Bruce Martyn Payne (born 22 November 1958) is an
EnglishEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the North Sea to the east, with the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
actor and producer. Though better known for his
villainA villain is an "evil" character in a story, whether a historical narrative or, especially, a work of fiction. The villain usually is the antagonist, the character who tends to have a negative effect on other characters...
ous roles, Bruce Payne has played characters across the spectrum. His notable villains include Charles Rane in
Passenger 57Passenger 57 is a 1992 action film starring Wesley Snipes and Bruce Payne. The film's success made Snipes a popular "action hero" icon.- Synopsis :...
, Jacob Kell in
Highlander: EndgameHighlander: Endgame is a fantasy film originally released on September 1, 2000. It is the fourth theatrical release in the Highlander film series, and it serves as both a continuation of the Highlander films and the Highlander television series...
and Damodar in
Dungeons & DragonsDungeons & Dragons is a 2000 live-action film directed by Courtney Solomon and based on the role-playing game of the same name.-Plot:The Empire of Izmer has long been a divided land. The Mages - an elite group of magic users - rule whilst the lowly commoners are powerless...
and
Dungeons and Dragons: Wrath of the Dragon God. His hero roles include Dr. Burton in
Silence Like GlassZwei Frauen is a 1989 German dramatic film. The film stars Jami Gertz, George Peppard, Bruce Payne and Rip Torn....
, Major Baker in
BritannicBritannic is a romantic drama film directed by Brian Trenchard-Smith. It stars Edward Atterton and Amanda Ryan as star-crossed lovers on the forgotten sister ship of the RMS Titanic, the HMHS Britannic...
, and Jurgen in the television version of
La Femme Nikita. His comic roles include Yellow in
Keen EddieKeen Eddie is an action/comedy-drama television series, first aired in 2003, about a brash American police detective who is sent to help solve crimes in London. The basic premise of the show bears a close resemblance to the popular 1980s British series Dempsey & Makepeace, the only notable...
, Dogger in
SolarbabiesSolarbabies, also known as Solarwarriors, was released in November 1986. It was released on DVD on March 6, 2007. - Synopsis :...
, and the Devil in
SwitchIn electronics, a switch is an electrical component that can break an electrical circuit, interrupting the current or diverting it from one conductor to another. The most familiar form of switch is a manually operated electromechanical device with one or more sets of electrical contacts...
. Payne has received many plaudits for his acting. A reviewer in
CosmopolitanCosmopolitan is an international magazine for women. It was first published in 1886 in the United States as a family magazine, was later transformed into a literary magazine and eventually became a women's magazine in the late 1960s...
once asserted that "saying that Payne is a good actor is like saying
Fred AstaireFred Astaire , born Frederick Austerlitz, was an American film and Broadway stage dancer, choreographer, singer and actor. His stage and subsequent film career spanned a total of 76 years, during which he made 31 musical films...
is a good dancer."
Early life
Payne was born in
London[]London is the capital of England and the United Kingdom. It has been a major settlement for two millennia, and the history of London goes back to its founding by the Romans, when it was named Londinium. London's core, the ancient City of London, the 'square mile', retains its medieval boundaries...
,
EnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the North Sea to the east, with the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and grew up in Kilburn,
North LondonNorth London is the northern part of London, England. The area it covers is defined differently for a range of purposes.-Boundary Commission:At its widest extent, North London is the part of Greater London that is north of the River Thames...
. He developed an interest for acting at an early age. At the age of 14 he was diagnosed with a slight form of
Spina BifidaSpina bifida is a developmental birth defect caused by the incomplete closure of the embryonic neural tube. Some vertebrae overlying the spinal cord are not fully formed and remain unfused and open. If the opening is large enough, this allows a portion of the spinal cord to stick out through the...
which by age 16 required surgery to rectify. Payne was hospitalised for 6 months following this operation.
Payne continued school studies, despite a contact with a talent scout during that time. After his graduation, he enrolled in the
National Youth TheatreThe National Youth Theatre is a registered charity, committed to creative, personal and social development of young people through the medium of creative arts...
for two seasons. Payne has described this experience as "Four hundred kids thrown together to work on 7 plays." In addition, Payne was occupied with the Edinburgh Festival Fringe for one season.
He auditioned for several fringe acting companies but was told he was too young and lacked experience. However, in 1979 he was admitted to the
Royal Academy of Dramatic ArtThe Royal Academy of Dramatic Art , in Bloomsbury, London, is generally regarded as one of the most renowned drama schools in the world, and is one of the oldest drama schools in Britain.-Admissions:...
(RADA) acting program. Payne graduated from RADA in 1981 with seven major prizes for acting, comedy and physical presence. Payne was part of a 'new wave’ of actors to emerge from the Academy. Others included
Jonathan PryceJonathan Pryce, CBE is a Welsh stage and film actor/singer. After studying at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and marrying English actress Kate Fahy in 1974, he began his career as a stage actor in the 1970s...
,
Juliet StevensonJuliet Anne Virginia Stevenson CBE is an English actress of stage and screen.- Background :Juliet Anne Virginia Stevens was born in Essex, England, the daughter of Virginia Ruth , a teacher, and Michael Guy Stevens, an army officer...
,
Alan RickmanAlan Sidney Patrick Rickman is an English actor. Rickman is best known for his performances in film as Hans Gruber in Die Hard and Severus Snape in the Harry Potter film series, as well as extensive stage work...
,
Anton LesserAnton Lesser is a British actor. He attended Moseley Grammar School and the University of Liverpool before going to RADA in 1977 where he was awarded the Bancroft Gold Medal as the most promising actor of his year....
,
Kenneth BranaghKenneth Charles Branagh is a Northern Irish actor and film director.- Early life :Branagh, the second of three children, was born and brought up in Belfast to working class Protestant parents Frances and William Branagh, a plumber and joiner who ran a company that specialised in fitting...
and
Fiona ShawFiona Shaw, CBE is a leading Irish actress and theatre director. Although to international audiences she is probably most familiar for her minor role as Petunia Dursley in the Harry Potter films, she is regarded as one of the finest classical actresses of her generation...
. Whilst at RADA, Payne wrote and directed himself in an adaptation of
William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's preeminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
's
MacbethThe Tragedy of Macbeth, commonly just Macbeth, is a play by William Shakespeare about a regicide and its aftermath. It is Shakespeare's shortest tragedy and is believed to have been written sometime between 1603 and 1607...
in which he wielded a baseball bat on stage instead of a sword. This was chosen by the Principal of RADA to be performed in front of the Queen in one of her rare visits to the academy. Payne would later appear on stage in
Julius CaesarJulius Caesar is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1599. It portrays the conspiracy against the Roman dictator of the same name, his assassination and its aftermath...
and
A Midsummer Night's DreamA Midsummer Night's Dream is a romantic comedy by William Shakespeare. It was suggested by "The Knight's Tale" from Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales and written around 1594 to 1596...
.
Acting career
Payne's first major film role came in 1982 with
Michael BlakemoreMichael Howell Blakemore OBE is an Australian actor, writer and theatre director. In 2000 he became the individual to win Tony Awards for best Director of a Play and Musical in the same year for Copenhagen and Kiss Me, Kate....
's
Privates On ParadePrivates on Parade is a 1982 film adaptation of the Peter Nichols play of the same title about a fictional - and mostly gay - military entertainment group, the "Song and Dance Unit, Southeast Asia" assembled to entertain the troops in the Malayan jungle in the years after World War II.-Cast and...
in which he played the singing and dancing Flight Sergeant Kevin Cartwright, appearing alongside
John CleeseJohn Marwood Cleese is an Academy Award-nominated English actor, comedian, writer, and film producer who is known for being a member of the group of comedians responsible for the sketch show Monty Python's Flying Circus and the four Monty Python films: And Now for Something Completely Different,...
,
Denis QuilleyDenis Clifford Quilley OBE was an English theatre, television and film actor who was long associated with the Royal National Theatre....
and
David BamberDavid James Bamber is a British actor, known for his television and theatre work. He is an Associate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.-Early years:...
. Payne would appear with Quilley again in
CleopatraCleopatra is a 1999 fictional film portrayal of the Egyptian queen Cleopatra, produced by Hallmark Entertainment, starring Leonor Varela as the title character, Timothy Dalton as Caesar, Billy Zane as Marc Antony, Rupert Graves as Octavius, Sean Pertwee as Brutus and Bruce Payne as Cassius. The...
. In 1983 he appeared in
Michael MannMichael Mann is the name of:*Michael Mann *Hollywood Fats , accomplished blues guitarist for Hollywood Fats Band & Canned Heat*Michael E...
's
The KeepThe Keep may refer to:*The Keep , 1981 novel by F. Paul Wilson*The Keep , 2006*The Keep , 2006 graphic novel by F. Paul Wilson and Matthew Smith*The Keep , Michael Mann film based on the F...
. In the same year
Steven BerkoffSteven Berkoff is an English actor, writer and director. He is patron of the Nightingale Theatre, in Brighton, England, a fringe theatre venue, which is , a small room over a pub...
cast him in his production of
WestWest is most commonly a noun, adjective, or adverb indicating direction or geography.West is one of the four cardinal directions or compass points...
at the Donmar Warehouse which was followed by a role in Limehouse Films' television adaptation of the play. This was followed by a role in the 1984 film
Oxford BluesOxford Blues is a 1984 film written and directed by Robert Boris and starred Rob Lowe, Ally Sheedy and Amanda Pays. It is a remake of the 1938 MGM film A Yank at Oxford directed by Jack Conway and starring Robert Taylor, Maureen O'Sullivan, Lionel Barrymore and Vivien Leigh.-Plot:Oxford Blues is...
.
In 1985 he was cast as a snooker manager known as The One in
Alan ClarkeAlan Clarke was a television and film director, producer and writer, born in Birkenhead, Cheshire, England....
's
Billy the Kid and the Green Baize VampireBilly the Kid and the Green Baize Vampire is a 1985 musical film starring Phil Daniels and Alun Armstrong. The film was directed by Alan Clarke and written by Trevor Preston.-Plot:Billy the Kid is a young, up-and-coming snooker player...
(1985), and played a threadbare undercover drug detective in Bob Mahoney's
Operation Julie. In 1986 both Payne and Berkoff appeared in
Julien TempleJulien Temple is an English film, documentary and music video director. He is most famous for his work featuring the Sex Pistols.-Biography:...
's
Absolute BeginnersAbsolute Beginners is a novel by Colin MacInnes, written and set in 1958 London, England. It was published in 1959. The novel is the second of MacInnes' London Trilogy, coming after City Of Spades and before Mr. Love and Justice...
