James Cosmo
- Known For
- Acting
- Born
- May 24, 1948 in Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire, Scotland, UK
- Active Years
- 1962–2026 (65 Years)
- Total Credits
- 190 credits in database
Biography
James Cosmo, born 24 May 1948 in Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire, Scotland, United Kingdom, is a British actor. He has appeared in a wide range of film and television productions, accumulating 188 credited roles according to The Movie Database. His film work includes appearances in Highlander, Braveheart, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Trainspotting, The Last Legion, Troy and 2081. Cosmo is also a frequent presence on British television, where he is noted for portraying Scottish tough‑guy characters and has contributed to hundreds of series. He is listed as male and is also known by his name in Cyrillic and Tamil scripts.
Career overview
James Cosmo was born on 24 May 1948 in Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire, Scotland, United Kingdom. He is a male British actor whose career has spanned several decades and includes a substantial body of work across both film and television.
Cosmo’s filmography features a range of high‑profile productions. He appeared in the fantasy adventure Highlander, the historical epic Braveheart, and the adaptation of C. S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. His credits also include the cult drama Trainspotting, the historical fantasy The Last Legion, the ancient‑war epic Troy, and the speculative‑fiction film 2081. These roles have contributed to his recognition as a versatile character actor in international cinema.
In addition to his film work, Cosmo has become a staple of British television, accumulating credits in hundreds of series and amassing a total of 188 known screen appearances. He has built a reputation for portraying Scottish “tough‑guy” characters, a niche that has reinforced his standing within the UK television landscape. His extensive experience across both mediums underscores a long‑standing and prolific acting career.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
190 titles- Storm Rider: Legend of Hammerhead (2026) as Dida
- The Morrigan (2026) as Francis Crowley
- Preschool (2026) as Joe
- Voidance (2026) as Agent Polo
- Talamasca: The Secret Order (2025) as Director Houseman
- Hostage (2025) as Max Dalton
- Fear (2025) as Allan Berwick
- The Last Redemption (2025) as Lord Goran
- Salvable (2025) as Welly
- Can You Hear Me? (2025) as Johnny
- Nightsleeper (2024) as Fraser Warren
- The Beast Within (2024) as Waylon
- Six Four (2023) as Jim Mackie
- The Three Musketeers (2023) as Cardinal Richelieu
- Highland Cops (2023) as Narrator
- Karen Pirie (2022) as Brodie Grant Snr
- Scrooge: A Christmas Carol (2022) as Mr. Fezziwig (voice)
- Breath (2022) as Nick
- My Sailor, My Love (2022) as Howard
- Jagame Thandhiram (2021) as Peter Sprott
- The Kindred (2021) as Frank Menzies
- Skylines (2020) as Grant
- Chernobyl (2019) as Miner
- His Dark Materials (2019) as Farder Coram
- The Bay (2019) as Bill Bradwell
- The Name of the Rose (2019) as Jorge of Burgos
- The Hole in the Ground (2019) as Des Brady
- Get Duked! (2019) as Farmer
- Forget Me Not (2019) as Benedict
- Tomorrow (2019) as Mr. Charles
- Off Grid (2019) as John Tanner
- Shadow Boxer (2019) as Eddie Royce
- Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan (2018) as Luka Gocharov
- Outlaw King (2018) as Robert Bruce Senior
- Hold the Sunset (2018) as Bob
- In Darkness (2018) as Niall
- Ashes in the Snow (2018) as Mr. Stakas
- Malevolent (2018) as Grandpa
