James Cosmo

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James Cosmo

MBE
Cosmo in 2014
Born
James Ronald Gordon Copeland

1947 (age 76–77)
Clydebank, Dunbartonshire, Scotland
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.

Early life[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

Film[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1968 Splash O.K. Hamish MacPherson Television 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 Campbell Television film
The Stone Tape Cliff Dow Television film
1982 Living Apart Together Priest
1984 The Master of Ballantrae Horseman (uncredited) Television film
1985 Operation Julie Longfellow Television film
1986 Highlander Angus MacLeod
1988 Stormy Monday Tony
1989 The Nightwatch James Smithson Television film
1990 Treasure Island Redruth Television film
The Fool Mr. Bowring
1995 Braveheart Campbell
The Key Gangster Short film
1996 Trainspotting Mr. Renton
Emma Mr. Weston
1997 Santa/Claws Santa Claus Short film
1998 Urban Ghost Story Minister
Babe: Pig in the City Thelonius (voice)
1999 Sunset Heights MacDonald
The Match Billy Bailey
Billy and Zorba Zorba Short film
Split Second Donald Paterson Television film
One More Kiss Frank
2000 Honest Tommy Chase
Reflections Upon the Origin of the Pineapple Narrator (voice) Short film
The Last of the Blonde Bombshells McNab Television 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
2004 One Last Chance Big 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 Saints Mr. Karva
2007 The Last Legion Hrothgar
The Seeker: The Dark Is Rising Dawson
Where Have I Been All Your Life? John Short film
Impact Earth Brenden Kelly Television film. AKA Comet Impact (Original title)
2009 2081 George Bergeron Short film
The Narnia Code Narrator (voice) Television documentary film
The Clan Hector McKinley
2010 One Night in Emergency Television film
Outcast Laird
Donkeys Alfie
The Runway Sutherland
The Santa Incident Nick Television film
2011 No Saints for Sinners Murphy
The Glass Man Pecco
2012 Citadel Priest
Songs for Amy Murdo
2013 Get Lucky Mr. Zigic
The Golden Scallop Judge Wellington
Hammer of the Gods King Bagsecg
Justin and the Knights of Valour Blucher (voice)
The Christmas Candle Herbert Hopewell
Sea Out Old Joe Short film
Dying Light Policeman
2014 The Boogeyman Dr. Harper Short film
We Still Kill the Old Way Arthur
Hole Cooper Short film
2015 Moonwalkers Dawson
Carried Henry Hunter Short film
The Legend of Barney Thomson James Henderson
The Pyramid Texts Ray
January Albert AKA Estranged (Original title)
2016 Project 12: The Bunker Brian Balanowsky
Breakdown Albert Chapman
Mikelis Mikelis Short film
Dark Signal Alan
Ben-Hur Quintus
Whisky Galore! MacAlister, the Minister
Monochrome Roger Daniels
Eliminators Cooper
2017 London Heist Ray Dixon
T2 Trainspotting Renton's Father
Last Respects Philip Drummond (voice) Short film
Wonder Woman Field Marshal Haig
2018 Rogue Trooper: The Quartz Massacre Narrator (voice) Short film
In Darkness Niall
Outlaw King Robert Bruce Senior
Ashes in the Snow Mr. Stakas
Malevolent Grandpa Sayers
Tomorrow Mr. Charles
2019 The Hole in the Ground Des Brady
Forget Me Not Benedict Short film
Get Duked! Farmer
Off Grid John Tanner Short film
Shadow Boxer Eddie Royce Short film
2020 Skylines Grant
2021 Jagame Thanthiram Peter Sprott Tamil film
The Kindred Frank Menzies
2022 Breath Nick
My Sailor, My Love Howard
Scrooge: A Christmas Carol Mr. Fezziwig (voice)

