Donald Sumpter
Biography
Donald Sumpter is an English actor born on 13 February 1943 in Brixworth, Northamptonshire, England, UK. He has been active in film and television since the mid-1960s. One of his early television appearances was in the 1968 Doctor Who serial The Wheel in Space, followed by another appearance in the 1972 serial The Sea Devils. He also appeared in the Doctor Who spin-off The Sarah Jane Adventures. Sumpter's early film work included a lead role as real-life British criminal Donald Neilson in the 1977 film The Black Panther. He has appeared in numerous television films and serials, including adaptations of Dickens' novels such as Nicholas Nickleby and Great Expectations.
Career overview
Donald Sumpter is an English actor born on 13 February 1943 in Brixworth, Northamptonshire, England, UK. He began his acting career in the mid-1960s, with one of his early television appearances being in the 1968 Doctor Who serial The Wheel in Space. He appeared in another Doctor Who serial, The Sea Devils, in 1972.
Donald Sumpter's early film work included a lead role in the 1977 film, The Black Panther. He also appeared in many television films and serials, including adaptations of Dickens' novels. These adaptations include Nicholas Nickleby in 2001, Great Expectations in 1999, and Bleak House in 1995. He has also appeared in the Doctor Who spin-off The Sarah Jane Adventures.
Donald Sumpter has a long and varied acting career, with over 128 credits to his name. He has worked in film and television since the mid-1960s, and has appeared in a wide range of roles. His work includes both dramatic and period pieces, showcasing his versatility as an actor.
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Career timeline
Full filmography
- The Phoenician Scheme (2025) as Chairman
- Limonov: The Ballad (2024) as Eddie's Father
- Entitled (2023) as Quincy
- The Cleaner (2021) as Sir James
- Exposed: The Church's Darkest Secret (2020) as Bishop Peter Ball
- Chernobyl (2019) as Zharkov
- Les Misérables (2018) as Mabeuf
- The Man Who Invented Christmas (2017) as Haddock / Ghost of Marley
- 12 Monkeys (2015) as Seer
- In the Heart of the Sea (2015) as Paul Macy
- Jekyll and Hyde (2015) as Garson
- Coalition (2015) as Paddy Ashdown
- New Worlds (2014) as Sidney
- Quirke (2014) as Josh Crawford
- One Child (2014) as Jim Arthurton
- Bypass (2014) as Grandfather
- Peaky Blinders (2013) as Arthur Bigge
- Endeavour (2013) as Emil Valdemar
- Atlantis (2013) as Tiresius
- The Mill (2013) as Samuel Greg
- The Secret of Crickley Hall (2012) as Gordon Pyke
- Game of Thrones (2011) as Maester Luwin
- Black Mirror (2011) as Julian Hereford
- The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011) as Detective Inspector Gustaf Morell
- The Murder at Road Hill House (2011) as Peter Edlin QC
- Way of the Morris (2011) as Voice of Creation
- London Boulevard (2010) as Pentonville Governor
- Among Us (2010) as Man on bench
- Ultramarines: A Warhammer 40,000 Movie (2010) as Pythol (voice)
- Being Human (2009) as Kemp
- Into the Storm (2009) as Lord Halifax
- Merlin (2008) as The Fisher King
- Tess of the D'Urbervilles (2008) as Parson Tringham
- Einstein and Eddington (2008) as Max Planck
- Hello Sailor! (2008)
- Heist (2008) as King Edward
- The Sarah Jane Adventures (2007) as Erasmus Darkening
- Eastern Promises (2007) as Yuri
- Heroes and Villains (2007)
- Fallen Angel (2007) as Simon Martlesham
- The Chatterley Affair (2006) as Mr. Gerald Gardiner
- Eleventh Hour (2006)
