James Cosmo

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James Cosmo

MBE
James Cosmo 2014 (cropped).jpg
Cosmo in 2014
Born
James Ronald Gordon Copeland

1947 (age 7677)
Years active1965–present
Spouse
Annie Harris
(m. 2000)
Children2

James Ronald Gordon Copeland MBE (b. 1947), [1] known professionally as James Cosmo, is a Scottish actor. Known for his character work, [2] he has played supporting roles in films such as Highlander (1986), Braveheart (1995), Trainspotting (1996), Troy (2004), The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005), Ben-Hur (2016), and Wonder Woman (2017). On television, he appeared as Father Kellan Ashby on the third season of Sons of Anarchy (2010), Jeor Mormont on HBO's Game of Thrones (2011–2013), Farder Coram in the BBC series His Dark Materials (2019), and Luka Gocharov on the third season of Amazon Prime's Jack Ryan (2022). Cosmo appeared as a contestant on the nineteenth series of Celebrity Big Brother in 2017, finishing in fourth place.

Contents

Early life

Cosmo is the son of actor James Copeland and Helen Goodlet Findlay. [3] He attended Hartfield Primary School in Dumbarton. Through his father, young James played cricket on Hampstead Heath with Sean Connery while his father was in the pub with Peter O'Toole. [4] He has a sister named Laura. [4] When he was 11, he moved back to Glasgow and later he worked for a time at Arnott Young shipbreakers in Dalmuir. [4]

Career

At the start of his career he adopted Cosmo, the middle name of his mother Helen, as his stage surname. [5] Cosmo is best known for his film roles as Angus MacLeod in Highlander , Campbell in Braveheart and as Father Christmas in the adaptation of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe . [6] Over the years he has also had roles in other films such as Trainspotting , The Last Legion and 2081 . [7] He appeared in Troy with future Game of Thrones cast members Sean Bean and Julian Glover. [8] He also appeared in UFO as SHADO operative Lieutenant Anderson, in Take the High Road as Alex Geddes from 1982 until 1983 and in 1984 played Jock McLeish in the Minder episode Senior Citizen Caine. [9] [6] He appeared as Lieutenant-Colonel Philip Drysdale in the seventh series of Soldier Soldier . [9] He portrayed Jeor Mormont, Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, in the HBO series Game of Thrones . [10] He was involved in the filming of the thriller Breakdown in which he appeared alongside Craig Fairbrass, Bruce Payne, Emmett Scanlan, Olivia Grant and Tamer Hassan. [11] He played the antagonist in the Indian film, Jagame Thandhiram , which released in 2021. [12] He played a Russian intelligence officer named Luka Gocharov in season 3 of the Amazon show Jack Ryan . [13]

