Michael Smiley

Michael Smiley, born in 1963 in Belfast and growing up in Holywood, Northern Ireland, is a renowned comedian and actor. Siezing an opportunity one evening at an open-mic night in 1993, he began working in stand-up comedy, an avenue that paved the way for his illustrious career. The public first noticed his entertaining persona when he depicted the character, Tyres O'Flaherty, a bicycle-riding raver in the Channel 4 sitcom Spaced. He further gained recognition through his performances at the Edinburgh Fringe and the Melbourne Comedy Festival. Smiley showcased his acting prowess in films and television series, with roles in the critically-acclaimed British horror film Kill List for which he won the 'Best Supporting Actor' Award at the 2011 British Independent Film Awards, and The Lobster. He also made memorable appearances in popular British television series such as Spaced, Luther, Utopia, Black Mirror, and Doctor Who. A man of diverse talents, Smiley also worked as a cycle courier, similar to his character in Spaced, and made a name for himself as an acid house DJ.

Recently, his work includes playing the key role in The Toll, a Welsh black comedy film, and co-starring in the film Come to Daddy directed by Ant Timpson in 2019. His passion for cycling was channeled into a travelog series for BBC Northern Ireland titled Michael Smiley: Something to Ride Home About, where he is seen cycling around Northern Ireland and mingling with the locals. The series saw its second season in 2015. He continued his portrayal of Benny 'Deadhead' Silver in the BBC drama series Luther till 2019. In 2020, he starred in Dead Still, an Irish-Canadian television drama series which premiered in May 2020.