Ian McShane

Template:Short description Template:About Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use British English Template:Infobox person Ian David McShane<ref name=ste>Template:Cite web</ref> (born 29 September 1942) is an English actor. His television performances include the title role in the BBC series Lovejoy (1986, 1991–1994),<ref name=Grdn>Template:Cite news</ref> Al Swearengen in Deadwood (2004–2006) and its 2019 film continuation, and 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. As a producer of the film, he was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Television Movie.

His film roles include Harry Brown in The Wild and the Willing (1962),<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> 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), Blackbeard in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011), and Winston Scott in the John Wick franchise (2014–present).

Early life

McShane was born in Blackburn, Lancashire on 29 September 1942. He is the child of professional footballer Harry (1920–2012) and Irene McShane (née Cowley; 1922–2020).<ref name="thetimes2017">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Grdn" /><ref name="Stevens">Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> His father was Scottish, from Holytown, Lanarkshire. His mother, who was born in England, was of Irish and English descent.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> McShane grew up in Davyhulme, Manchester and attended Stretford Grammar School. After being a member of the National Youth Theatre,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 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",<ref name="thetimes2017" /> and was still a student at RADA when he appeared with Hurt in his first film The Wild and the Willing in 1962.<ref name="Grdn" /> He later played Satan in the York Mystery Plays in 1963.

Career

File:Ian McShane, York Mystery Plays, 1963.png

McShane as Satan in the York Mystery Plays in 1963

In the United Kingdom, McShane's best known role is antiques dealer Lovejoy in the eponymous series (1986, 1991–1994).<ref name="thetimes2017"/><ref name=Grdn/><ref name="Stevens"/> Long before Lovejoy, McShane was a pin-up as a result of appearances in such television series 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),<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium, Battle of Britain (both 1969), Pussycat, Pussycat, I Love You (1970), Sitting Target (1972), The Last of Sheila (1973), and The Fifth Musketeer (1979).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

He has also enjoyed success in the United States as Don Lockwood in Dallas, and is known for the role of Al Swearengen in the HBO series Deadwood,<ref name="Stevens"/> for which he won the 2005 Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Television Drama.<ref name=Grdn/> He was also nominated at the 2005 Emmy Award and Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Among science fiction fans, McShane is known for playing Robert Bryson in Babylon 5: The River of Souls.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In a 2004 interview with The Independent, McShane stated that he wished he had turned down the role of Bryson as the technical dialogue was a struggle. and he found looking at Martin Sheen, who wore an eye in the middle of his forehead, to be the most embarrassing experience that he had ever had while acting.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 1985, McShane appeared as MC on Grace Jones' Slave to the Rhythm, a concept album featuring his narration interspersed throughout. It sold over a million copies worldwide.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

In 1992, he recorded and released a solo studio album, From Both Sides Now, in which he sang cover versions of popular songs.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The album reached number 40 in the UK Albums Chart.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

File:IanMcShane06.jpg

McShane in 2006

His other roles include that of armed robber and gangland boss Jack Last in the Minder episode The Last Video Show.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> As Captain Hook in Shrek the Third, Ragnar Sturlusson in The Golden Compass,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Tai Lung in Kung Fu Panda<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> (for which he received an Annie Award nomination), crime boss Teddy Bass in Sexy Beast, and Mr. Bobinsky in Coraline.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In live-action, he has performed in Hot Rod,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> the action/thriller Death Race,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and The Seeker.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He has appeared in The West Wing as a Russian diplomat.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2009, he appeared in Kings, which was drawn from the biblical story of David. His portrayal of King Silas Benjamin, an analogue of King Saul, was highly praised, with one critic writing: "Whenever Kings seems to falter, McShane appears to put bite marks all over the scenery."<ref>Gordon Haber, David, My David: Israel's Most Charismatic King Comes to TV, forward.com, 25 March 2009.</ref>

In 2010, McShane starred in The Pillars of the Earth as Bishop Waleran Bigod.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The series was a historical drama set in 12th-century England and adapted from Ken Follett's novel of the same name.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> That same year, it was confirmed that McShane would portray Edward "Blackbeard" Teach in the Walt Disney Company/Jerry Bruckheimer film Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> McShane reprised the role of Blackbeard in Pirates of the Caribbean in Disneyland and Walt Disney World,<ref name="Disney Parks Blog">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="D23">Template:Cite web</ref> as well as the interactive quest A Pirate's Adventure: Treasure of the Seven Seas at Magic Kingdom.<ref name="A Pirate's Adventure">Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2013, he played King Brahmwell in Bryan Singer's Jack the Giant Slayer.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Since 2010, McShane has narrated the opening teases for each round of ESPN's coverage of The Open Championship.<ref>Template:YouTube</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2016, he joined the cast of Game of Thrones in Season 6 as Septon Ray.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

