Robert Carlyle was raised in Maryhill, Glasgow, Scotland, by his father Joseph, after his mother left him when he was only four. At the age of 21, after reading Arthur Miller's "The Crucible", he enrolled in acting classes at the Glasgow Arts Centre. In 1991, together with four other actors, he founded the Raindog theatre company (named after Tom Waits' album "Rain Dog", one of Carlyle's favorites), a company dedicated to innovative work.
Awarded an OBE in the 1999 New Years honours list. Founded a theater company in 1991. Robert Carlyle ranked seventh in the 2001 Orange Film Survey of greatest British actors. In 2002, his wife gave birth to a daughter, Ava. Owns the Rain Dog Theatre Company, named after the album "Rain Dogs" by Tom Waits. A partner in the British film production company 4 Ways along with Antonia Bird, Irvine Welsh and Mark Cousins. Son Harvey born March 2004 Has not seen his estranged mother, Liz McDonald, since he was four years old. His father, Joe, died at age 76 on January 7, 2006, and was buried in Maryhill, Glasgow, on January 14th. Son, Pearce Joseph, born April 2006 at Queen Mother's Hospital in Glasgow, Scotland. Second son Pearce Joseph Carlyle born April 2006. Trained at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and formed his own theatre company Raindog in 1991.