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Philip Glenister

Philip Glenister
Philip Haywood Glenister (born 10 February 1963) is an English actor, known for his role as DCI Gene Hunt in British television series Life On Mars and its sequel Ashes To Ashes.

Glenister has appeared in the television drama series, Vanity Fair (1998) as Major William Dobbin, The Stepfather (2005) as Dougie Molloy, Clocking Off (2000-2) as the factory boss, Island at War (2004) as Baron Heinrich von Rheingarten, State of Play (2003), Hornblower (2001), Sharpe (1997), Roger Roger (1998, 2003) and Vincent (2005), and the film Calendar Girls (2003) as the photographer. In 2005 he made a brief appearance in the Ridley Scott film Kingdom Of Heaven.

He is probably best known for his role as DCI Gene Hunt in Life On Mars (2006-7), alongside John Simm's Sam Tyler and in its sequel Ashes to Ashes alongside Keeley Hawes's Alex Drake. Glenister also worked with Simm on State of Play and Clocking Off. He once more worked with Simm on the 1980s-set crime film Tuesday (2008). Upon announcement of the film, Glenister joked that he and Simm were contractually obliged to work with each other once a year. Tuesday premièred in the UK on 10 October 2008.

In late 2007 he starred as Mr Carter in the BBC1 costume drama Cranford, playing a farmer's son and social reforming estate manager for Lady Ludlow (Francesca Annis). In 2009, Glenister played Rupert Galvin, an ex-CIA operative, in a six part prime time ITV1 drama - Demons.




What members say | Filmography

Philip Glenister - what members say


  • Clocking Off - Series 1
  • Clocking Off - Series 1 review by from Worcester, England
    Rated - 5.0 stars Intelligent Drama 15 May 2006
    ...d well directed. The launch pad for some superb actors like Leslie Sharpe, and Philip Glenister (Life on Mars). The intertwined lives of workers in a Textile mill don't sou...   Read customer review
  • Life On Mars - Series 1
  • Life On Mars - Series 1 review by A customer from dorset, england
    Rated - 4.0 stars timetravel or coma? 18 December 2006
    ...eories of why Sam is now in 1973. The quality of acting is briliant especially Philip Glenister who plays DCI Gene Hunt. It's well worth a watch though it wont be for everyon...   Read customer review
  • Life On Mars - Series 2
  • Life On Mars - Series 2 review by Northernsky from Halifax West Yorks
    Rated - 5.0 stars Is it enigmatic, or is it from Barnsley? 29 April 2007
    ...ingers network under the pseudonyms Tony And Cherie Blair and where Gene Hunt ( Philip Glenister) crashes the first party so they have to introduce him as Gordon Brown see's th...   Read customer review

