Tom Ellis

Tom Ellis Bio

Thomas John Ellis (born 17 November 1978) is a Welsh actor best known for his television performances, notably as Gary Preston in the BBC One sitcom Miranda and as Lucifer Morningstar in the Fox and Netflix series Lucifer. Trained at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow, he has built a varied career across comedy, drama and fantasy television while also performing voice work and film roles.

Early Life and Background

Thomas John Ellis was born in Cardiff, Wales, the son of Marilyn Jean Hooper and Christopher John Ellis. He grew up with three sisters, including a twin; his family relocated to Sheffield during his childhood where he attended High Storrs School and played the French horn in the city youth orchestra.

Ellis went on to study drama at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow, earning a BA in Dramatic Studies. His formal training provided a foundation for work on stage and in a range of television roles in the early years of his career.

Path to Celebrity

After completing drama school Ellis began building credits in television and stage work in the 2000s, appearing in British series across genres. Early screen parts included roles on EastEnders and appearances on sketch and drama series, giving him steady exposure in the UK market.

Across the mid-2000s Ellis took a succession of supporting roles that displayed his range: he appeared in Channel 4’s No Angels, played a part in Doctor Who, and took characters in Merlin and other BBC dramas. Those early television appearances led directly to larger, recurring roles and increased visibility with casting directors and audiences.

Tom Ellis Career

Early Career (2000–2008)

Ellis began his professional career around 2000 and spent the next decade accumulating guest and recurring television parts and stage work. He appeared in series such as The Catherine Tate Show and Holby City while also taking parts in soap and drama series that established him as a versatile working actor.

During this period he was cast in a variety of character types—from contemporary roles to period and genre pieces—which helped broaden his range and prepared him for more prominent, long-form television roles. These years provided consistent professional training on camera and stage.

Breakthrough (2009–2016)

Ellis’s profile rose significantly with his casting as Gary Preston on the BBC One sitcom Miranda, which ran from 2009 to 2015. His work on Miranda showcased his comic timing and chemistry with the ensemble, and it introduced him to a wider primetime audience in the United Kingdom.

The success of Miranda opened doors to leading roles and higher-profile projects. Ellis parlayed that visibility into further television opportunities and became recognized for his ability to carry both comedic and dramatic material.

Breakthrough — Lucifer (2016–2021)

Ellis achieved wider international recognition when he was cast as Lucifer Morningstar in the Fox series Lucifer in 2016. The role, based on the DC Comics character, became a signature performance for Ellis and ran on broadcast and streaming platforms through multiple seasons, concluding with a sixth and final season following Netflix renewal.

His portrayal combined charm, wit and dramatic depth and prompted fan enthusiasm that helped sustain the series’ transition from broadcast to streaming. Ellis also reprised the character in the Arrowverse crossover Crisis on Infinite Earths, expanding the role’s presence within a broader television franchise.

Notable Works and Milestones

Across his career Ellis is best known for Miranda and Lucifer, while also taking supporting roles in genre television and guesting on high-profile British dramas. In recent years he appeared as Nick in the Netflix film Players (2024) and provided voice work in the animated series Exploding Kittens (2024). In April 2025 he was cast in a leading role for a CBS series, further extending his presence in American television.

Tom Ellis Awards Won

Ellis has received recognition for his work on genre television, including a Tell-Tale TV Award in 2021 for Favorite Actor in a Cable or Streaming Sci-fi/Fantasy/Horror Series for his performance in Lucifer.

Tom Ellis Family

Ellis is the son of Christopher John Ellis and Marilyn Jean Hooper and grew up with three sisters, one of whom is his twin. His family background included strong ties to the church; members of his extended family have served as Baptist ministers.

Personal Life

Ellis married English actress Tamzin Outhwaite in 2006; the pair had two daughters before divorcing in 2014. He later married American screenwriter Meaghan Oppenheimer on 2 June 2019; the couple resides in Los Angeles, California, and they have a daughter born via surrogate in November 2023. In total Ellis is a father of four.

He continues to split his work between British and American projects, combining on-screen acting with voice roles and maintaining a presence in television dramas and comedies. His career reflects sustained work from his professional start in 2000 through leading roles in the 2010s and into the 2020s.