For anyone who sat through 2000s British telly, Robert Lindsay was the exasperated dad Ben Harper on My Family, but before that he’d carved a serious stage career spanning Shakespeare, musicals, and the Royal Shakespeare Company. This article separates the verified career facts from the unresolved personal questions that keep popping up in search.
Known for: My Family, G.B.H., Fierce Creatures, Citizen Smith ·
Born: 13 December 1949 ·
Birthplace: Ilkeston, Derbyshire, England, UK ·
Training: RADA ·
Height: 5’10”
Quick snapshot
- English actor born 13 December 1949 in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, England, UK (Wikipedia biography)
- RADA-trained, represented by Hamilton Hodell (BBC Derby profile)
- Won BAFTA, Tony, and multiple Olivier Awards (TMDb — actor filmography)
- No named illness confirmed in citable sources
- First wife’s identity (Cheryl Hall per IMDb, but minimal detail)
- Exact net worth — no official public record
- Rosemarie Ford’s exact age not available in top search results
- 1975–1978: TV breakthrough with Get Some In! (BFI Screenonline archive)
- 2000: Started playing Ben Harper in My Family (IMDb filmography)
- 31 December 2006: Married Rosemarie Ford (IMDb personal details)
- Still represented professionally by Hamilton Hodell — active casting status (Apple TV — streaming availability)
- No confirmed retirement announcement in top search data (Apple TV — streaming availability)
- Continued availability on streaming platforms (Apple TV — streaming availability)
Seven key facts about the actor, one pattern: a career that moves between serious stage acclaim and mass-market sitcom fame.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Robert Lindsay Stevenson |
| Born | 13 December 1949, Ilkeston, Derbyshire, England, UK |
| Height | 5’10” |
| Hair / Eyes | Brown / Brown |
| Training | RADA (BBC Derby profile on RADA training) |
| Representation | Hamilton Hodell |
| Known for | Fierce Creatures (1997), My Family (2000), G.B.H., Citizen Smith |
What is Robert Lindsay famous for?
Robert Lindsay is an English actor born 13 December 1949 in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, England, UK (Wikipedia biography — full birth details). He trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) and is represented by Hamilton Hodell (BBC Derby profile — early career and training).
Robert Lindsay movies and TV shows
- TV breakthrough: Get Some In! (1975–1978) on ITV (BFI Screenonline — TV career milestone)
- Widely known in Britain for playing Wolfie Smith in Citizen Smith (Rotten Tomatoes — biography and career overview)
- Starred as Ben Harper in My Family (2000–2011) (IMDb — main credits)
- Film roles include Fierce Creatures (1997) and G.B.H. (Rotten Tomatoes — filmography highlights)
- Played Captain Pellew in Hornblower (TMDb — additional credits)
- Screen career began with film roles in That’ll Be the Day, Three for All, and Adventures of a Taxi Driver (BroadwayWorld — early film credits)
Robert Lindsay young — stage rise
After leaving school, he studied drama in Nottingham, initially intending to become a drama teacher (BBC Derby profile — early ambitions). After graduating from RADA, his first job was as a dialect coach for a repertory company in Essex, and he later joined a regional theatre group before moving to West End roles (BBC Derby — professional start).
- West End debut in 1980 as Tom Wrench (London Theatre — stage credits)
- Starred in the revival of Me and My Girl, which helped establish him on both sides of the Atlantic in the mid-1980s (Rotten Tomatoes — career breakthrough)
- Won a BAFTA, a Tony Award, and multiple Olivier Awards (TMDb — awards summary)
What illness did Robert Lindsay have?
No named illness appears in the available source summaries for Robert Lindsay. The article should not confirm or repeat any illness claim without a dated, citable source. Public career listings show continued professional representation through Hamilton Hodell, which suggests ongoing professional activity rather than involuntary retirement.
Robert Lindsay now — active status
As of the most recent available records, his talent agency profile remains active, and no public announcement of illness, retirement, or medical leave appears in the top-tier sources scanned.
The pattern: health questions about celebrities often arise from gaps in public information rather than from confirmed events.
Is Robert Lindsay still married to Rosemarie Ford?
The following table compiles the available marital information from public records.
| Question | Available information |
|---|---|
| Current wife | Rosemarie Ford, married 31 December 2006 (IMDb marriage record) |
| Children with Rosemarie Ford | Two (IMDb — family details) |
| First wife | Cheryl Hall (IMDb biography — previous spouse) |
| Daughter from prior relationship | Sydney, with actress Diana Weston (The Telegraph — 2011 profile) |
| Rosemarie Ford’s age | Not publicly available in top search results |
Why this matters: the absence of a public divorce announcement or separation reporting suggests the marriage remains intact, but the record relies on IMDb’s database entry, not a direct statement from either party.
Why did Robert Lindsay quit the line of duty?
The phrase “Line of Duty” appears as a People Also Ask question and as a related search for Robert Lindsay. However, the top five search results do not describe a specific Line of Duty role for him or an exit reason.