He is a patron of the charity Chance for Childhood. [14]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1968Splash O.K.Hamish MacPhersonTelevision film
1969 Battle of Britain Jamie
The Virgin Soldiers Waller
1971 Assault Det. Sgt. Beale
1972 Doomwatch Bob Gillette
Young Winston Officer on Train
Sutherland's Law Ian CampbellTelevision film
The Stone Tape Cliff DowTelevision film
1982 Living Apart Together Priest
1984 The Master of Ballantrae Horseman (uncredited)Television film
1985 Operation Julie LongfellowTelevision film
1986 Highlander Angus MacLeod
1988 Stormy Monday Tony
1989The NightwatchJames SmithsonTelevision film
1990 Treasure Island RedruthTelevision film
The Fool Mr. Bowring
1995 Braveheart Campbell
The KeyGangsterShort film
1996 Trainspotting Mr. Renton
Emma Mr. Weston
1997Santa/ClawsSanta ClausShort film
1998 Urban Ghost Story Minister
Babe: Pig in the City Thelonius (voice)
1999Sunset HeightsMacDonald
The MatchBilly Bailey
Billy and ZorbaZorbaShort film
Split SecondDonald PatersonTelevision film
One More Kiss Frank
2000 Honest Tommy Chase
Reflections Upon the Origin of the PineappleNarrator (voice)Short film
The Last of the Blonde Bombshells McNabTelevision film
2001 To End All Wars Lt. Col. Stuart McLean
All the Queen's Men Archie
2002 Once Upon a Time in the Midlands Billy
The Four Feathers Col. Sutch
2003 Skagerrak Robert
Man Dancin' Donnie McGlone
The Reckoning Lambert
Solid Air Finn
2004One Last ChanceBig John
Troy Glaucus
2005 The Adventures of Greyfriars Bobby James Brown
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Father Christmas
2006 Half Light Finlay Murray
Free Jimmy HudMaSpecs (voice)AKA Slipp Jimmy fri (Original title)
The Lives of the SaintsMr. Karva
2007 The Last Legion Hrothgar
The Seeker: The Dark Is Rising Dawson
Where Have I Been All Your Life?JohnShort film
Impact EarthBrenden KellyTelevision film. AKA Comet Impact (Original title)
2009 2081 George BergeronShort film
The Narnia CodeNarrator (voice)Television documentary film
The ClanHector McKinley
2010One Night in EmergencyTelevision film
Outcast Laird
Donkeys Alfie
The Runway Sutherland
The Santa IncidentNickTelevision film
2011No Saints for SinnersMurphy
The Glass ManPecco
2012 Citadel Priest
Songs for AmyMurdo
2013Get LuckyMr. Zigic
The Golden ScallopJudge Wellington
Hammer of the Gods King Bagsecg
Justin and the Knights of Valour Blucher (voice)
The Christmas Candle Herbert Hopewell
Sea OutOld JoeShort film
Dying Light Policeman
2014 The Boogeyman Dr. HarperShort film
We Still Kill the Old Way Arthur
HoleCooperShort film
2015 Moonwalkers Dawson
CarriedHenry HunterShort film
The Legend of Barney Thomson James Henderson
The Pyramid TextsRay
JanuaryAlbertAKA Estranged (Original title)
2016Project 12: The BunkerBrian Balanowsky
Breakdown Albert Chapman
Mikelis MikelisShort film
Dark Signal Alan
Ben-Hur Quintus
Whisky Galore! MacAlister, the Minister
MonochromeRoger Daniels
Eliminators Cooper
2017London HeistRay Dixon
T2 Trainspotting Renton's Father
Last Respects Philip Drummond (voice)Short film
Wonder Woman Field Marshal Haig
2018Rogue Trooper: The Quartz MassacreNarrator (voice)Short film
In Darkness Niall
Outlaw King Robert Bruce Senior
Ashes in the Snow Mr. Stakas
Malevolent Grandpa Sayers
TomorrowMr. Charles
2019 The Hole in the Ground Des Brady
Forget Me Not BenedictShort film
Get Duked! Farmer
Off GridJohn TannerShort film
Shadow BoxerEddie RoyceShort film
2020 Skylines Grant
2021 Jagame Thanthiram Peter SprottTamil film
The Kindred Frank Menzies
2022BreathNick
My Sailor, My LoveHoward
Scrooge: A Christmas Carol Mr. Fezziwig (voice)

