Mark Holden (actor)
Mark Holden (born Mark Adrian Cortis; 21 September 1962; legal name Mark Adrian Holden-Aikhomu) is a British-born Canadian actor of Nigerian descent, who works in film, television, theatre and voice. He has worked extensively throughout Canada, UK, Europe and South Africa.[1][2] He is best known for playing CIA handler John Lynn in the Fox Networks Group television series Deep State[3] and playing James Morse on stage in the original London cast of Pretty Woman: The Musical at the Savoy Theatre in the West End. Most recently his voice can be heard playing Doctor Paradox in the 2020 video game Cyberpunk 2077, developed by CD Projekt,[4] and playing Nikolas in another eagerly awaited video game Dying Light 2: Stay Human developed by Techland.
Mark Holden | |
|---|---|
| Born | Mark Adrian Cortis 21 September 1962 Plymouth, England |
| Nationality | British – Nigerian - Canadian |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, voice actor, producer |
| Years active | 1991–present |
| Spouse | Patsy Holden (m. 2008) |
| Children | 4 |
Early life
Holden was born in Plymouth, Devon, England on 21 September 1962, the son of the late Admiral Augustus Akhabue Aikhomu, former Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from 1986 to 1993 and the late Shirley Anne Holden (née. Cortis). He attended Burrington Secondary Modern School in Manadon from 1974 to 1979. His mother planted the acting bug, by frequently taking him to live theatre performances and movies at the local cinemas. At approximately 10 or 11 years of age, he began to tread the boards at a local amateur theatre company. He also started competing in sprint events and the high jump at the City of Plymouth Athletics Club, which was based at the Brickfields Recreation Grounds in Devonport, Plymouth.
Career
In his late 20s, he began his acting career, and was cast as Villac Umu in 1992 in The Royal Hunt of the Sun by the late Robin Phillips, Director General at the Citadel Theatre in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. He was cast in a further six productions over the next three years at the Citadel Theatre, La Bête, Wait Until Dark, Oliver!, Macbeth, Caesar and Cleopatra and The Cherry Orchard.
His film credits include World War Z, Bang Bang You're Dead, The Infiltrator, Stalled[5] and Final Destination. He played William Rios in the 2013 biographical drama-thriller film Captain Phillips, starring Tom Hanks, Barkhad Abdi and Catherine Keener.
His television credits include Riviera, Stargate SG-1, 24: Live Another Day, Doctors, The X-Files, Casualty, Andromeda, Millennium and MythQuest.
From 2018 to 2019, he played the role of CIA handler John Lynn in the Fox Networks Group television drama series Deep State.
In 2014, Holden wrote and produced his own international award-winning short film, called The Double Deal, in which he also starred as the lead character, Matthew Calder, alongside Captain Phillips castmates Vincenzo Nicoli and David Webber. It can be viewed on YouTube.
Prior to Holden becoming an actor, he was a police officer in two different countries. He served in the Metropolitan Police Service, London, United Kingdom from 1981 to 1987, and the Edmonton Police Service, Alberta, Canada from 1987 to 1996. Whilst Holden served as a police officer he was also an international bobsledder in two man and four man bob, and competed on the Great Britain Bobsleigh Team (1985-1987) on the World Cup Circuit, European Bobsleigh Championships 1986 in Igls, Innsbruck, Austria and achieved 16th place in GB3 in the 1986 World Bobsleigh Championships FIBT World Championships 1986 in Koenigsee, West Germany in the two man bob as the brakeman behind driver Peter Brugnani. Holden also competed on the Canadian Bobsleigh Team (1990-1991 season) on the World Cup Circuit.
Holden continued policing whilst he gained experience taking acting classes, and performing in productions and eventually gaining his Canadian Equity card at the Citadel Theatre, Edmonton, before moving to the West Coast of Canada to work in the film and television industry in Vancouver, British Columbia. He subsidised his income working as a licensed private investigator.
Personal life
Holden emigrated to Canada in 1987, where he now has two daughters from a previous marriage, and five grandchildren. In 2003 he returned back to the United Kingdom to further his acting career. After meeting Patsy McKay in 2005 he decided to stay in the UK. They were married 3 years later and have twin boys, and currently reside in London.
In 2004, Holden climbed Mount Kilimanjaro for the charity Voluntary Services Overseas. He succeeded in reaching the summit Uhuru Peak at mid morning, after leaving Kibo Huts Camp Site around midnight. His many hikes over the years in the Canadian Rockies and West Coast Mountains prepared him for this amazing adventure.
