Larry Lamb
Lawrence Douglas Lamb, born 10 October 1947 in Edmonton, London, is one of British television’s most recognisable and enduring character actors. With a career spanning decades across film, television, and radio, he has built a reputation for bringing warmth, authority, and depth to a wide range of roles.
Rise of the Footsoldier
Lamb made a significant impression on the Rise of the Footsoldier franchise when he joined the cast of Rise of the Footsoldier 3: The Pat Tate Story (2017), playing Mr Harris, a character whose presence carries real menace. The role was well-suited to Lamb’s ability to project quiet authority, and he reprised it in archive footage in Rise of the Footsoldier 4: Marbella (2019).
Television Career
Lamb is perhaps best known to mainstream audiences for two landmark BBC roles. He played Archie Mitchell in the long-running soap opera EastEnders, a character whose arrival in Walford made an immediate impact. Equally beloved is his portrayal of Michael Shipman in the BBC comedy Gavin & Stacey, a role he returned to as recently as 2025 for Gavin & Stacey: A Fond Farewell. His television work also includes appearances in Midsomer Murders, Casualty, Silent Witness, Minder, and New Tricks, in which he played Ted Case in the final series.
In 2016, Lamb appeared on I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!, introducing himself to a new generation of viewers.
Film Career
Lamb’s film work is notably varied. He appeared in the iconic Superman (1978) as a reporter and returned to the franchise in Superman III (1983). Later credits include Essex Boys (2000) as Peter Chase, Blood: The Last Vampire (2009) as General McKee, and The Hatton Garden Job (2017) as Brian Reader, one of the real-life figures behind Britain’s most audacious heist.
Radio and Writing
Beyond acting, Lamb has worked as a radio talk-show presenter and is also credited as an autobiographer, reflecting a creative life that extends well beyond the screen.