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1965 Dr. Finlay's Casebook Peter RandallEpisode: "The Vision"
1966Ransom for a Pretty GirlCharlie MilneMini series, 6 episodes
This Man Craig Douglas McGrathEpisode: "Nurinder"
1967 St. Ives Dalmahoy2 episodes: "The Assembly Ball" and "Journey's End"
The Revenue Men AndrewEpisode: "A Pretty Flat Kind of Existence"
1968 Detective Det. Sgt. MacGregorEpisode: "Dover and the Deadly Poison Pen Letters"
1969 Dr. Finlay's Casebook Private DavidsonEpisode: "Single or Return"
Softly Softly McBrideEpisode: "In at the Death"
1970 The Borderers HectorEpisode: "A Woman or an Epitaph"
The Wednesday Play Senior Under Officer PattersonEpisode: "Sovereign's Company"
1971Long Voyage Out of WarThorpeEpisode: "Battle at Tematangi"
UFO Lt. AndersonEpisode: "Reflections in the Water"
The Persuaders! Inspector WilliamsEpisode: "Element of Risk"
The View from Daniel Pike Det. Con. SandersonEpisode: "A Tale of Two Cities"
1973 ITV Playhouse Sgt. RobbinsEpisode: "Professional"
Sutherland's Law Ian CampbellEpisode: "The Sea"
19731977 Warship Leading Regulator ("Sheriff") Pat Fuller21 episodes
1974 Play for Today LochEpisode: "The Cheviot, the Stag and the Black, Black Oil"
1975 Churchill's People Robert BruceEpisode: "The Wallace"
Quiller HamiltonEpisode: "Target North"
1976 Survivors Lenny CarterEpisode: "The Chosen"
Orde Wingate Brigadier Calvert3 episodes
1977 George & Mildred KeithEpisode: "The Dorothy Letters"
The Mackenzie AffairJames MackenzieMini series, 5 episodes
19771978Midnight Is a PlaceDavey Scatcherd3 episodes
1978 The Standard Harry BrayEpisode: "New Standards"
The Sweeney Det. Sgt. Davy FreethEpisode: "Hard Men"
Kidnapped BeggarMini series, episode: "Uncle Ebenezer"
1979 Dick Barton: Special Agent Jock Anderson29 episodes
ThundercloudCPO Hawkins13 episodes
The Onedin Line Glasgow McDadeEpisode: "To Honour and Obey"
The Professionals GloverEpisode: "Runner"
1980 Hammer House of Horror WillisEpisode: "The Thirteenth Reunion"
1981 The Nightmare Man Sergeant Carch4 episodes
The House on the HillBonfieldEpisode: "Semper Fidelis"
Strangers Det. Sgt. GalbraithEpisode: "A Dear Green Place"
1982 King's Royal Colin Lindsay4 episodes
19821984 Take the High Road Alex Geddes42 episodes
1984 Minder Jock McLeishEpisode: "Senior Citizen Caine"
Murder Not Proven?Sergeant MunroEpisode: "Death on the Mountain"
Scarecrow and Mrs. King Dr. Ian McCarranEpisode: "The Legend of Das Geisterschloss"
Fairly Secret Army Crazy Colin Carstairs2 episodes: "Romance Plughole" and "The Pulses Quicken"
1985 Lytton's Diary Harry OwenEpisode: "Daddy's Girls"
Big Deal McFeeEpisode: "Down and Under"
1985 & 1986 C.A.T.S. Eyes McNeill / Howard2 episodes: "Under Plain Cover" and "Fit"
1986 Running Scared Detective Inspector McNeill6 episodes
Lost Empires Inspector FurnessMini series, episode: "#1.6"
1987 Super Gran Mr. McBiggEpisode: "Supergran Snookered"
Brond Primo3 episodes
1988 Codename: Kyril BonhamMini series, episode: "#1.1"
Taggart Victor Baird3 episodes: "Dead Giveaway: Parts 1, 2 & 3"
1989 William Tell AntonAKA Crossbow (Original title). Episode: "Silver Rider"
Winners and Losers Frank KerrMini series, 3 episodes
The Justice GameGlen4 episodes
Saracen MiekeraEpisode: "Into Africa"
Casualty John BreckmanEpisode: "A Grand in the Hand"
The Bill D.C.I. CameronEpisode: "Seen to Be Done"
1990 The Campbells Sgt. HendersonEpisode: "Old Ways and New"
El C.I.D. SandsEpisode: "Getting Even"
1991 The Sharp End CarmichaelMini series, 8 episodes
Stay Lucky BigmacEpisode: "Hard Times, Hard Men"
1992 Screaming
Medics Harry LiveregeEpisode: "#2.4"
Heartbeat Matthew ChapmanEpisode: "Nowt But a Prank"
Rab C. Nesbitt TeacherEpisode: "Lesson"
1993 Scene Reception OfficerEpisode: "Pig Boy"
Between the Lines D.C.C. BirmanEpisode: "Manoeuvre 11"
Casualty TonyEpisode: "Cat in Hell"
1994 The House of Eliott James MaxtonEpisode: "#3.5"
Alleyn Mysteries Major Keith BallantyneEpisode: "Dead Water"
Screen Two JerryEpisode: "Sin Bin"
19941995 Roughnecks Tom13 episodes
1996Bad BoysTam DevlinEpisode: "Dead Men Don't Wear Bunnets"
1997 Ivanhoe CedricMini series, 5 episodes
Ain't Misbehavin'Malky FraserMini series, 3 episodes
Soldier Soldier Lt. Col. Philip Drysdale9 episodes
1998Two LivesEddieEpisode: "Golden Wedding"
1999 Cleopatra AgrippaMini series, 2 episodes: "Parts 1 & 2"
Comedy Lab David (voice)Episode: "Heart and Sole"
The Bill Patrick Grainger: Lennox's StoryEpisode: "Haunted"
2000 The 10th Kingdom Blind WoodsmanMini series, 2 episodes: "#1.4" and "#1.10"
Tales from the MadhouseThe CenturionMini series, episode: "The Centurion"
Badger Charlie MaddoxEpisode: "Predators"
20002001 Rebus Morris Gerald Cafferty2 episodes: "The Hanging Garden" and "Mortal Causes"
2001Best of Both WorldsWilliam Landucci
2004 Biography Narrator (voice)Documentary series, episode: "Tchaikovsky"
2005 Little House on the Prairie Mr. ScottMini series, 4 episodes
2007 Midsomer Murders Jack 'Axeman' McKinleyEpisode: "The Axeman Cometh"
2008 The Colour of Magic Galder WeatherwaxMini series, episode: "Part 1: The Colour of Magic"
2009 Merlin HengistEpisode: "Lancelot and Guinevere"
2010 Castle Finn RourkeEpisode: "Sucker Punch"
FlashForward PhilipEpisode: "Revelation Zero: Part 2"
Sons of Anarchy Father Kellan Ashby8 episodes
20112013 Game of Thrones Jeor Mormont 12 episodes
2012 Silent Witness Arnold MearsEpisode: "Paradise Lost: Parts 1 & 2"
2013 Death in Paradise Roger SeymourEpisode: "Murder on the Plantation"
Case Histories Len LomaxEpisode: "Started Early, Took My Dog"
2014 New Worlds GoffeMini series, episode: "#1.1"
2015Magnum OpusMoshe NavonEpisode: "Fuck Da Babylon" (Pilot)
2016 Shetland Arthur McCall4 episodes
Stag The GamekeeperMini series, episodes 1 & 2
The Collection Jules Trouvier4 episodes
2016, 2018 & 2019 The Durrells Captain Creech4 episodes
2017 Celebrity Big Brother Himself Series 19 finalist and third runner-up, 19 episodes
SS-GB Harry WoodsMini series, 5 episodes
2018Mystery of the Lost PaintingsNarrator (voice)Documentary series, 8 episodes
20182019 Hold the Sunset Bob9 episodes
2019 The Name of the Rose Jorge da Burgos8 episodes
Chernobyl MinerEpisode: 'Open Wide, O Earth'
His Dark Materials Farder Coram6 episodes
2020 The Bay Bill Bradwell6 episodes
2022 Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan Luka Gocharov8 episodes
2023Highland CopsNarrator (voice)Documentary series, 5 episodes
Six Four Jim MackieMini series, 4 episodes