- Rogue Trooper: The Quartz Massacre (2018) as Narrator
- Darkness Comes (2018) as Policeman
- Wonder Woman (2017) as FIeld Marshall Haig
- T2 Trainspotting (2017) as Renton's Father
- SS-GB (2017) as Harry Woods
- London Heist (2017) as Ray
- The Durrells (2016) as Captain Creech
- Ben-Hur (2016) as Quintus Arius
- Eliminators (2016) as Cooper
- Bunker: Project 12 (2016) as Brian Balanowsky
- Whisky Galore (2016) as Macalister the Minister
- Stag (2016) as Gamekeeper
- Breakdown (2016) as Albert Chapman
- Dark Signal (2016) as Alan
- Monochrome (2016) as Roger Daniels
- Moonwalkers (2015) as Dawson
- Estranged (2015) as Albert
- The Legend of Barney Thomson (2015) as James Henderson
- The Pyramid Texts (2015) as Ray
- Amélia & Duarte (2015) as Narrator (English)
- New Worlds (2014) as Goffe
- We Still Kill the Old Way (2014) as Arthur
- The Boogeyman (2014) as Dr. Harper
- Shetland (2013) as Arthur McCall
- Justin and the Knights of Valour (2013) as Blucher (voice)
- The Christmas Candle (2013) as Herbert Hopewell
- Hammer of the Gods (2013) as King Bagsecg
- Get Lucky (2013) as Mr. Zigic
- The Golden Scallop (2013) as Judge Wellington
- Citadel (2012) as Priest
- Songs for Amy (2012) as Murdo
- Game of Thrones (2011) as Jeor Mormont
- Death in Paradise (2011) as Roger Seymour
- Case Histories (2011) as Len Lomax
- No Saints for Sinners (2011)
- The Glass Man (2011) as Pecco
- The Santa Incident (2010) as Nick
- Outcast (2010) as Laird
- One Night in Emergency (2010)
- The Runway (2010) as Shutherland
- Donkeys (2010) as Alfred
- Castle (2009) as Finn Rourke
- FlashForward (2009) as Phillip
- The Clan (2009) as Hector McKinley
- 2081 (2009) as George Bergeron
- The Narnia Code (2009) as Narrator
- Sons of Anarchy (2008) as Father Kellan Ashby
- Merlin (2008) as Hengist
- The Colour of Magic (2008) as Galder Weatherwax
- Futureshock: Comet (2008) as Brenden
- The Color of Magic - Die Reise des Zauberers Teil 1 (2008) as Galder Weatherwax
- The Last Legion (2007) as Hrothgar
- The Seeker: The Dark Is Rising (2007) as Dawson
- Where Have I Been All Your Life? (2007) as John
- Lives of the Saints (2007) as Mr. Karva
- Half Light (2006) as Finlay Murray
- The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005) as Father Christmas
- Little House on the Prairie (2005) as Mr. Scott
- The Adventures of Greyfriars Bobby (2005) as James Brown
- Troy (2004) as Glaucus
- The Reckoning (2004) as Lambert
- One Last Chance (2004) as Big John
- Man Dancin' (2004) as Donnie McGlone
- Sweet Dreams (2003) as Robert
- Solid Air (2003) as Finn
- The Four Feathers (2002) as Col. Sutch
- Once Upon a Time in the Midlands (2002) as Billy
- Celebrity Big Brother (2001) as Self
- To End All Wars (2001) as Col. Stuart McLean
- All the Queen's Men (2001) as Archie
- Rebus (2000) as Morris Cafferty
- Rebus (2000) as Morris Gerald Cafferty
- Easter Tales (2000) as The Centurion
- The Last of the Blonde Bombshells (2000) as McNab
- Honest (2000) as Tommy Chase
- Cleopatra (1999) as Agrippa
- Badger (1999)
- The Match (1999) as Billy Bailey
- Split Second (1999) as Donald Paterson
- Billy and Zorba (1999) as Zorba
- One More Kiss (1999) as Frank
- Sunset Heights (1999) as MacDonald
- Babe: Pig in the City (1998) as Thelonius (voice)
- Golden Wedding (1998) as Eddie
- Midsomer Murders (1997) as Jack 'Axeman' McKinley
- Ivanhoe (1997) as Cedric
- Santa / Claws (1997)
- Ain't Misbehavin' (1997) as Malky Fraser
- Trainspotting (1996) as Renton's Father
- Emma (1996) as Mr. Weston
- Braveheart (1995) as Campbell
- The Key (1995) as Gangster
- Roughnecks (1994) as Tom
- Sin Bin (1994) as Jerry
- Heartbeat (1992) as Matthew Chapman
