Following his depiction of Thorin in Peter Jackson’s film trilogy The Hobbit, English actor Richard Armitage was dogged by LGBT allegations.
For the role, he had gained worldwide acclaim. But he had no idea that the film would draw attention to his personal life and spark LGBT suspicions. He was romantically linked to Lee Pace, his co-star in The Hobbit.
‘The Hobbit’ made Richard Armitage Famous
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Armitage was born in Leicester, Leicestershire, England, on August 22, 1971. Margaret Armitage, a secretary, is his mother, and John Armitage, an engineer, is his father. Chris Armitage, his older brother, is his cousin.
Huncote Community Primary School was his alma mater. Then, after discovering his interest in the arts, he went to Brockington High School to study music. At the age of 14, he persuaded his parents to send him to Pattison Theatre Arts, a vocational school in Coventry. He attended the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts to study acting and complete his O and A-levels.
After completing his education, Armitage began his professional career in 1992. In 1999, he made his film debut with brief roles in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, Cleopatra, and This Year’s Love. In 2004, he made a name for himself by portraying John Thornton in the TV mini-series North and South.
His breakthrough came in 2012 when he played Thorin in the Hobbit trilogy. In June 2015, The Stranger actor earned the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies.
Quick Facts
- Birth PlaceHuncote, United Kingdom
- Birth Name Richard Crispin Armitage
- ProfessionActor
- Career1988–present
- Relationship StatusSingle
- Ex-GirlfriendSamantha Colley (2014- 2017), Annabel Capper (2013)
- Gay No
- Net Worth$2 Million
- AwardsNewcastle International Film Festival (2018), Saturn Awards (2016 & 2015), Fangoria Chainsaw Awards (2016)
- NomineesAudie Awards (2016), Critics’ Choice Awards (2016), Olivier Awards (2015)
- Ethnicity/RaceWhite
- ReligionChristianity
- FatherJohn Armitage
- MotherMargaret Armitage
- Brother/s Chris Armitage
- High SchoolHuncote Community Primary School, Brockington College, Pattison College
- CollegeLondon Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
- Height/ How Tall? 6′ 2½” (1.89 m)
- Hair ColorDark Brown
- Eye ColorBlue
- Date of Birth Aug 22, 1971
- Age50 Years, 8 Months
- NationalityBritish
- Siblings1
Rumors about Richard Armitage and Lee Pace being gay
Armitage rose to prominence as a result of his roles in The Hobbit. However, his real-life romance with his film series co-star Pace became the talk of the town. The two were thought to be dating. They were spotted hanging around and attending red carpet events together.
Although it is customary for co-actors to hang out and attend parties together, because Pace was an out homosexual actor, speculations of Armitage and Pace being a gay couple arose. Furthermore, a particular photo of them encouraged LGBT speculations. Armitage and Pace were seen strangely close to one another in the photo.
Furthermore, the two have been seen in casual gatherings. In April 2014, they were photographed together in Washington Square Park. They also shared dinner with their families. Even though their union sparked questions about their sexual orientation, neither Pace nor Armitage has spoken out about their relationship.
Is Richard Armitage married or unmarried?
Armitage keeps his personal life private, including his relationship status. It’s unclear whether he’s dating, engaged, or married at the time of writing. His social media accounts are similarly devoid of any potential girlfriends or wives.
Since his engagement with Samantha Colley came to an end, the Uncle Vanya star has kept his dating information close to his heart. On June 16, 2016, the former couple got engaged and remained together for a while.
Colley, his ex-fiancée, moved on and married after they split up. She has, however, kept the identity of her spouse a secret. Armitage had a long-term romance with fellow actress Annabel Capper before he met Colley. He had expressed his wish to marry her and have a family with her during their courting. They broke up and parted ways for reasons that are lost to time.
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New TV Shows and Movies Starring Richard Armitage
Armitage, who stands 6 feet and 2 1/2 inches tall, has over 52 acting credits to his name.
Captain America: The First Avenger, Hannibal, Into The Storm, North and South, and Ocean’s Eight are just a few of his notable film and television appearances.
He also appeared in The Stranger, a popular TV show, and Castlevania, an animated series. He will star in Harlan Coben’s cinematic version of the novel “Stay Close” in 2020.