Andrew Lincoln

Andrew James Clutterbuck (born 14 September 1973), known professionally as Andrew Lincoln, is an English actor. His first major role was as the character Egg in the BBC drama This Life (1996–97).<ref name="independent"/> Lincoln later portrayed Simon Casey in the Channel 4 sitcom Teachers (2001–03), Mark in the Christmas-themed romantic comedy film Love Actually (2003) and Dr. Robert Bridge in the ITV television series Afterlife (2005–06).

From 2010, Lincoln gained recognition for his portrayal of Rick Grimes, the lead character on the AMC post-apocalyptic horror television series The Walking Dead, for which he won the Saturn Award for Best Actor on Television in 2015 and 2017. He departed The Walking Dead in 2018, but reprised his role as Rick in 2022 in the series finale and in the spin-off The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live in 2024.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Early life

Lincoln was born on 14 September 1973 in London,<ref name="bfi">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Guardian interview">Template:Cite news</ref> the son of an English civil engineer and a South African nurse. His family moved to Cottingham, East Riding of Yorkshire, when he was 18 months old, and then to Bath, Somerset, when he was eight or nine.<ref name="Guardian interview"/> He attended Beechen Cliff School, where at age 14 he had his first acting role as The Artful Dodger in a school production of Oliver!.<ref name="independent-2009-03-26" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He spent a summer at the National Youth Theatre in London and became interested in acting as a career.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> After leaving school, he studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) drama school and began to use "Andrew Lincoln" as his stage name.<ref name="Andrew Lincoln">Template:Cite news</ref>

Career

Lincoln at the 2015 San Diego Comic-Con

In 1994, Lincoln made his TV debut in "Births and Deaths", an episode of the Channel 4 sitcom Drop the Dead Donkey.<ref name=andrewlincolndotnet>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 1995, soon after finishing drama school, he was cast in his first major role playing Edgar "Egg" Cooke, one of the lead characters in the BBC drama This Life.<ref name="metro">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="observer">Template:Cite news</ref> He went on to appear in British television series and dramas such as The Woman in White, The Canterbury Tales, and Wuthering Heights,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> including probationary teacher Simon Casey in the Channel 4 sitcom Teachers.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He also had a lead role as university lecturer and psychologist Robert Bridge in Afterlife, and starred in the Sky 1 series Strike Back with Richard Armitage in 2010.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Lincoln appeared in several films such as Human Traffic and Gangster No. 1 and starred alongside Vanessa Paradis in Pascal Chaumeil's Heartbreaker.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In particular, his role as Mark in the 2003 film Love Actually gained him wider recognition.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Lincoln has performed in plays, including Hushabye Mountain in 1999,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Blue/Orange in 2000 and 2001,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The Late Henry Moss in 2006,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> the Parlour Song in 2009,<ref name="independent-2009-03-26">Template:Cite news</ref> as well as radio productions.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He has done voice-overs for documentaries, advertisements, and government campaigns.<ref name="independent">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He directed two episodes in the third series of Teachers for which he received a BAFTA nomination for Best New Director (Fiction) in 2004.<ref name="Andrew Lincoln"/>

