If you’ve ever watched a classic British sitcom and wondered who that familiar face is playing the hapless waiter or the dodgy neighbour, chances are you’ve seen Perry Benson. This British character actor has been popping up on screen for more than four decades, from the punk-era film Sid and Nancy to the beloved Channel 4 drama This Is England. Here’s a fact-checked look at his career, his real name, and the roles that have made him a staple of British comedy and drama.

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Born: 9 April 1961 (age 63) ·
Birthplace: St Pancras, London ·
Occupation: Actor, writer ·
Years active: 1980s–present ·
Notable works: You Rang, M’Lord?, Oh, Doctor Beeching!, This Is England

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Some sources list his birth date as 12 October 1961 instead of 9 April 1961 (This Is England Wiki)
  • Some sources list his birthplace as simply London rather than St Pancras (This Is England Wiki)
  • One source lists his career as active from 1974, while most say 1980s (This Is England Wiki)
  • No publicly confirmed spouse or partner (This Is England Wiki)
  • Net worth and height are not officially reported (This Is England Wiki)
3Timeline signal
  • First TV appearance: Grange Hill (1978) as “Boy on Stairs” (Plex)
  • Film debut: Sid and Nancy (1986) (This Is England Wiki)
  • Longest-running role: Operation Good Guys (1997–2000) (Plex)
4What’s next

The table below pulls together five key facts about Perry Benson, drawn from verified biographical sources.

Five key facts about Perry Benson, drawn from verified biographical sources.
Attribute Detail
Born 9 April 1961 (disputed; some sources say 12 October 1961)
Birthplace St Pancras, London, England
Nationality British
Occupation Actor, writer
Years active 1978–present

What is Perry Benson famous for?

Perry Benson built his reputation playing ordinary blokes in some of Britain’s most beloved sitcoms and dramas. He is best known for his regular roles in the period comedy You Rang, M’Lord? (1988–1993), the railway farce Oh, Doctor Beeching! (1995–1997), and the mockumentary Operation Good Guys (1997–2000) (Plex, streaming database).

How did Perry Benson get famous?

  • His first television role was a small part in Grange Hill in 1978, playing “Boy on Stairs” in the second episode (Plex).
  • He appeared in the seminal punk film Quadrophenia (1979) and the prison drama Scum (1979) (This Is England Wiki, fan wiki).
  • His feature film debut came in Sid and Nancy (1986), directed by Alex Cox (This Is England Wiki).

What are his most iconic roles?

  • Meggy in This Is England (2006) and This Is England ’86 – a loyal friend in Shane Meadows’ gritty skinhead drama. His character was reportedly killed off-screen for the follow-up This Is England ’88 (This Is England Wiki).
  • Various comic roles in You Rang, M’Lord?, Oh, Doctor Beeching!, and Benidorm (2019–2020) (British Comedy Guide, comedy reference).
  • Kenny in The Angel’s Share (2012), directed by Ken Loach (IMDb, film database).
The upshot

Perry Benson’s career is a masterclass in character acting: he rarely plays the lead, but he’s the face that anchors a scene. From punk extras to long-running sitcom co-stars, his versatility has kept him working steadily for nearly five decades.

The implication: Benson’s adaptability across genres and decades is the engine of his longevity.

What is Perry Benson’s real name?

Perry Benson is not a stage name — it’s his legal name. The actor was born Perry Benson on 9 April 1961 in St Pancras, London (Rotten Tomatoes, film review aggregator). He is British and has been acting since the late 1970s.

What is Perry Benson’s nationality?

British. He was born in London and has lived and worked in the UK throughout his career (Wikipedia, encyclopedia).

When was he born?

Most authoritative sources give 9 April 1961, though a fan wiki lists 12 October 1961 (This Is England Wiki). The earlier date is used by Rotten Tomatoes and Plex, which are more widely referenced in biographical databases.

The catch

The conflicting birth date is a reminder that even for a living actor with decades of credits, public records can be inconsistent. For a fan or researcher, it’s worth cross-checking with official sources like IMDb or his agent’s listings.

The pattern: a simple biographical fact can have multiple versions, so always verify with primary databases.