Philip Glenister - filmography


  • Mad Dogs - Series 3 (2013)
    Starring: Max Beesley,  Philip Glenister,  John Simm
    Director: Adrian Shergold
    Certificate: Certificate: 15
    Mad Dogs Series 3 picks up where series 2 ends with the boys desperately attempting to escape the island but ending up even further away from home and safety. Worse, they seem to have stumbled into a drug cartel and are now under the watchful eye of shady government ops. It seems their only ..read more »
    3 stars out of 5 60% from 11 members
    Due for release on 1st July 2013
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  • Treasure Island - Blu-ray (2012)
    Starring: Elijah Wood,  Shaun Parks,  Rupert Penry-Jones
    Director: Steve Barron
    Certificate: Certificate: 12
    Eddie Izzard stars as Long John Silver in this TV adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's classic adventure novel. Young Jim Hawkins (Toby Regbo) finds himself set for adventure on the high seas when he is entrusted with a treasure map by ailing pirate Billy Bones (David Harewood).The map shows the ..read more »
    3 stars out of 5 62% from 1,249 member
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  • Treasure Island on DVD (2012)
    Starring: Elijah Wood,  Shaun Parks,  Rupert Penry-Jones
    Director: Steve Barron
    Certificate: Certificate: 12
    Eddie Izzard stars as Long John Silver in this TV adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's classic adventure novel. Young Jim Hawkins (Toby Regbo) finds himself set for adventure on the high seas when he is entrusted with a treasure map by ailing pirate Billy Bones (David Harewood).The map shows the ..read more »
    3.5 stars out of 5 65% from 2,643 members
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  • Hidden - Series 1 (2 discs) on DVD (2011)
    Starring: Philip Glenister,  Thekla Reuten,  David Suchet
    Director: Niall MacCormick
    Certificate: Certificate: 15
    Four-part TV drama starring Philip Glenister as Harry Venn, a lawyer who is drawn into a complex political conspiracy. Venn's travails begin when a fellow lawyer, Gina Hawkes (Thekla Reuten), asks him to find an alibi witness for one of her clients. Harry's subsequent investigations lead him to new ..read more »
    3.5 stars out of 5 70% from 290 members
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  • Mad Dogs - Series 2 on DVD (2011)
    Starring: Max Beesley,  John Simm,  Marc Warren
    Director: James Hawes
    Certificate: Certificate: 15
    In an attempt to rescue their friend, the boys enter into a Faustian pact involving drugs, money, witchcraft and goats. How far would you go for your friends, not least when you can't remember why you liked them in the first place? Mad Dogs madness prevails in what is becoming the worst holiday ..read more »
    4 stars out of 5 75% from 745 members
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  • Demons - Season 1 (2 discs) on DVD (2009)
    Starring: Holly Grainger,  Philip Glenister,  Zoe Tapper
    Director: Tom Harper,  Matthew Evan
    Certificate: Certificate: 12
    Luke discovers he is the last descendent of a vampire hunting family, the Van Helsings. Trained by his late father's friend, he is soon faced with monsters and demons, known as half-lifes, and must do all he can to protect his friends and family from the darkness all around him.
    2.5 stars out of 5 52% from 832 members
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  • Tu£sday on DVD (2009)
    Starring: Philip Glenister,  Ashley Walters,  Dylan Brown
    Director: Sacha Bennett
    Certificate: Certificate: 15
    Watch now: Included in all packages with LOVEFiLM Instant
    Crime thriller set in 1980s London starring Philip Glenister and Ashley Walters. When a gang of experienced bank robbers known as the Cowboys discover that a famous Irish emerald the size of a fist, known as the Meidan-i-Noor, is being held in the safe of a small high street bank, they waste no ..read more »
    2.5 stars out of 5 50% from 2,183 members
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  • Life On Mars - Series 2 (4 discs) on DVD (2007)
    Starring: John Simm,  Liz White,  Philip Glenister
    Director: S.J. Clarkson,  Richard Clark
    Certificate: Certificate: 12
    All seven episodes of the second series of the acclaimed BBC police drama starring John Simm and Philip Glenister. Detective Sam Tyler (Simm) is a professional 21st-century cop, keeping the streets of Manchester clean. But when he is run over in a near-fatal hit and run accident, he wakes up to ..read more »
    4.5 stars out of 5 86% from 10,102 members
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  • Cranford - Complete BBC Series (2 discs) on DVD (2007)
    Starring: Judi Dench,  Michael Gambon,  Francesca Annis
    Director: Simon Curtis
    Certificate: Certificate: U
    Lavish BBC costume drama based on three novels by Elizabeth Gaskell. The series tells the story of the small absurdities and major tragedies in the lives of the people of Cranford, as they are besieged by forces that they can't withstand. Cranford in the 1840s is a small northern English town on ..read more »
    4 stars out of 5 84% from 3,171 members
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  • Cranford - Blu-ray (2 discs) (2007)
    Starring: Francesca Annis,  Julia Sawalha,  Judi Dench
    Director: Simon Curtis
    Certificate: Certificate: 12
    Lavish BBC costume drama based on three novels by Elizabeth Gaskell. The series tells the story of the small absurdities and major tragedies in the lives of the people of Cranford, as they are besieged by forces that they can't withstand. Cranford in the 1840s is a small northern English town on ..read more »
    4 stars out of 5 78% from 260 members
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  • Vincent - S02 E01 (2006)
    Starring: Ray Winstone,  Suranne Jones,  Joe Absolom
    Director: Terry McDonough
    Certificate: Certificate: 15