In April 2010, Lincoln was cast as Rick Grimes,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> the protagonist of AMC's post-apocalyptic series The Walking Dead.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Grimes is a sheriff's deputy who awakens from a coma in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. He becomes the leader of a group of family and friends who are forced to relentlessly fight off flesh-eating zombies and hostile humans.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2010, Lincoln signed up for the show for a potential six years<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and renegotiated a deal for two further seasons.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Lincoln appeared on the show for the final time on 4 November 2018,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> having previously stated that he wished to spend more time with his children.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> According to The New York Times, Lincoln's role on The Walking Dead made him "the center of one of the world's biggest pop culture franchises".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Following Lincoln's departure from The Walking Dead, it was planned that he would reprise his role of Rick Grimes in a trilogy of feature-length films. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the films were delayed.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> They were subsequently replaced with a 6-hour show starring both Lincoln and Danai Gurira.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Lincoln has received various awards and nominations for his portrayal of Rick Grimes; he won the Saturn Award for Best Actor on Television in 2015<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and again in 2017.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2012 and 2015, TVLine spotlighted Lincoln as "Performer of the Week" for his performance in the fourth episode of season 3 ("Killer Within")<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and for the fifteenth episode of season 5 ("Try"), respectively.<ref name="TVLine">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Regarding Lincoln's performance in "Try", TVLine said that he "could act his way from A to Z all within the span of a single hour".<ref name="TVLine"/> Jacob Stolworthy of The Independent said that Lincoln's performance in the first episode of season seven is "a moment where Andrew Lincoln excels, his character coming full circle".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2019, Lincoln was cast in and filmed in the drama Penguin Bloom, his first non-The Walking Dead role since 2010.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Personal life

On 10 June 2006, Lincoln married Gael Anderson, daughter of Ian Anderson, flautist and vocalist of Jethro Tull. They have two children, a son and a daughter.<ref name="Hollywood Life">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

On 1 April 2016, Lincoln mentioned that he is an avid life-long Manchester United fan, stating in an interview with ESPN UK during the set filming of The Walking Dead.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

He was educated in Bath, where he was childhood friends with former Exeter City manager Paul Tisdale. In 2017, Lincoln said "One of my oldest and dearest friends happens to be Paul Tisdale. So I've been watching him very avidly throughout his whole career and I've been very proud of him."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Politics

Lincoln has appeared in a video in support of the Robin Hood tax in 2014.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Along with others involved in the video he has encouraged the public to get behind the measure, noting its "incredible support from people across Europe."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Filmography

Film

Year	Film	Role	Notes	Template:Abbr
1995	Boston Kickout	Ted
1999	Human Traffic	Felix
	Understanding Jane	Party Stonehead 1
	A Man's Best Friend	Man	Short film
2000	Gangster No. 1	Maxie King
	Fixated	Andy	Short film
	Offending Angels	Sam
2003	Love Actually	Mark
2004	Enduring Love	TV Producer
2006	These Foolish Things	Christopher Lovell
	Hey Good Looking!	Paul
	Scenes of a Sexual Nature	Jamie
2008	The Pro	(unknown)	Short film
2010	Heartbreaker	Jonathan
	Made in Dagenham	Mr. Clarke
2020	Penguin Bloom	Cameron Bloom

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Template:Abbr
1994	Drop the Dead Donkey	Terry	Episode: "Births and Deaths"
1995	N7	Andy	Television film (unaired pilot)
1996	Over Here	Cappy	2 episodes
	Bramwell	Martin Fredericks	Episode: "The Return of the Betrayer"
1996–1997	This Life	Edgar "Egg" Cooke	32 episodes
1997	The Woman in White	Walter Hartright	Mini-series; 2 episodes
1999	Mersey Blues	Himself - Narrator	Documentary series; 5 episodes
2000	Bomber	Capt. Willy Byrne	Television film
	A Likeness in Stone	Richard Kirschman
2000–2001	Shipwrecked	Narrator (voice)	27 episodes
2001–2003	Teachers	Simon Casey	20 episodes; also directed 2 episodes
2003	State of Mind	Julian Latimer	Television film
	Trevor's World of Sport	Mark Boden	Episode #1.1
	Canterbury Tales	Alan King	Mini-series; episode 6: "The Man of Law's Tale"
2004	Holby City	Boyfriend to Hep C Patient	Episode: "Letting Go" (uncredited role)
	Whose Baby?	Barry Flint	Television film
	Lie with Me	DI Will Tomlinson	2 episodes
2005–2006	Afterlife	Robert Bridge	14 episodes
2007	This Life + 10	Edgar "Egg" Cooke	Television special
2008	The Things I Haven't Told You	DC Rae	Television film
	Play or Be Played	Joe
2009	Wuthering Heights	Edgar Linton	Mini-series; 2 episodes: "Parts 1 & 2"
	Moonshot	Michael Collins	Television film
2010	Strike Back	Hugh Collinson	6 episodes
2010–2018, 2022	The Walking Dead	Rick Grimes	120 episodes
2011	Dispatches	Himself - Narrator	Documentary series; episode: "Secret NHS Diaries"
2014	Tigers About the House	Narrator (voice)	4 episodes
2017	Red Nose Day Actually	Mark	Television short for Red Nose Day 2017
	Robot Chicken	Rick Grimes (voice)	Episode: "The Robot Chicken Walking Dead Special: Look Who's Walking"
2018	Fear the Walking Dead	Rick Grimes	Episode: "What's Your Story?"	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2022	Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities	Edgar Bradley	Episode: "The Murmuring"
2024	The Walking Dead: The Return	Himself	TV special; also executive producer
	The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live	Rick Grimes	Mini-series; 6 episodes, also executive producer and co-creator	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2025	Coldwater	John	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Theatre

