Thomas Law

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Thomas Law
Law in 2010
Born
Thomas John Law

(1992-12-17) 17 December 1992 (age 31)
OccupationActor
Years active2005–present
Television

Thomas John Law (born 17 December 1992) is an English actor. He is known for portraying the role of Peter Beale in the BBC soap opera EastEnders from 2006 to 2010, before reprising the role from 2023 onwards. Between 2021 and 2023, he appeared in the ITV drama series The Bay as DC Eddie Martin.

Early life[edit]

Thomas John Law was born in Hatfield, Hertfordshire to Trish and Robert Law and grew up in Potters Bar with his two older sisters.[1] He also has family in Australia and Dorset.[1] Law attended Chancellor's School in Brookmans Park.[2]

Career[edit]

Law began modelling at the age of four and made his television debut in 2005 with a recurring role in the BBC One soap opera Casualty.[3] He would later return as a guest in 2014.[4]

EastEnders[edit]

In 2006, Law became the fifth actor to take over the role of Peter Beale in EastEnders, taking over from James Martin. Law was in a scene nominated for Spectacular Scene of the Year at the 2008 British Soap Awards. In November 2010, it was announced that Law would be leaving the soap after four years, and he made his final appearance in December 2010. The role of Peter was later recast to Ben Hardy who portrayed the role between 2013 and 2015 and later to Dayle Hudson who played the role between 2020 and 2022.[5]

In June 2023, Law made an unannounced return to EastEnders, taking over the role of Peter for a second time in a storyline that accommodated the return of Peter's parents, Cindy (Michelle Collins) and Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt). The story also saw the character reunite with the mother of his child, Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa).[6] It was then announced that Law would be returning to the show on a permanent basis.[7]

Other work[edit]

In 2011, Law made his stage debut as the titular role in Peter Pan.[8][9] He also played Ste on the 2015 UK tour of Beautiful Thing alongside Sam Jackson and Charlie Brooks.[10]

Law landed small film roles in The World's End in 2013,[11] Unhallowed Ground in 2015, and Gutterdämmerung and the American teen musical A Cinderella Story: If the Shoe Fits opposite Sofia Carson in 2016.[12]

In 2021, Law joined the cast of the ITV crime drama The Bay for its second series on as DC Eddie Martin. Metro called it his "small screen comeback". He went on to appear in the third and fourth series, before his departure from the series was announced in 2023 due to scheduling conflicts with EastEnders.[13][14][15]

Philanthropy[edit]

In 2007 and 2008, Law took part in Children In Need alongside the cast of EastEnders.[16] Other notable charity work has included playing at the Alan Ball Memorial Cup in 2007, the opening of the kitchens at the University Hospitals of Leicester.[17]

In December 2007, Law was invited to Luton & Dunstable Hospital by his aunt, where he spent time with children who had to stay in the wards over Christmas. After the event, hospital spokesman Barry Mayes said "[Law] gave a big chunk of his time. He was very pleasant, mature and humble, and really homed in on the children and how they were feeling."[18]

In February 2010, Law attended a fundraising event along with other members of the EastEnders cast to raise money for victims of the 2010 Haiti earthquake. The event took place at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry.[19]

Filmography[edit]

Film[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
2013 The World's End Young Gary King
2015 Unhallowed Ground Daniel "Danny" Gordon
2016 Gutterdämmerung Pete the Mod
A Cinderella Story: If the Shoe Fits Reed West Direct-to-video
2018 The Inner Freddie Short film
2021 Framed Karl
Last Train to Christmas Young Tony Towers

Television[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
2005, 2014 Casualty Matt Haddon / Sean Starky 5 episodes
2006–2010, 2023–present EastEnders Peter Beale Regular role
2007–2009 Children in Need Himself
2013 Sadie J Callum[20]
2019 Living the Dream Wyatt Episode: "Endangered Species"
2021–2023 The Bay DC Eddie Martin Main role

Stage[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
2010 Peter Pan Peter Pan The Lowry, Salford Quays, Greater Manchester[21]
2015 Beautiful Thing Ste UK tour

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Thomas Law BBC Radio London interview". YouTube. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  2. ^ "We're proud of them all". Herts24. 17 January 2007. Archived from the original on 24 December 2007. Retrieved 17 January 2007.
  3. ^ "Thomas Law at Amazon". Amazon. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  4. ^ "Casualty (2014)". Retrieved 12 April 2014.
  5. ^ "EastEnders' Peter Beale to return to Walford alongside Cindy and Ian later this year". BBC. 22 June 2023. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  6. ^ "EastEnders confirms return of another missing character". Digital Spy. 22 June 2023. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  7. ^ "EastEnders confirms Thomas Law to return as Peter Beale full-time". Radio Times. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  8. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (22 November 2010). "Soaps — News — Is Peter Beale leaving 'EastEnders'? - Digital Spy". Digital Spy. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
  9. ^ "Eastenders' Thomas Law flies high in Lowry panto". Manchester Evening News. 15 November 2010. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  10. ^ "Beautiful Thing starring Charlie Brooks, Sam Jackson & Thomas Law at the Arts Theatre". West End Theatre. 5 February 2015. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  11. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (21 August 2013). "Thomas Law talks 'The World's End', 'EastEnders' and future plans". Digital Spy. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  12. ^ Devoe, Noelle (3 March 2016). "BREAKING: "A Cinderella Story 4" is Happening!". Seventeen. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  13. ^ Patterson, Stephen (19 January 2021). "EastEnders star Thomas Law transformed 11 years after exit from soap as he stars in ITV's The Bay". Metro. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  14. ^ "Ex-EastEnders Peter Beale actor Thomas Law is unrecognisable as he makes debut in The Bay". Heart. 21 January 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  15. ^ Hayer, Taj (27 January 2021). "SPOTLIGHT: Mr Thomas Law". The Rakish Gent. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  16. ^ "Children In Need 2008". BBC. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  17. ^ "http://Uhl-nhs.uk". Archived from the original on 10 April 2009. Retrieved 10 April 2009. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  18. ^ "EastEnders dose for L&D kids". Natalee Hazelwood / lutontoday. December 2007. Retrieved 15 January 2008.[dead link]
  19. ^ "BBC — Eastenders stars fundraising for Haiti at the Ricoh". BBC Online. BBC. 1 February 2010. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
  20. ^ "Sadie J". BBC. Retrieved 17 March 2013.[dead link]
  21. ^ "Peter Pan(2010)". Retrieved 9 January 2011.

External links[edit]

EastEnders
Preceded by
James Martin
Peter Beale actor
2006 – '10
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Dayle Hudson
Peter Beale actor
2023 – present
Incumbent