Was Perry Benson in Grange Hill?

Yes, but only for a single episode. Perry Benson appeared as “Boy on Stairs” in episode two of Grange Hill in 1978 (Plex, streaming database). It was his first credited television role, but he did not become a regular on the school-based series.

Did Perry Benson appear in any other school-based shows?

No other school-based shows are listed in his filmography. His later work focused on adult comedies, dramas, and films. The Grange Hill appearance is a trivia note rather than a defining credit.

What movies and TV shows has Perry Benson been in?

Benson’s filmography spans from gritty dramas to sitcoms and even a video game (he voiced a character in Gangsters: Organized Crime in 1998). Here are the highlights, drawn from multiple verified sources.

What are Perry Benson’s most famous movies?

Film Year Role Source
Quadrophenia 1979 Extra This Is England Wiki
Scum 1979 Prisoner This Is England Wiki
Sid and Nancy 1986 Punk This Is England Wiki
This Is England 2006 Meggy This Is England Wiki
Alien Autopsy 2006 Technician This Is England Wiki
Somers Town 2008 Hotel Manager This Is England Wiki
Mum & Dad 2008 Dad This Is England Wiki
The Angel’s Share 2012 Kenny IMDb
The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die 2023 Priest IMDb

Among these, Somers Town holds the highest Rotten Tomatoes audience score at 96%, while Outside Bet (2012) sits at 0% (Rotten Tomatoes).

What TV series has he been in?

  • You Rang, M’Lord? (1988–1993) – regular cast (Plex)
  • Oh, Doctor Beeching! (1995–1997) – regular cast (Plex)
  • Operation Good Guys (1997–2000) – regular cast (Plex)
  • This Is England ’86 (2010) – Meggy (This Is England Wiki)
  • Benidorm (2019–2020) – role in series 10 and 11 (British Comedy Guide)

Is Perry Benson still alive?

Yes, Perry Benson is still alive as of 2025. He continues to work; his most recent on-screen appearance was in the historical drama The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die (2023) (IMDb, film database). He turned 64 in April 2025.

Is Perry Benson still acting?

He remains active. Aside from the Last Kingdom film, he has appeared in the short film The Great Pretender (which he also wrote) and in the 2023 TV series The Long Shadow (British Comedy Guide).

What is his current age?

Born 9 April 1961, he is 64 years old as of 2025.

Why this matters

For fans of British comedy and drama, Benson’s continued activity means more opportunities to see a character actor who bridges the gap between 1980s punk cinema and modern streaming-era productions. His career trajectory offers a blueprint for longevity in the industry.

The implication: Benson’s current work continues the pattern of reliable, scene-anchoring performances.

Additional sources

imdb.com, tv.apple.com, letterboxd.com, facebook.com, abconventionagent.com

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Frequently asked questions

How tall is Perry Benson?

His height is not officially listed in any verified biographical source. Estimates from fan sites are unreliable, so we cannot confirm a figure.

What is Perry Benson’s net worth?

No credible source has published a net worth figure for Perry Benson. As a character actor who largely works in UK television, his earnings are not public information.

Does Perry Benson have any siblings?

There is no publicly available information about siblings. His personal life remains largely private.

What awards has Perry Benson been nominated for?

He has not received major award nominations. His work is primarily in ensemble casts rather than award-bait roles.

What is Perry Benson’s role in This Is England?

He played Meggy, a friend of the main character Shaun. Meggy is part of the skinhead group and appears in both the film and the 2010 TV sequel This Is England ’86.

Is Perry Benson active on Twitter?

He does not maintain a verified public Twitter account. There are fan-run accounts, but no official presence.

Perry Benson’s career shows that steady character work across decades can build a respected filmography without leading roles, making him a reliable presence in British entertainment.

Perry Benson’s career shows the value of consistent character work in British entertainment. He has never been a household name, but his face has appeared across decades of iconic productions. For a young actor starting out in the UK, the lesson is clear: build a reputation for reliability, take the small roles, and the long arc of a career will reward you. Perry Benson remains a key figure in British character acting, a symbol of steady work paying off.