Meet Timothy Spall's family including famous wife and actor son

Francesca Shillcock
·4-min read
Wolf Hall: The Mirror And The Light
Wolf Hall: The Mirror And The Light (Nick Briggs)

With an impressive film, television and theatre career spanning more than four decades, Timothy Spall is an instantly recognisable name and face on our screens. And now, the actor, perhaps best known for his role in titles such as Secrets and Lies, is leading the cast of BBC's hit historical drama, Wolf Hall, where he plays the Duke of Norfolk.

The show looks at the rise and fall of Thomas Cromwell, and those who assist his ascent to the right hand side of the King to his fall and ultimately his execution - and the Duke of Norfolk plays a key role in Cromwell's downfall.

Timothy, 66, has many other notable credits to his name and so it's perhaps unsurprising that one of his children has gone on to follow in the thespian's footsteps and become an actor himself. Read on to find out more about Timothy's family including his wife and children.

Don't miss...

Who is Timothy Spall?

Timothy Spall is an English actor who has enjoyed success on stage, film, and television. He is the recipient of some prestigious awards including a BAFTA for his role in Secrets and Lies and a Cannes Film Festival award for Best Actor thanks to his role in Mr. Turner.

Born in London, Timothy began acting when he enrolled at the prestigious National Youth Theatre before going on to study at RADA. After graduating, he went on to land numerous credits in film and television productions including Quadrophenia, Auf Wiedersehen, Pet, Vanilla Sky, Shooting the Past, and, in later years, The Last Samurai, Harry Potter and more.

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND - SEPTEMBER 28: Timothy Leonard Spall attends the "The Last Bus" photocall during the 17th Zurich Film Festival at Kino Corso on September 28, 2021 in Zurich, Switzerland.
Timothy Leonard Spall attends the "The Last Bus" photocall (Thomas Niedermueller)

He's also an esteemed stage actor having worked with the prestigious Royal Shakespeare Company for a number of years in productions such as Hamlet, The Merry Wives of Windsor and more. In 1996, Timothy was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia but has since been in remission.

Who is Timothy Spall married to?

In 1981, Timothy married Shane Spall. Shane works an author and has published two memoirs about her husband's recovery from leukaemia and their journey around Britain on their barge. The husband and wife also documented their trip around the British Isles for a BBC Four TV series titled: Timothy Spall: Back at Sea.

Timothy Spall his wife Shane Spall attend The London Critics' Circle Film Awards at The Mayfair Hotel on January 18, 2015 in London, England.
Timothy Spall his wife Shane Spall attend The London Critics' Circle Film Awards at The Mayfair Hotel on January 18, 2015 in London, England. (Dave J Hogan)

Does Timothy Spall have children?

Timothy and Shane are parents to two children, two daughters, Pascale and Mercedes, and one son, Rafe. Not a huge amount is known about their daughters but their eldest, Pascale, runs her own business, Stag & Bow Ltd, in London and their son, Rafe, has gone to follow his dad's footsteps and become an actor.

Rafe Spall with his mother and father at the Britsh Independent Film Awards
Rafe Spall with his mother and father at the Britsh Independent Film Awards (David M. Benett)

You may recognise Rafe for his roles in TV shows such as The English, Trying and The Salisbury Poisonings, but he's perhaps best known and adored for his frequent collaborations with the filmmaker Edgar Wright, appearing in his films including Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz and The World's End.

Timothy's son is actor Rafe Spall
Timothy's son is actor Rafe Spall (Jim Spellman)

Rafe's other film credits include The Big Short, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, One Day and Men in Black: International.

Timothy Spall in The Sixth Commandment
Timothy Spall in The Sixth Commandment (Amanda Searle)

What is his role in Wolf Hall?

Speaking about playing the Duke of Norfolk, Timothy explained to the BBC: "Norfolk is a brute, he doesn’t hold his tongue, when he’s annoyed with you he lets you know and he’s an old friend of the King so he has a lot of influence with him. As far as Cromwell’s concerned, he’s keeping a very strong eye on him because he’s seen how influential he is with the King and he’s seen this reliance from Henry on him which he’s not comfortable with."

Duke of Norfolk is played by Timothy Spall
Duke of Norfolk is played by Timothy Spall (Nick Briggs)

He also spoke about the elaborate costumes, saying: "I’ve got a very cheeky pair of leather tights on here. I’ve got these thigh-length boots, I’ve got a jerkin, a codpiece. All the men have a codpiece which was an acceptable fashion and evidently a mark of your status and virility. Me thinks the Duke of Norfolk protesteth – or displayeth – too much! But there we are. It’s superb."

