Quick Facts
Biography
David Neilson (born 13 March 1949) is an English actor best known for portraying Roy Cropper in the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street from 1995 onwards.
Early life
Neilson was born in Loughborough, Leicestershire, and entered the Central School of Speech and Drama at the age of 20, working in various jobs at the same time, including as a gas fitter, ice cream salesman and a barman.
Career
His television roles include Z-Cars, Young at Heart, Mike in a single episode of Survivors (BBC), Edgar in DH Lawrence's Sons and Lovers adapted by Trevor Griffiths (BBC), Blue Heaven by Frank Skinner, as Millington in the TV movies of the Charlie Resnick novels, Bergerac, Casualty, Boys from the Blackstuff, Secret Army and Heartbeat. He appeared briefly in EastEnders in the early 1990s, and in a celebrity edition of Stars in Their Eyes as Roy Orbison.
In addition he has appeared in two Mike Leigh films: Life Is Sweet and Secrets & Lies.
On radio in 2009, Neilson appeared in "God Bless Our Love", an uplifting, romantic comedy about a priest and a nun who fall in love and leave their orders to marry and begin a new life together.
Personal life
Neilson is a lifelong Leicester City supporter, regularly running Alan Birchenall's charity race around the King Power Stadium to raise money for awareness for prostate cancer, in memory of former Leicester City player Keith Weller. He is also a Labour Party supporter, coming out in support for the party for the Oldham East and Saddleworth by-election.