. One reviewer argued that Payne was "the only actor to walk off
Absolute Beginners with his reputation not only intact but enhanced" and that his portrayal of Flikker "was a headbutt of reality in a fantasmagoria of overkill."
In 1988, Berkoff directed Payne in
Greek at the Wyndhams Theatre. Berkoff has stated that Payne "gave a vital and dynamic performance and trod on the edge of danger" performing as the main character, Eddy. Payne also performed in the stage musicals of
The Rocky Horror ShowThe Rocky Horror Show is a long-running British stage musical, opening in London on 19 June 1973. It was written by Richard O'Brien, and developed by O'Brien in collaboration with Australian theater director Jim Sharman...
, playing Frank 'N' Furter and had the lead male role in
Nicholas HytnerNicholas Robert Hytner is an English film and theatre producer and director. He has been the artistic director of London's National Theatre since 2003.-Biography:...
's
Alice. Payne's appearances on stage and television raised his profile and in 1989, he starred alongside
Denzel WashingtonDenzel Hayes Washington, Jr. is an American actor, screenwriter, director and film producer. He has garnered much critical acclaim for his work in film since the 1990s, including for his portrayals of real-life figures, such as Steve Biko, Malcolm X, Rubin Carter, Melvin B...
in
For Queen and CountryFor Queen and Country is a 1989 crime drama film produced by Working Title Films and Zenith, starring Denzel Washington. Washington stars as Reuben James, a Black British former-PARA, who joined the British Army to escape the poverty of inner city London...
. Payne and other young British actors who were becoming established film actors such as
Tim RothTim Roth is an English film actor and director best known for his roles in the American films Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Four Rooms, Planet of the Apes, The Incredible Hulk and Rob Roy, for which he received an Academy Award Nomination for Best Supporting Actor...
,
Gary OldmanGary Leonard Oldman is an English actor and filmmaker .He found fame in roles such as Sid Vicious in Sid & Nancy, Lee Harvey Oswald in JFK, Count Dracula in Dracula and Ludwig Van Beethoven in Immortal Beloved...
,
Colin FirthColin Andrew Firth is an English film, television, and stage actor. Firth first gained wide public attention, especially in England, for his portrayal of Mr. Darcy in the highly acclaimed 1995 television adaption of Pride and Prejudice...
and
Paul McGannPaul McGann is an English actor who made his name on the BBC serial The Monocled Mutineer, in which he played the lead role...
were dubbed the 'Brit Pack'. Payne's performances endeared him to Warner Brothers who considered "Bruce Payne as Bruce Wayne" on their "one liner" press marketing PR campaign for the first of
Tim BurtonTimothy William "Tim" Burton is an American film director, producer, writer and artist. He is famed for his dark and quirky films, such as Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands and The Nightmare Before Christmas, which he co-wrote and produced...
's
BatmanThe Batman, originally referred to as the Bat-Man, is a fictional character, a comic book superhero co-created by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger , appearing in publications by DC Comics...
films. Ultimately
Michael KeatonMichael John Douglas , better known as Michael Keaton, is an American actor, well known for his early comedic roles in films such as Night Shift, Mr...
acquired the role. In the same year Payne received positive reviews for his role in the film
Zwei FrauenZwei Frauen is a 1989 German dramatic film. The film stars Jami Gertz, George Peppard, Bruce Payne and Rip Torn....
which also featured
George PeppardGeorge Peppard, Jr. was an American film and television actor.He secured a major role early in his career when he starred alongside Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's , and he played the title role of the millionaire sleuth Thomas Banacek in the early-1970s television series Banacek, but he...
and
Rip TornRip Torn is an American actor. His work includes the role of Artie on The Larry Sanders Show, for which he was nominated for six Emmy awards, winning in 1996. Torn won an American Comedy Awards for Funniest Supporting Male in a Series, two CableACE Awards for his work on The Larry Sanders Show...
.
In 1991 Payne played the vampire R. B. Harker in
Howling VI: The FreaksHowling VI: The Freaks is a 1991 direct-to-video horror sequel to The Howling. It was directed by Hope Perello, from the screenplay by Kevin Rock....
. One reviewer stated that "H. B. Harker played by Bruce Payne is the one thing that makes this film watchable. His unrepentantly evil Harker is wonderful, aristocratic, neither over or underplayed." Payne has appeared in numerous horror films since, including
NecronomiconH.P. Lovecraft's: Necronomicon is an American anthology horror film released in 1994. It was directed by Brian Yuzna, Christophe Gans and Shusuke Kaneko and was written by Brent V. Friedman, Christophe Gans, Kazunori Itô and Brian Yuzna....
in 1993 and
Asylum of the DamnedAsylum of the Damned also known as Hellborn was a 2003 horror film written by Matt McCombs, directed by Philip J Jones and starring Matt Stasi and Bruce Payne.-Plot:...
in 2003.
Payne first came to the public's attention as the violent, silk-smooth terrorist, Charles Rane in
Passenger 57Passenger 57 is a 1992 action film starring Wesley Snipes and Bruce Payne. The film's success made Snipes a popular "action hero" icon.- Synopsis :...
