Rupert Vansittart

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Rupert Vansittart
Rupert Vansittart by Gage Skidmore.jpg
Vansittart in July 2017
Born
Rupert Nicholas Vansittart

(1958-02-10) 10 February 1958 (age 66)
Cranleigh, England
Alma mater Central School of Speech and Drama
OccupationActor
Spouse
Emma Kate Watson
​
(m. 1987)​
Children2

Rupert Nicholas Vansittart (born 10 February 1958) is an English character actor. He has appeared in a variety of roles in film, television, stage and radio, often playing comic characters. He is best known for his role as Lord Ashfordly in the ITV drama Heartbeat and for playing Lord Yohn Royce in the HBO series Game of Thrones (2014–2019).

Contents

Early life and education

Vansittart was raised in Cranleigh, Surrey, [1] and is of partial Dutch ancestry. He trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama.

Career

Vansittart started his acting career in an episode of Bulman in 1985. [1] In 1995, he starred in the serial Pride and Prejudice , [1] as Mr Hurst, the brother-in-law of Charles and Caroline Bingley. He has also worked with Rowan Atkinson on a number of occasions, appearing as a guest star in two episodes of Mr. Bean in addition to The Thin Blue Line , [2] and Johnny English Reborn . [2]

In 1993, he appeared in Remains of the Day as Sir Geoffrey Wren, a character based on the 1930s British fascist Sir Oswald Mosley. [2] In 1994, he appeared in the film Braveheart as Lord Bottoms. [1] He worked in Four Weddings and a Funeral , [1] as George the Boor at the Boatman in 1995. [3]

In 2002, he appeared in the Midsomer Murders episode "Market for Murder". [1] He also portrayed General Asquith in the Doctor Who episodes "Aliens of London" and "World War Three". [2] In 2003, he appeared in the West End adaptation of Arsenic and Old Lace . In 2006, Vansittart portrayed Thomas J. Dodd in the BBC three-part drama documentary Nuremberg: Nazis on Trial . [2] In 2007, he appeared in another episode of Midsomer Murders, "The Axeman Cometh". He also appeared in the 2008 BBC serial Spartacus as Consul Lentulus. [2]

In 2009, he was asked to play Peter Morrison in Margaret . Two years later in the critically acclaimed The Iron Lady with Meryl Streep he played Cabinet minister John Biffen. [4] He has also played political characters on stage: in 2014 he was one of the main actors in the cast of Great Britain at the National Theatre. [5]

2009 also saw his third appearance in Midsomer Murders, in the episode "The Dogleg Murders". [1] In 2010, he appeared in Doctors as Anthony Chippington, a friend of Charlie's. He played Harrison Ashton Lard, the "posh girl's father", in How Not to Live Your Life . He provided additional voice-over for World's Craziest Fools . He appeared in the final two seasons of Foyle's War as Sir Alec Myerson, the title character's boss at MI5. [1] Vansittart also appeared in the BBC Three comedy Bad Education, playing Mr. Humpage. [2] In 2014, Vansittart started playing Lord Yohn Royce in the HBO series Game of Thrones , [1] making recurring appearances in season 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8. [1] In 2016, he appears in the BBC TV series Father Brown as Arthur Le Broc in episode 4.7 "The Missing Man". [2] In January 2016, he played Peter Jennings in an episode of the BBC series Casualty . [2]

Personal life

Vansittart has been married to Emma Kate, daughter of the actors Moray Watson and Pamela Marmont, since 1987. [1] They have two children. When Emma Watson was cast for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone , Emma Kate Watson changed her name to Emma Vansittart, adopting her husband's surname as her new stage name, to avoid being confused with the young actress. [6]

Theatre

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1985 Plenty Client's Asst.
1986 Half Moon Street Alan Platts-Williams
1987 Eat the Rich Rupert
1988 Buster Fairclough
1993 The Remains of the Day Sir Geoffrey Wren
1994 Four Weddings and a Funeral George the boor at The Boatman - Wedding One
1995 Braveheart Lord Bottoms
Cutthroat Island Captain Perkins
1997 Diana & Me Chef
1998 Monk Dawson Fr Timothy
2000 Kevin & Perry Go Large Bank Manager
2008 The Bank Job Sir Leonard Plugge
2011 Johnny English Reborn Derek
The Iron Lady Cabinet Minister
2013 Austenland Mr. Wattlesbrook
2016 A United Kingdom Sir Ian Fraser
2017 The Children Act Sherwood Runcie
2020 Misbehaviour Lord Bly

