Ian Bannen
- Known For
- Acting
- Born
- June 29, 1928 in Airdrie, Lanarkshire, Scotland, UK
- Died
- November 3, 1999
- Active Years
- 1951–2002 (52 Years)
- Total Credits
- 113 credits in database
Biography
Ian Bannen was a Scottish character actor and occasional leading man. He was born on June 29, 1928, in Airdrie, Lanarkshire, Scotland, United Kingdom. He had a known credit total of 105. Throughout his career, he appeared in numerous movies and television shows. His work included a role in the film Braveheart, in which he played Robert the Elder, a noble who, along with other nobles, sets a trap and captures Wallace. Ian Bannen passed away on November 3, 1999, at the age of 71.
Career overview
Ian Bannen was a Scottish actor whose career spanned several decades of film and television work. Born on 29 June 1928 in Airdrie, Lanarkshire, Scotland, he entered the performing arts as a character actor and, on occasion, took leading roles. Over the course of his professional life he accumulated more than one hundred credited appearances, a figure recorded by major film databases. His body of work includes a variety of genres and formats, reflecting a versatile presence on screen.
Among the notable productions in which Bannen appeared was the historical epic Braveheart, in which he portrayed Robert the Elder, a noble who participates in the film’s central conflict. This role exemplifies the type of supporting characters for which he was frequently recognized. Throughout his career he was listed in reference sources such as The Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes, which catalog his extensive filmography and television credits.
Ian Bannen died on 3 November 1999 at the age of 71. His legacy endures as that of a prolific Scottish character actor whose numerous performances contributed to the breadth of British and international cinema during the mid‑to‑late twentieth century.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
113 titles- Ultimate Fights from the Movies (2002) as Matt Moss (Crossing the Line) (archive footage)
- Taliesin Jones (2002) as Billy
- Best (2000) as Sir Matt Busby
- To Walk with Lions (1999) as Terence Adamson
- Waking Ned (1998) as Jackie O'Shea
- Something to Believe In (1998) as Don Pozzi
- Original Sin (1997) as Gabriel Dauntsey
- Dead Sea Reels (1996)
- Braveheart (1995) as Robert Bruce Sr.
- The Politician's Wife (1995) as Sir Donald Frazier
- A Pin for the Butterfly (1995) as Grandpa
- Measure for Measure (1994) as Provost
- Doctor Finlay (1993) as Dr. Alexander Cameron
- The Sound and the Silence: The Alexander Graham Bell Story (1993) as Melville
- Damage (1992) as Edward Lloyd
- Common Pursuit (1992)
- Performance (1991) as Serebryakov
- Performance (1991) as Provost
- Uncle Vanya (1991) as Prof. Serebryakov
- Murder in Eden (1991) as Canon Loftus
- Speaking of the Devil (1991) as Luzifer
- Ashenden (1991)
- The Treaty (1991) as David Lloyd George
- Arise and Go Now (1991) as Mattie Muldoon
- The Big Man (1990) as Matt Mason
- Ghost Dad (1990) as Sir Edith Moser
- Perry Mason: The Case of the Desperate Deception (1990) as Otto Rosen
- The Fifteen Streets (1989) as Peter Bracken
- Witch Story (1989) as Father Matthew
- George's Island (1989) as Captain Waters
- Circles in a Forest (1989) as MacDonald
- The Lady and the Highwayman (1988) as Christian Drysdale
- The Gamble (1988) as Padre di Francesco
- The Gamble (1988) as Father of Francesco
- The Courier (1988) as McGuigan
- Hope and Glory (1987) as Grandfather George
- ScreenPlay (1986) as Mattie Muldoon
- Attentato al Papa (1986) as Giudice
- Defence of the Realm (1986) as Dennis Markham
- Lamb (1986) as Brother Benedict
- Screen Two (1985) as Hubert Stout
- The Ray Bradbury Theater (1985) as Self - Introduction (uncredited)
- Gorky Park (1983) as Iamskoy
- The Hard Word (1983) as David Wood
- The Prodigal (1983) as Riley Wyndham
- Gandhi (1982) as Senior Police Officer Fields
- Night Crossing (1982)
- Eye of the Needle (1981) as Godliman
- The Watcher in the Woods (1980) as John Keller
- Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (1980) as Oliver Utterson
