a TV and radiogram manufacturer and as a negotiator in a boutique West End estate agency before applying for drama school.

Career

Grief is an honours graduate from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, where he won numerous awards including Best Actor and Most Promising Actor, and is now an Associate Member and serves on the audition panel. He was a member of the National Theatre Company both at the Old Vic in Olivier's company and on the South Bank for Peter Hall's company. Among his productions were Danton's Death, A Woman Killed with Kindness, The Merchant of Venice, Long Days Journey into Night, The School for Scandal, Richard II, The Front Page and Macbeth.
Grief was invited back to appear with them at Queen's Theatre in the West End in the Italian Comedy Saturday, Sunday, Monday, directed by Franco Zeffirelli and Laurence Olivier, where he won a Best Actor nomination in the Critics' Circle Theatre Award. Later, he was invited to join the National again on the South Bank under Peter Hall in the revival of Death of a Salesman, directed by Michael Rudman and with Warren Mitchell winning himself another Best Actor Nomination in the Olivier Awards. Grief was back again at the invitation of Nicholas Hytner to join his inaugural season appearing in His Girl Friday, Edmund and the Christmas production His Dark Materials. He acted alongside Elaine Stritch in The Gingerbread Lady, Denholm Elliott in The Paranormalist, Frank Langella in Abracadaver, Albert Finney in Ronald Harwood's Reflected Glory, Felicity Kendal and Frances de la Tour in Fallen Angels, Joseph Fiennes in George Dillon and Lesley Manville in Six Degrees of Separation.
Greif has been in many films including Risen, Woman in Gold, Bill, D is for Detroit, Lasse Hallström's Casanova, Shoot on Sight, Eichmann, Spartan, The Upside of Anger, Boogie Woogie and Fakers. His many television appearances include Only When I Laugh, Howard’s Way, Spooks, Mistresses, He Kills Coppers, Silent Witness, the last story of Waking the Dead and New Tricks.
He reprised his Blake's 7 role of Travis in two new audio stories for Big Finish Productions. He voiced Raymond Maarloeve in the video game The Witcher.

Personal life

Greif has three children, enjoys golf and is a member of the Stage Golfing Society.
He lives near Richmond in London.