Television[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1965 Dr. Finlay's Casebook Peter Randall Episode: "The Vision"
1966 Ransom for a Pretty Girl Charlie Milne Mini series, 6 episodes
This Man Craig Douglas McGrath Episode: "Nurinder"
1967 St. Ives Dalmahoy 2 episodes: "The Assembly Ball" and "Journey's End"
The Revenue Men Andrew Episode: "A Pretty Flat Kind of Existence"
1968 Detective Det. Sgt. MacGregor Episode: "Dover and the Deadly Poison Pen Letters"
1969 Dr. Finlay's Casebook Private Davidson Episode: "Single or Return"
Softly Softly McBride Episode: "In at the Death"
1970 The Borderers Hector Episode: "A Woman or an Epitaph"
The Wednesday Play Senior Under Officer Patterson Episode: "Sovereign's Company"
1971 Long Voyage Out of War Thorpe Episode: "Battle at Tematangi"
UFO Lt. Anderson Episode: "Reflections in the Water"
The Persuaders! Inspector Williams Episode: "Element of Risk"
The View from Daniel Pike Det. Con. Sanderson Episode: "A Tale of Two Cities"
1973 ITV Playhouse Sgt. Robbins Episode: "Professional"
Sutherland's Law Ian Campbell Episode: "The Sea"
1973–1977 Warship Leading Regulator ("Sheriff") Pat Fuller 21 episodes
1974 Play for Today Loch Episode: "The Cheviot, the Stag and the Black, Black Oil"
1975 Churchill's People Robert Bruce Episode: "The Wallace"
Quiller Hamilton Episode: "Target North"
1976 Survivors Lenny Carter Episode: "The Chosen"
Orde Wingate Brigadier Calvert 3 episodes
1977 George & Mildred Keith Episode: "The Dorothy Letters"
The Mackenzie Affair James Mackenzie Mini series, 5 episodes
1977–1978 Midnight Is a Place Davey Scatcherd 3 episodes
1978 The Standard Harry Bray Episode: "New Standards"
The Sweeney Det. Sgt. Davy Freeth Episode: "Hard Men"
Kidnapped Beggar Mini series, episode: "Uncle Ebenezer"
1979 Dick Barton: Special Agent Jock Anderson 29 episodes
Thundercloud CPO Hawkins 13 episodes
The Onedin Line Glasgow McDade Episode: "To Honour and Obey"
The Professionals Glover Episode: "Runner"
1980 Hammer House of Horror Willis Episode: "The Thirteenth Reunion"
1981 The Nightmare Man Sergeant Carch 4 episodes
The House on the Hill Bonfield Episode: "Semper Fidelis"
Strangers Det. Sgt. Galbraith Episode: "A Dear Green Place"
1982 King's Royal Colin Lindsay 4 episodes
1982–1984 Take the High Road Alex Geddes 42 episodes
1984 Minder Jock McLeish Episode: "Senior Citizen Caine"
Murder Not Proven? Sergeant Munro Episode: "Death on the Mountain"
Scarecrow and Mrs. King Dr. Ian McCarran Episode: "The Legend of Das Geisterschloss"
Fairly Secret Army Crazy Colin Carstairs 2 episodes: "Romance Plughole" and "The Pulses Quicken"
1985 Lytton's Diary Harry Owen Episode: "Daddy's Girls"
Big Deal McFee Episode: "Down and Under"
1985 & 1986 C.A.T.S. Eyes McNeill / Howard 2 episodes: "Under Plain Cover" and "Fit"
1986 Running Scared Detective Inspector McNeill 6 episodes
Lost Empires Inspector Furness Mini series, episode: "#1.6"
1987 Super Gran Mr. McBigg Episode: "Supergran Snookered"
Brond Primo 3 episodes
1988 Codename: Kyril Bonham Mini series, episode: "#1.1"
Taggart Victor Baird 3 episodes: "Dead Giveaway: Parts 1, 2 & 3"
1989 William Tell Anton AKA Crossbow (Original title). Episode: "Silver Rider"
Winners and Losers Frank Kerr Mini series, 3 episodes
The Justice Game Glen 4 episodes
Saracen Miekera Episode: "Into Africa"
Casualty John Breckman Episode: "A Grand in the Hand"
The Bill D.C.I. Cameron Episode: "Seen to Be Done"
