Ian McShane
British actor
Suzan Farmer
(m. 1965; div. 1968)Ruth Post
(m. 1970; div. 1975)Gwen Humble
(m. 1980)- Harry McShane (father)
Ian David McShane[1] (born 29 September 1942) is a British actor. He is known for his television performances, particularly as the title role in the BBC series Lovejoy (1986–1994),[2] Al Swearengen in Deadwood (2004–2006) and its 2019 film continuation, as well as Mr. Wednesday in American Gods (2017–2021). For the original series of Deadwood, McShane won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama and received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. For the film, he (as producer) was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Television Movie.
His film roles include Harry Brown in The Wild and the Willing (1962), Charlie Cartwright in If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium (1969), Wolfe Lissner in Villain (1971), Teddy Bass in Sexy Beast (2000), Frank Powell in Hot Rod (2007), Captain Hook in Shrek the Third (2007), Tai Lung in Kung Fu Panda (2008) and Kung Fu Panda 4 (2024), Blackbeard in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011), and Winston Scott in the John Wick series (2014–present).
Early life
McShane was born Ian David McShane in Blackburn, Lancashire, on 29 September 1942, the only child of Irene (née Cowley; 1922–2020) and professional footballer Harry McShane (1920–2012).[3][2][4][5] His father was Scottish, from Holytown, Lanarkshire, and his mother, who was born in England, was of Irish and English descent.[6] McShane grew up in Davyhulme, Manchester, and attended Stretford Grammar School. After being a member of the National Youth Theatre,[7] he studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), with Anthony Hopkins and John Hurt. McShane shared a flat with Hurt, whom he called his "oldest friend in the business",[3] and he was still a student at RADA when he appeared (with Hurt) in his first film The Wild and the Willing (1962).[2] He later played Satan in the York Mystery Plays in 1963.
Career
In the United Kingdom, McShane's best known role is antiques dealer Lovejoy in the eponymous series.[3][2][4] Long before Lovejoy, McShane was a pin-up as a result of appearances in television series, such as Wuthering Heights (1967, as Heathcliff), Jesus of Nazareth (1977, as Judas Iscariot), and Disraeli (1978)—as well as films like Sky West and Crooked (1965) and Battle of Britain (1969).[8][9] The actor also enjoyed success in the United States as British film director Don Lockwood in Dallas.
In the United States, he is known for the role of historical figure Al Swearengen in the HBO series Deadwood,[4] for which he won the 2005 Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Television Drama.[2] He was also nominated at the 2005 Emmy Award and Screen Actors Guild Awards.
Among science fiction fans, McShane is known for playing the character Robert Bryson in Babylon 5: The River of Souls.[10] In a 2004 interview with The Independent, McShane stated that he wished that he had turned down the role of Bryson as he had struggled with the technical dialogue and found looking at Martin Sheen, who was wearing an eye in the middle of his forehead, to be the most embarrassing experience that he had ever had while acting.[11]
In 1985, McShane appeared as an MC on Grace Jones' Slave to the Rhythm, a concept album which featured his narration interspersed throughout and which sold over a million copies worldwide.[12][13]
In 1992, he recorded and released his own solo studio album, From Both Sides Now, which features McShane singing cover versions of popular songs.[14][15] The album reached number 40 in the UK Albums Chart.[16]
