Ian McShane

Ian McShane Headshot

Actor

Birth Date: September 29, 1942

Age: 81 years old

Birth Place: Blackburn, Lancashire, England, UK

British actor Ian McShane had a long, venerable career, though for most of it he remained unknown to American audiences, despite frequent appearances on television and in movies. One of his better known roles - as the smooth-talking criminal mastermind Teddy Bass in Jonathan Glazer's stylish crime thriller, "Sexy Beast" (2001) - allowed McShane a proper introduction. Though most of the accolades went to fellow Englishman Ben Kingsley for his scathing performance as the barking-mad bank robber Don Logan, McShane received his share of good notices for his portrayal of the sinister financier of a heist that eventually goes bad. But his most recognized and rewarded role came 42 years after his first onscreen performance. Playing the beguiling Al Swearengen, a cruel, calculating saloon owner on the acclaimed Western revival, "Deadwood" (HBO, 2003-06), McShane had the chance to play what the actor called "the best role I ever had," while finally making himself a household name. Following that success, McShane moved into a comfortable string of character roles on series including "Ray Donovan" (Showtime 2013- ) and "Game of Thrones" (HBO 2011- ).

Credits

Ballerina

Actor
Winston
Movie
2025

Kung Fu Panda 4

Voice
Tai Lung
Movie
2024
72%

American StarStream

Actor
Wilson
Movie
2024
77%

American StarStream

Producer
Movie
2024
77%

John Wick: Chapter 4Stream

Actor
Winston
Movie
2023
94%

Hercules: The Thracian Wars

Actor
Show
2022

My Father's Dragon

Voice
Movie
2022

The Kelly Clarkson ShowStream

Guest
Talk
2019

John Wick: Chapter 3 — ParabellumStream

Actor
Winston
Movie
2019
89%

HellboyStream

Actor
Professor Broom
Movie
2019
17%

Bolden

Actor
Judge Perry
Movie
2019

Master of Dark Shadows

Narrator
Movie
2019

Deadwood: The MovieStream

Actor
Al Swearengen
Movie
2019
98%

Deadwood: The MovieStream

Executive Producer
Movie
2019
98%

A Wizard's Tale

Voice
The Grump
Movie
2018

American GodsStream

Actor
Mr. Wednesday
Series
2017
77%

John Wick: Chapter 2Stream

Actor
Winston
Movie
2017
89%

Jawbone

Actor
Joe Padgett
Movie
2017

Pottersville

Actor
Movie
2017

Doctor ThorneStream

Actor
Sir Roger Scatcherd
Miniseries
2016
87%

The Brothers Grimsby

Actor
MI6 Spy Boss
Movie
2016

The Brothers Grimsby With Hilarious Outtakes

Actor
Movie
2016

The Hollow Point

Actor
Leland
Movie
2016

Doctor Thorne

Actor
Sir Roger Scatcherd
Movie
2016

The Late Show With Stephen ColbertStream

Guest
Talk
2015

Bilal: A New Breed of Hero

Voice
Umayya
Movie
2015

Late Night With Seth MeyersStream

Guest
Talk
2014

HerculesStream

Actor
Amphiaraus
Movie
2014
58%

John WickStream

Actor
Winston
Movie
2014
86%

El niño

Actor
Inglés
Movie
2014

Cuban Fury

Actor
Ron Parfait
Movie
2014

Ray DonovanStream

Actor
Andrew Finney
Series
2013
72%

Ray DonovanStream

Guest Star
Andrew Finney
Series
2013
72%

How We Used to Live

Narrator
Movie
2013

Jack the Giant Slayer

Actor
King Brahmwell
Movie
2013

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides: Extras

Actor
Show
2012

American Horror Story: Asylum

Guest Star
Leigh Emerson
Show
2012

Snow White and the HuntsmanStream

Actor
Beith
Movie
2012
49%

Game of ThronesStream

Guest Star
Brother Ray
Series
2011
88%

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger TidesStream

Actor
Blackbeard
Movie
2011
33%

The Pillars of the Earth

Actor
Miniseries
2010
77%

KingsStream

Actor
King Silas
Series
2009

Case 39Stream

Actor
Detective Mike Barron
Movie
2009
21%

CoralineStream

Voice
Mr. Bobinsky
Movie
2009
90%

44 Inch Chest

Actor
Meredith
Movie
2009

44 Inch Chest

Executive Producer
Movie
2009

Kung Fu PandaStream

Voice
Tai Lung
Movie
2008
87%

Death RaceStream

Actor
Coach
Movie
2008
41%

Shrek the ThirdStream

Voice
Captain Hook