Year	Title	Role	Location	Playwright
1998	Sugar Sugar	Joe	Bush Theatre	Simon Bent
1999	Hushabye Mountain	Danny	Hampstead Theatre	Jonathan Harvey
2000–2001	Blue/Orange	Bruce	Cottesloe Theatre (2000) Duchess Theatre (2001)	Joe Penhall
2002	Free	Alex	Loft (Lyttelton Theatre)	Simon Bowen
2006	The Late Henry Moss	Ray	Almeida Theatre	Sam Shepard
2009	Parlour Song	Dale		Jez Butterworth
2020	A Christmas Carol	Ebenezer Scrooge	The Old Vic	Jack Thorne
2025	The Lady from the Sea	Edward	Bridge Theatre	Simon Stone

Video games

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Template:Abbr
2021	Fortnite Battle Royale	Rick Grimes	Likeness	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2024	Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III		Playable Character (DLC); Voice and Likeness	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2025	Dead by Daylight			citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Audio

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Template:Abbr
2024	A Better Paradise Volume One: An Aftermath	Dr. Mark Tyborn		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Result	Work	Template:Abbr
2004	British Academy Television Awards	Best New Director (Fiction)	Template:Nom	Teachers
	Phoenix Film Critics Society Award	Best Ensemble Acting	Template:Nom	Love Actually
	Empire Awards	Best Newcomer	Template:Nom
2007	Golden Nymph Award	Outstanding Actor – Drama Series	Template:Won	Afterlife
2010	IGN Summer Movie Award	Best TV Hero	Template:Won	The Walking Dead
2011	Saturn Awards	Best Actor on Television	Template:Nom
	Scream Awards	Best Horror Actor	Template:Nom
2012	Satellite Awards	Best Ensemble – Television (Special Achievement Award)	Template:Won
2013	Saturn Awards	Best Actor on Television	Template:Nom
	Critics' Choice Television Award	Best Actor in a Drama Series	Template:Nom
	TV Guide Award	Favorite Actor	Template:Nom
2014	People's Choice Awards	Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV Actor	Template:Nom
		Favorite TV Anti-Hero	Template:Won
2015	Saturn Awards	Best Actor on Television	Template:Won
	Fangoria Chainsaw Awards	Best TV Actor	Template:Nom
2016	Saturn Awards	Best Actor on Television	Template:Nom
	Teen Choice Awards	Choice TV Actor: Fantasy/Sci-Fi	Template:Nom
2017	People's Choice Awards	Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV Actor	Template:Nom
	Saturn Awards	Best Actor on Television	Template:Won		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2018	Saturn Awards	Best Actor on Television	Template:Nom		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	People's Choice Awards	Best TV Actor	Template:Nom
2019	Saturn Awards	Best Actor on Television	Template:Nominated		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2025	Saturn Awards	Best Actor in a Television Series	Template:Nom	The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
		Best Television Presentation	Template:Won

External links

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