Kai Owen

For the rugby union player, see Kai Owen (rugby union).

Kai Owen
Owen in 2012
Born (1975-09-04) 4 September 1975 (age 49)
Llanrwst, Conwy, Wales
OccupationActor
Years active1998–present
Websitewww.kaiowen.com

Kai Owen (born 4 September 1975) is a Welsh actor of stage and screen, known to Welsh audiences for his numerous roles on Welsh language television and to worldwide audiences for his portrayal of Rhys Williams in Torchwood and Pete Buchanan in Hollyoaks.

Background and personal life

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Owen was born in the town of Llanrwst in the Conwy Valley in North Wales, where his family still lives.[1] His father Mark is a GMB union official and his mother Yvonne is a cleaner at the British Legion Club.[2] He was educated at Watling Street Primary School, Llanrwst and Ysgol Dyffryn Conwy.[2] He attended Mountview Theatre School, London for three years, graduating in 1998.[2] Owen lived with his actor fiancée Sarah Wilson in East Finchley, London[2] and in 2010 moved with son Bobby to Warwickshire.[3]

He ran the 2009 London Marathon for the children's cancer charity CLIC Sargent,[4] and also ran the Virgin London Marathon on 25 April 2010.[5] He is a patron of Llandudno Youth Musical Theatre.[5]

Television career

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He became first known as Kev, a gay roofer in Tipyn O Stad, shown on Welsh-language channel S4C. He was a regular in several series (52 episodes) of this popular gritty Welsh television programme; he also appeared in S4C's Treflan as character Bob Lewis.[6] In 2009 he guested as Harri in the second series of Y Pris and as violent loan shark Craig Turner in Pobol Y Cwm (one episode, broadcast 11 September 2009; he appeared in a similar guest role in the show in August and in October 2012).

Owen's first appearance on English-language UK television came in 2001, when he appeared as Buster Edwards in the episode Dog Dago Afternoon of series Fun at the Funeral Parlour.[7] In 2003 he guested in an episode of BBC One television series Casualty[2] (episode 392, Stuck in the Middle With You, 19 April 2003, as Danny).[8] In 2005 he played the character of Dave 'Shiner' Owen in all six episodes of the series Rocket Man, a BBC One television series about a man trying to launch his dead wife's ashes into space.[9]

2006 saw Owen cast as recurring character Rhys Williams in Torchwood, a spin-off from the science fiction television series Doctor Who, a role for which he has become most renowned.[10] He was elevated to star billing for the third series, broadcast on BBC One in summer 2009, reflecting his growing role in the series.[11] He reprised his role in the fourth series of Torchwood - Torchwood: Miracle Day, broadcast during summer 2011.

Owen appeared in an episode of Celebrity Ready Steady Cook with Torchwood co-star Tom Price (Andy) (recorded 26 August 2009, broadcast 8 January 2010).[5][12]

In 2011, Owen appeared in the first episode of the third series of Being Human as Bob, leader of a dogging pack.[13] He appears in the 14th episode of the seventh series of long running BBC school drama Waterloo Road as former rugby pro Ken Watling.[14] He appeared in an episode of the 2012 Kay Mellor drama The Syndicate, broadcast on BBC One.[15]

In 2015, Owen joined the cast of the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks playing Pete Buchanan, the ex-partner of Reenie McQueen (Zöe Lucker) and a perpetrator of child abuse. In preparation for the role, he liaised with the NSPCC.[16] After portraying the role until a year later, he made a brief return in 2018. He is also set to reprise the role in April 2021.[17]

Filmography

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Television

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Year(s) Title Role Notes
2001 Fun at the Funeral Parlour P.C Hertz TV episode - "Death in the Valleys" and "The Jaws of Doom"
2002 Fun at the Funeral Parlour Buster Edwards TV episode - "Dog Dango Afternoon "
2003 Casualty Danny TV episode - "Stuck in the Middle with You"
2003–2006 Tipyn o Stad Kev Evans Series regular; series 2–5
2005 Rocket Man David 'Shiner' Owen Six episodes; main role
2006–2011 Torchwood Rhys Williams Recurring cast series 1-2
Main Cast series 3-4
2011 Being Human Bob Episode #3.1 - "Lia"
Waterloo Road Ken Watling Episode #7.14
2012 The Syndicate Gareth Powell Episode #1.4
2015 Doc Martin Episode #7.4 - "Education, Education, Education"
2015–2016, 2018, 2021 Hollyoaks Pete Buchanan Series regular
2019 Doctors Mark Albany 1 episode
2022 Casualty Sergeant Taylor 1 episode
2024 Mr Bates vs The Post Office Retail Manager 1 episode