Acting roles

Dates, Shows and Roles
2015--
FilmRisenCaiaphus
2014--
FilmWoman in GoldBergen
2013--
TVD is for DetroitGreg
TVNew TricksPeter Russell
VGPuppeteerNarrator
2012--
TVCoronation StreetRon Dent
TVSilent WitnessGordon Cairns
2011--
TVWaking The DeadBill Knight
2010--
VGXenoblade ChroniclesZanza / Arglas
2009--
VGVeneticaVarious
FBoogie WoogieBob's Lawyer
VGAnno 1404Lord Richard Northburgh
TVMistressesAlexander
TVThe Cold WayNarrator
2008--
TVSpooksClaude Denizet
VGFable IIBarnum
TVHe Kills CoppersThe Proprietor
VGMomento MoriVarious
2007--
FShoot on SightCommander John Shepherd
VGThe WitcherRaymond Maarloeve
FEichmannHans Lipmann
VG DoragonSir Dick Worthington
TV Doctor Who: The Infinite Quest Gurney
TVBack in BusinessLeonidov
2006--
VGMedieval II Total War Various
FSixty SixUncle Henry
TV Judge John Deed Lorne Michaels
2005--
TV Space RaceColonel Toftoy / Toftoy
TV Holby City Rabbi Ben Silver
FCasanovaDonato
FThe Upside of Anger Emily's Doctor
2004--
VGDragon Quest: Cursed KingVoices / Additional Voices
FFakersAlfonse Potrelli
FSpartanBusiness Man
2002--
TVShackletonValiente
VGMedieval: Total WarGeneral Kihoto
1993–1998--
TVThe BillA.C. Lampriere / Neville Juke
1998--
TVKiller NetHarvey Levin
1997--
TVCrime TravellerLeonard Gebler
1996--
TVEastEndersBrian Lassiter
1995--
TVCastlesAdam Robins
TVSpace PrecinctEric Volker
TVStick with Me, KidGordon Lundey
1994--
TVMidnight MovieJohnny
TVLie Down With LionsGrigor
1992–1994--
TVThe House of EliottAbraham Barak
1993--
TVComicsTony Fratelli
TVThe Upper HandJason McCloud
TVDrop the Dead DonkeyValdez
1991–1992--
TVTrainerStavros Mikhalides
1992--
TVDark JusticeTony Hastings
FLeon the Pig FarmerDoctor
1990--
TVBirds of a FeatherMarcus Green
TVRab C. NesbittDI Sergeant
TVThe Gravy TrainRudolph
TVZorroTorres
TVFace To FaceGrant Ross
1989--
TVAbout FaceNeville
TVYoung Gifted and BrokeColegate
TVChelworthTony Evrington
TVLaura and DisorderJim Lipthorpe
TVTicket To RideCapt. Szigismund
1988--
TVBustJohn Evans
TVHowards' WayJohn Reddings
1987--
TVPretoriusVaneck
TVC.A.T.S. EyesJack Brand
TVBoonLomas
TVRumpole of the BaileyVanberry
1986--
TVThe Life and Loves of a She-DevilDr Ghengis
TVLove with a Perfect StrangerAndrea
TVAuf Wiedersehen, PetPrince Stefano
1985--
TVOne By OneRichard Neville
1984--
TVDempsey and MakepeaceBernie Silk
TVEllis IslandJesse Lasky
TVCold WarriorDr Mohammed Riffi
TVHammer House of Mystery and SuspenseClifford Richardson
TVThe Last Days of PompeiiSporus
1983--
TVHart To HartAnthony Vlachos
TVTales of the UnexpectedRinaldo
TVThe CleopatrasDemetrius
1982--
TVThe ProfessionalsDr Lowe
TVThe BounderCount Montefiore
TVPlay For TomorrowShapiro
TVMinderSpencer
1981--
TVGoodbye DarlingVictor
1980--
TVCry WolfProfessor Ion Porphiriou
1979--
TVOnly When I LaughNicos
1977–1979--
TVCitizen SmithHarry Fenning
1979--
TVKidsDavid Newman
TVDick TurpinMajor Walther Von Gerhardt
TVThomas & SarahPocock
FThe Great Riviera Bank RobberyRocco
1978--
TVFamous FivePottersham
TVThe SandbaggersDI Gomez
TVReturn of the SaintMasrouf
TVBlake's 7Space Commander Travis
TVArmchair ThrillerJuan
1977--
TVTreasure IslandJob Anderson
TVTargetDuroy
TVSpaghetti Two-StepLuigi
1976--
TVThe New AvengersJuventor
1975–1976--
TVPlay for TodayGerry Joe Marks
1976--
TVKillersStinie Morrison
1975–1976--
TVThriller ThrillerBen Kroom / Enrico
1974–1976--
TVDixon of Dock GreenDCI. Basset / Charles Negri / Tony
1974--
TVThe Aweful Mr GoodallDoctor
TVA Little Bit of WisdomJacques
1970–1974--
TVSpecial BranchFinch / Mikhali Joanides
1974--
TVIntimate StrangersDoctor
FSoft Beds, Hard BattlesColonel Hiller
1973--
TVThe ProtectorsPoliceman at Cafe
TVThe Merchant of VenicePrince of Morocco
FNo Sex Please, We're BritishNiko
1971--
TVThe Persuaders!Krilov
FNicholas and AlexandraMartov
TVEyeless in GazaYoung Englishman
TVThe Tragedy of King Richard IIMowbray / Glendower
1970--
TVEdward IIEarl of Pembroke
1968--
TVBoy Meets GirlLounge Lizard