    Raymond is jailed for murdering a maid at the Central Hotel but his wife thinks he was paid to take the rap and asks the team for help. After a second body turns up in Vincent's flat he's framed for murder and sent to prison. Then the team find a set of photos pointing to the identity of the real ..read more »
    3.5 stars out of 5 65% from 67 members
  • Vincent - S02 E02 (2006)
    Starring: Ray Winstone,  Suranne Jones,  Joe Absolom
    Director: Terry McDonough
    Certificate: Certificate: 15
    Following an investigation on a call girl who drugs her clients to steal from them, Vincent helps protect a community centre run by a Catholic priest. After the building is set on fire by thugs the priest is badly burnt. Vincent must use all his powers to find out who's really behind the violence...
    3.5 stars out of 5 67% from 57 members
  • Vincent - S02 E03 (2006)
    Starring: Ray Winstone,  Suranne Jones,  Joe Absolom
    Director: Jeremy Lovering
    Certificate: Certificate: 15
    Vincent hooks up with a former lover as he investigates the murder that looks like the work of a serial killer. His instincts prompt him to delve deeper into the case when the suspects admits to all the killings except one - the latest murder...
    3.5 stars out of 5 68% from 50 members
  • Vincent - S02 E04 (2006)
    Starring: Ray Winstone,  Suranne Jones,  Joe Absolom
    Director: Jeremy Lovering
    Certificate: Certificate: 15
    A single father fears for the safety of his young daughter when his home is terrorised by an unknown assailant. He asks for Vincent's help and the PI asks Beth to pose as the nanny. He must uncover a link with the past if he's to find out who's behind the attacks.
    3.5 stars out of 5 67% from 54 members
  • Vincent - S01 E03 (2005)
    Starring: Ray Winstone,  Suranne Jones,  Joe Absolom
    Director: Roger Gartland
    Certificate: Certificate: 15
    Lottery winner Sheena asks Vincent to investigate the death of syndicate member Andrea. Sheena is worried that her brother Malcolm, who has a personality disorder, will be suspected as he was following her before her death. Then Vincent's ex tells him she's pregnant with DCI Driscoll's baby.
    3.5 stars out of 5 70% from 61 members
  • Vincent - S01 E02 (2005)
    Starring: Ray Winstone,  Suranne Jones,  Joe Absolom
    Director: Peter Lydon
    Certificate: Certificate: 15
    Edward Harper asks Vincent to investigate the death of his son Ian who was knifed in a club. His pal James, the son of the club's owner, is the prime suspect. But the police can't touch him due to lack of evidence. So Beth becomes a croupier at the club but the owner becomes suspicious...
    3.5 stars out of 5 68% from 65 members
  • Kingdom Of Heaven on DVD (2005)
    Starring: Orlando Bloom,  Jeremy Irons,  Liam Neeson
    Director: Ridley Scott
    Certificate: Certificate: 15
    Epic adventure about a common man who finds himself thrust into a decades-long war. Orlando Bloom plays a humble blacksmith who discovers that he is the son of a knght, and travels to the Holy Land to fight in the crusades. A stranger in a strange land, he serves a doomed King, falls in love with ..read more »
    3 stars out of 5 60% from 65,207 members
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  • Vincent - S01 E04 (2005)
    Starring: Ray Winstone,  Suranne Jones,  Joe Absolom
    Director: Roger Gartland
    Certificate: Certificate: 15
    The team are contacted by a woman who's found thousands of pounds in her husband's wardrobe. They're also helping a man whose son is in with the wrong crowd. It seems the two cases are linked so Vincent sets a trap to incriminate the woman at the centre - but starts falling for her...
    3.5 stars out of 5 66% from 68 members
  • Kingdom Of Heaven - Blu-ray (2005)
    Starring: Orlando Bloom,  Jeremy Irons,  Liam Neeson
    Director: Ridley Scott
    Certificate: Certificate: 15
    Ridley Scott's epic adventure about a common man who finds himself thrust into a decades-long war. Orlando Bloom plays a humble blacksmith who discovers that he is the son of a knght, and travels to the Holy Land to fight in the crusades. A stranger in a strange land, he serves a doomed King, falls ..read more »
    3.5 stars out of 5 70% from 3,741 members
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  • Clocking Off - Series 1 (2 discs) on DVD (2000)
    Starring: William Ash,  Steve Jackson,  Susan Cookson
    Director: John Duthie,  Sarah Harding
    Certificate: Certificate: 15
    All six episodes from the first season of the BAFTA-winning drama written by Paul Abbott, following the tumultuous lives of the employees of Mackintosh Textiles factory in an unnamed northern town. In Episode 1, Stuart Leach (John Simm) returns after being missing for over a year. But has he really ..read more »
    3.5 stars out of 5 74% from 882 members
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  • I.D. (1994)
    Starring: Reece Dinsdale,  Roland Pertwee,  Warren Clarke
    Director: Phil Davis
    Certificate: Certificate: 18
    Policeman John (Reece Dinsdale) is assigned with his superior, Trevor (Richard Graham), to a secret four-man squad set up to bust the infamous 'Dogs' gang. The Dogs seem to be responsible for nearly half of South London's violent crime, as well as crowd trouble at Shadwell Town football club. ..read more »
    3.5 stars out of 5 70% from 4,141 members
    Currently unavailable
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  • I.D. - Blu-ray (1994)
    Starring: Reece Dinsdale,  Roland Pertwee,  Warren Clarke
    Director: Phil Davis
    Certificate: Certificate: 15
    Policeman John (Reece Dinsdale) is assigned with his superior, Trevor (Richard Graham), to a secret four-man squad set up to bust the infamous 'Dogs' gang. The Dogs seem to be responsible for nearly half of South London's violent crime, as well as crowd trouble at Shadwell Town football club. ..read more »
    3.5 stars out of 5 70% from 187 members
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Philip Glenister facts

