David Hayman is well known for his role as Chief Supt. Michael Walker in Lynda La Plante‘s long-running crime thriller Trial & Retribution, which had 12 series from 1997 to 2009.

Hayman was born in Bridgeton, Glasgow, Scotland. He studied at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow.

He began his acting career at the Citizens Theatre in the city, playing a variety of roles, including Hamlet, Figaro and Al Capone. He gained national prominence playing notorious Barlinnie Prison convict turned sculptor, Jimmy Boyle, in the film A Sense of Freedom. His extensive list of film credits include supporting Pierce Brosnan in The Tailor of Panama, Bruce Willis in The Jackal and Kevin Spacey in Ordinary Decent Criminal. He also appeared in The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, John Boorman’s Hope and Glory, Macbeth opposite Michael Fassbender and Finding Your Feet opposite Timothy Spall and Celia Imrie. Recent releases include the award winning Raging Grace, the highly acclaimed My Neighbor Adolf, Bull, Fisherman’s Friends 1&2, Blinded by the Light, The Corrupted and Our Ladies.

David’s recent television credits to name a few include: Protection, Son of a Critch, Guilt, Chemistry of Death, Andor, Landscapers, Help, The Nest, Hatton, Bang, Dad’s Army: The Lost Episodes, Taboo, London Spy, Shetland, Top Boy, The Paradise and Henry IV, Part I.

Hayman has also had huge success in directing film and TV productions. Silent Scream is a return to a study of convicts in Barlinnie Prison, examining the life of convicted murderer Larry Winters. Silent Scream won the BAFTA Michael Powell award for best British film at the Edinburgh Film Festival and the Silver Bear and Special Jury Prize at Berlin. Later followed The Hawk, starring Helen Mirren as a woman who begins to suspect that her husband is a serial killer. The Near Room is a dark and disturbing film about child abuse and corruption set in Glasgow.

On stage, Hayman appeared as Chris in the 2011 production of Anna Christie opposite Ruth Wilson at the Donmar Theatre, London. In 2012, he returned to the Citizens Theatre in Glasgow to play the title role in King Lear.
Most recently David played the lead role of Eric in the critically acclaimed production of David Ireland’s Cyprus Avenue at the Pavillion, Glasgow.

He also recently worked on a new hybrid version of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic story, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde presented by the National Theatre of Scotland and Selkie Productions in association with Screen Scotland and Sky Arts.
Hayman was awarded the City of Glasgow’s gold medal in 1992, for outstanding services to the performing arts. In 2001 he founded the humanitarian charity Spirit Aid, which is dedicated to children of the world whose lives have been devastated by war, genocide, poverty, abuse or lack of opportunity at home and abroad. He has also been awarded four Honorary Doctorates.
As a Broadcaster/Presenter David has fronted 24 Documentaries including the ‘In Search Of Series…’.