Ian McShane
Ian David McShane (born 29 September 1942) is an English actor. His television performances include the title role in the BBC series Lovejoy (1986, 1991–1994), Al Swearengen in Deadwood (2004–2006) and its 2019 film continuation, and Mr. Wednesday in American Gods (2017–2021).
Also recorded as Ian David McShane
Ian McShane

Raph_PH · McShaneTamLinRio311022 (1 of 21) · CC BY 2.0
- Name
- Ian McShane
- Birth Name
- Ian David McShane
- Born
- 29 September 1942
- Birthplace
- Blackburn, Lancashire, England
- Education
- Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
- Occupation
- Actor
- Full name
- Ian David McShane.
- Nationality
- United Kingdom.
- Fields
- Western.
- Honours
- Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama.
- Languages
- English.
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Ian David McShane (born 29 September 1942) is an English actor. His television performances include the title role in the BBC series Lovejoy (1986, 1991–1994), Al Swearengen in Deadwood (2004–2006) and its 2019 film continuation, and Mr. Wednesday in American Gods (2017–2021).
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wikidata · Q234141 · wikipedia · Ian McShane
In this article
Biography
Biography
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. His film roles include Harry Brown in The Wild and the Willing (1962), 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), Tai Lung in Kung Fu Panda (2008) and Kung Fu Panda 4 (2024), Blackbeard in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011), and Winston Scott in the John Wick franchise (2014–present).
Ian McShane studied at Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and Stretford Grammar School. The recorded working language is English. Subjects and genres recorded for the work are Western. Residence is recorded at Venice. Distinctions recorded are Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Ian McShane • Birth Name — Ian David McShane • Born — 29 September 1942 • Birthplace — Blackburn, Lancashire, England • Education — Royal Academy of Dramatic Art • Occupation — Actor • Years Active — 1962–present • Children — 2 • Father — Harry McShane
Early life
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; 1921–2021). His father was Scottish, from Holytown, Lanarkshire. His mother, who was born in England, was of Irish and English descent. McShane grew up in Davyhulme, Lancashire (now in Greater Manchester), and attended Stretford Grammar School. After being a member of the National Youth Theatre, 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", and was still a student at RADA when he appeared with Hurt in his first film, The Wild and the Willing, in 1962. He later played Satan in the York Mystery Plays in 1963.
Career
Career
• Illustration — 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). 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 such as Sky West and Crooked (1965), 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). 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, for which he won the 2005 Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Television Drama. 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. In a 2004 interview with The Independent, McShane stated that he wished he had turned down the role of Bryson since 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. In 1985 McShane appeared as MC on Grace Jones' Slave to the Rhythm, a concept album featuring his narration interspersed throughout. It sold more than a million copies worldwide. In 1992 he recorded and released a solo studio album, From Both Sides Now, in which he sang cover versions of popular songs. The album reached number 40 in the UK Albums Chart. • Illustration — McShane in 2006 His other roles include that of armed robber and gangland boss Jack Last in the Minder episode "The Last Video Show". As Captain Hook in Shrek the Third, Ragnar Sturlusson in The Golden Compass, Tai Lung in Kung Fu Panda (for which he received an Annie Award nomination), crime boss Teddy Bass in Sexy Beast, and Mr. Bobinsky in Coraline. In live-action he has performed in Hot Rod, the action/thriller Death Race, and The Seeker. He has appeared in The West Wing as a Russian diplomat. In July 2000, he created the role of Darryl Van Horne for the Original London production of the musical version of The Witches of Eastwick at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in London's West End. He stayed in the role until the show transferred to the Prince of Wales Theatre in March 2001. 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). 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." In 2010 McShane starred in The Pillars of the Earth as Bishop Waleran Bigod. The series was a historical drama set in 12th-century England and adapted from Ken Follett's novel of the same name. 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. McShane reprised the role of Blackbeard in Pirates of the Caribbean in Disneyland and Walt Disney World, as well as the interactive quest A Pirate's Adventure: Treasure of the Seven Seas at Magic Kingdom. In 2013 he played King Brahmwell in Bryan Singer's Jack the Giant Slayer. Since 2010 McShane has narrated the opening teases for each round of ESPN's coverage of The Open Championship. 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. In 2016, he joined the cast of Game of Thrones in Season 6 as Septon Ray. McShane announced in 2017 that a script for a two-hour Deadwood film had been 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. The film began production in October 2018. Deadwood: The Movie was released on 31 May 2019, concluding the story of the series.
