Alan Ford (born 23 February 1938) is an English actor. He is best known for his roles in Guy Ritchie gangster movies Snatch and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, and for appearing as separate characters in eight episodes of The Bill.

Early life Ford was born on 23 February 1938 in Camberwell, South London, the eldest son of a seamstress and a taxi driver, and grew up in Elephant and Castle. He left school at the age of 15 and took on various jobs, ending with two years of national service in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps.

Studies and training Ford's first role was as one of the firemen in Fahrenheit 451. He then secured a place at East 15 Acting School. For three years he studied drama in all its forms: Shakespeare, Chekhov, restoration, commedia dell'arte, pantomime, music, dance, fencing, Stanislavski and improvisation. One of his tutors was Mike Leigh.

Acting career Ford has appeared on stage at the National Theatre, Royal Court Theatre, the Theatre Royal Stratford East and many repertory theatres.

Ford appeared in Exorcist: The Beginning and, much earlier, as Roosta in the original radio version of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, along with a small speaking role in The Long Good Friday.

Ford played Clifford Harding in G.F. Newman's Law & Order in 1978, then had a brief role in the film An American Werewolf in London, where he plays the taxi driver who says the line, "It puts you in mind of the days of the old demon barber of Fleet Street, doesn't it?" in response to the recent wave of murders around London. He has also proven himself a comic actor. He was involved in the Armando Iannucci production Knowing Me, Knowing You with Alan Partridge, playing a boxing promoter called Terry Norton; and he worked again with Iannucci playing the 'East End Thug' in The Armando Iannucci Shows. He later appeared as a priest in every episode of Snuff Box. In 2015, he played former Thotch band manager 'Big' Basil Steel in Brian Pern: 45 Years of Prog & Roll.

In 1998, Ford narrated and appeared in the Guy Ritchie directed crime comedy Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, and, in 2000, he appeared as the crime boss 'Brick Top' in Ritchie's film Snatch.

In 2003, Ford provided the voice of Goliath in the British version of JoJo's Circus.

Ford was featured in the 2010 music video "For He's a Jolly Good Felon" by Lostprophets.

In 2011 he starred as crime boss 'Carter' in the film noir Jack Falls alongside his Lock, Stock co-stars Jason Flemyng and Dexter Fletcher, while in 2014, he was cast in the crime thriller Two Days in the Smoke alongside fellow Lock, Stock actor Stephen Marcus.

In 2013 Ford had a guest role in the Norwegian-American TV show Lilyhammer as crime family boss 'Uncle Terry'.

In 2018, Ford appeared in a primary supporting role as Dale Jacobs in the psychological thriller Winter Ridge.

It was announced in November 2023 that Ford was to be cast in EastEnders as Billy Mitchell's (Perry Fenwick) father Stevie Mitchell. The character first appeared for the funeral of the character Aunt Sal (Anna Karen).

Writer In 2006, Ford published his novel Thin Ice.Ford, Alan. Thin Ice; Orion Publishing Group, Limited; ; 2006, He said the book "evolved from a collection of anecdotes and actors' tales."

In music Ford's voice is featured in the dubstep song "Cockney Thug" by Rusko, "Well 'Ard" by Caspa and The Others, "Crunch" by Flux Pavilion and Datsik, "Damien" by Modestep & Funtcase, the death metal song "A Child Is Missing" from the Illdisposed album The Prestige and the hip-hop song "Sinister" by Aesop Rock, Vast Aire and Yeshua from the 2001 Centrifugal Phorce compilation Euphony.

Personal life Ford has been a vegetarian since 1973.

Filmography Film Year Film Role Notes 1977The Squeeze Taff 1980The Long Good Friday Jack 1981Venom Peters An American Werewolf in London Taxi Driver 1991Buddy's Song Phil 1992Chaplin Warder 1998Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels Alan/Narrator 2000Snatch Brick Top Furry Story Fredglob (voice) 2002The Great Dome Robbery Narrator 2004Exorcist: The Beginning Jefferies 2008NightDragon Hansen 2009Dead Man Running Sol 2010Mission London Sibling The Ballad of Mulla and Mullins Johnson Short Film 2012The Sweeney Harry Cockneys vs Zombies Ray Macguire Airborne Max Strippers vs Werewolves Harry 2011Lethal Simon post-productionJack Falls Carter 2013The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared Pim 2014Two Days in the Smoke Jack Undercover Himself 2015Skin Traffik Paul Hamilton 2016Alice, Through the Looking The Chairman 2018Winter Ridge Dale Jacobs Gamble Narrator 2019Riot Club Eddie Beaumont Short 2022The Kicked Dog Alan Short

