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Nigel Hawthorne

Acting Born Apr 5, 1929 Died Dec 26, 2001 Hertfordshire, England, UK 126 credits
126
Total Credits
2013
63 Years Career Span
50
Vault Titles
10
Key Co-Stars

Biography

Nigel Hawthorne was an English actor born on April 5, 1929, in Hertfordshire, England, UK. He is known for his role in the 1980s sitcom Yes Minister and its sequel Yes, Prime Minister, where he played the character Sir Humphrey Appleby. Hawthorne won four Bafta Awards during the 1980s in the 'Best Light Entertainment Performance' Category for this role. He also won two more Bafta Awards, one for 'The Fragile Heart' and one for 'The Madness of King George', which earned him an Oscar nomination. Hawthorne passed away on December 26, 2001, at the age of 72. He is recorded to have acted in 116 known credits throughout his career.

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Career

Career overview

Nigel Hawthorne was a renowned English actor, active in the entertainment industry for a significant period. He is perhaps best remembered for his portrayal of Sir Humphrey Appleby, the Permanent Secretary, in the 1980s sitcom Yes Minister and its sequel, Yes, Prime Minister. This role earned him multiple awards and recognition.

Throughout his career, Hawthorne accumulated numerous credits, with a total of 116 known credits to his name. He demonstrated his versatility as an actor by taking on various roles in different mediums, including television and film. His performances were consistently well-received, leading to several award wins.

Hawthorne's talent was acknowledged with multiple Bafta Awards, which he received in the 1980s and 1990s. He won four Bafta Awards in the 'Best Light Entertainment Performance' category for his work in Yes Minister and its sequel. Additionally, he won two more Bafta Awards, one for his portrayal in the television series The Fragile Heart and another for his role in the film The Madness of King George. His performance in the latter film earned him an Oscar nomination.

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Frequent co-stars

Career timeline

Yes, Prime Minister: Re-elected
Animal StoriesOnce Upon a HalloweenThe Funny Blokes of British Comedy
Call Me ClausVictoria & AlbertVictoria & AlbertHigher LoveHigher Love · Executive Producer
TarzanThe Clandestine MarriageThe Big Brass RingThe Winslow BoyA Reasonable Man
ParkinsonAnimal StoriesThe Object of My AffectionMadeline
Murder in MindMurder in Mind · Associate ProducerAmistadForbidden Territory: Stanley's Search for Livingstone
Russia's War: Blood Upon the SnowTwelfth NightThe Fragile HeartThe Happy PrinceInside
Richard III
The Madness of King GeorgeLate-Flowering LustPortrait or Bust
Demolition Man
Freddie As F.R.O.7.Flea Bites
PerformanceThe Trials of Oz
King of the Wind
A Handful of TimeThe Spirit of ManThe ShawlRelatively Speaking
The Play on OneRARG
ScreenPlayYes, Prime Minister
The Black CauldronTheatre NightMapp & LuciaTurtle DiaryJenny's War
Pope John Paul IIThe ChainThe House
Natural WorldTartuffe, or The ImposterDead on TimeThe Crimson Permanent Assurance
GandhiFirefoxThe Plague DogsThe Hunchback of Notre DameThe Barchester Chronicles
History of the World: Part IProtestMemoirs of a SurvivorA Brush with Mr. Porter on the Road to El Dorado
Yes MinisterRussell HartyA Tale of Two CitiesThe TempestThe Misanthrope
Tales of the UnexpectedThe Other SideThe Knowledge
HolocaustThe BBC Television ShakespeareWatership DownEdward and Mrs SimpsonGoing Straight
Marie Curie
Bill BrandSpiderwebPlay ThingsBuffet
The FloaterThe Hiding PlaceChild of Hope
PlayhousePlayhouseOccupationsS*P*Y*S
The Emergency Channel
Young Winston

