Tony Armatrading was born in the UK and started his career in 1979 on the BBC TV series Empire Road, Britain’s first all black drama series. Having found his vocation, Tony went to work backstage at the prestigious Birmingham Repertory Theatre becoming Head Flyman at the age of 17. During this time, he auditioned for the part of the Porter in Whose Life is it Anyway at Birmingham Rep. He got the part and his Equity card, and shortly afterwards got his first role at the Royal National Theatre as the Messenger in Measure for Measure.

This was followed by a year long run as a series regular on the popular BBC TV seriesAngels, playing male nurse Josh Jones. Tony’s love for theatre found him touring the UK with Jelly Roll Soul playing lead role of Jelly Roll Morton, one of the fathers of jazz music.

In 1985 Tony appeared in a run of shows at London’s Theatre Royal Stratford East (Smile Orange, Moon on a Rainbow Shawl) and The Tricycle Theatre playing lead roles in the London premiere of August Wilson’s Joe Turners Come & Gone and Two Trains Running.

At the Royal Shakespeare Company, Tony spent one of the most fulfilling times of his career to date and had the pleasure of collaborating with directors Trevor Nunn, John Barton, Adrian Noble and Roger Michell, playing Banquo, Tybalt in repertoire with leading roles in the restoration comedies Fair Maid of The West and The Rover. The roster of actors Tony worked with during this time includes Jeremy Irons, Pete Postlethwaite, Sean Bean, James Purefoy, Stephanie Beacham and Imelda Staunton.

Miles Anderson (Macbeth) Tony armatrading (Banquo) RSC, directed by Adrian Noble

After three seasons with the RSC Tony returned to television with guest spots on The Bill and Eastenders and a series regular villain on Channel 4’s highly acclaimed soap Brookside.

Since coming to Los Angeles in 2000, Tony has guest starred on The Philanthropist, NCIS, Monk, Sheena,Providence and co-starred in the final episode of Prison Break.

Beyond acting, Tony a member of the Performance Faculty at Calarts, teaching BFA Shakepeare performance.

Tony is passionate about technology; he owned and ran a small multimedia called Way Out West in London with clients that included Price Waterhouse Coopers and Pfizer. Way Out West also provided all the special effects for Lynda La Plante’s Killer Net starring Paul Bettany. Tony has recently completed building a social networking site for Bafta LA and is currently developing a new media project called Perfect World.

Tony is the brother of singer songwriter Joan Armatrading and lives in Los Angeles with his wife, actress producer Suzan Crowley.