David Suchet, CBE is an English actor best known known for his work on the stage and British television for which he has earned international praise.
He is the younger brother of ITN newscaster John Suchet.
He has two children with Sheila Ferris : Robert Suchet and Katherine Suchet.
He was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2002 Queen Elizabeth II s Birthday Honors List for his services to drama.
He is perhaps best known for his brilliant television performances as Agatha Christie s Hercule Poirot. He also appeared in the Agatha Christie television movie Thirteen at Dinner as Inspector Japp.
He was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Theatre Award in 1999 (1998 season) for Best Actor for his performance in "Amadeus".
He was nominated for a 1997 Laurence Olivier Theatre Award for Best Actor in a Play of 1996 for his performance in "Whos Afraid of Virginia Woolf?".
He was awarded the 1996 London Critics Circle Theatre Award (Drama Theatre) for Best Actor for his performance in "Whos Afraid of Virginia Woolf?".
He was nominated for Broadways 2000 Tony Award as Best Actor (Play) for portraying Antonio Salieri in a revival of Peter Shaffer s "Amadeus.".
He attended the National Youth Theatre in the 1960s.
His last name is pronounced Su-shay.
Received a honorary Doctorate from the Univeristy of Chichester (PHD in Theatre) - October 2008.
On the TV special, David Suchet on the Orient Express , Mr. Suchet tells us that one of his Great-Grandfathers was from Lithuania.
He was awarded the CBE in the 2011 Queens New Years Honours List for his services to drama.
Enjoys music, photography and boating around England.
Renowned for extensively researching the personality and character of each role he plays. To prepare for the role of "Hercule Poirot" on "Agatha Christies Poirot" , Suchet has carefully read every description Agatha Christie ever wrote about the character, and adopted a soft French accent.
Uncle of Damian Suchet.
(December 2010) Notting Hill, London, England
Vice President of The Agatha Christie Society with Joan Hickson until her death.
Davids fathers family were Lithuanian Jewish immigrants to South Africa. Davids maternal grandfather, James Jarch, was of Russian Jewish descent (from a family that had passed through France before settling in England). Davids maternal grandmother, Elsie Gladys Jezzard, was of English ancestry, and was the daughter of Walter Jezzard and Martha Finch.
Always stayed in character as Hercule Poirot when portraying him, even when the cameras werent rolling.
As part of his Shakespearean experience in the theater, he played the role of Shylock in the late 80s. Being of Jewish descent, he was criticized for agreeing to play a character who is commonly perceived as an anti-Semitic stereotype.
He was nominated for a 2000 Antoinette Perry (Tony) Award for Best Actor in a Play in "Amadeus" on Broadway in New York City.
He was awarded the 1999 Back Stage Garland Award for Outstanding Performance for "Amadeus" at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, California.
I find it very hard. Please God it looks easy, but actually Poirot is,really tough to play.
When I was 16, I made some little 35mm documentaries about the poor in,London. I went round Notting Hill, which was a real slum in the 1950s,shooting film.
I was a typical teen growing up in the 1960s, when everybody was into,gurus and meditation.
Deep inside, I am desperate to do comedy.
I suppose I could be accused of taking acting too seriously and losing,the fun of it. I do take my work very seriously; I take on the,responsibility of it.
Inevitably, every part an actor plays contains some of himself.
I would have liked to do more big movies. And the reason I say that is,not because I want to be a star, but what I would have liked to have,done is reached a different audience with my work.
This was how he would have spoken to me - with that characteristic,little bow as we shook hands, and that little nod of the head to the,left as he removed his perfectly brushed grey Homburg hat. The more I,heard his voice in my head, and added to my own list of his personal,characteristics, the more determined I became never to compromise in my,portrayal of Poirot.
I was a typical teen growing up in the 1960s, when everybody was into gurus and meditation.