- Hart to Hart (1979)
- Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1979) as Jim Prideaux
- Ring of Darkness (1979) as Professor
- The Inglorious Bastards (1978) as Col. Charles Thomas Buckner
- Jesus of Nazareth (1977) as Amos
- It's Only Rock 'n' Roll (1977) as Grey
- Sweeney! (1977) as Charles Baker, MP
- Bite the Bullet (1975) as Sir Harry Norfolk
- Death in Deep Water (1975) as Doonan
- Won't Write Home, Mom–I'm Dead (1975) as Frank Dean
- Identikit (1974) as Bill
- The Voyage (1974) as Antonio Braggi
- From Beyond the Grave (1974) as Christopher Lowe
- The Gathering Storm (1974) as Adolf Hitler
- Thriller (1973) as Frank Dean
- Thriller (1973) as Doonan
- Orson Welles' Great Mysteries (1973) as Gregory Dean
- The MacKintosh Man (1973) as Slade
- The Offence (1973) as Kenneth Baxter
- Doomwatch (1972) as Dr. Shaw
- Fright (1971) as Brian
- Shadows of Fear (1970) as Robert
- Jane Eyre (1970) as St. John Rivers
- Too Late the Hero (1970) as Pvt. Jock Thornton
- The Deserter (1970) as Cpt. Crawford
- Lock Up Your Daughters (1969) as Ramble
- The Sex Game (1968) as Ronald Napier
- ITV Playhouse (1967) as Grey
- The Sailor from Gibraltar (1967) as Alan
- Johnny Belinda (1967) as Dr. Jack Richardson
- Penelope (1966) as James B. Elcott
- The Flight of the Phoenix (1965) as Crow
- Mister Moses (1965) as Robert
- The Hill (1965) as Harris
- Rotten to the Core (1965) as Lt. Percy Vine
- Psyche 59 (1964) as Paul
- Macbeth (1964) as Macduff
- The Human Jungle (1963) as Mike Barclay
- Station Six-Sahara (1963) as Fletcher
- Drama 61-67 (1961) as Stanley Chrystal
- Drama 61-67 (1961) as Mike Silver
- On Friday at Eleven (1961) as Kitson
- A French Mistress (1960) as Colin Crane The Headmaster's Son
- Suspect (1960) as Alan Andrews
- Carlton-Browne of the F.O. (1959) as Young King Loris
- A Tale of Two Cities (1958) as Gabelle
- Behind the Mask (1958) as Alan Crabtree
- She Didn't Say No! (1958) as Peter Howard
- Yangtse Incident: The Story of H.M.S. Amethyst (1957) as Able Seaman Bannister
- Miracle in Soho (1957) as Filippo Gozzi
- The Birthday Present (1957) as Junior Customs Officer
- The Count of Monte Cristo (1956)
- Armchair Theatre (1956) as John
- Armchair Theatre (1956) as Cdr. John Tarlton
- Armchair Theatre (1956) as Fred Curtis
- Armchair Theatre (1956) as Bernard Thompson
- Private's Progress (1956) as Private Horrocks
- The Long Arm (1956) as The Young Workman - Stanley James
- The Adventures of Robin Hood (1955) as Sir Walter
- The Dark Avenger (1955) as French Night (uncredited)
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Macduff
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Hitler
- Pool of London (1951) as Garage attendant (uncredited)
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Ian Bannen best known for?
Ian Bannen is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Waking Ned (1998), To Hell With The Ugly (2010), Braveheart (1995), Doctor Finlay (1993).
When and where was Ian Bannen born?
Ian Bannen was born on June 29, 1928 in Airdrie, Lanarkshire, Scotland, UK. They passed away on November 3, 1999.
How many credits does Ian Bannen have?
Ian Bannen has accumulated over 113 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1951 to 2002.
What is Ian Bannen's background in cinema and television?
Ian Bannen was a Scottish character actor and occasional leading man. He was born on June 29, 1928, in Airdrie, Lanarkshire, Scotland, United Kingdom. He had a known credit total of 105. Throughout his career, he appeared in numerous movies and television shows. His work included a role in the film Braveheart, in which...
Ian Bannen by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Macduff — aged about 23
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Hitler — aged about 23
- The Human Jungle (1963) as Mike Barclay — aged about 35
- Braveheart (1995) as Robert Bruce Sr. — aged about 67
- Jesus of Nazareth (1977) as Amos — aged about 49
- Gandhi (1982) as Senior Police Officer Fields — aged about 54
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