(1992). Reviewer Marcus Trower, of
EmpireEmpire is a British film magazine published monthly by Bauer Consumer Media. From the first issue in July 1989, the magazine was edited by Barry McIlheney and published by Emap. Bauer purchased Emap Consumer Media in early 2008...
magazine, stated that Payne was "a brilliantly disconcerting madman. With his flowing blond Jesus locks, armour-piercing stare and casual sadism, he makes
Hannibal LecterHannibal Lecter, M.D. is a fictional character in a series of novels by author Thomas Harris. Lecter is introduced in the thriller novel Red Dragon as a brilliant psychiatrist and cannibalistic serial killer. This novel and its sequel, The Silence of the Lambs, feature Lecter as one of two primary...
look like a social worker - and like Sir Anthony Hopkins' serial killer, part of the man's menace is in the apparent contradiction between his articulate, well-spoken English and his off-hand brutality."
Payne's performance in
Passenger 57 endeared him to American audiences. It was followed by further villainous roles in
Full EclipseFull Eclipse is a 1993 science fiction crime film directed by Anthony Hickox. Starring Mario Van Peebles and Bruce Payne, the story is set in Los Angeles where the police department has assembled a unique squad of officers who possess the ability to turn into werewolves.Tagline: There's a new...
and
One Tough BastardOne Tough Bastard also known as One Man's Justice, was a 1996 Film, written by Steven Selling, directed by Kurt Wimmer and starring Brain Bosworth and Bruce Payne.-Plot:...
. In 1995 he starred alongside
Lance HenriksenLance James Henriksen is an American actor, and artist, best known to movie and TV audiences for his roles in science fiction, action and horror films such as The Terminator, and the Alien film franchise, and on TV shows such as Millennium.-Early life:Henriksen was born in Manhattan, New York City...
and
Corbin BernsenCorbin Dean Bernsen is an American actor, known for his work on television. His greatest fame came from his role of Arnold Becker on L.A. Law during the late 1980s and early 1990s, though he has appeared regularly as a cast member or guest on other shows, including General Hospital, Cuts, and Psych...
in
Aurora: Operation InterceptAurora: Operation Intercept is a 1995 film directed by Paul Levine and starring Bruce Payne, Lance Henriksen and John Stockwell.The "Aurora" is a secret hypersonic military aircraft based at Groom Lake. It is very similar to what aviation experts assume to be the Aurora aircraft. In the film, it is...
. He appeared alongside Corbin Bernsen again in the 1996 film
KounterfeitKounterfeit is a 1996 American crime/thriller film starring Bruce Payne and Hilary Swank. Kounterfeit was directed by John Mallory Asher and written by David Chase, Katherine Fugate and Jay Irwin.-Plot summary:...
. He would appear alongside Lance Henriksen twice again in
Face the Evil in 1997 and in the dystopian classic
Paranoia 1.0Paranoia: 1.0 is a cyberpunk science fiction film written and directed by Jeff Renfroe and Marteinn Thorsson. The film is a Kafkaesque nightmare in which a young computer programmer is an unwitting guinea pig in a corporate experiment to test a new advertising scheme...
in 2004. He also appeared in an episode of season six of the American television series
Tales from the CryptTales from the Crypt, sometimes titled HBO's Tales from the Crypt, is a horror anthology American TV series that ran from 1989 to 1996 on the premium cable channel HBO...
alongside
Michael IronsideMichael Ironside is a Canadian actor. He has also worked as a voice actor, producer, film director, and screenwriter in movie and television series in various Canadian and American works. He is best known for playing villains, "tough guy" heroes and amputees, though he has also portrayed...
. Ironside had played the villain in
Highlander II: The QuickeningHighlander II: The Quickening is the second installment to the Highlander film series, released on November 1, 1991 by Interstar.-Plot:...
. Payne would later play the villain in
Highlander: EndgameHighlander: Endgame is a fantasy film originally released on September 1, 2000. It is the fourth theatrical release in the Highlander film series, and it serves as both a continuation of the Highlander films and the Highlander television series...
. In 1997 he starred in season two of the successful Canadian television series
La Femme Nikita as Jurgen. His role created a long standing controversy amongst fans.
In 1999 he replaced
Julian SandsJulian R. Sands is an English actor, most well known for his roles in the cult film Warlock and the television series 24.- Life and work :Sands was born in Otley, West Yorkshire....
as the Warlock in
Warlock III: The End of Innocence. Payne and Sands were often mistaken for one another and had appeared together in both
Privates on ParadePrivates on Parade: A Play with Songs in Two Acts is a 1977 farce by English playwright Peter Nichols.-Plot:The play is set around the activities and exploits of the fictional Song and Dance Unit South East Asia , a mostly gay British military concert party stationed in Singapore and Malaysia in...
and
Oxford BluesOxford Blues is a 1984 film written and directed by Robert Boris and starred Rob Lowe, Ally Sheedy and Amanda Pays. It is a remake of the 1938 MGM film A Yank at Oxford directed by Jack Conway and starring Robert Taylor, Maureen O'Sullivan, Lionel Barrymore and Vivien Leigh.-Plot:Oxford Blues is...
. One reviewer said that "as the Warlock, Bruce Payne, an actor who has magnificently theatrical charisma and presence is actually better in the part than the perpetually overwrought Julian Sands.". In the same year, Payne was part of an all star cast, including
Timothy DaltonTimothy Peter Dalton is a Welsh born English actor. He is best known for portraying James Bond in The Living Daylights and Licence to Kill , as well as Rhett Butler in the television miniseries "Scarlett" , an original sequel to Gone with the Wind...
,
Billy ZaneWilliam George "Billy" Zane, Jr. is an American actor and director. He is best recognized for his role as Caledon Hockley in the 1997 blockbuster film Titanic, as the deranged psychopath Hughie Warriner in Dead Calm, John Justice Wheeler in Twin Peaks, as The Phantom in the 1996 film of the same...