In 2009, Holden hiked the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu with his wife Patsy for the charity World Vision. One of the highlights is waiting in the early morning at the Sun Gate for the mist to clear across the valley to reveal the ancient ruins of the city of Machu Picchu.
Filmography
Film (selected)
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Override | Mitchell | a.k.a. "R.I.A." |
| 2020 | Satori [Awakening] | Warren Rogers | Short film |
| 2018 | Mars 1001 | Commander Robert McGee | Planetarium Full Dome Feature |
| 2017 | The Prince Story: Icon, Genius...Slave | John Lewis Nelson | docu-drama |
| 2016 | The Infiltrator | Eric Wellman | |
| 2014 | The Double Deal | Matthew Calder | Short film writer/producer |
| 2013 | World War Z | UN Delegate | |
| 2013 | Captain Phillips | William Rios | |
| 2013 | Stalled | Jeff From I.T. | |
| 2009 | Knife Edge | Alfred | |
| 2006 | The Road to Guantanamo | Kandahar Interrogator No. 2 | |
| 2002 | The Stickup | Roy Freeman | |
| 2002 | Bang Bang You're Dead | Officer Willow | |
| 2001 | Mindstorm | Agent Mark Taft | |
| 2000 | Final Destination | Co-Pilot | |
| 2000 | Epicenter | Grant | |
| 1997 | Misbegotten | Captain |
Television (selected)
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | A Discovery of Witches | Wilf | Season: 2 |
| 2020 | The Show Must Go Online[6] | Aaron/Mark Antony | "Titus Andronicus" & "Antony & Cleopatra" |
| 2018–2019 | Deep State | John Lynn (CIA handler) | Episode: Seasons 1 & 2 |
| 2018 | Riviera | Martin Sinclair | Episode: Season 2 |
| 2018 | No Easy Days | Evan Clark | Episode: 6 episodes |
| 2014 | 24: Live Another Day | CIA Security Guard | Mini-series: "11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m." |
| 2014 | 50 Ways to Kill Your Lover | Dr. Chase | Episode: "Heavy Metal" |
| 2007 | Hustle | Bouncer | Episode: Season 4 "A Designers Paradise" |
| 2007 | Casualty | Mr. Paolo Santoni | Episode: Season 21 "The Personal Touch" |
| 2005 | Doctors | Mr Julian Carter | Episode: "Season 7 Eps. 95, 96, 104" |
| 2002 | Killer Bees | Fire Chief | TV movie |
| 2002 | Dead in a Heartbeat | Vice Principal | TV movie |
| 2001 | MythQuest | Kabaila | Episode: 12 "The Blessing" |
| 2001 | Andromeda | Brother Thaddeus Blake | Episode: 18 "The Devil Take the Hindmost" |
| 2001 | Love and Treason | Major Harkey | TV movie |
| 2000 | The Inspectors 2: A Shred of Evidence | Hunter | TV movie |
| 1999 | Stargate SG-1 | Korra | Episode: Season 3 Ep. 7 "Deadman Switch" |
| 1999 | Aftershock: Earthquake in New York | Firefighter Outside Station | Mini-series "Part 1" and "Part 2" |
| 1999 | Cold Squad | Ted Millman | Episode: Season 2 Ep. 7 "The Kowalchuck Boy" |
| 1998 | Millennium | Amadou | Episode: Season 2 Ep. 15 "Owls" |
| 1997 | Medusa's Child | Bill Andrews | TV movie |
| 1997 | The X-Files | Agent Eugene Chandler | Episode: Season 4 Ep. 16 "Unrequited" |
| 1997 | Millennium | Agent Clark | Episode: Season 1 Ep. 14 "The Thin White Line" |
| 1997 | All The Winters That Have Been | Deputy Marshall | TV movie |
| 1996 | Gone in a Heartbeat | Officer Kline | TV movie |
Theatre (selected)
| Year | Title | Role | Venue | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Pretty Woman: The Musical | James Morse | Piccadilly Theatre & Savoy Theatre, West End, London UK | Original West End cast/Ambassador Theatre Group |
| 2016 | The Bodyguard | Bill Devaney | Dominion Theatre, West End, London UK | West End revival/David Ian & Michael Harrison Entertainment |
| 2009 | The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe | Aslan | Palace Theatre, Westcliff on Sea, Essex UK | Bruce James Productions |
| 2006 | The Jungle Book | Baloo | UK National Tour | Birmingham Stage Company |
| 2004 | Fame | My Myers | UK National Tour | Adam Spiegel Productions |