McShane announced in 2017 that a script for a two-hour Deadwood film was submitted by creator David Milch to HBO and that a film was close to happening. "[A] two-hour movie script has been delivered to HBO. If they don't deliver [a finished product], blame them," McShane said.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The film began production in October 2018.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Deadwood: The Movie was released on 31 May 2019, concluding the story of the series.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Personal life

In 1965, McShane married English actress Suzan Farmer and they divorced in 1968. He married his second wife, English model Ruth Post, on 8 June 1968, and they had two children, Kate and Morgan.<ref name=Grdn/> In 1977, he began a five-year relationship with Sylvia Kristel after meeting her on the set of The Fifth Musketeer;<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> the affair ended his marriage to Post. On 30 August 1980, McShane married American actress Gwen Humble. They live in Venice, California. Through his eldest daughter, McShane has three grandchildren.<ref name=Grdn/>

In 2025 the New Orleans magazine Unlikely Stories Six published a political short film called The McShane Dimension based entirely upon Ian McShane at age 57 although the story actually occurs in the modern age.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Filmography

Film

Template:Sronly

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Template:Abbr
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
	Battle of Britain	Sgt. Pilot Andy Moore
1970	Pussycat, Pussycat, I Love You	Fred C. Dobbs
	Tam-Lin	Tom Lynn
1971	Freelance	Mitch
	Villain	Wolfe Lissner
1972	Left Hand of Gemini
	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
	The Fifth Musketeer	Fouquet
	Yesterday's Hero	Rod Turner
1981	Cheaper to Keep Her	Dr. Alfred Sunshine
1983	Exposed	Greg Miller
1985	Ordeal by Innocence	Philip Durant
	Too Scared to Scream	Vincent Hardwick
	Torchlight	Sidney
2000	Sexy Beast	Teddy Bass
2002	Bollywood Queen	Frank
2003	Agent Cody Banks	Dr. Brinkman
	Nemesis Game	Jeff Novak
2005	Nine Lives	Larry
2006	Scoop	Joe Strombel
	We Are Marshall	Paul Griffen
2007	Shrek the Third	Captain Hook	Voice<ref name="btva2">Template:Cite web 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 credits or other reliable sources of information.</ref>
	Hot Rod	Frank Powell
	The Seeker	Merriman Lyon
	The Golden Compass	Ragnar Sturlusson	Voice<ref name="btva2" />
2008	Kung Fu Panda	Tai Lung
	Death Race	Coach
2009	Coraline	Mr. Bobinsky	Voice
	Case 39	Detective Mike Barron
	44 Inch Chest	Meredith	Also executive producer
2010	The Sorcerer's Apprentice	Narrator	Uncredited<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
2011	Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides	Edward "Blackbeard" Teach
2012	Snow White and the Huntsman	Beith
2013	Jack the Giant Slayer	King Brahmwell
2014	Cuban Fury	Ron Parfitt
	Hercules	Amphiaraus
	John Wick	Winston Scott
	El Niño	El Inglés
2015	Bilal: A New Breed of Hero	Umayya	Voice<ref name="btva2" />
2016	Grimsby	MI6 Spy Boss	Uncredited
	The Hollow Point	Sheriff Leland Kilbaught
2017	John Wick: Chapter 2	Winston Scott
	Jawbone	Joe Padgett
	Pottersville	Bart
2018	Here Comes the Grump	The Grump	Voice	<ref name="grump-cast-screen">Template:Cite news</ref>
2019	Hellboy	Trevor Bruttenholm
	Bolden	Judge Leander Perry
	John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum	Winston Scott
2022	My Father's Dragon	Saiwa the Gorilla	Voice	<ref name="btva2" />
2023	John Wick: Chapter 4	Winston Scott
2024	American Star	Wilson
	Kung Fu Panda 4	Tai Lung	Voice	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2025	Ballerina	Winston Scott
	Deep Cover	Metcalfe