Movie
2007
42%

Hot RodStream

Actor
Frank Powell
Movie
2007
39%

The Seeker: The Dark Is Rising

Actor
Merriman Lyon
Movie
2007

The Golden CompassStream

Voice
Ragnar Sturlusson
Movie
2007
42%

Shrek the Third 3D

Voice
Captain Hook
Movie
2007

The One Show

Guest
Show
2006

Scoop

Actor
Joe Strombel
Movie
2006

We Are Marshall

Actor
Paul Griffin
Movie
2006

Nine Lives

Actor
Larry
Movie
2005

DeadwoodStream

Actor
Al Swearengen
Series
2004
92%

Trust

Actor
Show
2004

Tavis Smiley

Guest
Talk
2004

Agent Cody BanksStream

Actor
Brinkman
Movie
2003
13%

Nemesis Game

Actor
Jeff Novak
Movie
2003

The Twilight ZoneStream

Actor
Series
2002

Man and Boy

Actor
Marty Mann
Movie
2002

Bollywood Queen

Actor
Frank
Movie
2002

Thieves

Guest Star
Show
2001

In Deep

Actor
Show
2001

Sexy BeastStream

Actor
Teddy Bass
Movie
2000
86%

The West WingStream

Guest Star
Russian Negotiator Nikolai Ivanovich
Series
1999
81%

Law & Order: Special Victims UnitStream

Guest Star
Sir Tobias "Toby" Moore
Series
1999
78%

SpongeBob SquarePantsStream

Guest Voice
Gordon
Series
1999

The Daily Show With Jon StewartStream

Guest
Talk
1999

D.R.E.A.M. Team

Actor
Oliver Maxwell
Movie
1999

Babylon 5: River of Souls

Actor
Robert Bryson
Movie
1998

The View

Guest
Talk
1997

Traders of the Lost Scrolls

Narrator
Show
1997

The Naked Truth

Guest Star
Series
1995
64%

Soul Survivors

Actor
Otis Cooke
Movie
1995

Reto Snooker

Actor
Movie
1994

White Goods

Actor
Ian Deegan
Movie
1994

Un coup de génie

Actor
Movie
1991

Faux-semblant

Actor
Movie
1991

Young Charlie Chaplin

Actor
Charles Chaplin Snr
Show
1990

Chillers

Actor
Show
1990

Perry Mason: The Case of the Desperate Deception

Actor
Andre Marchand
Movie
1990

The SimpsonsStream

Guest Voice
Artemis
Series
1989
85%

Pura Sangre

Actor
Movie
1989

Doblemente Oculto

Actor
Movie
1989

Misterios de Dick Francis: Doble Crimen

Actor
Movie
1989

Sospecha Fatal

Actor
Movie
1989

Blood Sport

Actor
David Cleveland
Movie
1989

In the Frame

Actor
David Cleveland
Movie
1989

Twice Shy

Actor
David Cleveland
Movie
1989

Young Charlie Chaplin

Actor
Charles Chaplin Snr
Movie
1989

War and Remembrance

Actor
Philip Rule
Miniseries
1988

The Great Escape II: The Untold Story

Actor
Roger Bushell
Show
1988

大脱走 2 / 脱出編・復讐編

Actor
Movie
1988

The Great Escape II: The Untold Story

Actor
Roger Bushell
Movie
1988

La Gran Prueba

Actor
Movie
1987

Grand Larceny

Actor
Flanagan
Movie
1987

La Gran Estafa

Actor
Movie
1987

Lovejoy

Actor
Show
1986

Lovejoy

Director
Show
1986

The Murders in the Rue Morgue

Actor
Prefect of Police
Movie
1986

The Doorman

Actor
Vincent Hardwick
Movie
1985

Too Scared to Scream

Actor
Vincent Hardwick
Movie
1985

Miami ViceStream

Guest Star
Esteban Montoya
Series
1984
71%

Inocencia Trágica

Actor
Movie
1984

Torchlight

Actor
Sidney
Movie
1984

Ordeal by Innocence

Actor
Philip Durant
Movie
1984

Grace Kelly

Actor
Prince Rainier of Monaco
Movie
1983

Exposed

Actor
Greg Miller
Movie
1983

Magnum, P.I.Stream

Guest Star
Edwin Clutterbuck
Series
1980

Cheaper to Keep Her

Actor
Dr. Alfred Sunshine
Movie
1980

High Tide

Actor
Curtis
Movie
1980

The Great Riviera Bank Robbery

Actor
The Brain
Movie
1979

The Fifth Musketeer

Actor
Fouquet
Movie
1979

Yesterday's Hero

Actor
Rod Turner
Movie
1979

Les Égouts de l'or

Actor
Movie
1979

DallasStream

Guest Star
Soap
1978

The Pirate

Actor
Rashid
Movie
1978

Jesus of NazarethStream

Actor
Judas Iscariot
Miniseries
1977

Code Name: Diamond Head

Actor
Sean Donovan/Father Horton/Colonel Millard Butler
Movie
1977

Jésus de Nazareth

Actor
Judas Iscariot
Movie
1977

The Lives of Jenny Dolan

Actor
Saunders
Movie
1975

Journey Into Fear

Actor
Banat
Movie
1975

Freelance

Actor
Mitch
Movie
1975

Voyage au pays de la peur

Actor
Movie
1975

Police Woman

Guest Star
Dan Markson
Series
1974

The Terrorists

Actor
Ray Petrie
