Biography
Tom Beard (1965–2015) was an English actor. Born in Lambeth, London, he was educated at Westminster School and the University of Sussex, where he read German and politics, and trained at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art.
His stage breakthrough came playing Laertes in Peter Hall’s 1994 West End production of Hamlet. He appeared in several Royal Shakespeare Company productions and later in plays including Tusk Tusk (2009) and Hotel (2014). On television he played Svedberg in the 2008 series Wallander and had roles in Agatha Christie's Poirot (2000), Midsomer Murders (2002 and 2008), Foyle's War (2002) and Spooks (2002). Film credits include Hereafter (2010) and Salmon Fishing in the Yemen (2011).
Beard died of cancer on 20 July 2015. His brother Alex Beard is chief executive of the Royal Opera House.