Theatre

Date/VenueShowRole/Director
2012--
Globe Theatre, BanksidePrince of West End Lane, Kerry ShaleRole: Otto / Dir: Matthew Lloyd
2011--
Royal Shakespeare TheatreMaydays, David EdgarRole: Teddy Weiner / Dir: Polly Findlay
2010--
The Old VicSix Degrees of Separation, John GuareRole: Dr Fine / Dir: David Grindley
2006--
Comedy Theatre George Dillon, John OsborneRole: Barney Evans /Dir: Peter Gill
2003/2004--
National TheatreHis Dark Materials, Philip PullmanRoles: The President and John Faa / Dir: Nick Hytner
National TheatreEdmund, David MametRoles: The Interrogator and Hotel Clerk / Dir: Edward Hall
National TheatreHis Girl Friday, John GuareRole: Louis / Dir: Jack O’Brien
2002--
Hampstead TheatreBenchmark, Bud Shrake & M RudmanRole: Ginsberg / Dir: Michael Rudman
2000/2001--
Apollo TheatreFallen Angels, Noël CowardRole: Maurice / Dir: Michael Rudman
1999--
Hampstead TheatreImmaculate, Carl DjerassiRole: Menachem / Dir: Gordy Greenberg
1994--
Vaudeville TheatreReflected Glory, Ronald HarewoodRole: Robert / Dir: Elija Moshinsky
1992--
Almeida TheatreThe Life of the World To Come, Rob WilliamsRole: Don Strohmeyer / Dir: Derek Wax
1990--
Wyndham's Theatre / Theatre Royal WindsorAbracadaver, Allan Scott & David AmbroseRole: Chief Insp Scott / Dir: Richard Olivier
1985--
Theatre Royal Windsor/ Old VicA View from the Bridge, Arthur MillerRole: Marco / Dir: Peter Coe
1982--
Greenwich TheatreThe Paranormalist, Jonathan GemsRole: Cedric / Dir: Alan Strachan
1979/1980--
The National TheatreDeath of a Salesman, Arthur MillerRole: Biff (Nom. Best Supporting Actor – Olivier Awards / Dir: Michael Rudman
1976--
Derby PlayhouseView from The Bridge, Arthur MillerRole: Eddie Carbone / Dir: Patrick Lau
1974/1975--
National Theatre at the Queen's TheatreSaturday, Sunday, Monday, Eduardo De FillipoRole: Luigi / Nom. Best Supporting Actor – Critics' Circle Theatre Award / Dir: Franco Zeffirelli, Laurence Olivier
Theatre Royal WindsorThe Gingerbread Lady, Neil SimonRole: Lou
1971/1973--
National Theatre at the Old VicThe Merchant of Venice, William ShakespeareRole: Prince of Morocco / Dir: Jonathan Miller
National Theatre at the Old VicA Woman Killed with Kindness, Thomas HeywoodRole: Sir Francis Acton / Dir: John Dexter
National Theatre at the Old VicThe Front Page, Hecht & MacarthurRole: Diamond Louis / Dir: Michael Blakemore
National Theatre at the Old VicThe School For Scandal, SheridanRole: Moses / Dir: Jonathan Miller
National Theatre at the Old VicLong Day's Journey into Night, Eugene O'NeillRole: Edmund / Dir: Michael Blakemore
National Theatre at the Old VicRichard II, William ShakespeareRole: Willoughby, Dir: David William
National Theatre at the Old VicMacbeth, William ShakespeareRole: Caithness / Dir: Michael Blakemore
National Theatre at the Old VicDanton's Death, Georg BüchnerRole: Bertrand / Dir: Jonathan Miller
1970--
Forum TheatreHenry IV, Part 1, William ShakespeareRole: Hotspur / Dir. Brian Shelton
1969/1970--
Piccadilly TheatreRichard II, William ShakespeareRole: Mowbray / Dir: Richard Cotterel
Mermaid TheatreEdward II, Christopher MarloweRole: Pembroke / Dir: Toby Robertson
1968/1969--
Royal Shakespeare CompanyKing Lear, William ShakespeareRole: Edmund’s Captain / Dir: Trevor Nunn
Royal Shakespeare Co & North American TourDr Faustus, Christopher MarloweRole: Valdes, Wrath / Dir: Clifford Williams
Royal Shakespeare Co & North American TourMuch Ado About Nothing, William ShakespeareRole: Soldier / Dir: Trevor Nunn
Royal Shakespeare Co & North American TourAs You Like It, William ShakespeareRole: Forester / Dir: David Jones
Royal Shakespeare Co & North American TourThe Duchess of Malfi, John WebsterRole: Antonio / Dir: Christie Dickason
Royal Shakespeare CompanyTroilus & Cressida, William ShakespeareRole: Prologue / Dir: John Barton