Latest stories

  • What is the meaning behind Auld Lang Syne and why do we sing it at Hogmanay?

    Here is the meaning behind the Robert Burns poem Auld Lang Syne and why we sing at Hogmanay.

  • Neighbours star Ian Smith, who plays Harold Bishop, reveals he has 'aggressive, non-fixable' cancer

    Actor Ian Smith, known for playing Harold Bishop in Neighbours, has revealed he has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. The 85-year-old first appeared on Ramsay Street in 1987 and has played the beloved character on and off over five decades. "I found out a few months back that I have cancer," Smith told Australian news show 10 News First.

  • Pointless star Alexander Armstrong's idyllic home with wife and four children

    Pointless' Alexander Armstrong lives with his wife Hannah Bronwen Snow and their four children – here's everything there is to know about their life on a farm

  • The underrated side dish you should be making for your holiday gatherings

    Food Network celebrity chef Bobby Flay shows us how to make a Spiced Crusted Carrots — a simple, yet beautiful side dish for all your holiday gatherings.CNN and the Food Network share parent company Warner Bros. Discovery.

  • Will it be faster to fly or get the train from London to Edinburgh? Which is the cheaper option?

    Train journey to become 20 minutes faster from next year

  • New Zealand scientists dissect world's rarest whale

    New Zealand scientists on Monday began dissecting a whale considered the rarest in the world, a species so elusive that only seven specimens have ever been documented. "This one is the rarest of the rare -- only the seventh specimen known from anywhere in the world, and the first opportunity we have had to undertake a dissection like this." 

  • Queen Letizia of Spain Adds a Touch of Sparkle to a Shirtdress at the Opera

    The royal opted for subdued glamour at the Euskalduna Palace in Bilbao.

  • Blur's Alex James almost went bankrupt when work dried up during the COVID-19 lockdowns

    Blur star Alex James has admitted he almost went bankrupt when work dried up during the COVID-19 lockdowns but he was saved by royalty money from his football anthem 'Vindaloo'.

  • Can the Panama Canal reinvent itself before the next drought?

    STORY: :: Tres Hermanas, Panama This unpaved road crosses the rural and self-sustaining Tres Hermanas community in Panama. But these lush valleys, home to dozens of towns, will be submerged if the Panama Canal Authority moves ahead with a plan to build a massive reservoir on the Indio River. :: Rodolfo Hernandez, Tres Hermanas resident “All that you see here, the green trees seen throughout this area, everything would be lost.” Rodolfo Hernandez is a local resident. “…The Indio River community has not yet said yes to them.” The proposal to dam the river over the next six years pits the future of thousands of people against the water needs of the powerful Canal Authority. Some don’t want to leave. Others are focused on getting fair compensation if they are forced to move. And public opposition could derail the entire project. :: Lake Alajuela, PanamaBut with more extreme weather seen over the last decade set to continue, the $1.6 billion dollar proposal seems as necessary as it seems extreme. :: Record-setting droughtTres Hermanas sits here. The state-owned Canal Authority aims to create a vast dam on the Rio Indio to secure extra freshwater. The 50-mile-long artificial waterway connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans relies on freshwater to operate its locks and, the Authority says, provide drinking water. Ricaurte Vazquez is the administrator of the Panama Canal Authority. :: Ricaurte Vazquez, Administrator, Panama Canal Authority “…And that imposes a relative disadvantage in relation to all other maritime navigation systems in the world." :: Panama Canal AuthorityWhy? Because last year was the third driest year in the canal’s 110-year history. :: Lake Gatun, PanamaAnd meteorologists forecast more severe droughts and faster water evaporation amid hotter temperatures. The waterway is Panama’s main source of hard-currency revenue and accounts for 3.1% of the country’s GDP. It is critical to U.S. imports of vehicle and commercial goods from Asia, and for U.S. exports of commodities, including liquefied natural gas. The latest drought forced vessel traffic to be restricted. But the new plan would allow up to 15 extra canal transits a day during the dry season. The Authority believes the Rio Indio reservoir project is the most complete solution to more frequent droughts. VAZQUEZ: "We understand that this is the most important challenge to maintain the canal's sustainability in the long term in the face of demand, due to Panama's population growth, which will require fresh drinking water for its consumption and that leads us to the national conversation of how to tackle this problem." :: Approvals and relocation The project must still pass a long approval process, including a public consultation. But some infrastructure work, including a bridge, is already visible. The Ministry of Public Works has said the bridge is for cars and people to cross the river. Ilya Espino de Marotta is the canal’s deputy administrator. :: Ilya Espino de Marotta, Deputy Administrator, Panama Canal Authority "Of course, the most complicated part is the process of resettling people. These are conversations that need to be held individually with each family...” To contain the Rio Indio, some 2,260 people would have to be relocated, according to an initial survey by the Canal Authority. 2,000 more would be at least partially impacted. A more accurate census should be completed in January. The project has set aside $400 million, mainly for relocations. But opinions are divided. Some would be willing to sell their land, while others want to fight the project. Dilubino Agraje Dominguez represents the Rio Indio communities through the activist group Countrymen Coordinator for Life. :: Dilubino Agraje Dominguez, Representative, Rio Indio communities"The countryside, nature, their peace for life, for work is what makes them happy. You can show them beautiful, modern things, all well-arranged, but it is not the same for the resident who is used to living under his thatched roof, taking his time to go to the mountain and resting at home whichever day he wants…” The shipping industry is apprehensive.:: November 8, 2023The country’s Supreme Court recently suspended a controversial mining contract with Canada's First Quantum Minerals, after broad public opposition. And instrumental in blocking the contract was Countrymen Coordinator for Life. :: Another option There is an alternative: to transfer water from an existing reservoir fed by the Bayano River. This plan could be finished sooner, without relocations, and is gaining traction among local communities. “There is a real importance to maintain healthy rivers...” Professor LeRoy Poff is an expert on aquatic ecology from the University of Colorado. “I think from an environmental damage point of view that this dam has many negative impacts and very few positive benefits that couldn't be acquired through this alternative project.” :: Panama Canal AuthorityBut the Canal Authority discarded the Bayano option 8 years ago over higher costs and its location. And lawyers say it could mean complicated negotiations with the hydroelectric power providers involved. Faced with a changing climate, Deputy Administrator Espino thinks both projects will be needed in the long run. Ahead of the next drought, the Canal wants shippers to consolidate cargoes and could deploy water recycling measures, if needed.For residents of Tres Hermanas, resource-intense expansion must have a limit. HERNANDEZ: "We are not against the progress of our country, our country must progress, but it must be according to what is necessary and not harming its people."