The catch: without a credited role record or a public statement from the actor or production, any claim about a Line of Duty exit remains unverified.
How much is Robert Lindsay worth?
No official net worth figure appears in the top search-result summaries for Robert Lindsay. Net worth estimates are not public records and should be attributed if used. Career credits associated with earning power include My Family, G.B.H., and Fierce Creatures.
The trade-off: actors with decades of high-profile credits typically accumulate significant earnings, but without audited financial disclosure, any number is speculative.
Career timeline
- 13 December 1949: Born in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, England, UK
- 1975–1978: TV breakthrough with Get Some In! on ITV (BFI Screenonline)
- 1977–1980: Played Wolfie Smith in Citizen Smith (Rotten Tomatoes)
- 1980: West End debut as Tom Wrench (London Theatre)
- 1983: Gained attention for playing Hamlet
- Mid-1980s: Starred in Me and My Girl revival on both sides of the Atlantic (Rotten Tomatoes)
- 1997: Appeared in Fierce Creatures (IMDb)
- 2000: Started My Family as Ben Harper (IMDb)
- 31 December 2006: Married Rosemarie Ford (IMDb)
- Present: Represented by Hamilton Hodell
The timeline confirms a steady professional trajectory without major gaps.
Confirmed facts vs. unanswered questions
Confirmed facts
- Robert Lindsay was born 13 December 1949 in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, England, UK (Wikipedia — birth record)
- His credits include Fierce Creatures (1997), My Family (2000), and G.B.H. (IMDb — filmography)
- He trained at RADA and is represented by Hamilton Hodell (BBC Derby — training and agency)
- Rosemarie Ford is named as his wife, married 31 December 2006 (IMDb — marriage record)
What remains unclear
- Whether Robert Lindsay had a named illness
- Rosemarie Ford’s exact age
- Whether and why Robert Lindsay left a production called Line of Duty
- Robert Lindsay’s exact net worth
- First wife’s identity: Cheryl Hall (per IMDb, but minimal detail)
This distinction helps readers separate verified data from open questions.
Robert Lindsay’s career is well-documented across stage and screen, but the personal questions around health, marriage, and net worth remain largely in the realm of public curiosity rather than verified record — a common gap for British actors who keep their private lives out of tabloids.
Key quotes from authoritative sources
“Robert Lindsay Stevenson (born 13 December 1949) is an English actor. He is known for his work on stage and television, including the Royal Shakespeare Company and musical theatre.”
— Wikipedia — encyclopedic biography
“He became widely known in Britain for playing Wolfie Smith in Citizen Smith and later starred as Ben Harper in My Family.”
— Rotten Tomatoes — career overview
“He studied drama in Nottingham after leaving school, intending to become a drama teacher. After graduating from RADA, his first job was as a dialect coach.”
— BBC Derby — early career profile
“He made his West End debut in 1980, playing Tom Wrench, and later starred in the revival of Me and My Girl which helped establish him on both sides of the Atlantic.”
The common thread across these sources: Lindsay’s reputation rests on three pillars — RADA training, iconic sitcom roles, and West End/Broadway stage success. The gaps are not contradictions; they’re areas where the public record simply hasn’t been filled.
For British viewers who remember Lindsay from Citizen Smith or My Family, the professional record is solid. For anyone trying to answer the health or net worth questions, the honest answer is: no confirmed evidence in publicly available records — and that’s a fact worth respecting rather than filling with speculation.
Summary
Robert Lindsay’s career is a well-documented arc from Derbyshire drama student to RADA graduate, West End star, and beloved sitcom lead. The unverified questions about illness, net worth, and a Line of Duty exit remain open precisely because the actor has kept those details private. For the reader looking to separate fact from online rumor, the clearest takeaway is this: trust the stage credits, the BAFTA and Olivier awards, and the one confirmed marriage date. For everything else, the honest answer is the most credible one: the public record doesn’t yet have a clear answer.
Related reading: Thora Hird: 7 Decades of Film, TV, and Lasting Fame
Fans interested in his full career trajectory can explore Robert Lindsays full biography for a comprehensive overview.
Frequently asked questions
Where was Robert Lindsay born?
Ilkeston, Derbyshire, England, UK on 13 December 1949.
What was Robert Lindsay’s debut stage role?
He made his West End debut in 1980 as Tom Wrench.
How did Robert Lindsay train as an actor?
He studied drama in Nottingham after leaving school, then graduated from RADA.
What is Robert Lindsay’s height?
5’10”.
Who currently represents Robert Lindsay as an actor?
Hamilton Hodell.
Is Robert Lindsay still with Hamilton Hodell?
Yes, according to the agency’s current representation records.
Does Robert Lindsay have children?
He has two sons with Rosemarie Ford and a daughter, Sydney, from a previous relationship with actress Diana Weston.
These FAQs address the most common queries about the actor.
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Edward Davies Bennett is Editor-in-Chief and Responsible Publisher at Insight Britain, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and the corrections process.