Jacob Anderson
Jacob Basil Anderson (born 18 June 1990) is an English actor, singer-songwriter, and record producer. As an actor, he is known for his role as Grey Worm in the television series Game of Thrones, and his recurring appearances in the first seasons of Episodes and Broadchurch.[2] As a musician, he uses the alias Raleigh Ritchie (named after his favourite characters from The Royal Tenenbaums); his debut album, You're a Man Now, Boy, was a soul and trip hop album released in 2016 to positive reviews. Anderson's second studio album, Andy, was released in 2020.
Jacob Anderson | |
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![]() Anderson at the 2017 San Diego Comic-Con | |
Born | Jacob Basil Anderson 18 June 1990[1] Bristol, England |
Other names | Raleigh Ritchie |
Occupation |
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Years active | 2007–present |
Musical career | |
Genres | |
Labels | Columbia |
Associated acts | Stormzy, Chris Loco |
Website | raleighritchie |
Early life
Anderson was born and raised in Bristol, England. His father is of Afro-Caribbean descent.[3] At the age of 17, Anderson moved to London in order to launch his music career.[4]
Acting career
Anderson played Angelo in the film 4.3.2.1. He starred in the ITV drama series Injustice as Simon, a teenager in a youth offender institution.[5] He also had a one-episode guest role on Outnumbered. He also appeared in an episode of Skins, and appeared in the feature film Comedown, co-starring Adulthood's Adam Deacon and directed by Kidulthood director Menhaj Huda. Anderson featured in various plays, including Dunsinane for the RSC, King Lear (with Pete Postlethwaite) at the Young Vic Theatre, and War Horse at the National Theatre. He was seen in the teen slasher film Demons Never Die, playing Ricky, and appeared in the BBC Two comedy Episodes, alongside Matt LeBlanc and Stephen Mangan.
In 2012, Anderson was cast for the third season of HBO's television series Game of Thrones as Grey Worm, the leader of Daenerys Targaryen's Unsullied army.[1][6] Anderson continued to portray this role through season 4, season 5, season 6, season 7 and season 8.[7] He played Dean Thomas, the boyfriend of Chloe Latimer, on the ITV drama Broadchurch in 2013.[8]
Music career
2005–09: Early career
In 2006, Anderson was featured as a vocalist on Typesun's "The PL". They released another track in 2007, titled "Let Me Know." Anderson recorded a song with Plan B, which was featured on the Adulthood soundtrack, titled "Plan B".
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2010–2020: You're a Man Now, Boy
In 2013, Anderson signed to Columbia Records, and released a free three-track EP, The Middle Child, under the stage name Raleigh Ritchie. A second EP, Black and Blue, followed in 2014.
Anderson's musical influences include Erykah Badu, David Bowie, Jill Scott, The Smiths, and Stevie Wonder.[9] He attributes the inspiration for many of the songs on "Black and Blue" to time spent with his older brother, Alfie Anderson, and his younger cousin Matan Inbar-Hansen, on family trips to California. In March 2014, his track "Stronger Than Ever" from Black and Blue was remixed by UK garage producer M. J. Cole and released as a standalone single; it debuted in the Official Singles Chart at number thirty. "Stronger Than Ever" has been used in television adverts promoting the launch of ITV Encore, as well as in montage videos during Sky Sports' coverage of Professional Darts Corporation events. The song peaked at number 30 on the UK Singles Chart. Anderson supported George Ezra on his Spring 2015 UK tour.[10]
His debut album, You're a Man Now, Boy, was released on 26 February 2016; it debuted on the Official Albums Chart, peaking at number thirty-two, but left the charts the following week due to low sales.
He also featured on Stormzy's debut album Gang Signs & Prayer track 13 – "Don't Cry For Me" which was released on 24 February 2017.
2020: Andy
On 6 May 2020, Anderson released a new single called "Aristocrats".[11] It was the second single to promote Anderson's second studio album Andy, after a 2018 single "Time In A Tree" also included on the record. In June, "Aristocrats" was followed by the songs "Party Fear" and "Squares". Andy was released on 26 June 2020 via Alacran Records.[12]
Personal life
In December 2018, Anderson married actress Aisling Loftus.[13] In an interview on Sunday Brunch on 28 June 2020, he revealed he had recently become a father to a baby girl.
