Biography
Doug Berry (aka Andrew G. Ogleby) is an English actor and writer, born in the late 1960's to parents Donald and Valerie Ogleby. His home town, the then Motor City of Coventry was something of a boomtown at the time (following the devastation it had experienced during the heavy bombing raids of WWII) with its football club Coventry City, also gaining promotion to the top-flight of English football the same year of Doug's birth. By the time Doug left school however, Coventry had turned more into the 'Ghost Town' so poignantly portrayed in song at the time by its most famous band The Specials. Although, the mood of the city would later reignite when Coventry City F.C went onto win the F.A Cup in 1987, in what many still regard as the greatest Cup Final played in modern times. And in 2021, Coventry became the UK's City of Culture.
In terms of screen, Doug has appeared and starred in a wide-variety of film (both short and feature length) and produced the screenwriting for various film scenes, such as the Gus Zatoichi scene in Just Drive. He also has extensive experience as a supporting artist, including detailed featured work and performing various acting-double roles in major film/TV productions. Furthermore, Doug has an avid interest in martial arts/boxing films, having trained in the fighting/healing arts for over 25 years and with experience of stage combat, which he is now able to bring to the screen as well.
Due to his love of classic film comedy, such as Laurel and Hardy and satirical British humour, Doug had wanted to become a comedian when he was young, but circumstances at the time didn't allow it. Fast forward though to 2013, and a 'chance' meeting with the film producer Sharon Rapose at a business event at the O2 arena London, where Doug would later be offered the opportunity (and appear) in the short romantic comedy 'Konnichiwa Brick Lane' (2013) by Saera Jin. Following which, this then rekindled the idea of becoming a comedian, and so Doug began writing short sketches, with the idea of trying his hand at stand-up.
However in the summer of 2014, whilst absently minding his own business at a community festival, Doug was offered, 'out of the blue' by Louisa Le Marchand, the head of Global Fusion Music & Arts (a local charitable arts based organisation) the opportunity to appear in an original play 'All About the Boys' by one of its members, playwright Robert J. Fanshawe, about the WWI poet Wilfred Owen and his final battle scene. Doug would then go on to play one of its main characters, that of Private 'Jacko' Jackson, portraying the classic ironic humour of the British Tommy. Following which, he then completed a 22 performance run playing Chief Dogberry in the Fox and Chips production of Shakespeare's comedy 'Much Ado About Nothing' (where he was also to adopt his stage name from) and later also as Nick Bottom in the GFMA production of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', amongst other stage productions
During this time, Doug was also inspired to write and perform in plays of his own, including 'Troubled meets the Troubadour' a bittersweet musical comedy, which he also co-directed. Following which, Doug then wrote the script and songs for an original full-length pantomime, Jackie & The Pirates of the Prime Meridian (2017). Which he also played the villain in. Similarly, Doug wrote another short play 'When the Chips are Down' (2018), a comedy also commenting on social issues, where he played the lead role in.
At present, Doug has written another short play, related to the covid-19 pandemic, which he hopes to stage as soon as it is possible to do so. Similarly, Doug has also written a short screenplay for a film looking at different aspects of the pandemic, which he has already stated working on and plays one of the main characters in. And it is hoped, the short film will be completed by early next year. So the future is looking bright for this hard-working, dependable and highly-versatile, observational, physical/comedic actor and writer.