5 most recent films

Mad Dogs - Series 3 - 3.0 stars
Treasure Island - Blu-ray - 3.0 stars
Treasure Island - 3.5 stars
Hidden - Series 1 - 3.5 stars
Mad Dogs - Series 2 - 4.0 stars

5 highest-rated films

Ashes to Ashes - Complete BBC Series 3 - 4.5 stars
Life On Mars - Series 2 - 4.5 stars
Life On Mars - Series 2 - Blu-ray - 4.5 stars
Ashes to Ashes - Complete BBC Series 2 - 4.5 stars
Cranford - Complete BBC Series - 4.0 stars

5 lowest-rated films

Mad Dogs - Series 3 - 3.0 stars
Demons - Season 1 - Blu-ray - 2.5 stars
Tu£sday - 2.5 stars
Demons - Season 1 - 2.5 stars
Kingdom Of Heaven - 3.0 stars

Most frequent co-stars

Marshall Lancaster - 103 times - show films
Dean Andrews - 87 times - show films
John Simm - 64 times - show films
Keeley Hawes - 63 times - show films
Liz White - 48 times - show films

Most frequent directors

Jonny Campbell - 37 times - show films
Catherine Morshead - 33 times - show films
S.J. Clarkson - 24 times - show films
John McKay - 24 times - show films
David Drury - 21 times - show films