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). 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. As a producer of the film, he was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Television Movie.

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).

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", 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, 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.

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. " 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 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. 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.

Hot Rod Frank Powell

The Seeker Merriman Lyon

The Golden Compass Ragnar Sturlusson

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides Edward "Blackbeard" Teach

Snow White and the Huntsman Beith

Jack the Giant Slayer King Brahmwell

Cuban Fury Ron Parfitt

Hercules Amphiaraus

John Wick Winston Scott

El Niño El Inglés

Bilal: A New Breed of Hero Umayya Voice

Hellboy Trevor Bruttenholm

Bolden Judge Leander Perry

John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum Winston Scott

My Father's Dragon Saiwa the Gorilla Voice

Ballerina Winston Scott

Deep Cover Metcalfe Television + Year Title Role Notes 1963–1966 Play of the Week Mick / Frank Barnes / Arthur 4 episodes 1964 Redcap Sapper RussellEpisode: "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 + Year Title Voice role 2019 John Wick Hex Winston Scott

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

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