Television Year TV Show Role Notes 2024 EastEnders Stevie Mitchell Recurring role 2020 The Kemps: All True Alan Ford Television film 2017-2019Thunderbirds Are Go Light Fingered Fred 2 episodes 2015Unforgotten Tommy Pinion Episode: "Episode 3"Toast of London Alan the Fear Therapist Episode: "Over the Moon" 2014Toast of London Alan the Homeopath Episode: "Fool in Love"Undercover Himself Episode #4.9 2013-2014Lilyhammer Terence 5 episodes2013 Toast of London Mick Carriage Episode: "Vanity Project" 2011Casualty Norman Danvers Episode: "Partners" 2010Hotel Trubble Delgado Episode: "Hello Dolly" 2009My Almost Famous Family Terry 2 episodes Doctors George Swade Episode: "Mr Jelly"The Legend of Dick and Dom King of Kong Episode: "Rock Hard" 2008Hotel Babylon Terry McCaffrey Episode #3.5Casualty Tony Tillings Episode: "Thicker Than Water" 2007The Real Outlaws Himself – Presenter 2006The Bill Davey Rolfe Episode: "Get on Your Bike"Jane Hall Dougie Stringer Episode: Episode No.1.1Snuff Box Rick – Priest 5 episodes 2004Passer By Publican Television filmKeen Eddie Longfellow Episode: "Sticky Fingers"The Bill George Dooley Episode: "Devastation and Remorse" 2003Waking the Dead Jack Ely "Walking on Water" (Parts 1 & 2)William and Mary Taxi Driver Episode #1.1 2001The Armando Iannucci Shows East End Thug 4 episodes 2000Hero to Zero Ron Warley 5 episodes 1998Mosley Prison Officer Episode: "Beyond the Pale"An Unsuitable Job for a Woman City Receptionist (uncredited) Episode: "A Last Embrace" 1997The Bill Jimmy Robson Episode: "Joker"The Knock Robbie Reynolds Episode #3.7 1996London Bridge Ron Episode #1.15No Bananas Bernie Silver 2 episodesMadson Adrian Episode #1.2 1994The Bill Eric Episode: "Ducking and Diving"Knowing Me, Knowing You with Alan Partridge Terry Norton Episode: "Show 5"Little Napoleons Gerald Nowell Episode: "The Big Interview"Class Act Geoff the Builder 2 episodesMurder Most Horrid First villain Episode: "Smashing Bird"Minder Bennett Episode: "Bring Me the Head of Arthur Daley"Love Hurts Punter Episode: "The Parent Trap" 1993The Upper Hand Barman Episode: "Minder" 1992The Bill Maydell Episode: "On the Record, Off the Record"The Darling Buds of May Danvers Episode: "Oh! To Be in England: Part 1" 1991The New Statesman Police Inspector Episode: "Keeping Mum" 1990The Bill Frank Litton Episode: "Old Wounds"Grange Hill Mr Ratcliffe 3 episodes 1989The Bill Harry Episode: "Just for the Crack"Birds of a Feather Prison Officer 2 episodes 1988Bergerac Sammy Kline Episode: "Private Fight" 1987Rockliffe's Babies Tommy Episode: "It's All Happening" 1986C.A.T.S. Eyes Taxi Driver Episode: "Tranmere Dan and Tokyo Joe"Running Scared Ron Martin 5 episodesThe Best Years of Your Life Father Television film 1985 The Bill Tony Kemp Episode: "Home Beat"Summer Season Harold Episode: "Rachel and the Roarettes" 1983Keep It in the Family Van driver Episode: "A Touch of the Orient" Give Us a Break Nobby Wilson 4 episodes 1982BBC2 Playhouse Actor Episode: "Jake's End" 1981–1982The Chinese Detective Jack Arthur Bross 2 episodes 1981Maybury Mr Clegg Episode: "Maisie and Mac"Smuggler Giles Sawney "The Respectable Traitor" (Parts 1 & 2) 1980Strangers Johnny James Episode: "Clowns Don't Cry"Play for Today Mr. Chancer "The Adventures of Frank: Everybody's Fiddling Something" / "The Adventures of Frank: Seeds of Ice" 1979Play for Today Police sergeant Episode: "Waterloo Sunset" 1978Armchair Thriller Bill Episode: "The Limbo Connection: Part 1"Law & Order Clifford Harding 3 episodes1976Softly, Softly: Task Force Micky Dixon Episode: "Say It with Flowers" 1974–1975Romany Jones Ken 5 episodes1973Softly, Softly: Task Force Tommy Buckley Episode: "Slip of the Tongue"

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