1. Overview
Eugene Michael Simon (born June 11, 1992) is an English actor and former child actor and model. He is widely recognized for his prominent roles as Jerome Clarke in the Nickelodeon mystery series House of Anubis and as Lancel Lannister in the HBO fantasy series Game of Thrones. Simon began his acting career at a young age, appearing in commercials and early film roles before gaining international recognition for his work in television.
2. Early life and education
Eugene Simon's early life was rooted in London, where he began his journey into acting. His education included attendance at notable schools in England, followed by specialized training in the performing arts.
2.1. Birth and family
Eugene Michael Simon was born on June 11, 1992, in London, England. His parents were Anton D. Simon, who passed away in 2017, and Teresa Megan Marguerite Stopford Simon. He has two older brothers, Charles, born in 1987, and Harry, and a younger sister named Fleur.
2.2. Education
Simon attended Downside School in Somerset and Bryanston School in Dorset, both located in England. Furthering his acting aspirations, he undertook professional training at Joseph Pearlman's acting academy, which is located in Los Angeles, United States.
3. Career
Eugene Simon's professional journey as an actor spans various media, including film, television, and stage productions, marked by significant roles that have defined his career.
3.1. Early career
Simon's acting career began around the age of eight when his mother enrolled him with an acting agency. He initially appeared in commercials before transitioning to film roles. His early film work included portraying a young Gerald Durrell in the 2005 film My Family and Other Animals and a young Giacomo Casanova in the 2005 film Casanova. He also appeared as Harry in four episodes of the sitcom My Dad's the Prime Minister, which began airing in 2003. After a period of reduced activity as a child actor, Simon resumed his acting career in 2010, notably playing the young Judah Ben-Hur in the television miniseries Ben Hur.
3.2. Major roles
On his eighteenth birthday, Eugene Simon received news of his casting in two significant television roles that would become central to his career. He was cast as Lancel Lannister in the HBO series Game of Thrones and simultaneously as Jerome Clarke in the Nickelodeon series House of Anubis. For his role in Game of Thrones, Simon had originally auditioned for the part of Joffrey Baratheon before being cast as Lancel Lannister. He appeared in House of Anubis from 2011 to 2013, portraying the main character Jerome Clarke across 191 episodes. His tenure on Game of Thrones spanned from 2011 to 2012 and then from 2015 to 2016, where he appeared in 16 episodes as Lancel Lannister.
3.3. Filmography
Eugene Simon has built an extensive filmography across both cinematic and television productions.
3.3.1. Film roles
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Casanova | Casanova (11 Years Old) | |
| 2005 | My Family and Other Animals | Gerald Durrell | Television film |
| 2006 | Alpha Male | Young Felix Methuselah | |
| 2013 | Before I Sleep | Young Eugene Devlin | |
| 2014 | Eden | Kennefick | Also known as Alive 2015 |
| 2017 | The Lodgers | Sean Nally | |
| Resonance | Toby | Short film | |
| 2018 | Kill Ben Lyk | Ben Lyk | |
| Mens Sana | Mark | Short film | |
| Love Have I Known | Young Captain James Piney | Short film | |
| 2021 | Sensation | Andrew Cooper | |
| 2022 | The Fence | Andrew Knight |
3.3.2. Television roles
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | My Dad's the Prime Minister | Harry | 4 episodes |
| 2004 | Murder in Suburbia | Josh Taylor | Episode: "A Good Deal of Attention" |
| 2004 | Noah and Saskia | Eddie | 7 episodes |
| 2010 | Ben Hur | Young Judah Ben Hur | Miniseries; 2 episodes |
| 2011-2013 | House of Anubis | Jerome Clarke | Main cast; 191 episodes |
| Anubis Unlocked | Himself | 19 episodes | |
| 2011-2016 | Game of Thrones | Lancel Lannister | 16 episodes |
| 2012 | Summer in Transylvania | Max | Episode: "I Dated a Teenage Vampire" |
| 2013 | House of Anubis: Touchstone of Ra | Jerome Clarke | TV special |
| 2015 | Vidfest Diaries | Himself | Episode: 2.9 |
| 2016 | Last Week | Himself | Episode: "Last Week I Made Evan Cry" |
| 2017 | Genius | Eduard Einstein | 2 episodes |
| 2017-2019 | Thronecast | Himself | 2 episodes |
3.4. Stage
Simon has also performed in theatrical productions.
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | For King and Country | Padre | Adapted from John Wilson's play Hamp, at Southwark Playhouse |
| 2019 | A Room with a View | George Emerson | Adapted from E.M. Forster's novel A Room with a View, at L.A. Theatre Works |
4. Personal life
Eugene Simon divides his time between residences in London and Los Angeles. Beyond his acting career, he has engaged in various activities, including leading acting workshops in Valletta, Malta, in 2019. Simon is also a vocal advocate for men's mental health and suicide prevention. He has used his social media platforms to raise awareness on these issues and participated in the 2020 Well Beings Virtual National Town Hall & Panel Discussion, contributing to public discourse on mental well-being.
5. Awards and nominations
Eugene Simon has received accolades for his performances in film.
| Year | Association | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Nightmare Film Festival | Best Actor | Kill Ben Lyk | Won |
| 2020 | Love Story Film Festival | Best Actor | Love Have I Known | Won |