Co-creator of Documentary Series 'Long Way Round' with Ewan McGregor

Charley Boorman | Biography

Child Actor in Film 'Deliverance'

• By Reena Chikanbanjar
• Update : January 17, 2022

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Charley Boorman is a British actor and television personality. He is best known for his long-distance motorcycle rides with actor Ewan McGregor in the documentary adventure TV series Long Way Round (2001), Long Way Down (2007), and Long Way Up (2020).

Who is Charley Boorman?

Charley Boorman is the son of famous film director John Boorman and Christel Kruse. He has appeared in over a dozen films before embarking on a 20,000-mile journey on motorbikes from London to New York with his friend, actor Ewan McGregor. The two first met each other on the set of the 1997 film The Serpent's Kiss and became best friends after learning that they shared a mutual passion for motorcycles.

The duo documented their 20,000-mile motorbike journey in the 2004 documentary series Long Way Round.  Following the success of the series, the duo embarked on the new route, from John O'Groats, Scotland, to Cape Town, South Africa, on motorcycles and released their second documentary series Long Way Down in 2007. Charley also had a solo adventure documented on several documentary series. Furthermore, he also competed in the 2006 Dakar Rally from Lisbon to Dakar, which became the documentary series Race to Dakar (2006). 

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In 2008, Charley starred on By Any Means Charley Boorman, in which he went on a solo trip from County Wicklow, Ireland to Sydney, Australia, 'by any means' of local transportation available. He also starred on the Right to the Edge: Sydney to Tokyo by Any Means, Charley Boorman's Extreme Frontiers (2011), and Charley Boorman's USA Adventure (2013) before reuniting with McGregor for their new documentary series Long Way Up (2020).

Early Bio

Charley was born in Wimbledon, London, on 23 August 1966. In an interview with Independent School Parents, he disclosed that he spent his childhood moving around from South Carolina to Los Angeles because of his father's profession. While living in Los Angeles, he was diagnosed with a learning disorder called dyslexia. Later, he and his family moved to Wicklow, Ireland, where he grew up running wild around the countryside and riding horses. 

At age 10, he got an opportunity to ride a motorbike, which he found better than riding horses. Subsequently, motorbikes became his life's passion. And he explored the Wicklow mountains on his motorbike with his friends as a child. He participated in schoolboy motocross and Enduro races. He also spent years riding with motorcycle racers David Jeffries and Matt Llewellyn.

'Deliverance'

Deliverance is Charley's debut film which he played at the tender age of four. As a child actor, he played the son of Ed Gentry (played by Jon Voight) in the film. He said he played that part because of his father, John Boorman, who was the producer and director of the film. In an interview with Reader's Digest in November 2001, he said that his father promised him to get him a tricycle if he did everything as his father said. During the filming of Deliverance, Charley also served as a pageboy at Jon Voight and Marcheline Bertrand's wedding in December 1971.

Wife

Charley's wife, Olivia, got married in 1990 in a church in London. Remembering his wedding day, Charley told Reader's Digest in November 2001 that he and his wife married in a small church lit by hundreds of candles in front of their guests. Describing a moment he saw his wife during the wedding, he said, "Waiting at the altar, I turned around as Olivia began her walk down the aisle; I'll never forget how wonderful she looked that day."

The couple has two daughters together. They welcomed their first daughter, Doone Yasmin, in 1996 and their second daughter, Kinvara Atalanta, in 1997. On 7 December 2021, Charley celebrated the 30th anniversary of his marriage as he posted a picture with his wife on Instagram, captioning, "Can you believe it it's our 30th Wedding Anniversary today. Always by my side no matter what stupid things I get myself into. I love you my darling. @olly_boorman."