David Thewlis (né Wheeler; born 20 March 1963) is an English film, television and stage actor, as well as a writer.
Early life
Thewlis, second of three children, was born in Blackpool, Lancashire, the son of Maureen (née Thewlis) and Alec Raymond Wheeler.[1] Both of his parents worked at his father's shop, which sold toys in the summer and wallpaper and paint in the winter.[1][2] As a teenager, he played in a rock band called QED, in which he, Cliff Ashcroft and Chris Swift wrote much of their own music and lyrics. QED played at some of the Blackpool hotels to earn money for equipment and their first recording session at Storm Studios in Blackpool. Later, Thewlis played lead guitar with a punk-rock band called Door 66. As a musician he was "doing nicely, doing good" and did not want to be an actor. He enrolled in the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London only because his friends did.[2]
Thewlis graduated in 1984. When he went to register with the actors' union, he intended to use Wheeler as his stage name, but a "David Wheeler" already existed. His mother's maiden name was the first that came to mind.
Early life
Thewlis, second of three children, was born in Blackpool, Lancashire, the son of Maureen (née Thewlis) and Alec Raymond Wheeler.[1] Both of his parents worked at his father's shop, which sold toys in the summer and wallpaper and paint in the winter.[1][2] As a teenager, he played in a rock band called QED, in which he, Cliff Ashcroft and Chris Swift wrote much of their own music and lyrics. QED played at some of the Blackpool hotels to earn money for equipment and their first recording session at Storm Studios in Blackpool. Later, Thewlis played lead guitar with a punk-rock band called Door 66. As a musician he was "doing nicely, doing good" and did not want to be an actor. He enrolled in the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London only because his friends did.[2]
Thewlis graduated in 1984. When he went to register with the actors' union, he intended to use Wheeler as his stage name, but a "David Wheeler" already existed. His mother's maiden name was the first that came to mind.
