ACTOR · BORN 1966
Mark Gatiss
- Born
- 17 October 1966, Sedgefield, Durham, England, UK
- Known for
- Game of Thrones (2011), Shaun of the Dead (2004), Sherlock (2010), The Favourite (2018)
11 archived facts 4 topics 1 source Last reviewed Sep 2026
All facts (11)
- #001
In 1997, Mark Gatiss won the Perrier Award at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival together with his fellow League of Gentlemen members Steve Pemberton, Reece Shearsmith and Jeremy Dyson. It was the first time a sketch group had taken the award since it was first presented in 1981. The only previous sketch group to win it was Cambridge Footlights, whose members included Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, Tony Slattery, Emma Thompson, Paul Dwyer and Paul Shearer. The victory cemented Gatiss and his team's place in the comedy world and marked a major turning point in their careers.
- #002
When writing scripts for the League of Gentlemen, Mark Gatiss always worked with Jeremy Dyson, while Reece Shearsmith was paired with Steve Pemberton. This writing arrangement was a deliberate choice aimed at preventing arguments and disagreements among the team members from the outset. Each pair could thus run its own creative process while the group as a whole united around a shared vision. The strategy allowed the group to work in harmony for many years and produce successful work.
- #003
Mark Gatiss is, along with Sir Derek Jacobi, one of only two actors to have played both the Doctor and his greatest enemy, the Master, in the Doctor Who universe. He first appeared as the Doctor in the parody 'The Web of Caves', broadcast in 1999 as part of BBC Two's 'Doctor Who Night'. He then played the Master in the Big Finish audio drama 'Sympathy for the Devil', part of the 'Doctor Who Unbound' range. He also played Professor Richard Lazarus, an agent of the Master and an enemy of the Doctor, in the 2005 Doctor Who episode 'The Lazarus Experiment'. This versatility made him one of the most important figures in the Doctor Who universe.
- #004
In 2015, Mark Gatiss was awarded Best Supporting Actor at the British Stage Awards for his performance in Shakespeare's 'Coriolanus'. The award is regarded as one of the most prestigious achievements of his theatre career. The play was staged at the Donmar Warehouse in London and received unanimous praise from critics. Gatiss's performance once again proved his talent not only in television and film acting but also in the stage arts.
- #005
Mark Gatiss's passion for history goes back to his primary school years. This interest, which began at an early age, has become deeply woven into his career. His admiration in particular for the Victorian era and Gothic literature frequently shows itself in the scripts he writes and the characters he creates. This passion has allowed him to use historical elements skilfully in productions such as Doctor Who and Sherlock and has given his work a unique depth.
- #006
In 2002, the show 'The League of Gentlemen: Live at Drury Lane', staged by Mark Gatiss with the League of Gentlemen team, was nominated for an Olivier Award in the Best Entertainment category. Gatiss shared the nomination with Steve Pemberton, Reece Shearsmith and Jeremy Dyson. The award, however, went to 'Shockheaded Peter', created by Julian Bleach, Anthony Cairns, Julian Crouch, Graeme Gilmour, Tamzin Griffin, Jo Pocock, Phelim McDermott, Michael Morris and the band The Tiger Lillies (Martyn Jacques, Adrian Huge and Adrian Stout) with their creative team. The nomination was an indication of how well received the team's stage performance was.
- #007
After leaving school, Mark Gatiss worked briefly as a gardener. The job was at the Psychiatric Hospital in School Aycliffe, where both of his parents worked. Although this experience remained an ordinary job in his life, it may have been a source of inspiration for the dark characters with psychological depth he later wrote. The time he spent in a hospital environment may have fed his interest in the darker sides of human nature and influenced his creativity.
- #008
Mark Gatiss began his education at Heighington C of E Primary School near Darlington. He then went on to Woodham Comprehensive school. This period of schooling was when he acquired his basic academic knowledge and began to discover his interests. His interest in history and literature in particular began to take shape during these years. These schools are significant as the places where the foundations of his later successful career were laid.
- #009
After his schooling at Heighington C E Primary School and Woodham Comprehensive, Mark Gatiss continued his education by studying Theatre Arts at Bretton Hall College. This higher education gave him a solid foundation for his acting and writing career. Bretton Hall was a well-known institution in the field of creative arts, and Gatiss focused there on theatre, drama and the performing arts. This training was one of the most important factors behind the versatility he has shown in both his stage and screen work.
- #010
Mark Gatiss's mother comes from Londonderry in Northern Ireland. This origin shows his family's Irish connection and forms part of Gatiss's cultural heritage. The rich history and cultural fabric of Northern Ireland may have influenced his worldview and creative perspective. This family tie stands out as an important detail about his personal background.
- #011
Mark Gatiss attended the memorial service for Jon Pertwee, known as the third Doctor in the Doctor Who series. The service was held at St Paul's Church in Covent Garden. Gatiss's attendance shows his strong bond with the Doctor Who community and his deep respect for the series. Pertwee played the Doctor between 1970 and 1974 and became one of the show's iconic names. Gatiss's presence at the service underlines the importance he places on the Doctor Who legacy, both as a fan and as a colleague.
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