Narration/Radio

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Year(s) Title Role Notes
2007 Ying Tong: a Walk with the Goons[18][19] Harry Secombe Radio Play by Roy Smiles
2009 "The Dead Line" Rhys Williams Torchwood Radio Plays (BBC Radio 4)
2011 "The Devil and Miss Carew'"
Ghost Train Narrator Torchwood audiobook
Department X
First Born
2012 Army of One
2015–present Torchwood Rhys Williams Big Finish Productions
2017 Tracks Ifan BBC Cymru Wales

Stage

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Year(s) Title Role Notes
1998 The Tempest[20] Ariel Performed at Stafford Castle
2005 Life of Ryan... and Ronnie[21][22][23][24] Ronnie
2006 A Chorus of Disapproval[25] Crispin Usher[20]
2008 Adam & Steve Adam[20]
2012 As You Like It Charles Clwyd Theatr Cymru[20]

References

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  1. ^ "Kai Owen Biography". Kai Owen. Archived from the original on 16 February 2012. Retrieved 20 October 2010.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Wales NW Hall of Fame". BBC. Retrieved 14 May 2008.
  3. ^ "Kai moved to Warwickshire". Kai Owen. Archived from the original on 16 February 2012. Retrieved 16 September 2010.
  4. ^ "Kai enters Flora London Marathon 2009". Kai Owen. Retrieved 19 April 2009.
  5. ^ a b c "Kai News". Kai Owen. Retrieved 3 January 2010.
  6. ^ "IMDB Resumee". IMDb. Retrieved 2 April 2008.
  7. ^ John Toon (2 October 2006). "Fun at the Funeral Parlour". Retrieved 18 May 2008.[dead link]
  8. ^ "Casualty Stuck in the Middle With You". CNET. Retrieved 14 May 2008.[permanent dead link]
  9. ^ Rob Driscoll (29 October 2005). "Rocket Man: Journey to the stars". Western Mail. Retrieved 18 May 2008.
  10. ^ "Coming Up". The Custard TV. 2006. Archived from the original on 18 May 2008. Retrieved 18 May 2008.
  11. ^ "Cast list and Production team" (Press release). BBC Press Office. 18 June 2009. Retrieved 19 July 2009.
  12. ^ "Ready Steady Cook, Series 21, Episode 22". BBC. 2010. Retrieved 3 January 2010.
  13. ^ "Being Human - Lia (Series 3, episode 1)". BBC. 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
  14. ^ "Network TV BBC Week 40: Wednesday 5 October 2011". Retrieved 17 September 2011.
  15. ^ "Kai Owen news". Retrieved 6 December 2011.
  16. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (10 April 2015). "Hollyoaks casts Torchwood star Kai Owen as abuser Pete". Digital Spy. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  17. ^ Harp, Justin (30 March 2021). "Hollyoaks confirms return for evil Pete Buchanan in Cleo mental health storyline". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  18. ^ Gillian Reynolds (4 April 2007). "Today's TV & radio choices". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 18 May 2008.[dead link]
  19. ^ Moira Petty (4 April 2007). "Radio review - drama". The Stage. Retrieved 18 May 2008.
  20. ^ a b c d "Spotlight profile of Kai Owen". The Spotlight. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
  21. ^ "Ryan and Ronnie relived on stage". BBC. 5 October 2005. Retrieved 18 May 2008.
  22. ^ Jon Holliday (19 October 2005). "Life of Ryan... and Ronnie". The Stage. Retrieved 18 May 2008.
  23. ^ "Life of Ryan...and Ronnie". University of the Arts London. 2005. Archived from the original on 22 May 2011. Retrieved 18 May 2008.
  24. ^ "Archif atodiadau theatr bARN ers 1992". Theatre in Wales. 2006. Retrieved 18 May 2008.
  25. ^ Gill Isted (10 February 2006). "Where the laughs are..." icNorthWales. Retrieved 18 May 2008.
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