1990 The Campbells Sgt. Henderson Episode: "Old Ways and New"
El C.I.D. Sands Episode: "Getting Even"
1991 The Sharp End Carmichael Mini series, 8 episodes
Stay Lucky Bigmac Episode: "Hard Times, Hard Men"
1992 Screaming
Medics Harry Liverege Episode: "#2.4"
Heartbeat Matthew Chapman Episode: "Nowt But a Prank"
Rab C. Nesbitt Teacher Episode: "Lesson"
1993 Scene Reception Officer Episode: "Pig Boy"
Between the Lines D.C.C. Birman Episode: "Manoeuvre 11"
Casualty Tony Episode: "Cat in Hell"
1994 The House of Eliott James Maxton Episode: "#3.5"
Alleyn Mysteries Major Keith Ballantyne Episode: "Dead Water"
Screen Two Jerry Episode: "Sin Bin"
1994–1995 Roughnecks Tom 13 episodes
1996 Bad Boys Tam Devlin Episode: "Dead Men Don't Wear Bunnets"
1997 Ivanhoe Cedric Mini series, 5 episodes
Ain't Misbehavin' Malky Fraser Mini series, 3 episodes
Soldier Soldier Lt. Col. Philip Drysdale 9 episodes
1998 Two Lives Eddie Episode: "Golden Wedding"
1999 Cleopatra Agrippa Mini series, 2 episodes: "Parts 1 & 2"
Comedy Lab David (voice) Episode: "Heart and Sole"
The Bill Patrick Grainger: Lennox's Story Episode: "Haunted"
2000 The 10th Kingdom Blind Woodsman Mini series, 2 episodes: "#1.4" and "#1.10"
Tales from the Madhouse The Centurion Mini series, episode: "The Centurion"
Badger Charlie Maddox Episode: "Predators"
2000–2001 Rebus Morris Gerald Cafferty 2 episodes: "The Hanging Garden" and "Mortal Causes"
2001 Best of Both Worlds William Landucci
2004 Biography Narrator (voice) Documentary series, episode: "Tchaikovsky"
2005 Little House on the Prairie Mr. Scott Mini series, 4 episodes
2007 Midsomer Murders Jack 'Axeman' McKinley Episode: "The Axeman Cometh"
2008 The Colour of Magic Galder Weatherwax Mini series, episode: "Part 1: The Colour of Magic"
2009 Merlin Hengist Episode: "Lancelot and Guinevere"
2010 Castle Finn Rourke Episode: "Sucker Punch"
FlashForward Philip Episode: "Revelation Zero: Part 2"
Sons of Anarchy Father Kellan Ashby 8 episodes
2011–2013 Game of Thrones Jeor Mormont 12 episodes
2012 Silent Witness Arnold Mears Episode: "Paradise Lost: Parts 1 & 2"
2013 Death in Paradise Roger Seymour Episode: "Murder on the Plantation"
Case Histories Len Lomax Episode: "Started Early, Took My Dog"
2014 New Worlds Goffe Mini series, episode: "#1.1"
2015 Magnum Opus Moshe Navon Episode: "Fuck Da Babylon" (Pilot)
2016 Shetland Arthur McCall 4 episodes
Stag The Gamekeeper Mini series, episodes 1 & 2
The Collection Jules Trouvier 4 episodes
2016, 2018 & 2019 The Durrells Captain Creech 4 episodes
2017 Celebrity Big Brother Himself Series 19 finalist and third runner-up, 19 episodes
SS-GB Harry Woods Mini series, 5 episodes
2018 Mystery of the Lost Paintings Narrator (voice) Documentary series, 8 episodes
2018–2019 Hold the Sunset Bob 9 episodes
2019 The Name of the Rose Jorge da Burgos 8 episodes
Chernobyl Miner Episode: 'Open Wide, O Earth'
His Dark Materials Farder Coram 6 episodes
2020 The Bay Bill Bradwell 6 episodes
2022 Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan Luka Gocharov 8 episodes
2023 Highland Cops Narrator (voice) Documentary series, 5 episodes
Six Four Jim Mackie Mini series, 4 episodes

References[edit]

  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. ^ a b c "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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b "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.

External links[edit]

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