Stephen Moyer (Actor)

Stephen Moyer arrives at the 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards. (Photo: Frazer Harrison / Getty Images)

Brentwood, England, native Stephen Moyer distinguished himself by coupling an almost Greco-Roman look and figure with elements of refined sophistication abetted by -- and frequently attributed to -- his British origins. Something of a series mainstay in the U.K., this St. Martin's School alumnus turned up as a regular on English programs including Conjugal Rites, The Grand, and Castles, before scoring a significant crossover success with his turn as Prouix in Philip Kaufman's Marquis de Sade drama Quills (2000). Additional Hollywood projects varied tremendously in genre and overall quality, and included the Keira Knightley-headlined, Disney-produced fantasy-adventure Princess of Thieves (2001); director Jon Avnet's atmospheric, war-themed miniseries Uprising (2001); and the Aussie thriller Restraint (2007). Moyer achieved broadest exposure on American television opposite Debra Messing in the romantic comedy miniseries The Starter Wife (2007) and as enigmatic, alluring vampire Bill Compton on Alan Ball's gothic HBO drama series True Blood (2008). That same year, Moyer reteamed with Avnet for a small supporting role in the Al Pacino thriller 88 Minutes. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide