RICHARD CRISPIN ARMITAGE, born  on this date, is an English actor and author. He received recognition in the UK with his first leading role as John Thornton in the British television program North & South. His role as dwarf king and leader Thorin Oakenshield in Peter Jackson’s film trilogy adaptation of The Hobbit brought him international recognition.

Other notable roles include John Proctor in Yaël Farber’s stage production of Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, Francis Dolarhyde in the American television series Hannibal, Lucas North in the British television drama Spooks, John Porter in the British television drama Strike Back, Daniel Miller in the EPIX spy series Berlin Station and Guy of Gisborne in the British television drama Robin Hood. He voiced Trevor Belmont in the Netflix adaptation of Castlevania. In 2020, he played the lead role in the Netflix miniseries The Stranger.

One of Armitage’s trademarks is his baritone voice, which he has employed as a voice actor since 2006. While working on the television series Robin Hood, he was asked to record audiobooks for the first season of that series. Armitage has recorded several audiobooks and has worked as a narrator on television, radio shows, and adverts

Armitage states that sexuality is fluid, and not fixed. He came out to his family at the age of 19. In 2023, he publicly disclosed that he had a male partner.