,
Sean PertweeSean Pertwee is an English actor well known for his film and voice over work.- Career :Pertwee trained at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and, after graduating in 1986, toured with the Royal Shakespeare Company for three years. He co-owned the Natural Nylon film production company along with Sadie...
,
Owen TealeOwen Teale is a Welsh actor.Trained at the Guildford School of Acting, Teale made his television debut in The Mimosa Boys in 1984. He later appeared in Knights of God , Great Expectations , Waterfront Beat and Boon before being cast as Will Scarlet in the 1991 TV movie Robin Hood...
and
David SchofieldDavid Schofield may refer to:*David Schofield , English actor*David Schofield , English football player...
, in
CleopatraCleopatra is a 1999 fictional film portrayal of the Egyptian queen Cleopatra, produced by Hallmark Entertainment, starring Leonor Varela as the title character, Timothy Dalton as Caesar, Billy Zane as Marc Antony, Rupert Graves as Octavius, Sean Pertwee as Brutus and Bruce Payne as Cassius. The...
. This was followed by a role in
BritannicBritannic is a romantic drama film directed by Brian Trenchard-Smith. It stars Edward Atterton and Amanda Ryan as star-crossed lovers on the forgotten sister ship of the RMS Titanic, the HMHS Britannic...
in which he appeared alongside John Rhys Davies. Payne and Davies would appear together again in the 2001 film
Never Say Never Mind: The Swedish Bikini TeamNever Say Never Mind: The Swedish Bikini Team was a film spoof made in 2001 starring Bruce Payne, John Rhys-Davies and Cecilie Bull. It was directed by Buzz Feitshans IV.-Plot summary:...
.
In 2000 Payne portrayed the villains Jacob Kell in
Highlander: EndgameHighlander: Endgame is a fantasy film originally released on September 1, 2000. It is the fourth theatrical release in the Highlander film series, and it serves as both a continuation of the Highlander films and the Highlander television series...
and Damodar in
Dungeons & DragonsDungeons & Dragons is a 2000 live-action film directed by Courtney Solomon and based on the role-playing game of the same name.-Plot:The Empire of Izmer has long been a divided land. The Mages - an elite group of magic users - rule whilst the lowly commoners are powerless...
alongside
Jeremy IronsJeremy John Irons is an English film, television, and stage actor. He has won the Academy Award, the Tony Award, two Emmy Awards, two Golden Globes, and a Screen Actors Guild Award, in addition to many other awards and honors....
' Profion. Payne received favourable reviews for both films. One reviewer said of
Highlander: Endgame that "the one in the cast that seems to be having the most fun is Bruce Payne. Traditionally
Highlander villains give performances that go completely over-the-top and well into the stratosphere. Payne contrarily gives a performance where he enunciates every syllable with relish and dramatic weight, resulting in a performance that is entirely captivating whenever he is on screen." Another reviewer said of
Dungeons and Dragons that "Bruce Payne (Damodar) as Profion's nefarious assistant in his power hungry schemes was the stand-out performance of all the actors in the film. Payne has a true lock on how to play a character that is menacing even without any show of power. His portrayal of Damodar calls to mind Doug Bradley's portrayal of Pinhead in the
Hellraiser films, so coldly, coolly arrogant and confident is his character. Above and beyond the grade I give to this film, Payne has earned himself an A+ in my gradebook."
In 2001 Payne appeared in the horror film
RipperRipper is a 2001 Canadian / British horror film directed by John Eyres, starring A. J. Cook and Bruce Payne. It was written and produced by John A. Curtis and Evan Tylor and by production companies Prophecy Entertainment and Studio Eight Productions.- Plot :Molly Keller Ripper (aka US title:...
along with
Jurgen ProchnowJürgen Prochnow is a German actor. His most well-known roles internationally have been as the submarine captain in Das Boot , Duke Leto Atreides in Dune and the villain Maxwell Dent in Beverly Hills Cop II.-Biography:Prochnow was born in Berlin and brought up in Düsseldorf,...
who had also performed with Payne in
The KeepThe Keep may refer to:*The Keep , 1981 novel by F. Paul Wilson*The Keep , 2006*The Keep , 2006 graphic novel by F. Paul Wilson and Matthew Smith*The Keep , Michael Mann film based on the F...
. The film reviewer John Fallon stated that "Bruce Payne brings a touch of class to the film. His performances are solid.". In 2002 Payne appeared with his friend Steven Berkoff in
StealSteal is a 2002 action adventure film starring Stephen Dorff, Natasha Henstridge, Bruce Payne and Steven Berkoff. It was directed by Gérard Pirès and written by Mark Ezra and Gérard Pirès.-Plot:...
. This was followed by guest appearances in television programmes such as
SpooksSpooks is a BAFTA award-winning British television drama series produced by the independent production company Kudos for BBC One. The title is a popular colloquialism for spies, as the series follows the work of a group of MI5 intelligence officers based at the service's Thames House headquarters,...
,
CharmedCharmed is an American television series that originally aired from October 7, 1998, until May 21, 2006, on The WB Television Network. The series was created in 1998 by writer Constance M...
and
Keen EddieKeen Eddie is an action/comedy-drama television series, first aired in 2003, about a brash American police detective who is sent to help solve crimes in London. The basic premise of the show bears a close resemblance to the popular 1980s British series Dempsey & Makepeace, the only notable...