Radio and Talking Books

Date/VenueNameRole
2013--
BBC R4The Letters of JKFKrushchev
BBC R4Second BodyJacobin
BBC R4AusterlitzNarrator
2011--
BBC R4Life & Death, Vasily GrossmanKarimov
BBC R4 ExtraThe Man in Black, Mathew CollinsMr Rubinstein
BBC R4Small Acts of Kindness, Trevor PrestonCharlie
2010--
BBC R4Harry and the Angels, Bernard KopsHarry
BBC R4The Art of Deception, Philip PalmerStefan Hunt
USA RadioCharlie's ChoiceSir Philip
2009--
BBC R4Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, John Le CarrePolyakov
BBC R4The Grand Babylon Hotel, Arnold BennettFelix Babylon
USA RadioThe CaptiveKanye
2008--
BBC R4The Babbington Plot, Michael ButtNarrator
BBC R4Peter Lorre V Peter Lorre, Michael ButtPeter Lorre
BBC R4Beat the Dog in His Own Kennel, Gary BrownAvi
BBC WalesBlake's 7 InterviewHimself as Travis
BBC R3The Devil was Here Yesterday, Colin TeevanHector
2007--
BBC R4Take Away, Gary BrownNarrator
BBC R4 Classic SerialWitness, Nick WarburtonJohn The Baptist
BBC R4 Classic SerialCaptain Corelli's Mandolin, Louis de BernièresDr Iannis
BBC R4The Iceman, Simon BoveySupt. Malpacket
BBC R4 Classic SerialDown and Out in Paris and London, George OrwellBoris
BBC R4Hooligan Nights, Mike WalkerPC91
2006--
BBC R4Speed and Silver, Catherine BaileyCh. Insp. Collinson
Pre 2006--
BBC R4The Nine Tailors, DL SayersNobby Cranton
BBC R4Call for the Dead, John Le CarreDieter Frey
BBC R2Hinge & Bracket, Gerald FrowRoberto
BBC R4 Brogue MaleCount Laszlo Stroganoff
Talking Books--
AudioGo"The Tractate Middoth", M R JamesNarrator
AudioGoDr Palfrey of Westminster, John CreaseyNarrator
AudioGoThe Siege of the Villa Lipp, Eric AmblerNarrator
The Story Circle Random HouseHis Dark Materials, Philip PullmanMetatron
IsisHe Kills Coppers, Jake ArnottNarrator
IsisIn a True Light, John HarveyNarrator
IsisSeeking Robinson Crusoe, Tim SeverinNarrator
IsisThe Lowlife, Alexander BaronNarrator
IsisThe Sergeant's Tale, Bernice RubensNarrator
BBC AudioThe Match King, Frank PartnoyNarrator
BBC AudioBad Dog and all that Hollywood Hoo Haa, Martin ChattertonNarrator
BBC Audio The Boy with the Magic Numbers, Sally GardnerNarrator
BBC AudioThe Pianist, Wladyslaw SzpilmanNarrator
BBC AudioThe Darkness of Wallis Simpson, Rose TremainNarrator