His other roles include that of armed robber and gangland boss Jack Last in the Minder episode The Last Video Show.[17] As Captain Hook in Shrek the Third, Ragnar Sturlusson in The Golden Compass,[18] Tai Lung in Kung Fu Panda[19] (for which he received an Annie Award nomination), crime boss Teddy Bass in Sexy Beast, and Mr. Bobinsky in Coraline.[20] In live-action, he has performed in Hot Rod,[21] the action/thriller Death Race,[22] and The Seeker.[23] He has appeared in The West Wing as a Russian diplomat.[24] During 2007–08, he starred as Max in the 40th anniversary Broadway revival of Harold Pinter's The Homecoming, co-starring Eve Best, Raúl Esparza, and Michael McKean, and directed by Daniel Sullivan, at the Cort Theatre (16 December 2007 – 13 April 2008).[25]
In 2009, he appeared in Kings, which was based on the biblical story of David. His portrayal of King Silas Benjamin, an analogue of King Saul, was highly praised with one critic saying: "Whenever Kings seems to falter, McShane appears to put bite marks all over the scenery."[26]
In 2010, McShane starred in The Pillars of the Earth as Bishop Waleran Bigod.[27] The series was a historical drama set in 12th-century England and adapted from Ken Follett's novel of the same name.[28] That same year, the Walt Disney Company confirmed that McShane would portray Blackbeard in On Stranger Tides.[29]
In 2013, he played King Brahmwell in Bryan Singer's Jack the Giant Slayer.[30]
Since 2010, McShane has narrated the opening teases for each round of ESPN's coverage of The Open Championship.[31] In 2012, McShane had a guest role for two episodes as Murder Santa, a sadistic serial killer in the 1960s in the second season of American Horror Story.[32] In 2016, he joined the cast of Game of Thrones in Season 6 as Septon Ray.[33][34]
McShane announced on 20 April 2017 that a script for a two-hour Deadwood film had been submitted by creator David Milch to HBO and that a film was as close as ever to happening. "[A] two-hour movie script has been delivered to HBO. If they don't deliver [a finished product], blame them," McShane said.[35] The film began production in October 2018.[36] Deadwood: The Movie was released on 31 May 2019, concluding the story of the series.[37]
Personal life
McShane married and divorced Suzan Farmer in the 1960s. Then he married model Ruth Post with whom he had two children.[2] In 1977, he began a relationship with Sylvia Kristel after meeting her on the set of The Fifth Musketeer.[38] On 30 August 1980, McShane married Gwen Humble. They live in Venice, California. Through his eldest daughter, McShane has three grandchildren.[2]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Refs. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | The Wild and the Willing | Harry Brown | ||
| 1965 | The Pleasure Girls | Keith Dexter | ||
| 1966 | Sky West and Crooked | Roibin | ||
| 1969 | If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium | Charlie Cartwright | ||
| 1969 | Battle of Britain | Sgt. Pilot Andy Moore | ||
| 1970 | Pussycat, Pussycat, I Love You | Fred C. Dobbs | ||
| 1970 | Tam-Lin | Tom Lynn | ||
| 1971 | Freelance | Mitch | ||
| 1971 | Villain | Wolfe Lissner | ||
| 1972 | Left Hand of Gemini | |||
| 1972 | Sitting Target | Birdy Williams | ||
| 1973 | The Last of Sheila | Anthony Wood | ||
| 1974 | Ransom | Ray Petrie | ||
| 1975 | Journey into Fear | Banat | ||
| 1979 | The Great Riviera Bank Robbery | The Brain | ||
| 1979 | The Fifth Musketeer | Fouquet | ||
| 1979 | Yesterday's Hero | Rod Turner | ||
| 1981 | Cheaper to Keep Her | Dr. Alfred Sunshine | ||
| 1983 | Exposed | Greg Miller | ||
| 1985 | Ordeal by Innocence | Philip Durant | ||
| 1985 | Too Scared to Scream | Vincent Hardwick | ||
| 1985 | Torchlight | Sidney | ||
| 2000 | Sexy Beast | Teddy Bass | ||
| 2002 | Bollywood Queen | Frank | ||
| 2003 | Agent Cody Banks | Dr. Brinkman | ||
| 2003 | Nemesis Game | Jeff Novak | ||
| 2005 | Nine Lives | Larry | ||
| 2006 | Scoop | Joe Strombel | ||
| 2006 | We Are Marshall | Paul Griffen | ||
| 2007 | Shrek the Third | Captain Hook | Voice[39] | |
| 2007 | Hot Rod | Frank Powell | ||
| 2007 | The Seeker | Merriman Lyon | ||