Discography
- You're a Man Now, Boy (2016)
- Andy (2020)
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2008 | Adulthood | Omen | |
2010 | Chatroom | Si | |
2010 | 4.3.2.1. | Angelo | |
2011 | Demons Never Die | Ricky | |
2012 | Comedown | Lloyd | |
2012 | Offender | Patrick | |
2018 | Overlord | Private Charlie Dawson |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2007 | Doctors | Ryan Garvey | Episode: "Social Disease" |
2007 | The Bill | Clayton Fortune | Episode: "Code of Silence" |
2007 | The Whistleblowers | Anthony James | Episode: "No Child Left Behind" |
2008 | Primeval | Lucien | Episode: "#2.4" |
2008 | Casualty | Dom Parke | Episode: "Diamond Dogs" |
2008 | Spooks | Dean Mitchell | Episode: "#7.6" |
2011 | Injustice | Simon | 3 episodes |
2011 | Outnumbered | Chugger | Episode: "#4.2" |
2012 | Skins | Ryan | Episode: "Mini" |
2012 | Silent Witness | Dave | 2 episodes |
2012 | Episodes | Kevin | 8 episodes |
2012 | Beaver Falls | Randy | Episode: "#2.2" |
2013–2014 | The Mimic | Steven Coombs | 10 episodes |
2013–2019 | Game of Thrones | Grey Worm | 34 episodes |
2013 | Broadchurch | Dean Thomas | 6 episodes |
2019 | Saturday Night Live | Himself | Cameo, episode: "Paul Rudd/DJ Khaled" |
Web
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2016 | Chicken Shop Date | Himself | Episode: "Chicken Shop Date with Raleigh Ritchie" |
2016–2017 | Game Grumps | Himself | 4 episodes |
2017 | Jack & Dean Of All Trades | Marcus Rose | Episode: "Librarians" |
Awards and nominations
MOBO Awards
Year | Nominated work | Category | Result | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | Raleigh Ritchie | Best Newcomer | Nominated | [14] |
Screen Actors Guild Award
Year | Nominated work | Category | Result | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
2015 | Game of Thrones | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Nominated | [15] |
2017 | Nominated | [16] |
Urban Music Awards
Year | Nominated work | Category | Result | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
2016 | Raleigh Ritchie | Best Newcomer | Nominated | [17] |
References
- "Games of Thrones Intros New Black Characters". Jet. 1 April 2013.
22-year-old Jacob Anderson will play Grey Worm
- Bustos, Kristina (20 August 2012). "Game of Thrones casts Ed Skrein, Jacob Anderson". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
- Wintle, Angela (4 March 2017). "Raleigh Ritchie: my family values". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
- Debnath, Neela (17 February 2015). "Raleigh Ritchie: Game of Thrones star Jacob Anderson talks about". The Independent.
- "Jacob Anderson as Simon". IMDb.com. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- Hibberd, James (20 August 2012). "Game of Thrones casts Daenerys' sexy Stormcrow captain". Entertainment Weekly.
- "New prop images from the House of Black and White, actors on set in Split, and more". Watchers on the Wall. 11 September 2014. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
- Seale, Jack (19 March 2013). "Broadchurch: who's the killer". Radio Times. Retrieved 30 April 2013.
- "Introducing... Raleigh Ritchie". Newsbeat. 23 January 2014. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
- "George E Z R A on Twitter". Twitter.
- Ritchie, Raleigh (1 May 2020). "06.05.20 (or 05.06.20 to my friends in US)". @RaleighRitchie. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
- "Andy by Raleigh Ritchie". Apple Music. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
- "Raleigh Ritchie's Instagram profile post: "Me and Mrs Anderson. 😎☺️"". Instagram. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
- "Winners 2015 [holding page]". Mobo.com. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- "Nominees Announced for the 21st Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards®". Sagaawards.org. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- Nolfi, Joey (14 December 2016). "SAG Awards nominations 2017: See the full list". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
- "Nominations for the 14th annual Urban Music Awards 2016 are announced". 19 October 2016.