---
name: "Ricky Tomlinson"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/ricky-tomlinson"
fi1m_id: "ricky-tomlinson"
imdb_id: "nm0866870"
tmdb_id: 29699
wikidata_id: "Q2736441"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "26 September 1939"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 5
average_fi1m_score: 79
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 5
updated: "2026-10-07T16:37:03.838513+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Ricky Tomlinson

## Identity

Ricky Tomlinson

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/ricky-tomlinson
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** ricky-tomlinson
- **IMDb ID:** nm0866870
- **TMDB ID:** 29699
- **Wikidata ID:** Q2736441
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricky_Tomlinson, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2736441, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0866870/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/29699

Actor. Born 26 September 1939 in Bispham, Blackpool, Lancashire, England, UK.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 26 September 1939, Bispham, Blackpool, Lancashire, England, UK
- **Active:** 1981–2014
- **Also known as:** Rick Tomlinson
- **Frequently works with:** [Jimmy McGovern](https://film.one/person/jimmy-mcgovern.md), [Charles McDougall](https://film.one/person/charles-mcdougall.md), [Sally Hibbin](https://film.one/person/sally-hibbin.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 79, as actor, over 5 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 82 (3), 2010s 75 (2)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 76 to 68 across 3 titles
- **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 3 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 1 of 5 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 4, Comedy 2, Crime 1, Music 1
- **Screen time:** 3 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $0m across 1 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricky_Tomlinson, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2736441, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0866870/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/29699

## Streaming the US now

- **Apple TV:** [*The Royle Family*](https://film.one/tv/the-royle-family.md) (85), [*Cracker*](https://film.one/tv/cracker.md) (85)
- **AMC+:** [*In the Flesh*](https://film.one/tv/in-the-flesh.md) (78)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Riff-Raff*](https://film.one/film/riff-raff.md) (77)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Ricky Tomlinson

> Ricky Tomlinson makes workplace conversation convincing and a blunt remark funny without seeming to prepare either. We like him best in an ensemble, where his ease helps other actors seem like people who already know one another.

In *Riff-Raff* (1991), Ricky Tomlinson’s Larry talks as though the conversation began before the scene and will continue after it. He fits among the building-site workers without making every exchange an occasion for a performance. We laughed at the rough workplace conversations because his ease made the men seem familiar to one another. Robert Carlyle’s Stevie holds our attention, but Tomlinson helps make the group worth watching in its own right.

The familiar television face was established as Bobby Grant in *Brookside* (1982), before the film work with Ken Loach. *Raining Stones* (1993) continued that collaboration, which suits his unforced way with social-realist drama. Loach makes good use of a performer who can carry a joke without making the surrounding scene feel rehearsed. *Riff-Raff* also shows the limits of what that casting can achieve. The romance is less convincing than the workplace scenes, and some passages ramble; we enjoy the workers without wishing every conversation longer.

In *Cracker* (1993), he plays DCI Charlie Wise alongside Robbie Coltrane, within a crime drama we rate highly. Coltrane’s Fitz is the centre of that recommendation, his humour making an exhausting man compelling. The writing sometimes presses too hard, and Tomlinson is a supporting presence rather than the principal attraction. It is also a useful place to look beyond the comedy with which he is most closely associated.

Jim Royle, the lazy, blunt patriarch of *The Royle Family* (1998), gave that comic reputation its defining role. With co-star and co-creator Caroline Aherne, Tomlinson has the timing to make such a man entertaining without requiring him to become agreeable. We are less interested when the slovenliness becomes the whole joke, a restriction that can make the character seem smaller than the actor. Start with *Riff-Raff*, where he has good company and room to be funny without taking over.

## Biography

Ricky Tomlinson is an English actor. Born Eric Tomlinson on 26 September 1939 in Bispham, Blackpool, he trained as a plasterer and worked in the building trade before entering acting in the early 1980s.