. In 2005 he returned to the role of Damodar in
Dungeons & Dragons 2: Wrath of the Dragon GodDungeons and Dragons: Wrath of the Dragon God is a 2005 fantasy film directed by Gerry Lively. It is a made-for-TV sequel of sorts to the 2000 film Dungeons & Dragons, which in turn was based on the popular role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons . The only returning actor is Bruce Payne reprising his...
. He has recently appeared in the films
MessagesMessages is a 2007 British Film written by Wayne Kinsey and Ivan Levine, directed by David Fairman and starring Jeff Fahey and Bruce Payne.-Plot:...
and
Carmen's KissCarmen's Kiss is a feature film produced in 2008 by Albion Films and directed by David Fairman. It is a modern day take on the Bizet opera Carmen....
. He is currently working on the films
Dance StarDance Star is a British film currently in production which is scheduled to be released in 2009.It is written by and will be directed by Steven M Smith. The cast will include Bruce Payne and Vivien Creegor.-External links:*http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1310637/...
and
DisturbanceDisturbance is a British film which is currently in production and is scheduled to be released in 2010. It is written by and will be directed by Steven M Smith. The cast will include Bruce Payne and Jon-Paul Gates...
.
Payne notes of his acting approach, "[i]f I'm allowed to in terms of time, I really like to get into the character.". Payne's commitment to his profession his led him to alter his physical appearance in order to augment his performances. For example, he shaved his head for his role in the
Dungeons and Dragons films.
Actor
- Disturbance
Disturbance is a British film which is currently in production and is scheduled to be released in 2010. It is written by and will be directed by Steven M Smith. The cast will include Bruce Payne and Jon-Paul Gates...
(2010) as Priest
- Dance Star
Dance Star is a British film currently in production which is scheduled to be released in 2009.It is written by and will be directed by Steven M Smith. The cast will include Bruce Payne and Vivien Creegor.-External links:*http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1310637/...
(2009) as Harry
- Carmen's Kiss
Carmen's Kiss is a feature film produced in 2008 by Albion Films and directed by David Fairman. It is a modern day take on the Bizet opera Carmen....
(2009) as Michael
- Brothel
The Brothel is a 2008 film written and directed by Amy Waddell. The film stars Serena Scott Thomas, Brett Cullen, Timothy V. Murphy, and Bruce Payne. The movie was filmed in Jerome and Clarkdale, Arizona.-Plot Summary:...
(2008) as Thief
- Messages
Messages is a 2007 British Film written by Wayne Kinsey and Ivan Levine, directed by David Fairman and starring Jeff Fahey and Bruce Payne.-Plot:...
(2007) as Dr. Robert Golding
- Dungeons & Dragons 2: Wrath of the Dragon God
Dungeons and Dragons: Wrath of the Dragon God is a 2005 fantasy film directed by Gerry Lively. It is a made-for-TV sequel of sorts to the 2000 film Dungeons & Dragons, which in turn was based on the popular role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons . The only returning actor is Bruce Payne reprising his...
(2005) as Damodar
- Paranoia 1.0
Paranoia: 1.0 is a cyberpunk science fiction film written and directed by Jeff Renfroe and Marteinn Thorsson. The film is a Kafkaesque nightmare in which a young computer programmer is an unwitting guinea pig in a corporate experiment to test a new advertising scheme...
(a.k.a. One Point O) (2004) as The Neighbour
- Hellborn (a.k.a. Asylum of the Damned
Asylum of the Damned also known as Hellborn was a 2003 horror film written by Matt McCombs, directed by Philip J Jones and starring Matt Stasi and Bruce Payne.-Plot:...
) (2003) as Dr. McCort
- Newton's Law (2003)
- Apocalypse Revelation
Apocalypse Revelation was a 2002 Television Movie starring Richard Harris and Bruce Payne.-Plot:The film is set in 90 AD and concerns the life of Jesus' last surviving disciple, Saint John, who sees visions of the apocalypse whilst Christians face persecution from the Emperor...
(aka San Giovanni - L'apocalisse) (2002) (TV) as Domitian
- Steal
Steal is a 2002 action adventure film starring Stephen Dorff, Natasha Henstridge, Bruce Payne and Steven Berkoff. It was directed by Gérard Pirès and written by Mark Ezra and Gérard Pirès.-Plot:...
(aka Riders) (2002) as Lt. Macgruder
- Ripper
Ripper is a 2001 Canadian / British horror film directed by John Eyres, starring A. J. Cook and Bruce Payne. It was written and produced by John A. Curtis and Evan Tylor and by production companies Prophecy Entertainment and Studio Eight Productions.- Plot :Molly Keller Ripper (aka US title:...
(2001) as Marshall Kane
- Never Say Never Mind: The Swedish Bikini Team
Never Say Never Mind: The Swedish Bikini Team was a film spoof made in 2001 starring Bruce Payne, John Rhys-Davies and Cecilie Bull. It was directed by Buzz Feitshans IV.-Plot summary:...
(2001) as Mr. Blue
- Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a 2000 live-action film directed by Courtney Solomon and based on the role-playing game of the same name.-Plot:The Empire of Izmer has long been a divided land. The Mages - an elite group of magic users - rule whilst the lowly commoners are powerless...
(2000) as Damodar
- Highlander: Endgame
Highlander: Endgame is a fantasy film originally released on September 1, 2000. It is the fourth theatrical release in the Highlander film series, and it serves as both a continuation of the Highlander films and the Highlander television series...