Movie
1974
50%

The Last of SheilaStream

Actor
Anthony
Movie
1973
90%

Sitting Target

Actor
Birdy Williams
Movie
1972

ColumboStream

Guest Star
Leland St. John
Series
1971

The Shakedown

Actor
Movie
1971

Tam Lin

Actor
Tom Lynn
Movie
1971

Villain

Actor
Wolfe Lissner
Movie
1971

Pussycat, Pussycat, I Love You

Actor
Fred C. Dobbs
Movie
1970

If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium

Actor
Charlie Cartwright
Movie
1969

Battle of BritainStream

Actor
Sgt. Pilot Andy
Movie
1969
67%

La Chica Gitana

Actor
Movie
1966

The Pleasure Girls

Actor
Keith Dexter
Movie
1965

Gypsy Girl

Actor
Roibin
Movie
1965

Young and Willing

Actor
Harry Brown
Movie
1962

The Wild and the Willing

Actor
Harry Brown
Movie
1962

The Young and the Willing

Actor
Harry Brown
Movie
1962

Today

Guest
News
1952

News aboutIan McShane

Ian McShane as Silas and Christopher Egan as David in 'Kings'

All Hail ‘Kings’: 6 Reasons to Revisit the One-Season Wonder

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‘Columbo’ Aired Its Last Mystery 20 Years Ago: 13 Celebs Who Guest-Starred on the Series

Tom Selleck, Ted Lange, and Nick Offerman

15 Best TV Mustaches of All Time, Ranked

Tim Roth and Ian McShane

Tim Roth Replaces Ian McShane in Paramount+ Drama Amid Health Concerns

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Q&A

‘American Gods’: Ricky Whittle Talks ‘Epic’ Season Finale and Chances for a Fourth Season (VIDEO)

american gods season 3
Preview

‘American Gods’: Neil Gaiman on Season 3, Shadow Moon, and Shaping the Show to Be More like the Book (VIDEO)

American Gods, Ricky Whittle
Preview

‘American Gods’: Ricky Whittle on Getting to His Favorite Part of Neil Gaiman’s Book (VIDEO)

American Gods Season 3

‘American Gods’ Sets Season 3 Return — Read Neil Gaiman’s Letter to Fans

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Comic-Con

‘American Gods’: Starz Unveils First Look at Season 3, Sets 2021 Premiere (VIDEO)

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit - Season 21

Ian McShane Guest Stars in the ‘Law & Order: SVU’ Season 21 Premiere (PHOTOS)

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Primetime Emmys 2019: Matt Roush’s Predictions & Wish List of Nominees

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Review

Roush Review: ‘Deadwood: The Movie’ & ‘Luther’ Season 5

Screen Shot 2019-03-07 at 9.19.21 PM
Preview

‘American Gods’ Cast on How Season 2 Goes ‘Back to the Basics’ of Neil Gaiman’s Novel (VIDEO)

Ian McShane and Sakina Jaffrey in American Gods - Season 2
Preview

Ian McShane Talks Returning to ‘Deadwood’ After 12 Years & ‘American Gods’ Season 2

Deadwood - Keith Carradine and Timothy Olyphant
Preview

‘Deadwood’ EP Details the Movie’s Time Jump, Cast & ‘Unfinished Business’

Ian McShane and Ricky Whittle of 'American Gods'

Is the Future of ‘American Gods’ in Jeopardy with Showrunner Shakeup?

American Gods - Kristin Chenoweth, Ian McShane
Spoiler Alert

‘American Gods’: Kristin Chenoweth on Easter Worship and Why She Loves Ricky Whittle Very Much

BEST LINES - Fargo, MTV Movie Awards, The Big Bang Theory

Best Lines on TV This Week (May 5 – 11): ‘Friend, You Wouldn’t Have a Putter-Inner by Chance?’

Ian McShane and Ricky Whittle of 'American Gods'

‘American Gods’ Renewed by Starz for Second Season

Ian McShane as Mr. Wednesday and Cloris Leachman as Zorya Vechernyaya in American Gods - Season 1

Meet ‘American Gods’ Anansi, Czernobog and The Zorya Sisters

Pablo Schreiber as Mad Sweeney in American Gods

Meet ‘American Gods’ Mr. Wednesday, Mad Sweeney and Bilquis

American Gods - Ricky Whittle

Ricky Whittle on ‘American Gods’: ‘The Best Ensemble I’ve Ever Seen on Television’

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5 Things to Know About ‘American Gods’ (and Watch Its Latest Trailer)

TV Tattle

Ian McShane is Coming to ‘Game of Thrones’