David Caves is a regular fixture on our screens every winter thanks to his long-standing role in the BBC's hit crime drama, Silent Witness, in which he stars as Jack Hodgson opposite Emilia Fox's Dr. Nikki Alexander.
The drama, which returned in January with its 29th season, follows a crack team of forensic scientists as they investigate puzzling mysteries. David, who joined the show back in 2013, has amassed a legion of fans over the years, who are deeply invested in the relationship between Dr Nikki and Jack, who are navigating married life in the new season.
© BBC StudiosAs the new series gets underway, find out all you need to know about David's life off-screen, from his upbringing in Northern Ireland to his home life.
David's career
David, 47, landed his breakout role in 2013 when he made his small-screen debut in the 16th season of Silent Witness. The actor had spent many years in the theatre after graduating from the esteemed acting school London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) in 2005, performing in various stage productions, including The Beggar's Opera at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre and The Taming of the Shrew with the Royal Shakespeare Company.
© BBC StudiosDavid's role in Silent Witness soon led to parts on the big screen, including the 2014 epic war film, Ironclad: Battle for Blood, and the 2016 biographical drama film Jackie, which starred Natalie Portman as former First Lady, Jacqueline Kennedy.
© Photo: BBCDavid's upbringing in Northern Ireland
The actor hails from Belfast, where he attended the prestigious Campbell College. His parents, Michael and Naomi, were both teachers at the school and the family lived on-site.
After leaving school, David left his homeland for Scotland to study modern languages, including French and German, at the University of St Andrews. Following his graduation in 2002, David spent a year teaching in France before deciding to pursue his dream of being an actor.
© Ken McKay/ITV/ShutterstockSpeaking about his childhood during a visit to his old school as a guest speaker back in 2016, David revealed that he wasn't drawn to academic subjects while studying. "I was rubbish at maths but enjoyed rugby," he said, per Belfast Live. "And now that I'm playing a member of the pathology team some people seem to think it would be a natural job for me, but it would be a disaster. I was really rubbish at the sciences at school - really rubbish."
Detailing his parents' reaction to his dreams of becoming an actor, David went on: "My parents were very surprised when I told them I wanted to be an actor but they were shocked. After all the effort they had put in, all the encouragement, all the money spent on fees and uniforms and everything else, they were surprised by my choice but they always supported me and never once stood in my way."
Thankfully, David decided to pursue his passion and has since gone on to enjoy a successful career. But when he's not busy filming for Silent Witness, he can be found at home with his wife and two children.
David's home life
David likes to keep his private life away from the spotlight. However, it's thought that he is married to Associate Finance Manager Verity Cunningham, with the pair having tied the knot in 2019.
© Dan Wooller/ShutterstockThe couple share two children together, with the second born in early 2023. During an appearance on The One Show in 2023, David told host Alex Jones that his second child was due within "the next couple of weeks".
David's friendship with Emilia Fox
David and Emilia have often spoken about their friendship, both on and off-screen. Last year, David revealed that their lives have "run parallel to each other" during the 13 years that they've spent working together.
© BBC Studios"I really, really respect her. I've been doing this for 13 years and she's been doing it for 22 years, a long time!" David told the BBC.
"Our lives have run parallel to each other. I have tremendous time and love for Emilia," he continued. "There isn't anybody who works harder or knows the show better or cares about the scripts as much as she does. I really admire the fact that she still has that care and love."