- Dracula (2006) as Alfred Singleton
- Anatomy of a Global Thriller: Behind the Scenes of The Constant Gardener (2006) as Self
- Doctor Who (2005) as The President
- The Constant Gardener (2005) as Tim Donohue
- New Tricks (2004) as Bobby 'Tar' Mcadam
- The Eagle: A Crime Odyssey (2004) as Indenrigsminister Nacuk
- The Long Bank Holiday (2004) as Alfie Clemens
- The Last Detective (2003)
- Serious & Organised (2003) as Jimmy Fisk
- Seven Wonders of the Industrial World (2003) as Farrington
- Spooks (2002) as Stephen Kirby
- Ultimate Force (2002)
- Rose and Maloney (2002) as Ronnie Johnson
- K-19: The Widowmaker (2002) as Dr. Savran
- In Deep (2001) as Keith Sullivan
- Enigma (2001) as Leveret
- The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (2001) as Mr. Brooker
- The Point Men (2001) as Benni Baum
- The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (2001) as Mr. Brooker
- Great Expectations (1999) as Compeyson
- Great Expectations (1999) as Compeyson
- Midsomer Murders (1997) as Tim Settingfield
- Bombay Blue (1997) as Supt. John Mayberry
- Tangier Cop (1997) as Ahmed Yaasin
- Our Friends in the North (1996) as Commander Harold Chapple
- The Queen's Nose (1995) as Uncle Ginger
- Richard III (1995) as Brackenbury
- Crocodile Shoes (1994)
- Being Human (1994) as Salgado
- Grushko (1994) as Kartashov
- A Touch of Frost (1992) as Maynard
- Between the Lines (1992)
- Bad Ronald (1992) as Michael, le père
- Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead (1991) as Claudius
- Aimée (1991) as Frank
- The Chief (1990) as CS Derek Gillman
- Drop the Dead Donkey (1990)
- Agatha Christie's Poirot (1989) as Cust
- The Ruth Rendell Mysteries (1987) as Edward Peveril
- Screen Two (1985) as Frank
- Bleak House (1985) as 'Nemo'
- Time Trouble (1985) as Makov
- The Bill (1984)
- Big Deal (1984) as Ronnie Day
- Taggart (1983)
- No Excuses (1983) as Trev
- Curse of the Pink Panther (1983) as Dave
- The Brack Report (1982) as Paul Brack
- Bergerac (1981) as Roscoe
- Antony & Cleopatra (1981) as Pompeius
- The Rose Medallion (1981) as Harry
- The Tom Machine (1980) as Tom
- Minder (1979) as Sudbury
- Shoestring (1979) as Stanley Reeves
- Meetings with Remarkable Men (1979) as Pogossian
- A Light That Shines (1979) as Brother Martin Jerome
- Les Misérables (1978) as Agent
- BBC2 Play of the Week (1977) as Brother Martin Jerome
- Jesus of Nazareth (1977) as Aram
- Target (1977) as Heslop
- Hardcore (1977) as Mark
- The Black Panther (1977) as Donald Neilson
- The Children of the New Forest (1977) as Ned Corbould
- Catchpenny Twist (1977) as Spalding
- Quiller (1975) as Brenman
- The Saliva Milkshake (1975) as Johnny
- Stardust (1974) as TV Concert Producer
- Mr. Axelford's Angel (1974) as David
- Centre Play (1973) as Johnny
- Doctor Who: The Sea Devils (1972) as Commander Ridgeway
- The Breaking of Colonel Keyser (1972) as Dellow
- Justice (1971) as Villiers
- Sunday Bloody Sunday (1971) as Party Guest
- Bleak Moments (1971) as Norman's Friend
- Play for Today (1970)
- The Adventures of Don Quick (1970) as Gezool
- The Walking Stick (1970) as Max
- I Am a Groupie (1970) as Steve
- Mad Jack (1970)
- ITV Saturday Night Theatre (1969) as Leary
- Night After Night After Night (1969) as Pete Laver
- The Lost Continent (1968) as Sparks, the Radioman
- Doctor Who: The Wheel in Space (1968) as Enrico Casali
- The Window Cleaner (1968) as David
- Mickey Dunne (1967) as Pat Newman
- Doctor Who (1963) as Enrico Casali
- Doctor Who (1963) as Commander Ridgeway