| 2007 | The Golden Compass | Ragnar Sturlusson | Voice[39] | |
| 2008 | Kung Fu Panda | Tai Lung | ||
| 2008 | Death Race | Coach | ||
| 2009 | Coraline | Mr. Bobinsky | Voice | |
| 2009 | Case 39 | Detective Mike Barron | ||
| 2009 | 44 Inch Chest | Meredith | Also executive producer | |
| 2010 | The Sorcerer's Apprentice | Narrator | Uncredited[40] | |
| 2011 | Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides | Blackbeard | ||
| 2012 | Snow White and the Huntsman | Beith | ||
| 2013 | Jack the Giant Slayer | King Brahmwell | ||
| 2014 | Cuban Fury | Ron Parfitt | ||
| 2014 | Hercules | Amphiaraus | ||
| 2014 | John Wick | Winston Scott | ||
| 2014 | El Niño | El Inglés | ||
| 2015 | Bilal: A New Breed of Hero | Umayya | Voice[39] | |
| 2016 | Grimsby | MI6 Spy Boss | Uncredited | |
| 2016 | The Hollow Point | Sheriff Leland Kilbaught | ||
| 2017 | John Wick: Chapter 2 | Winston Scott | ||
| 2017 | Jawbone | Joe Padgett | ||
| 2017 | Pottersville | Bart | ||
| 2018 | Here Comes the Grump | The Grump | Voice | [41] |
| 2019 | Hellboy | Trevor Bruttenholm | ||
| 2019 | Bolden | Judge Leander Perry | ||
| 2019 | John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum | Winston Scott | ||
| 2022 | My Father's Dragon | Saiwa the Gorilla | Voice | [39] |
| 2023 | John Wick: Chapter 4 | Winston Scott | ||
| 2024 | American Star | Wilson | ||
| 2024 | Kung Fu Panda 4 | Tai Lung | Voice | [42] |
| 2025 | John Wick Presents: Ballerina † | Winston Scott | Post-production |
| † | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Refs. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1963–1966 | Play of the Week | Mick / Frank Barnes / Arthur | 4 episodes | |
| 1964 | Redcap | Sapper Russell | Episode: "Epitaph for a Sweat" | |
| 1964 | The Sullavan Brothers | David Hemming | 1 episode | |
| 1966 | You Can't Win | Joe Lunn | 7 episodes | |
| 1967 | Wuthering Heights | Heathcliff | 4 episodes | |
| 1972 | Whose Life Is It Anyway? | Ken Harrison | Television play | |
| 1975 | Space: 1999 | Anton Zoref | Episode: "Force of Life" | |
| 1975 | The Lives of Jenny Dolan | Saunders | Television film | |
| 1976 | The Fantastic Journey | Sir James Camden | Episode: "The Fantastic Journey" | |
| 1977 | Roots | Sir Eric Russell | Episode: "Part Nine" | |
| 1977 | Jesus of Nazareth | Judas Iscariot | 2 episodes | |
| 1977 | Code Name: Diamond Head | Sean Donovan | Television film | |
| 1978 | Will Shakespeare | Christopher Marlowe | Episode: "Dead Shepherd" | |
| 1978 | Disraeli | Benjamin Disraeli | 4 episodes | |
| 1978 | The Pirate | Rashid | Television film | |
| 1980 | Armchair Thriller - High Tide | Curtis | 4 episodes | |
| 1981, 1982 | Magnum, P.I. | David Norman / Edwin Clutterbuck | 2 episodes | |
| 1982 | The Letter | Geoff | Television film | |
| 1982 | Marco Polo | Ali Ben Yussouf | 2 episodes | |
| 1983 | Bare Essence | Niko Theophilus | 11 episodes | |
| 1983 | Grace Kelly | Prince Rainier of Monaco | Television film | |
| 1985 | Evergreen | Paul Lerner | 3 episodes | |
| 1985 | A.D. | Sejanus | 5 episodes | |
| 1985 | Braker | Alan Roswell | Television film | |
| 1986 | American Playhouse | Willy Wax | Episode: "Rocket to the Moon" | |
| 1986–1994 | Lovejoy | Lovejoy | Main role | |
| 1987 | Grand Larceny | Flanagan | Television film | |
| 1987, 1989 | Miami Vice | Esteban Montoya | 2 episodes | |
| 1988 | The Dirty Dozen | Lindberger | 1 episode | |
| 1988 | War and Remembrance | Philip Rule | 4 episodes | |
| 1988 | Chain Letter | The Messenger of Death | Television film | |
| 1989 | Dallas | Don Lockwood | 13 episodes | |
| 1989 | Wonderworks: Young Charlie Chaplin | Charles Chaplin Sr. | 6 episodes | |
| 1989 | Minder | Jack Last | Episode: "The Last Video Show" | |
| 1989 | Miami Vice | Gen. Manuel Borbon | Episode: "Freefall" | |
| 1989 | Dick Francis Mysteries: Blood Sport | David Cleveland | Television film | |
| 1989 | Dick Francis Mysteries: In The Frame | |||
| 1989 | Dick Francis Mysteries: Twice Shy | |||
