John Pirkis was born John Simon Alexander Lyne-Pirkis in Guildford, Surrey, England and grew up in the neighboring market town of Godalming. His father was Dr. Richard Hugh Godfrey Lyne-Pirkis , Angela Bassett, and directed by Kenny Leon. In 2011 John moved to Los Angeles, where he met and married the French actress and director, Cecile Delepiere. In 2014 they moved to New York with their two rescue cats, Harley Gingerson and Luther. They presently reside in Brooklyn where John continues his work as both actor and an ambassador for Theatre 503.
Samantha Bond and Gregory Doran were in his year, and Greta Scacchi the year above at The Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.
John was an equestrian stuntman in Geoff & Val Winshps Medeaeval Jousting Tournament when not being the Earl Marshall in 1984. He threw himself off, under, on and in front of galloping horses, sometimes two shows a day for the princely sum of 24.00 a week.
Johns father, Dr. Richard Lyne-Pirkis pioneered the Cortisone injection in the UK with Dr. Syriax.
Johns eldest brother, Richard writes bodice ripping, historical/fantasy novels under the pen name of, Richard De Methley.
Johns eldest nephews wife Beca Lyne-Pirkis was a semi-finalist in the BBCs The Great British Bake Off in 2013. She now has her own cooking program on SC4: Becws.
Johns elder brother, Col. C.J.A. Lyne-Pirkis was Head of Protocol at Westminster Abbey, at the marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton; the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
Johns great grandmothers first cousin was Gladys Cooper, who played Mrs. Higgins opposite Rex Harrison and Audrey Hepburn in the 1964 film of My Fair Lady.
John played Charley Bates opposite Peter Polycarpous, Artful Dodger, in their school performance of, Oliver at Sutton Valence School.
In 1955 his father, Dr. R.H.G. Lyne-Pirkis was among 4 specialists called upon to re-examine the evidence discovered by workmen in 1674 of the skeletons of two children unearthed in the Tower of London and believed to be the remains of the two young Princes murdered by Richard III.
John co-founded the multi-award winning Theatre 503 in London in 2002.
Sir Peter Ustinov studied at Westminster School in London with Johns father. They remained friends, and Sir Peter became Johns Honorary Godfather. When John was auditioning to enter The Bristol Old Vic Theatre School he chose a piece from Sir Peters, Romanoff & Juliet, and Sir Peter coached John in his speech over the phone from his home in Geneva.
An ancestor of some prominence was Admiral of the Fleet Richard Howe, 1st Earl Howe KG. At the beginning of the American War of Independence, Howe was known to be sympathetic to the colonists. He had known Benjamin Franklin since late 1774 and was joined in a commission with his brother, General Sir William Howe, head of the land forces, to attempt a reconciliation. In 1782 Richard Howe commanded HMS Victory at the Relief of Gibralter, and soon after became First Lord of the Admiralty.
One of Tom Hiddlestons earliest stage appearances was in the title role of Thomas Crowes, Yorgjin Oxo:The Man, directed by Alex Clifton in its world premiere at Theatre 503 in 2005.
Also in 2005 Tom Hardy came to Theatre 503, and asked if he could stage Brett C. Leonards, Roger & Vannessa, directed by Robert Delamere. There was an instant rapport between Tom, John and his co-directors, and following the plays success Tom Hardys theatre company/actors gym, Shotgun Theatre Co. were given residency at Theatre 503, and it was there that Tom made his directorial debut with his father, Chips Hardys play, Blue on Blue.
BAFTA nominated Kelly Marcel and John were neighbors in Battersea, SW London, and Kelly was a frequent audience member at Theatre 503, and joined Tom Hardys Shotgun Theatre Company who had residency there from 2005-2006. Tom and Kelly have been inseparable friends ever since.
In 2009, John appeared opposite Sir Bob Geldof in a now celebrated Kleenex commercial, which also featured Tom Hardy, Emma Bunton and Sven-Goren Erikson,directed by Rankin for Toms fathers advertising agency. It was the first time Tom and John had seen each other since 2006.
In 2015, shortly after arriving in New York, John and his wife Cecile created the informational web series, Diary of A Failed Actor. Whilst in LA John had been instrumental in helping British Equity establish a presence in Hollywood, with the result that he was regularly receiving a number of inquiries from British Equity members on what was required to establish oneself in LA. So, John and Cecile decided to create a series of weekly video guides to cover all areas from how to become an actor, how to secure an agent, to making the move to America, as well as for American actors considering a move to London. However, the American audience, especially if not having seen the first episode, didnt appreciate the ironic title, and against the protests of the shows Briitish audience, the shows title was changed to Diary of An Actor for the second season. It was conceivably a more positive title for attracting guests appearing in the show.
John spent an evening in 2007 dancing with the future Queen of England, Kate Middleton (Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge), and her brother James at Raffles on the Kings Rd, Chelsea. London.
Johns parents married at the start of World War II. At this time his maternal grandfather, Brigadier-General F.C.K. Austin was serving in India, and was therefore unable to attend his daughters wedding. He was substituted by family friend, Field Marshall William Riddell Birdwood, 1st Baron Birdwood and Commander-in-Chief, India.
Johns father served as a Captain in the Royal Artillery during the Second World War, and distinguished himself on the beaches of Dunkirk. He marched for three days with his men to reach the beaches, and due to his ingenuity en-route arrived at the beaches with his full complement of men alive and unharmed. He refused to disembark from the beaches till he had seen all his men safely aboard boats and off the beaches. Subsequently, he was the last British officer among the 4,000 British rearguard remaining to be evacuated from Dunkirk on the night of June 3rd, 1940.
Johns paternal great-grandfather was Major-General Pirkis, who served alongside Major-General Charles George Gordon CB (Gordon of Khartoum), as his Quartermaster General in China in the early 1860s, and was instrumental in putting down the Taiping Rebellion.
Mark Verheiden who created the character of Stan Gibson, whom John portrays in Daredevil. Season 2., always writes in a character in the shows hes engaged on with that name. The reason being, Mark Verheidens best friend at college was, Stan Gibson.