Full Filmography

126 titles
  • Yes, Prime Minister: Re-elected (2013) as Self (Archive Material)
  • Animal Stories (2005) as Narrator (Orig. U.K.)
  • Once Upon a Halloween (2005) as Fflewddur Fflam (voice) (archive sound)
  • The Funny Blokes of British Comedy (2005) as Sir Humphrey Appleby (archive footage) (uncredited)
  • Call Me Claus (2001) as Nick
  • Victoria & Albert (2001) as Lord William Lamb
  • Victoria & Albert (2001) as Viscount Melbourne
  • Higher Love (2001) as Uncle Cullen
  • Higher Love (2001) Executive Producer
  • Tarzan (1999) as Professor Archimedes Q. Porter (voice)
  • The Clandestine Marriage (1999) as Lord Ogleby
  • The Big Brass Ring (1999) as Kim Mennaker
  • The Winslow Boy (1999) as Arthur Winslow
  • A Reasonable Man (1999) as Judge Wendon
  • Atatürk: Founder of Modern Turkey (1999) as Sir Percy Lorraine, British Ambassador
  • Parkinson (1998) as Self
  • Animal Stories (1998) as Narrator (voice)
  • The Object of My Affection (1998) as Rodney Fraser
  • Madeline (1998) as Lord Covington
  • Murder in Mind (1997) as Dr. Ellis
  • Murder in Mind (1997) Associate Producer
  • Amistad (1997) as Martin Van Buren
  • Forbidden Territory: Stanley's Search for Livingstone (1997) as David Livingstone
  • Russia's War: Blood Upon the Snow (1996) as Narrator
  • Twelfth Night (1996) as Malvolio
  • The Fragile Heart (1996) as Dr. Edgar Pascoe
  • The Happy Prince (1996) as Narrator (voice)
  • Inside (1996) as Colonel
  • Richard III (1995) as The Duke of Clarence
  • The Madness of King George (1994) as George III
  • Late-Flowering Lust (1994) as Cousin John
  • Portrait or Bust (1994) as Himself (uncredited)
  • Demolition Man (1993) as Dr. Raymond Cocteau
  • Freddie As F.R.O.7. (1992) as Brigadier G (voice)
  • Flea Bites (1992) as Kryst
  • Performance (1991) as Brian Leary
  • The Trials of Oz (1991) as Brian Leary
  • King of the Wind (1990) as Achmet
  • A Handful of Time (1989) as Ted Walker
  • The Spirit of Man (1989) as Rev. Jonathan Guerdon
  • The Shawl (1989) as John
  • Relatively Speaking (1989) as Philip Carter
  • The Play on One (1988) as John
  • RARG (1988) as Storyteller
  • ScreenPlay (1986) as Rev. Jonathan Guerdon
  • Yes, Prime Minister (1986) as Sir Humphrey Appleby
  • The Black Cauldron (1985) as Fflewddur Fflam (voice)
  • Theatre Night (1985) as Harpagon
  • Mapp & Lucia (1985) as Georgie Pillson
  • Turtle Diary (1985) as Publisher
  • Jenny's War (1985) as Colonel
  • Jenny's War (1985) as Colonel
  • Pope John Paul II (1984) as Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski
  • The Chain (1984) as Mr Thorn
  • The House (1984) as General Fagg
  • Natural World (1983) as Narrator
  • Tartuffe, or The Imposter (1983) as Orgon
  • Dead on Time (1983) as Doctor
  • The Crimson Permanent Assurance (1983) as Passerby (uncredited)
  • Gandhi (1982) as Kinnoch
  • Firefox (1982) as Pyotr Baranovich
  • The Plague Dogs (1982) as Dr. Boycott (voice)
  • The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1982) as Magistrate at Esmeralda's trial
  • The Barchester Chronicles (1982) as Dr Grantly
  • A Woman Called Golda (1982) as King Abdullah
  • The World Cup: A Captain's Tale (1982) as John Westwood
  • The Critic (1982) as Mr. Sneer
  • The Funny Side of Christmas (1982) as Sir Humphrey Appleby