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References

  1. Nelson, Alex (12 April 2019). "Here are the Scottish actors made famous by Game of Thrones". The Scotsman . Retrieved 31 March 2024.
  2. Klein, Paul (December 2020). ""People perceive me as the older gruffer authoritarian figure" – James Cosmo talks Skylines [The FH Interview]". Filmhounds Magazine. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
  3. "James Cosmo Biography (1948–)". Filmreference.com. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 "James Cosmo on Game of Thrones, Whisky Galore and his strange days on Big Brother". HeraldScotland. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  5. "James Cosmo". TVGuide.
  6. 1 2 "James Cosmo". BFI. Archived from the original on 10 March 2017.
  7. "James Cosmo | Movies and Filmography". AllMovie.
  8. "Troy (2004) - Wolfgang Petersen | Cast and Crew | AllMovie" via www.allmovie.com.
  9. 1 2 "James Cosmo". www.aveleyman.com.
  10. "Game of Thrones star James Cosmo jokes he 'drew the short straw' with sex scenes". The Independent. 1 January 2021.
  11. "Breakdown (2016)". BFI. Archived from the original on 25 October 2020.
  12. "James Cosmo: 'My friend said: They're going to drink beer out of your skull'". the Guardian. 1 January 2021.
  13. "Every New 'Jack Ryan' Cast Member and What They Mean for the Show". Newsweek. 21 December 2022.
  14. "Our patrons | Chance for Childhood - Children's charity". Chance for Childhood. Retrieved 5 October 2020.