Henry Goodman

Biography:

Henry Goodman (born 23 April 1950) is a British actor trained at RADA, known for his extensive work across theatre, film, television, and radio.

He attended Central Foundation Boys’ School before enrolling at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London in 1969.

Goodman’s television credits include Dr. Robert Silwood in Dalziel and Pascoe (2001), Cecil Bernstein in The Road to Coronation Street (2010), Howard Paige in Foyle’s War (2003), and Sir Humphrey Appleby in the 2013 remake of Yes, Prime Minister on Gold.

On stage, Goodman originated the role of Roy Cohn in the 1991 world premiere of Angels in America and portrayed Charles Guiteau in Assassins at the Donmar Warehouse (1992). He later starred as Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls (1996) and Billy Flynn in Chicago (1997) in London’s West End.

His Broadway appearances include a brief stint replacing Nathan Lane as Max Bialystock in The Producers (2002), from which he departed after a month due to creative differences with Mel Brooks, followed by Tartuffe (2003).

Goodman earned acclaim for performances such as Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof (2007), Sir Humphrey Appleby in the stage version of Yes, Prime Minister (2010), and the title role in The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui (2012). In 2015, he starred as Volpone at the Royal Shakespeare Company, directed by Trevor Nunn, and previously played Richard III for the RSC in 2003. He portrayed Lucian Freud in Looking at Lucian (2017) and Hercule Poirot in Murder on the Orient Express (2022), earning a UK Theatre Award nomination for the latter.

His film roles include a cameo as the Ritz concierge in Notting Hill (1999) and appearances as Dr. List, a Hydra scientist, in Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015).

A prolific radio actor, Goodman has voiced roles such as Pierre Beaumarchais (Beaumarchais, 1996), Melvin (The Attractive Young Rabbi, 1999–2002), Leopold Bloom (Ulysses, 2012), and Primo Levi, among others. He also narrated the Hallé Orchestra’s recording of Vaughan Williams’ The Wasps.

Goodman has won two Laurence Olivier Awards: Best Actor in a Musical for Assassins (1993) and Best Actor for The Merchant of Venice (2000). He has also received nominations for Chicago (1998), the London Critics’ Circle Award, and the Theatre Awards UK for The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui (2012). Antony Sher praised Goodman’s portrayal of Shylock as “quite simply the best.” Goodman later reprised the role in the 2004 television adaptation.

Goodman is Jewish, has five siblings, and is married to Sue Parker, a choreographer and dance director.