Biography
Born Eric Tomlinson on September 26, 1939, in Blackpool, England, actor and banjo aficionado Ricky Tomlinson gained lasting recognition for portraying Jim Royle, the family patriarch in the popular British sitcom The Royle Family. Construction work occupied his early adulthood, and during the 1970s he immersed himself in trade-union activism, an involvement that led to a prison sentence and surveillance by British intelligence. After shifting his energies toward performance, he made his screen debut in a 1990 feature film, followed by a recurring part in the long-running soap Brookside. The role of Jim Royle then elevated him to national prominence across Britain and beyond. Subsequent projects included assorted television appearances and several films centered on football. In 2001 he issued the album Music My Arse, which spotlighted his banjo playing; five years later he issued the single “Christmas My Arse,” which reached the Top 25. Also in 2006 he launched a touring interview show titled An Evening With Ricky Tomlinson. The following year he both narrated a BBC documentary presenting his perspective on the legal consequences of his earlier union activities and underwent heart-bypass surgery, from which he fully recovered.
Singles