(2000) as Jacob Kell
- Britannic
Britannic is a romantic drama film directed by Brian Trenchard-Smith. It stars Edward Atterton and Amanda Ryan as star-crossed lovers on the forgotten sister ship of the RMS Titanic, the HMHS Britannic...
(2000) (TV) as Maj. Baker, MD
- Warlock III: The End of Innocence
Warlock III: The End of Innocence is a 1999 direct-to-video horror film written by Bruce David Eisen and Eric Freiser and also directed by the latter. It is the third film in a series that started with the 1989 Warlock. The first two films starred Julian Sands as the Warlock but this one stars...
(1999) (V) as The Warlock / Phillip Covington
- Cleopatra
Cleopatra is a 1999 fictional film portrayal of the Egyptian queen Cleopatra, produced by Hallmark Entertainment, starring Leonor Varela as the title character, Timothy Dalton as Caesar, Billy Zane as Marc Antony, Rupert Graves as Octavius, Sean Pertwee as Brutus and Bruce Payne as Cassius. The...
(1999) (TV) as CassiusGaius Cassius Longinus was a Roman senator, a leading instigator of the plot to kill Julius Caesar, and the brother in-law of Marcus Brutus.-Early life:...
- Sweepers
Sweepers is a 1998 American and South African action film directed by Keoni Waxman. It stars Dolph Lundgren as Christian Erickson, a leading demolition expert trained to disarm mine fields in a humanitarian minesweeping operation in Angola...
(1999) as Dr. Cecil Hopper
- Ravager
Ravager is a 1997 Horror/Science Fiction film written and directed by James D Deck and starring Bruce Payne.-Plot:A passenger spaceship is forced to land in a desolate territory on Earth. The crew of the spaceship discover military bio-weapons after searching for minerals within the territory...
(1997) as Cooper Wayne
- No Contest II aka Face the Evil II (1997) as Jack Terry
- Kounterfeit
Kounterfeit is a 1996 American crime/thriller film starring Bruce Payne and Hilary Swank. Kounterfeit was directed by John Mallory Asher and written by David Chase, Katherine Fugate and Jay Irwin.-Plot summary:...
(1996) as Frankie
- Aurora: Operation Intercept
Aurora: Operation Intercept is a 1995 film directed by Paul Levine and starring Bruce Payne, Lance Henriksen and John Stockwell.The "Aurora" is a secret hypersonic military aircraft based at Groom Lake. It is very similar to what aviation experts assume to be the Aurora aircraft. In the film, it is...
(1995) as Gordon Pruett
- One Tough Bastard
One Tough Bastard also known as One Man's Justice, was a 1996 Film, written by Steven Selling, directed by Kurt Wimmer and starring Brain Bosworth and Bruce Payne.-Plot:...
aka One Man's Justice (1995) as Karl Savak
- Necronomicon
H.P. Lovecraft's: Necronomicon is an American anthology horror film released in 1994. It was directed by Brian Yuzna, Christophe Gans and Shusuke Kaneko and was written by Brent V. Friedman, Christophe Gans, Kazunori Itô and Brian Yuzna....
(1994) as Edward De Lapoer (part 1)
- The Cisco Kid
The Cisco Kid refers to a character found in numerous film, radio, television and comic book series based on the fictional Western character created by O. Henry in his 1907 short story "The Caballero's Way", published in the collection Heart of the West...
(1994) (TV) as General Martin Dupre
- Full Eclipse
Full Eclipse is a 1993 science fiction crime film directed by Anthony Hickox. Starring Mario Van Peebles and Bruce Payne, the story is set in Los Angeles where the police department has assembled a unique squad of officers who possess the ability to turn into werewolves.Tagline: There's a new...
(1993) (TV) as Adam Garou
- Passenger 57
Passenger 57 is a 1992 action film starring Wesley Snipes and Bruce Payne. The film's success made Snipes a popular "action hero" icon.- Synopsis :...
(1992) as Charles Rane
- Switch
Switch is a 1991 comedy film written and directed by Blake Edwards. Ellen Barkin plays a sexist, chauvinist man who is murdered and reincarnated as a beautiful woman. The original music score was composed and performed by Henry Mancini and Don Grady....
(1991) as The Devil
- Howling VI: The Freaks
Howling VI: The Freaks is a 1991 direct-to-video horror sequel to The Howling. It was directed by Hope Perello, from the screenplay by Kevin Rock....
(1991) as R.B Harker
- Pyrates
Pyrates is an 1991 comedy film, starring Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick about a couple who experience pyromania after having sex. Directed and written by Noah Stern, the film was released on VHS on January 11, 1998.-Cast:*Kevin Bacon as Ari...
(1991) (as Bruce Martyn Payne) as Liam
- Yellowthread Street
Yellowthread Street was a 1990 ITV police drama about detectives of the Royal Hong Kong Police based on the novels by William Leonard Marshall....
(1990) TV Series as Det. Nick Eden
- Zwei Frauen
Zwei Frauen is a 1989 German dramatic film. The film stars Jami Gertz, George Peppard, Bruce Payne and Rip Torn....
aka Silence Like Glass (1989) as Dr. Burton
- For Queen and Country
For Queen and Country is a 1989 crime drama film produced by Working Title Films and Zenith, starring Denzel Washington. Washington stars as Reuben James, a Black British former-PARA, who joined the British Army to escape the poverty of inner city London...