He is best known for playing Bobby Grant in the soap opera *Brookside* (1982–1988), DCI Charlie Wise in the series *Cracker* (1993–2006) and Jim Royle in the BBC sitcom *The Royle Family* (1998–2012). Tomlinson has also appeared in films including *Riff-Raff* (1991), *Raining Stones* (1993), *Mike Bassett: England Manager* (2001) and *The 51st State* (2001).

Earlier in his life he was active as a trade unionist and was imprisoned following the 1972 Shrewsbury building workers' dispute.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, screenonline.org.uk.*

## On Fi1m (5)

- *Northern Soul* (2014), Fi1m 72, as John's Grandad — [page](https://film.one/film/northern-soul.md)
- *In the Flesh* (2013), Fi1m 78, as Ken Burton — [page](https://film.one/tv/in-the-flesh.md)
- *The Royle Family* (1998), Fi1m 85, as Jim Royle — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-royle-family.md)
- *Cracker* (1993), Fi1m 85, as Wise — [page](https://film.one/tv/cracker.md)
- *Riff-Raff* (1991), Fi1m 77, as Larry — [page](https://film.one/film/riff-raff.md)

## Complete filmography (65)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Creatures of the Night* (2025), Actor
- *Ken Dodd: A Legacy of Happiness* (2025), Actor
- *The Real Ken Dodd: The Man I Loved* (2024), Actor
- *Our Kid* (2023), as Phil Reilly
- *The Witchfinder* (2022), series, as Crockett
- *Tales of the Creeping Death* (2021), as Dad
- *Testosterone: Volume Three* (2019), Actor
- *Made in Britain* (2018), series, as Narrator
- *The More You Ignore Me* (2018), as Bert Wildgoose
- *The Production Line* (2018), series, as Narrator
- *Boys On Film 17: Love Is the Drug* (2017), as Dad (segment "Tellin' Dad")
- *Gloves Off* (2017), as Mick
- *Tellin' Dad* (2017), as Dad
- *The Last Dragonslayer* (2016), as Moobin
- *Grimsby* (2016), as Paedo Pete
- *Northern Soul* (2014), as John's Grandad — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/northern-soul.md)
- *Duck Quacks Don't Echo* (2014), series, Actor
- *In the Flesh* (2013), series, as Ken Burton — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/in-the-flesh.md)
- *Great Night Out* (2013), series, as Warren
- *The Royle Family: Barbara's Old Ring* (2012), as Jim Royle
- *Overtime* (2011), Original Music Composer
- *The Royle Family: Joe's Crackers* (2010), as Jim
- *The Golden Egg Cup* (2009), as Jim Royle
- *Nativity!* (2009), as Mayor
- *The Royle Family: The New Sofa* (2008), as Jim Royle
- *Petrolheads* (2006), series, Actor
- *Carry On Ken* (2006), Actor
- *Mike Bassett: Manager* (2005), series, as Mike Bassett
- *Monkey Trousers* (2005), series, Actor
- *The Virgin of Liverpool* (2003), as Frank Conlon
- *Once Upon a Time in the Midlands* (2002), as Charlie
- *Al's Lads* (2002), as Billy
- *Nice Guy Eddie* (2002), series, as Eddie McMullen
- *Five Ways John Wayne Didn't Die* (2002), as Dead Man (voice)
- *The 51st State* (2001), as Leopold Durant
- *Strange Relations* (2001), as Uncle Alfred
- *Mike Bassett: England Manager* (2001), as Mike Bassett
- *Nasty Neighbours* (2000), as Harold Peach
- *Lounge Act* (2000), Actor
- *Robbie the Reindeer: Hooves of Fire* (1999), as Santa Claus (voice)
- *The Greatest Store in the World* (1999), as Santa
- *Dockers* (1999), as Macca Macauley
- *Cold Feet* (1998), series, as Cabbie
- *The Royle Family* (1998), series, as Jim Royle — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-royle-family.md)
- *Playing the Field* (1998), series, Actor
- *Mojo* (1997), as Ezra
- *Preaching to the Perverted* (1997), as Fibbin' Gibbins
- *Life Is All You Get* (1997), as Buddy
- *The Fix* (1997), as Gordon
- *Cracker: White Ghost* (1996), as Wise
- *Hillsborough* (1996), as John Glover
- *Bob's Weekend* (1996), as Jack
- *Dalziel and Pascoe* (1996), series, as Rowan Priestley
- *TFI Friday* (1996), series, Actor
- *Hollyoaks* (1995), series, as Bobby Grant
- *Butterfly Kiss* (1995), as Robert
- *Roughnecks* (1994), series, as Cinders
- *Cracker* (1993), series, as Wise — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/tv/cracker.md)
- *Raining Stones* (1993), as Tommy
- *Riff-Raff* (1991), as Larry — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/film/riff-raff.md)
- *Dear Sarah* (1990), as Warder #1
- *The Bill* (1984), series, Actor
- *Boys from the Blackstuff* (1982), series, as Doctor
- *United Kingdom* (1981), as Dennis
- *Ricky Tomlinson: Football My Arse*, Actor