- The House of Eliott (1991) as James Maxton
- The Sharp End (1991) as Carmichael
- Treasure Island (1990) as Redruth
- The Fool (1990) as Mr. Bowring
- The Nightwatch (1989) as James Smithson
- Winners and Losers (1989) as Frank Kerr
- The Justice Game (1989) as Glen
- Stormy Monday (1988) as Tony
- Codename: Kyril (1988) as Bonham
- Crossbow (1987)
- Casualty (1986) as John Breckman
- Casualty (1986) as Tony
- Highlander (1986) as Angus MacLeod
- Biggles (1986) as German Soldier
- Running Scared (1986) as Detective Inspector McNeil
- Screen Two (1985) as Jerry
- Super Gran (1985) as Mr. McBigg
- Lytton's Diary (1985) as Harry Owen
- Operation Julie (1985) as Longfellow
- The Bill (1984)
- The Master of Ballantrae (1984) as Horseman (uncredited)
- Scarecrow and Mrs. King (1983)
- Taggart (1983)
- Living Apart Together (1982) as Priest
- House on the Hill (1981) as Bonfield
- The Nightmare Man (1981) as Sergeant Carch
- The Nightmare Man (1981) as Sergeant Carch
- Take the High Road (1980)
- Hammer House of Horror (1980) as Willis
- Minder (1979) as Jock McLeish
- Kidnapped (1979) as Beggar/Soldier
- Thundercloud (1979) as Chief Petty Officer Hawkins
- Dick Barton: Special Agent (1979) as Jock Anderson
- Strangers (1978) as DS Galbraith
- The Professionals (1977) as Glover
- The Sweeney (1975) as Det. Sgt. Davy Freeth
- Survivors (1975) as Lenny Carter
- Churchill's People (1974) as Robert Bruce
- The Cheviot, the Stag and the Black, Black Oil (1974) as Loch
- The Professional (1973) as Sgt. Robbins
- Young Winston (1972) as Officer on Train
- Sutherland's Law (1972) as Ian Campbell
- The Stone Tape (1972) as Cliff Dow
- The Duna Bull (1972)
- Doomwatch (1972) as Bob Gillette
- The Persuaders! (1971) as Inspector Williams
- Assault (1971) as Det. Sgt. Beale
- UFO (1970) as Lt. Anderson
- Sovereign's Company (1970) as Senior Under Officer Patterson
- Battle of Britain (1969) as Jamie
- The Virgin Soldiers (1969) as Waller
- ITV Playhouse (1967) as Sgt. Robbins
- Ransom for a Pretty Girl (1966) as Charlie Milne
- The Wednesday Play (1964) as Senior Under Officer Patterson
- Dr. Finlay's Casebook (1962) as Private Davidson
- Hotel Caledonia as William Pertwee
- Follow the Dark as Gregory Kern
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is James Cosmo best known for?
James Cosmo is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Voidance (2026), Talamasca: The Secret Order (2025), Hostage (2025), The Last Redemption (2025).
When and where was James Cosmo born?
James Cosmo was born on May 24, 1948 in Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire, Scotland, UK.
How many credits does James Cosmo have?
James Cosmo has accumulated over 190 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1962 to 2026.
What is James Cosmo's background in cinema and television?
James Cosmo, born 24 May 1948 in Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire, Scotland, United Kingdom, is a British actor. He has appeared in a wide range of film and television productions, accumulating 188 credited roles according to The Movie Database. His film work includes appearances in Highlander, Braveheart, The Chronicles...
James Cosmo by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Chernobyl (2019) as Miner — aged about 71
- Game of Thrones (2011) as Jeor Mormont — aged about 63
- Sons of Anarchy (2008) as Father Kellan Ashby — aged about 60
- The Sweeney (1975) as Det. Sgt. Davy Freeth — aged about 27
- Castle (2009) as Finn Rourke — aged about 61
- Trainspotting (1996) as Renton's Father — aged about 48
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