  • Man Accused of Killing His Sister and Her 2-Year-Old Daughter Found 'Asleep on the Couch' Near Bodies: Reports

    Kendrick Rayvon Fisher, 29, was charged with murder after the victims were found stabbed to death in their apartment on Nov. 29

  • Toto Wolff hits back after FIA president tells drivers to ‘stick to racing’

    Toto Wolff has reignited his feud with FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem after the head of motorsport’s world governing body said Formula One’s drivers should “stick to racing” and added it was “none of their business” how he ran his organisation.

  • Ellen DeGeneres Celebrates 20th Anniversary with Portia de Rossi After Move to England: 'What a Long Beautiful Adventure'

    “You are the best thing that ever happened in my life," the former talk show host wrote on Instagram of her longtime love

  • Guests announced for book event hosted by Nicola Sturgeon and Val McDermid

    The event will reunite the ex-first minister and her crime author friend.

  • Wolf Hall star Jonathan Pryce's famous wife he left marriage for

    Find out all you need to know about Wolf Hall star Jonathan Pryce's famous wife, who he left his previous marriage for after just two weeks of meeting…

  • Sarah Michelle Gellar hasn't aged a day as she poses with husband Freddie Prinze Jr

    Decades after first finding fame, Buffy the Vampire Slayer actress Sarah Michelle Gellar looked as incredible as ever while sharing a selfie alongside husband Freddie Prinze Jr

  • Richard Gere's Wife Alejandra Shares Rare Snap of Sons Preparing for First Christmas Following Move to Spain: 'Feliz Navidad'

    The actor is a dad to sons Homer, 24, Alexander, 5, James 4, and wife Alejandra Silva's child Albert, 11

  • Betting experts predict which I'm A Celebrity contestant will be crowned King or Queen of the Jungle

    MyBettingSites has predicted the winner of I'm A Celebrity 2024

  • Britain sets aside £10bn for future payments to EU more than eight years after Brexit vote

    Exclusive: To cover the continuing costs of Britain’s divorce from Europe, the government has accounted for £20.6bn in future payments for Brussels staff and diplomats’ pensions, as well as the UK’s pre-existing financial obligations

  • Ex-Ukrainian Minister Issues Stark Warning To Kyiv Amid Growing Concerns Putin May Win The War

    "If it continues like this, we will lose."

  • The truth about Spain’s new ‘Big Brother’ travel rules

    Tourists visiting Spain will face more paperwork on their holidays, thanks to a new law that requires hotels and car hire firms to gather detailed personal information about their customers.