Spall, third of four sons, was born in Battersea, London; his father, Joe, was a postal worker, and his mother, Sylvia, a hairdresser. He trained at the National Youth Theatre and RADA, where he was awarded the Bancroft Gold Medal as the most promising actor in his year. His brother, Matthew, is studio director of the computer games company Morpheme.
Spall is married and has three children: Mercedes, (born 1985), Pascale (born 1976) and Rafe (born 1983), who is also an actor. He lives in a large house in Forest Hill a suburb of south-east London.
In 1996 Spall was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, but has since been in remission. He has said of his illness:
I didn't know what made me ill but stress had something to do with it and the point is now to head off stress at the pass. It made me aware of things and become more selective. I am less worried about employment. I really do my homework so I am not getting stressed on the set because I don't know what I'm doing.
Quick Info
Born Timothy Leonard Spall
27 February 1957, Battersea, London, England
Spouse(s) Shane Spall (1981—)
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