Desmond Barrit

Desmond Barrit is a Welsh actor born on 19 October 1944 in Morriston, Swansea, United Kingdom, whose career has been defined primarily by his work on stage. He appeared on Broadway between 1996 and 2006, with credits including A Midsummer Night's Dream and The History Boys.

Among his notable stage roles, Barrit played Shylock in the Chichester Festival Theatre's production of The Merchant of Venice in 2003. The following year, he took on the role of Pseudolus in a limited-run revival of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum at the Royal National Theatre, appearing alongside Philip Quast as Miles Gloriosus, Hamish McColl as Hysterium, and Isla Blair as Domina. That production received a nomination for the 2005 Olivier Award for Outstanding Musical Production.

In 2007, Barrit appeared at Wyndham's Theatre in The History Boys, portraying the general studies teacher Hector, a role made famous by Richard Griffiths in the film adaptation. That same year, he played Raymond Clandillon in Season 10, Episode 7 of Midsomer Murders, titled "They Seek Him Here," broadcast in January 2007.

On 7 July 2008, Barrit took over the role of the Wizard from Nigel Planer in the West End production of Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Theatre. His start date had originally been set for 9 June but was postponed due to a surgical procedure. He returned to the production on 12 December 2011, reprising the Wizard by succeeding Clive Carter, and concluded that engagement on 7 July 2012, four years after his debut in the role. Keith Bartlett replaced him three weeks later.

An early screen credit for Barrit was the 1998 television production Alice through the Looking Glass, in which he portrayed Humpty Dumpty. In 2014, he appeared as Michaud in Helen Edmundson's adaptation of Therese Raquin at the Theatre Royal, Bath.