  • History of the World: Part I (1981) as Citizen Official - The French Revolution
  • Protest (1981) as Stanek / Vanek
  • Memoirs of a Survivor (1981) as Victorian Father
  • A Brush with Mr. Porter on the Road to El Dorado (1981) as Fulton
  • Yes Minister (1980) as Sir Humphrey Appleby
  • Russell Harty (1980)
  • A Tale of Two Cities (1980) as Mr. CJ Stryver
  • The Tempest (1980) as Stephano
  • The Misanthrope (1980) as Philinte
  • A Rod of Iron (1980) as Trevor
  • The Enigma (1980) as Fenton
  • Jessie (1980) as Mr Edmonds
  • Tales of the Unexpected (1979) as Charles Drummond
  • The Other Side (1979) as Skellow
  • The Knowledge (1979) as Mr Burgess
  • Holocaust (1978) as Ohldendorf
  • The BBC Television Shakespeare (1978) as Stephano
  • Watership Down (1978) as Captain Campion (voice)
  • Edward and Mrs Simpson (1978) as Walter Monkton
  • Going Straight (1978) as Worm Wellings
  • Edward & Mrs. Simpson (1978) as Walter Monkton
  • Sweeney 2 (1978) as Det. Chief Insp. Dilke
  • Warrior Queen (1978) as Catus Decianus
  • The Sailor's Return (1978) as Mr Fosse
  • Destiny (1978) as Major Lewis Rolfe
  • Marie Curie (1977) as Pierre Curie
  • Bill Brand (1976) as Browning
  • Spiderweb (1976) as Erik Lönnrot
  • Play Things (1976) as Tenby
  • Buffet (1976) as Jack
  • The Floater (1975) as Morris Shelman
  • The Hiding Place (1975) as Pastor De Ruiter
  • Child of Hope (1975) as Police Captain
  • Playhouse (1974) as Tenby
  • Playhouse (1974) as Fenton
  • Occupations (1974) as Libertini
  • S*P*Y*S (1974) as Croft
  • The Emergency Channel (1973) as Graham
  • Young Winston (1972) as Boer Sentry (uncredited)
  • Alma Mater (1971) as Major
  • Play for Today (1970) as Graham
  • Play for Today (1970) as Major Lewis Rolfe
  • Play for Today (1970) as Police Captain
  • Play for Today (1970) as Morris Shelman
  • Play for Today (1970) as Fulton
  • Play for Today (1970) as Jack
  • Play for Today (1970) as Stanek / Vanek
  • ITV Saturday Night Theatre (1969) as Hugh
  • Dad's Army (1968) as Angry Man
  • Omnibus (1967)
  • ITV Playhouse (1967) as Trevor
  • BBC Play of the Month (1965) as Mr Sneer
  • BBC Play of the Month (1965) as Philinte
  • The Desperate People (1963) as Cliff Fletcher
  • Man of the World (1962) as Assistant Director
  • Carve Her Name with Pride (1958) as Park Soldier (uncredited)
  • Tony Awards (1956) as Self - Winner
  • Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Magistrate

Frequently Asked Questions

What movies or TV shows is Nigel Hawthorne best known for?

Nigel Hawthorne is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Makarov and The Girls (2021), Orphan (2009), Tarzan (1999), Parkinson (1998).

When and where was Nigel Hawthorne born?

Nigel Hawthorne was born on April 5, 1929 in Hertfordshire, England, UK. They passed away on December 26, 2001.

How many credits does Nigel Hawthorne have?

Nigel Hawthorne has accumulated over 126 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1951 to 2013.

What is Nigel Hawthorne's background in cinema and television?

Nigel Hawthorne was an English actor born on April 5, 1929, in Hertfordshire, England, UK. He is known for his role in the 1980s sitcom Yes Minister and its sequel Yes, Prime Minister, where he played the character Sir Humphrey Appleby. Hawthorne won four Bafta Awards during the 1980s in the 'Best Light Entertainment P...