Dustin Demri-Burns is a British actor, comedian and writer. He is best known for his work in Cardinal Burns (2012–2014)[1] and Slow Horses (2022).[2]

Dustin Demri-Burns
Other nameDustin Demri Burns
EducationLondon Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
OccupationsActor, comedian, writer
Years active2003–present
Notable workCardinal Burns
Children1

He appeared in films as the roles of Danny Sinclair in Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa (2013), Viktor in the action comedy film The Spy Who Dumped Me (2018), and Crazy Cedric in the comedy film Horrible Histories: The Movie – Rotten Romans (2019).

In television, he appeared in shows as Julian in Stath Lets Flats, Will_5000 in Sick Note, Simon in GameFace, Daniel in Turn Up Charlie, and Voltaire in The Great.

Early life

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Demri-Burns attended Elliott School, Putney, Putney Heath, southwest London (1989–1996). He graduated from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art with a degree in acting.[citation needed]

Career

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Demri-Burns started his acting career when he played a minor character in the short film Nightswimming (2003).

His film credits include The Spy Who Dumped Me, Bridget Jones' Baby, Grimsby, and Kill Your Friends.

He played the role of Danny Sinclair in the 2013 film Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa, featuring Steve Coogan, and has also played the role of Cedric in the 2019 film Horrible Histories: The Movie - Rotten Romans. The same year, he also started in Abigail Blackmore's film Tales from the Lodge, alongside Kelly Wenham, Mackenzie Crook, Laura Fraser, Sophie Thompson and Johnny Vegas.[3]

Along with his friend Sebastian Cardinal, he created and produced the sketch comedy programme Cardinal Burns.[4][5]

Demri-Burns has provided voices of characters in animation, such as the voice of Grumpy in Digby Dragon and as the UK/U.S. voice of Tread in Bob the Builder.

In 2020, he played the role of Voltaire in season 1 of the Hulu television series The Great, featuring Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult.[6] He reprised his role as a recurring character in seasons 2 (2021) and 3 (2023) of the show.

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2003 Nightswimming Young Man Short film
2004 Shade Short film. Director
Out of the Shadows Boy in Graveyard Short film
2007 Prada & Prejudice Clown Short film. Also writer
2009 HIV: The Musical Jolian Short film
2013 I Give It a Year Dove Violinist
Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa Danny Sinclair
2014 Chandide Pangloss Short film
2015 Kill Your Friends David Schneider
2016 Grimsby Analyst #2 Also known as: The Brothers Grimsby (U.S. & Canada). Uncredited role
Bridget Jones's Baby Interviewer Uncredited role
2017 Bob the Builder: Mega Machines Tread / Thud (voices) UK/U.S. versions
2018 The Short of It Man Short film
The Spy Who Dumped Me Viktor
The Orgy Gary Short film
Diane's New Boyfriend Jerry Short film
2019 Tales from the Lodge Paul
Horrible Histories: The Movie - Rotten Romans Crazy Cedric
2021 All My Friends Hate Me Harry
2026 The Magic Faraway Tree Saucepan Man
TBA Close Personal Friends TBA Post-production
Merry Christmas Aubrey Flint TBA Post-production

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2006 Coming Up Writer 1 1 episode
2007 Hyperdrive Queppu Warrior 1 episode
Saxondale Brian May 1 episode[7]
2008 Love Soup Kenny 1 episode
2010 The Persuasionists Focus Group member 1 episode
2011 Life's Too Short Best Man 1 episode
2012 Spy Didier 1 episode
2012–2014 Cardinal Burns Various roles Main role, 12 episodes. Also writer[8]
2013 The Mimic Computer Geek / PC Universe Worker 2 2 episodes
2014 Bad Education Philip 1 episode
Psychobitches Various roles Miniseries, 4 episodes. Also writer on 3 episodes
2015 Asylum Ludo Backslash Miniseries, 3 episodes
2015–2017 Drunk History: UK Various roles Recurring role, 9 episodes
2015–2018 Bob the Builder Sylvain / Phil Lucas / Tread / Thud /
Crunch / Norm (voices)
Recurring role, 15 episodes. UK/U.S. versions[9]
2016 Peaky Blinders Monsieur Silk 1 episode
Digby Dragon Grumpy Goblin (voice) Main role, 11 episodes
2017–2018 Urban Myths Josef
Francis Rossi
2 episodes
Sick Note Will_5000 Recurring role, 5 episodes
2017–2019 GameFace Simon Main role, 8 episodes
2018 A Discovery of Witches Sean 1 episode, uncredits
2018–2019 Stath Lets Flats Julian Recurring role, 8 episodes
2019 Turn Up Charlie Daniel Smith 3 episodes
The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance Daudran (voice) 2 episodes[9]
The Capture Francis 2 episodes
2020 King Gary Fred 1 episode
Truth Seekers Kettering / Doctor Kettering 1 episode
2020–2023 The Great Voltaire Recurring role, 7 episodes
2021 Bloods Crackhead John 1 episode
Britannia Blain Recurring role, 7 episodes
2022 Ellie & Natasia Various characters 1 episode
The Flatshare Phil Recurring role, 5 episodes
Slow Horses Min Harper Recurring role, 10 episodes
The Heroic Quest of the Valiant Prince Ivandoe (voices) 1 episode
2022present Am I Being Unreasonable? Dan Main role; 12 episodes
2024 3 Body Problem Ted Episode: "The Stars Our Destination"
The Decameron Arriguccio 3 episodes
Sweetpea Jeff Main role, 5 episodes
2025 Dope Girls Damaso Salucci Recurring role, 6 episodes
2026 Criminal Record Cosmo Thompson Season 2

Video game

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Year Title Role Notes
2012 Harry Potter for Kinect Professor Flitwick (voice) [9]

References

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  1. "Dustin Demri-Burns: Cardinal Burns Credit". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  2. "Slow Horses season 2: Release date, cast and latest news".
  3. Felperin, Leslie (31 October 2019). "Tales from the Lodge review – schlocky country cabin scares". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  4. "Cardinal Burns: the comedy duo shaking up TV sketch shows". The Guardian. 30 April 2014. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  5. Noble, Will (11 September 2014). "Cardinal Burns Live: Lighter Laughs But Still Funny". londonist.com. Londonist. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  6. Walsh, Savannah (30 May 2020). "How Much Of Hulu's The Great Actually Happened?". elle.com. Elle Magazine. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  7. Writers: Steve Coogan and Neil MacLennan; Producer: Ted Dowd; Director: John Henderson (23 August 2007). "Episode 8". Saxondale. BBC. BBC Two.
  8. "Cardinal Burns: 'We're the Kanye West of comedy. Or maybe the Nick Drake'". The Guardian. 16 May 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  9. 1 2 3 "Dustin Demri-Burns (visual voice guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
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