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1985 Bulman Jack1 episode
1986 The Comic Strip Presents... Jeremy1 episode
1988; 1989 Wish Me Luck Guard in Factory / German Soldier at Station2 episodes
1989 The Saint: The Brazilian Connection WyattTelevision film
1990; 1991 The Piglet Files Zemskov / KGB Officer2 episodes
1992-2009 Heartbeat Lord AshfordlyMain role, 75 episodes
1993 Love Hurts Richard Hollis1 episode
1993 Chef! Diner1 episode
1993 Frank Stubbs Promotes Businessman1 episode
1994; 1995 Mr. Bean Police Officer / Guardsman2 episodes
1995 Pride and Prejudice Mr HurstMiniseries, 4 episodes
1995 The Thin Blue Line Commander Crow1 episode
1996 Wilderness JeremyMiniseries, 2 episodes
1997 Supply & Demand Police PersonnelTelevision film
1997 Noah's Ark Mark Villiers1 episode
1997 A Dance to the Music of Time SoperMiniseries, 1 episode
1997 Painted Lady Henry FellowsTelevision film
1998 Berkeley Square Lord Percy WiltonMiniseries, 2 episodes
1998 Vanity Fair SmithMiniseries, 1 episode
1998; 2014 Birds of a Feather Counsel / Wayne2 episodes
1999 CI5: The New Professionals Chairman1 episode
2000 The Bill Solicitor1 episode
2000 Harry Enfield's Brand Spanking New Show Various2 episodes
2000 Black Books Rich Guy1 episode
2000 Take a Girl Like You Headmaster2 episodes
2000; 2001 My Family Mr. Davis / Mr. Quince2 episodes
2001 Sword of Honour Commander-in-ChiefTelevision film
2001 Sam's Game Robert1 episode
2001 Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) Brian Babbacombe1 episode
2001 The Way We Live Now Sir Damask MonogramMiniseries, 1 episode
2002 The Falklands Play Sir Robert ArmstrongTelevision film
2002; 2007; 2009 Midsomer Murders Alistair Kingslake / Desmond Harcourt / Selwyn Proctor3 episodes
2003-2004 My Dad's the Prime Minister ChancellorRecurring role, 8 episodes
2004 The Brief PrettymanMiniseries, 1 episode
2004 Roman Road FarmerTelevision film
2005 Twisted Tales Dr. Mantle1 episode
2005 Doctor Who General Asquith2 episodes
2005 Wallis & Edward Chief WhipTelevision film
2006 Nuremberg: Nazis on Trial Thomas J. Dodd Miniseries, 2 episodes
2007 Hustle Jonathan Mortimer-Howe1 episode
2007 Sensitive Skin Interview Guest1 episode, uncredited
2008 Heroes and Villains Lentulus 1 episode
2009 Margaret Peter MorrisonTelevision film
2010 How Not to Live Your Life Harrison1 episode
2010 Any Human Heart The EarlMiniseries, 2 episodes
2010; 2012; 2014 Doctors Benedict 'Bennie' Harley / Mr. Graham Fitch / Anthony Chippington3 episodes
2011 Comedy Showcase Headmaster1 episode
2011 Holy Flying Circus Bernard Barnard QCTelevision film
2012 The Royal Bodyguard Roderick FinchMiniseries, 1 episode
2012 Bad Education Mr. Humpage1 episode
2013-2015 Foyle's War Sir Alec MeyersonRecurring role, 5 episodes
2014 The Midnight Beast Headmaster1 episode
2014 Death in Paradise Colin Campbell1 episode
2014-2019 Game of Thrones Yohn Royce Recurring role, 13 episodes
2015 Chewing Gum Big Boss1 episode
2015 Versailles Throckmorton2 episodes
2016 Father Brown Arthur Le Broc1 episode
2016; 2021 Casualty Peter Jennings/Kenneth Stair2 episodes
2016 Plebs Tarquin1 episode
2016 Tutankhamun Flinders Petrie Miniseries, 1 episode
2017 King Charles III Sir MatthewTelevision film
2017 Outlander Lord William Dunsany1 episode
2017-2022 Doc Martin Professor Langan2 episodes
2019-2022 Gentleman Jack Charles LawtonRecurring role, 6 episodes
2019 Four Weddings and a Funeral GeorgeMiniseries, 2 episodes
2019 The Crown Cecil Harmsworth King 1 episode
2020 Spy City Ian Stuart-HayMiniseries, 4 episodes
2021-2023 The Nevers Lord BroughtonRecurring role, 5 episodes
2022 Bridgerton Mr. Brookes1 episode
2022 Andor Chief Hyne2 episodes
2022 The Larkins Dean1 episode
2023 The Diplomat Hoope2 episodes
2023 The Chelsea Detective Patrick Blythe1 episode
2023 Sister Boniface Mysteries Sir Swinton Usher1 episode
2024 Belgravia: The Next Chapter Lord NetherburyMiniseries, 4 episodes
TBA Amadeus Upcoming miniseries

Video games

YearTitleVoice roleNotes
2019 Du Lac & Fey: Dance of Death John Waldron

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Ian Molyneaux (10 February 2022). "ITV Heartbeat: Rupert Vansittart's 35-year marriage and why Harry Potter meant his wife had to change her name". mylondon.news.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Rupert Vansittart Credits". tvguide.com. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
  3. ↑ Rupert Vansittart – Rotten Tomatoes
  4. ↑ Roya Nikkah (14 January 2012). "The Iron Lady: Thatcher's men deliver verdict on film". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
  5. ↑ Anita Singh (25 June 2014). "Billie Piper to star as tabloid editor in National Theatre satire about press and prime minister". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
  6. ↑ Richard Eden (22 April 2012). "Look Out! The original Emma Watson stages a comeback". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
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