(1989) as Colin
- The Fruit Machine
The Fruit Machine was known as Wonderland in the United States.The Fruit Machine is a British Film thriller directed by BAFTA-winner Philip Saville about two bud gay teens running from an underworld assassin and the police...
aka Wonderland (1988) as Echo
- Miss Marple: Nemesis
Miss Marple was a British television series based on the Miss Marple murder mystery novels by Agatha Christie. It starred Joan Hickson in the title role and aired from 1984 to 1992. All twelve original Miss Marple Christie novels were dramatised. The screenplays were written by T. R...
(1987) (TV) as Michael Rafiel
- The Bell-Run (1987) (TV) as Pace
- Lost Belongings (1987) (Mini Tv Series) as Simon Hunt
- Solarbabies
Solarbabies, also known as Solarwarriors, was released in November 1986. It was released on DVD on March 6, 2007. - Synopsis :...
(1986) as Dogger
- Smart Money
Smart Money was a BBC film made in 1986 which was written by Matthew Jacobs and directed by Bernard Rose. It starred Richard Borthwick and Bruce Payne....
(1986) as Lawrance MacNiece
- Absolute Beginners
Absolute Beginners is a novel by Colin MacInnes, written and set in 1958 London, England. It was published in 1959. The novel is the second of MacInnes' London Trilogy, coming after City Of Spades and before Mr. Love and Justice...
(1986) as Flikker
- Operation Julie
Operation Julie was a UK police operation investigating the production of LSD by two drug rings in 1976. Much of the drug was produced in rural Wales...
(1985) (TV) as DC Malcolm Pollard
- Billy the Kid and the Green Baize Vampire
Billy the Kid and the Green Baize Vampire is a 1985 musical film starring Phil Daniels and Alun Armstrong. The film was directed by Alan Clarke and written by Trevor Preston.-Plot:Billy the Kid is a young, up-and-coming snooker player...
(1985) as T.O. (The One)
- Oxford Blues
Oxford Blues is a 1984 film written and directed by Robert Boris and starred Rob Lowe, Ally Sheedy and Amanda Pays. It is a remake of the 1938 MGM film A Yank at Oxford directed by Jack Conway and starring Robert Taylor, Maureen O'Sullivan, Lionel Barrymore and Vivien Leigh.-Plot:Oxford Blues is...
(1984) as Peter Howles
- The Keep
The Keep may refer to:*The Keep , 1981 novel by F. Paul Wilson*The Keep , 2006*The Keep , 2006 graphic novel by F. Paul Wilson and Matthew Smith*The Keep , Michael Mann film based on the F...
(1983) as Border Guard #2
- Privates on Parade
Privates on Parade: A Play with Songs in Two Acts is a 1977 farce by English playwright Peter Nichols.-Plot:The play is set around the activities and exploits of the fictional Song and Dance Unit South East Asia , a mostly gay British military concert party stationed in Singapore and Malaysia in...
(1982) as Flight Sgt. Kevin Cartwright
TV appearances
- Charmed: "Prince Charmed" as Leader of the Order (2004)
- Spooks
Spooks is a BAFTA award-winning British television drama series produced by the independent production company Kudos for BBC One. The title is a popular colloquialism for spies, as the series follows the work of a group of MI5 intelligence officers based at the service's Thames House headquarters,...
aka MI-5: "Smoke and Mirrors" as Mickey Kaharias (2003)
- Keen Eddie
Keen Eddie is an action/comedy-drama television series, first aired in 2003, about a brash American police detective who is sent to help solve crimes in London. The basic premise of the show bears a close resemblance to the popular 1980s British series Dempsey & Makepeace, the only notable...
: "Horse Heir" as Yellow (2003)
- Dragnet
Dragnet, syndicated as Badge 714, is a radio and television crime drama about the cases of a dedicated Los Angeles police detective, Sergeant Joe Friday, and his partners...
: "All That Glitters" as Alex Karp (2003)
- La Femme Nikita
La Femme Nikita is a Canadian television spy drama based on the original French film directed by Luc Besson, co-produced by Jay Firestone and Warner Bros., and created for television by Joel Surnow, who later co-created 24 with fellow La Femme Nikita executive consultant Robert Cochran...
: three episodes as Jurgen (1998)
- Bergerac
Bergerac is a British television show set on Jersey. Produced by the BBC in association with the Seven Network, and screened on BBC1, it starred John Nettles as the title character Detective Sergeant Jim Bergerac, a detective in "Le Bureau des Étrangers" Bergerac is a British television show set...
: "The Messenger Boy" as Jake (1990)
- Yellowthread Street
Yellowthread Street was a 1990 ITV police drama about detectives of the Royal Hong Kong Police based on the novels by William Leonard Marshall....
: The Series as Nick Eden (1990)
- Tales from the Crypt
Tales from the Crypt, sometimes titled HBO's Tales from the Crypt, is a horror anthology American TV series that ran from 1989 to 1996 on the premium cable channel HBO...
: "Comes the Dawn" as Sergeant (1989)
- The Equalizer
The Equalizer was an American urban vigilante television series initially broadcast on CBS between 1985 and 1989.-Overview:The series stars British actor Edward Woodward as Robert McCall, a former secret agent of an unnamed organization, which was often referred to simply as "The Agency" or "The...
: "Eighteen with a Bullet" as Greg Rivers (1985)
- Oscar Wilde Biography BBC (1985)
External links