Personal life
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. In 1977, he began a five-year relationship with Sylvia Kristel after meeting her on the set of The Fifth Musketeer; the affair ended his marriage to Post. On 30 August 1980, McShane married American actress Gwen Humble. They live in Venice, California. Through his elder daughter, McShane has three grandchildren.
Television
Television
Television credits • Year — Title — Role — Notes — Refs. References • 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 Lam — 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 • 2016 — Doctor Thorne — Sir Roger Scatcherd — 3 episodes • Game of Thrones — Brother Ray — Episode: "The Broken Man" • 2017–2021 — American Gods — Mr. Wednesday — Main cast • 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" • 2023 — One Piece — Narrator — Episode: "Romance Dawn"
Video games
Video games
Video game credits • Year — Title — Voice role — Refs. References • 2019 — John Wick Hex — Winston Scott
Theme park attractions
Theme park attractions
• Year — Title — Role — Venue • 2011 — Pirates of the Caribbean — Blackbeard — Disneyland; Walt Disney World • 2013 — A Pirate's Adventure: Treasure of the Seven Seas — Blackbeard — Magic Kingdom
Identity
Identity
Ian McShane is recorded as actor, film producer and singer.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
Venice.
Residences
Blackburn.
Birth place
Film
Film credits • Year — Title — Role — Notes — Refs. References • 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 • 1975 — Ransom — Ray Petrie • 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 • Hot Rod — Frank Powell • The Seeker — Merriman Lyon • The Golden Compass — Ragnar Sturlusson — Voice • 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 • 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 • 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 • 2019 — Hellboy — Trevor Bruttenholm • Bolden — Judge Leander Perry • John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum — Winston Scott • 2022 — My Father's Dragon — Saiwa the Gorilla — Voice • 2023 — John Wick: Chapter 4 — Winston Scott • 2024 — American Star — Wilson • Kung Fu Panda 4 — Tai Lung — Voice • 2025 — Ballerina — Winston Scott • Deep Cover — Metcalfe
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Ian McShane”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q234141: Ian McShane
Reputable secondary · Wikidata
scholarly publication
- McShane, Ian (1942–), Journeys of Desire, 2006
Scholarly · Crossref registry · 2006
Awards and nominations
• Year — Association — Category — Nominated work — Result • 2004 — Television Critics Association Awards — Individual Achievement in Drama — Deadwood • 2005 — Golden Globe Awards — Best Actor – Television Series Drama • 2005 — Gotham Awards — Best Ensemble Cast — Nine Lives • 2005 — Primetime Emmy Awards — Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series — Deadwood • 2005 — Satellite Awards — Best Actor – Television Series Drama • 2005 — Television Critics Association Awards — Individual Achievement in Drama • 2006 — Screen Actors Guild Awards — Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series • 2007 — Screen Actors Guild Awards — Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series • 2009 — Annie Awards — Best Voice Acting in an Animated Featured Production — Kung Fu Panda • 2010 — San Diego Film Critics Society Awards — Best Ensemble Performance — 44 Inch Chest • 2010 — Satellite Awards — Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film — The Pillars of the Earth • 2011 — Golden Globe Awards — Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film • 2011 — Golden Nymph Awards — Outstanding Actor in a Miniseries • 2011 — Teen Choice Awards — Choice Movie: Villain — Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides • 2018 — Critics' Choice Television Awards — Best Actor in a Drama Series — American Gods • 2019 — Primetime Emmy Awards — Outstanding Television Movie (as executive producer) — Deadwood: The Movie • 2025 — Children's and Family Emmy Awards — Outstanding Children's Personality — One Piece
Literature
Literature
Ian McShane traces the prehistory of the new museology, History Australia, 2026
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
scholarly publication
McShane, Ian (1942–), Journeys of Desire, 2006Crossref registry
Verifiedreference work
Partially resolvedreference work
Partially resolved
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Film memorabilia
37,408 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
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- Ian NelsonPerson
- Ian ParovelPerson
- Ian PetrellaPerson
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