Nathaniel Parker (born 18 May 1962) is a British actor most widely known for his role as Inspector Thomas Lynley, in the BBC television series based on the novels by Elizabeth George.
Born to ex-British Rail chairman Sir Peter Parker and his wife Dr Jill Parker, Parker's brother is the film director Oliver Parker. He also has another brother, Alan Parker, who is chairman of Brunswick Group Ltd.
He was educated at Fox Primary School, Colet Court and Leighton Park School in Reading, Berkshire, and decided at the age of nine that acting would be his career of choice.
He joined the National Youth Theatre, and after attending The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, Parker became a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company. He portrayed "Bassanio" in their production of "The Merchant of Venice" in both London and on Broadway, directed by Sir Peter Hall and starring Dustin Hoffman.
In 1989 he played Wilfred Owen in Derek Jarman's film adaptation of War Requiem, which also starred Lord Laurence Olivier as an old soldier in his last filmed role before his death.
Parker is known for a variety of television costume drama roles, most notably Harold Skimpole in the BBC 1 dramatisation of Bleak House (2005), Rawdon Crawley in a BBC version of Vanity Fair (1998) and Gabriel Oak in the ITV production of Far From the Madding Crowd (1997). Other television appearances include A Village Affair (1994).
Parker is also a voiceover artist with prolific work in audio books including Eoin Colfer's children's Artemis Fowl series, Young James Bond adventure, Silverfin by Charlie Higson and The Gardens of The Dead by William Brodrick. He also read Mark Haddon's novel A Spot of Bother for BBC Radio Four's Book at Bedtime.
Parker is married to actress Anna Patrick. The couple live in London with their children Angelica (born 1996) and Raphaella (born 1998.)