## Gallery

- ![Author/Actor Kevin Slater photographed with Ricky Tomlinson in 'The Green Rooms' in Liverpool.](https://film.one/media/person/60279/gallery-b2a7dff7c74a.jpg) Author/Actor Kevin Slater photographed with Ricky Tomlinson in 'The Green Rooms' in Liverpool. — User:Costa4353, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e3/Author-Actor_Kevin_Slater_photographed_with_Ricky_Tomlinson_in_%27The_Green_Rooms%27_in_Liverpool-_2013-09-18_14-04.jpg/1280px-Author-Actor_Kevin_Slater_photographed_with_Ricky_Tomlinson_in_%27The_Green_Rooms%27_in_Liverpool-_2013-09-18_14-04.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Jimmy Cricket and Ricky Tomlinson at an event in Liverpool in 2018](https://film.one/media/person/60279/gallery-f5593f67d5db.jpg) Jimmy Cricket and Ricky Tomlinson at an event in Liverpool in 2018 — Rodhullandemu, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4f/Cricket_and_Tomlinson_cropped.jpg/1280px-Cricket_and_Tomlinson_cropped.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Photo taken by MLS11 during the making of 'Mike Bassett: England Manager'](https://film.one/media/person/60279/gallery-e774da4e0d8c.jpg) Photo taken by MLS11 during the making of 'Mike Bassett: England Manager' — Mls11 at English Wikipedia, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e6/Making_of_Mike_Bassett_%283%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Ricky Tomlinson](https://film.one/media/person/60279/gallery-2a707e387362.jpg) Ricky Tomlinson — Andrew D Hurley at Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ca/Ricky_Tomlinson_2011.jpg/1280px-Ricky_Tomlinson_2011.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Ricky Tomlinson](https://film.one/media/person/60279/gallery-eff4053fc2ce.jpg) Ricky Tomlinson — Image via TMDB
- ![Ricky Tomlinson](https://film.one/media/person/60279/gallery-6da5fbc6b56c.jpg) Ricky Tomlinson — Image via TMDB
- ![Ricky Tomlinson at a charity fundraiser for the Liverpool Irish Centre, on November 2nd, 2025.](https://film.one/media/person/60279/gallery-1a875ed956d1.png) Ricky Tomlinson at a charity fundraiser for the Liverpool Irish Centre, on November 2nd, 2025. — Sliceofwhitebread, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b0/Ricky_Tomlinson_at_the_Liverpool_Irish_Centre%2C_November_2nd_2025.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)

## Awards

### Other awards — 1 won, 1 nominated

- Worthy of the City 2014: Worthy of the City (won)
- European Film Award for Best Supporting Actor 1991: European Film Award for Best Supporting Actor (nominated), for *Riff-Raff*

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/ricky-tomlinson