Television

Template:Sronly

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Template:Abbr
1963–1966	Play of the Week	Mick / Frank Barnes / Arthur	4 episodes
1964	Redcap	Sapper Russell	Episode: "Epitaph for a Sweat"
	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"
	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"
	Jesus of Nazareth	Judas Iscariot	2 episodes
	Code Name: Diamond Head	Sean Donovan	Television film
1978	Will Shakespeare	Christopher Marlowe	Episode: "Dead Shepherd"
	Disraeli	Benjamin Disraeli	4 episodes
	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
	Marco Polo	Ali Ben Yussouf	2 episodes
1983	Bare Essence	Niko Theophilus	11 episodes
	Grace Kelly	Prince Rainier of Monaco	Television film
1985	Evergreen	Paul Lerner	3 episodes
	A.D.	Sejanus	5 episodes
	Braker	Alan Roswell	Television film
1986	American Playhouse	Willy Wax	Episode: "Rocket to the Moon"
1986	The Murders in the Rue Morgue	Prefect of Police	Television film
1986, 1991–1994	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
	War and Remembrance	Philip Rule	4 episodes
	Chain Letter	The Messenger of Death	Television film
	The Great Escape II: The Untold Story	Roger Bushell	Television film
1989	Dallas	Don Lockwood	13 episodes
	Wonderworks: Young Charlie Chaplin	Charles Chaplin Sr.	6 episodes
	Minder	Jack Last	Episode: "The Last Video Show"
	Miami Vice	Gen. Manuel Borbon	Episode: "Freefall"
	Dick Francis Mysteries: Blood Sport	David Cleveland	Television film
	Dick Francis Mysteries: In The Frame
	Dick Francis Mysteries: Twice Shy
1990	Perry Mason: The Case of the Desperate Deception	Andre Marchand
	Columbo	Leland St. John	Episode: "Rest in Peace, Mrs. Columbo"
	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"
	Thieves	Jack	Episode: "Jack's Back"
2002	The West Wing	Nikolai Ivanovich	Episode: "Enemies Foreign and Domestic"
	In Deep	Jamie Lamb	2 episodes
	Man and Boy	Marty Mann	Television film
2003	Trust	Alan Cooper-Fozzard	6 episodes
	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	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2016	Doctor Thorne	Sir Roger Scatcherd	3 episodes	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	Game of Thrones	Brother Ray	Episode: "The Broken Man"
2017–2021	American Gods	Mr. Wednesday	Main cast	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2019	Deadwood: The Movie	Al Swearengen	Television film; also executive producer
	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"	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2023	One Piece	Narrator	Episode: "Romance Dawn"

Video games

Template:Sronly

Year	Title	Voice role	Template:Abbr
2019	John Wick Hex	Winston	<ref name="btva2" />

Theme park attractions

Year	Title	Role	Venue
2011	Pirates of the Caribbean	Blackbeard	Disneyland; Walt Disney World<ref name="Disney Parks Blog"/><ref name="D23"/>
2013	A Pirate's Adventure: Treasure of the Seven Seas	Blackbeard	Magic Kingdom<ref name="A Pirate's Adventure"/>

Awards and nominations

Year	Association	Category	Nominated work	Result
2004	Television Critics Association Awards	Individual Achievement in Drama	Deadwood	Template:Won
2005	Golden Globe Awards	Best Actor – Television Series Drama		Template:Won
2005	Gotham Awards	Best Ensemble Cast	Nine Lives	Template:Nom
2005	Primetime Emmy Awards	Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series	Deadwood	Template:Nom
2005	Satellite Awards	Best Actor – Television Series Drama		Template:Nom
2005	Television Critics Association Awards	Individual Achievement in Drama		Template:Nom
2006	Screen Actors Guild Awards	Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series		Template:Nom
2007	Screen Actors Guild Awards	Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series		Template:Nom
2009	Annie Awards	Best Voice Acting in an Animated Featured Production	Kung Fu Panda	Template:Nom
2010	San Diego Film Critics Society Awards	Best Ensemble Performance	44 Inch Chest	Template:Won
2010	Satellite Awards	Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film	The Pillars of the Earth	Template:Nom
2011	Golden Globe Awards	Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film		Template:Nom
2011	Golden Nymph Awards	Outstanding Actor in a Miniseries		Template:Nom
2011	Teen Choice Awards	Choice Movie: Villain	Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides	Template:Nom
2018	Critics' Choice Television Awards	Best Actor in a Drama Series	American Gods	Template:Nom
2019	Primetime Emmy Awards	Outstanding Television Movie (as executive producer)	Deadwood: The Movie	Template:Nom
2025	Children's and Family Emmy Awards	Outstanding Children's Personality	One Piece	Template:Nom

External links

• Template:IMDb name
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• Template:Tcmdb name
• "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.