| 1990 | Perry Mason: The Case of the Desperate Deception | Andre Marchand | ||
| 1990 | Columbo | Leland St. John | Episode: "Rest in Peace, Mrs. Columbo" | |
| 1990 | Mistress of Suspense | Steven Castle | Episode: "Sauce for the Goose" | |
| 1994 | White Goods | Ian Deegan | Television film | |
| 1995 | Soul Survivors | Otis Cooke | 2 episodes | |
| 1996 | Madson | John Madson | 6 episodes | |
| 1997 | The Naked Truth | Leland Banks | 2 episodes | |
| 1998 | Babylon 5: The River of Souls | Robert Bryson, PhD | Television film | |
| 1999 | D.R.E.A.M. Team | Oliver Maxwell | ||
| 2001 | Britain's Most Terrifying Ghost Stories | Narrator | Episode: "All" | |
| 2001 | Thieves | Jack | Episode: "Jack's Back" | |
| 2002 | The West Wing | Nikolai Ivanovich | Episode: "Enemies Foreign and Domestic" | |
| 2002 | In Deep | Jamie Lamb | 2 episodes | |
| 2002 | Man and Boy | Marty Mann | Television film | |
| 2003 | Trust | Alan Cooper-Fozzard | 6 episodes | |
| 2003 | The Twilight Zone | Dr. Chandler | Episode: "Cold Fusion" | |
| 2004–2006 | Deadwood | Al Swearengen | 36 episodes | |
| 2008 | SpongeBob SquarePants | Gordon | Episode: "Dear Vikings"; voice | |
| 2009 | Kings | King Silas Benjamin | 12 episodes | |
| 2010 | The Pillars of the Earth | Waleran Bigod | 8 episodes | |
| 2012 | American Horror Story: Asylum | Leigh Emerson | 2 episodes | |
| 2015 | Ray Donovan | Andrew Finney | 9 episodes | [43] |
| 2016 | Doctor Thorne | Sir Roger Scatcherd | 3 episodes | [44] |
| 2016 | Game of Thrones | Brother Ray | Episode: "The Broken Man" | |
| 2017–2021 | American Gods | Mr. Wednesday | Main cast | [45] |
| 2019 | Deadwood: The Movie | Al Swearengen | Television film; also executive producer | |
| 2019 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Sir Tobias Moore | Episode: "I'm Going To Make You a Star" | |
| 2021 | The Simpsons | Artemis | Voice, episode: "The Last Barfighter" | [46] |
| 2023 | One Piece | Narrator | Episode: "Romance Dawn" |
Video games
| Year | Title | Voice role | Refs. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | John Wick Hex | Winston | [39] |
Awards and nominations
References
- ^ "Ian McShane, Esq's Biography". Debrett's. 2009. Archived from the original on 3 January 2011. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g Gilbey, Ryan (16 March 2013). "Ian McShane: rogue trader". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 March 2013.
- ^ a b c Bertodano, Helena de (3 June 2017). "Ian McShane: 'Believe me, the hell-raising years were a lot of fun'". The Times. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
- ^ a b c Stevens, Christopher (2010). Born Brilliant: The Life of Kenneth Williams. John Murray. p. 385. ISBN 978-1-84854-195-5.
- ^ "Ian McShane biography". Film Reference. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
- ^ "Start building your family tree today". Thegenealogist.co.uk. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
- ^ NIGHT, DAY & (7 March 2016). "Ian McShane: Working-class actors must get more help". Express.co.uk. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
- ^ "Ian McShane". TV Guide. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
- ^ "Filmography for Ian McShane". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
- ^ "Babylon 5: The River of Souls". scifimusings.blogspot.ca. 13 January 2010. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
- ^ "Ian McShane: You Ask the Questions". The Independent. 15 September 2004. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
- ^ Billboard – Google Livros. 22 November 1986. Retrieved 29 March 2011.
- ^ Billboard – Google Livros. 13 December 1986. Retrieved 29 March 2011.
- ^ "Ian McShane - From Both Sides Now Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
- ^ "Ian McShane - From Both Sides Now". 21 July 1992 – via www.discogs.com.
- ^ "IAN MCSHANE | Official Charts". Official Charts. 21 November 1992.
