Eric "Ricky" Tomlinson, precisely 5ft 8 (172.7 cm) tall, is an English actor renowned for his larger-than-life persona despite his modest stature. Best known for playing the boisterous Jim Royle in the comedy series The Royle Family, his 5ft 8 frame perfectly suited the character's stocky, working-class everyman image.
In Mike Bassett: England Manager, Tomlinson's height added to the comedic underdog appeal of his football manager role. He often jokes about his size, quipping, "I'm only about 5ft 8ins. I should be taller than bloody Lennox Lewis," highlighting how his hefty build rivals the heavyweight boxer's weight despite being much shorter.
- Toured UK theatres with An Evening with Ricky Tomlinson in 2006.
- Actor, musician, author, and political activist.