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Mark Arden

Known For
Acting

Known Credits
44

Gender
Male

Birthday
July 31, 1956 (69 years old)

Place of Birth
Newbury, Berkshire, England, UK

Mark Arden

Biography

Mark David Darwin Arden (born 31 July 1956) is a British comedian and actor, best known for his television appearances. During the 1980s, he was one half of comic double act 'The Oblivion Boys', alongside Stephen Frost.

Arden was born in Newbury, Berkshire. He and Frost came to prominence in the late 1970s alternative comedy boom, and became recognisable to a national audience with regular spots on Saturday Live. In the early 1980s, they were instrumental in the forming of the long-running north London comedy show News Revue, and shortly afterwards began appearing as a pair in episodes of series such as The Black Adder and The Young Ones; they are perhaps most remembered for a series of commercials for Carling Black Label lager, one of which involved Arden and Frost appearing in the nude. Arden continued to perform with Frost in comedy clubs, although he did not follow his partner into the genre of improvisation. Nevertheless, he featured as the chauffeur Johnny Blackpool (a paranoid ex-soldier) in the partially-improv 1994 comedy film There's No Business..., opposite Raw Sex (Simon Brint and Rowland Rivron).

Arden had a role as Roland 'Vaseline' Cartwright in London's Burning, appearing in the original pilot film[1] and the first two series; he has also had roles in such comedies as Blackadder II and Bottom. He and Frost also played the title roles in the surrealist police sitcom Lazarus and Dingwall. Later, Arden appeared in the 1992 film Carry On Columbus and in the 1990s series Harry Enfield and Chums. In October 1996 he played Jansson in an episode of the 6th series of Heartbeat (Snapped).

Arden also has had a theatre career, appearing in Willis Hall's play The Long, the Short and the Tall in the West End.[2] He also played the inspector in An Inspector Calls at the Garrick Theatre, Pop in the musical We Will Rock You at London's Dominion Theatre, and in Fings Ain't Wot They Used T'Be[3] at the Theatre Royal Stratford East.

Arden's television career continued in 2002 with The Estate Agents. In 2018, he appeared in several episodes of Endeavour.

Known For

Acting

2024Kraven the Hunteras Oligarch
2021The Heiressas Roy
2018How The Young Ones Changed Comedyas
2016Agatha Raisinas Terry Leeson
2015Essex Boys: Law of Survivalas Mister Carrol
2014Vodka & Cokeas Jim
2008Teenage Kicksas
2007The Making of 'The Young Ones'as Self
2006The Story of Light Entertainmentas Self
2006Saxondaleas Clem
2004Bottom Mindless Violenceas Father on Cornflakes Box / Shooting Gallery Stallholder (archive footage)
2004Charlieas
2002The Estate Agentsas Tony
1999Holby Cityas Martin Duffy
1996Surviving Christmasas Captain Kipper 'B' Brown
1995Chilleras Johnny
1994(All Quiet on the) Preston Frontas Ransom
1994There's No Business...as Johnny Blackpool
1992Carry On Columbusas Mark
1992SpaceVetsas Captain Skip Chip
1992Heartbeatas
1992Heartbeatas Jansson
1991Bottomas Shooting gallery stallholder
1991In Suspicious Circumstancesas Stephen Moore
1991Teenage Health Freakas
1991The Winjin Pomas
1991Lazarus and Dingwallas Mark Dingwall
1989Bearskin: An Urban Fairytaleas George
1989Just Like That!as Self
1986London's Burning: The Movieas Roland 'Vaseline' Oliver Cartwright
1985Girls On Topas Disco Dancer
1984The Billas
1984Slagsas Hula
1983Blackadderas Anon, a Guard
1983Blackadderas Guard 1
1982The Young Onesas Father on Cornflakes Box
1982The Young Onesas Gatecrasher
1982The Young Onesas Ghost
1982The Young Onesas Gravedigger / Boy in Comic Strip
1982The Young Onesas Man in Cabin
1982The Young Onesas Mick
1982The Young Onesas Policeman
1982The Comic Strip Presents...as Hula
1978Romeo and Julietas Page

Production

1991Lazarus and Dingwall...Additional Writing