- ^ "#7.4 the Last Video Show".
- ^ Ebert, Roger. "The Golden Compass Movie Review (2007) | Roger Ebert". www.rogerebert.com. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
- ^ "Kung Fu Panda - Ian McShane Interview". movieweb.com. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
- ^ "Coraline - Ian McShane Interview". movieweb.com. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
- ^ "Ian McShane Joins The Cast of Hot Rod". movieweb.com. 18 June 2006. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
- ^ Hewitt, Chris (8 August 2007). "Ian McShane Enters The Death Race". Empire. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
- ^ "Interview: Ian McShane, Star of 'The Seeker: The Dark is Rising'". AOL Moviefone. 4 October 2007. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
- ^ "35 People You Might Not Realize Appeared on 'The West Wing'". mentalfloss.com. 22 October 2014. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
- ^ "The Homecoming @ Cort Theatre | Playbill". Playbill. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
- ^ Gordon Haber, David, My David: Israel's Most Charismatic King Comes to TV, forward.com, 25 March 2009.
- ^ Hale, Mike (22 July 2010). "Ian McShane in Starz Mini-Series of Ken Follett Book". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
- ^ MacInnes, Paul (16 October 2010). "The Pillars of the Earth: episode one". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
- ^ "EXCLUSIVE: 'Pirates 4' Producer Jerry Bruckheimer Confirms Geoffrey Rush Return, Penelope Cruz As Blackbeard's Daughter » MTV Movies Blog". Archived from the original on 20 January 2013. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
- ^ Kit, Borys (21 March 2011). "Ian McShane Joins Bryan Singer's 'Jack the Giant Killer'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 23 March 2011. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
- ^ 2010 BRITISH OPEN THURSDAY on YouTube
- ^ Mitovich, Matt Webb (10 October 2012). "Horror Story Taps Deadwood's Ian McShane to 'Tussle' With Jessica Lange". TVLine. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
- ^ "Ian McShane cast in Game of Thrones season 6". Watchers on the Wall. 1 August 2015.
- ^ "Ian McShane Has No Regrets About Spoiling Game of Thrones". Vulture.com. 24 July 2016. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
- ^ Gunderman, Dan (20 April 2017). "Actor Ian McShane says 'Deadwood' creator submitted revival movie script to HBO". Collider. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
- ^ "'Deadwood' Movie Starts Filming with Majority of Cast Returning". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
- ^ HBO PR (21 March 2019). "HBO Films' DEADWOOD Debuts May 31". Medium. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
- ^ Ross, Deborah (30 June 2007). "Interview: Sylvia Kristel, the world's most famous porn star". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 20 November 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
- ^ a b c d e "Ian McShane (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved 10 March 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its opening and/or closing credits and/or other reliable sources of information.
- ^ Maher, Kevin. "The Sorcerer's Apprentice".
- ^ Grater, Tom (5 October 2017). "Lily Collins, Ian McShane, Toby Kebbell to voice 'Here Comes The Grump' (exclusive)". Screen Daily. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
- ^ Sachdeva, Maanya (29 December 2024). "Kung Fu Panda fans praise 'legendary' new villain as trailer for fourth film released". The Independent. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
- ^ "'Deadwood' Star Ian McShane Joins Showtime's 'Ray Donovan'". thewrap.com. 21 January 2015. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
- ^ Heritage, Stuart (7 March 2016). "Ian McShane: why he'll always be an antiques dealer with a mullet". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
- ^ "Ian McShane to Star in 'American Gods' for Starz". The Hollywood Reporter. 2 March 2016. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
- ^ "Episode Title: (SI-3215) "The Last Barfighter"". The Futon Critic. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ian McShane.
Wikiquote has quotations related to Ian McShane.
- Ian McShane at IMDb
- Ian McShane at the Internet Broadway Database
- Ian McShane at the TCM Movie Database
- Ian McShane at AllMovie
- "A Conversation with Actor Ian McShane" (Max)—The Charlie Rose Show, PBS, broadcast of 24 March 2008. Accessed 25 March 2008. ("A conversation with actor Ian McShane about his role in the 40th Anniversary Broadway revival of Harold Pinter's The Homecoming.")
- The Homecoming on Broadway—Official site of the 40th anniversary Broadway revival at the Cort Theatre. Accessed 25 March 2008.
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