Veteran footballer Roy Kent has become one of the most popular Ted Lasso characters, but who plays Roy, and where else might fans have recognized him from? The Apple TV+ series is filled with talented American and U.K. stars, some of whom are getting a bigger spotlight now then ever before. It’s the chemistry amongst the Ted Lasso cast, and the nuance with which each character is written, that’s made the series such a surprise hit for Apple.
Ted Lasso season 1 produced a number of beloved characters, but AFC Richmond team captain Roy Kent stands as one of the most popular among fans. A former champion, Roy leads the Richmond squad with tough and fierce persona that hides a much more sensitive man underneath. Though he initially takes issue with some of Ted’s less traditional coaching methods, Roy comes to appreciate his new coach along with the rest of the team.
Roy is played by veteran British comedian and writer Brett Goldstein, whose more notable onscreen roles include Bob in the superhero spoof film SuperBob (which he also wrote), and Brendan in the comedy Adult Life Skills. He’s also appeared in TV shows like Doctor Who, Drunk History, Derek, Drifters and Uncle. Off camera, Goldstein has written extensively for the stage and screen, having worked extensively with fellow British comic Catherine Tate. He co-created and wrote the AMC series Soulmates and is an established stand-up comedian. Goldstein is also a writer on Ted Lasso.
Although Goldstein was a critically acclaimed writer and performer before ever appearing on Ted Lasso, he never found the level of international renown he was due before the show’s first season on Apple TV+. Thankfully, a much larger audience has now been exposed to Goldstein and his work, which could push him into bigger projects in the future. After all he’s already brought to Ted Lasso as both an actor and a writer, that’s a very exciting prospect.
Like Goldstein, many of the other stars of Ted Lasso weren’t really household names prior to the show’s surprise success. The cast has proved to be more than worthy of the praise the series has received so far, and it’s nice to see so many talented performers and creators be recognized for their work. In truth, Ted Lasso’s spike in popularity was a bit of shock, but it’s nice to see Apple TV+ find real success with a show that has so much heart and talent behind it.