| 1997 | Othello | Othello | Way Off Broadway Theatre Company, Edmonton, AB Canada | Michael Wener |
| 1996 | Much Ado About Nothing | Conrad | Bard on the Beach, Vancouver, BC Canada | Director: Christopher Gaze |
| 1996 | The Merchant of Venice | Prince of Morocco | Bard on the Beach, Vancouver, BC Canada | Director: Douglas Campbell |
| 1994 | Caesar and Cleopatra | First Porter | Citadel Theatre, Edmonton, AB Canada | Director: Robin Phillips |
| 1993 | Macbeth | Seyton | Citadel Theatre, Edmonton, AB Canada | Director: Robin Phillips |
| 1993 | Wait Until Dark | 1st Policeman | Citadel Theatre, Edmonton AB Canada | Director: Stephen Heatley |
| 1993 | La Bête | Servant | Citadel Theatre Edmonton, AB Canada | Director: Robin Phillips |
| 1992 | The Royal Hunt of the Sun | Villac Umu | Citadel Theatre Edmonton, AB Canada | Director: Robin Phillips |
| 1992 | Titus Andronicus | Aaron, a Moor | Onion Theatre Company, Edmonton AB Canada | Director: Michael Clarke |
Video Games (selected)
| Year | Title | Role | Developer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Dying Light 2: Stay Human | Nikolas | Techland |
| 2021 | Cyberpunk 2077[7] | Doctor Paradox[8] / Various | CD Projekt |
| 2017 | Ghost Recon: Wildlands | Boyer 'Boston' Reed | Ubisoft |
| 2016 | Galaxy on Fire: Manticore | Kyrrk Tast | Fishlabs |
| 2016 | Battlefield 1 | US Soldier | EA DICE |
| 2016 | Homefront: The Revolution | Sidney Cook & James Johnson | Dambuster Studios |
| 2013 | Killzone: Mercenary | ISA Assault Captain | Guerrilla Games |
| 2010 | So Blonde: Back to the Island | Guama | Wizarbox |
| 2007 | Crysis | US Soldier | Crytek |
Awards
| Year | Participation | Film Festival | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Producer | San Francisco Black Film Festival | Best Short | Huey & Louis | Nominated |
| 2016 | Producer | San Diego Black Film Festival | Best Short Film | Phalure Inc. | Nominated |
| 2016 | Writer/Producer | Canada International Film Festival | Award of Excellence | The Double Deal | Won |
| 2015 | Writer/Producer | San Diego Black Film Festival | Best Short Film | The Double Deal | Won |
| 2015 | Writer/Producer | I Filmmaker International Film Festival | Special Mention | The Double Deal | Won |
| 2014 | Writer/Producer | International Film Festival of Spirituality, Religion and Visionary | Award of Excellence | The Double Deal | Won |
References
- ^ "Hollywood actor Mark Holden speaks about his career". uk.blastingnews.com. 6 September 2018. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
- ^ "Former Policeman and Athlete Mark Holden is Now a Rising Star in Hollywood". www.essex-tv.co.uk. EssexTV. 18 September 2018. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
- ^ "'Deep State' has it all, says actor Mark Holden, who plays a CIA handler in Fox show". meaww.com. 30 January 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
- ^ Holden, Mark (10 December 2020). "It was a blast being involved with the video game Cyberpunk 2077 as Doctor Paradox & a few other characters. Directed by the fabulous Justin Villiers". www.twitter.com. Twitter. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
- ^ https://www.film-news.co.uk/review/UK/896/Read/ "Mark Holden Interview" 24 February 2014. Retrieved 22 October 2020
- ^ "Lockdown reviews: The Shows Must Go Online – Titus Andronicus" LouReviews Retrieved 23 September 2020
- ^ Garrett, Eric (17 May 2020). "Cyberpunk 2077 Voice Actors We Know So Far". www.dontfeedthegamers.com. DFTG. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
- ^ Holden, Mark (11 December 2020). "Well here he is... Doctor Paradox, the wonderfully crazy mad character that I portray in Cyberpunk 2077". www.twitter.com. Twitter. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
External links
- Mark Holden at IMDb
- Mark Holden