Philip Jackson
Biography
Philip Jackson is an English actor born on June 18, 1948, in Retford, Nottinghamshire, England. He began acting while studying Drama and German at the University of Bristol and has worked in the theatre in Leeds, Liverpool, and London. His notable television and film roles include playing Chief Inspector Japp in the television series Agatha Christie's Poirot as well as in BBC Radio dramatisations of Poirot stories. He also portrayed Abbot Hugo, a recurring adversary in the 1980s television series Robin of Sherwood, and appeared as Melvin Dylan Bottomley in Porridge. His extensive career includes 154 known acting credits across film and television. His stage work features performances as Pozzo in Waiting for Godot and Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman.
Career overview
Philip Jackson is an English actor born in Retford, Nottinghamshire on June 18, 1948. He began acting while studying Drama and German at the University of Bristol. Throughout his career, he has worked in the theatre in Leeds, Liverpool, and London. His stage work includes playing Pozzo in Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot at the Queen's Theatre in the West End in 1991 and Willy Loman in Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds in 2010.
Known for his many television and film roles, Jackson is most notably recognized as Chief Inspector Japp in the television series Agatha Christie's Poirot, a role he also played in BBC Radio dramatisations of Poirot stories. He also appeared as Abbot Hugo, one of the recurring adversaries in the 1980s series Robin of Sherwood, and as Melvin Dylan Bottomley in Porridge. Additionally, his film credits include Shoulder to Shoulder, The Day of the Jackal, and Confidence.
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Career timeline
Full Filmography
155 titles- Becoming Victoria Wood (2026) as Self
- The Day of the Jackal (2024) as Trevor
- The Peacock (2023) as Lord Hamish
- Your Move (2023) as Mikey
- Sherwood (2022) as Mickey Sparrow
- Avoidance (2022) as Peter
- The Window (2021) as Martin Dewsbury
- Murder, They Hope (2021) as Phil
- Isolation Stories (2020) as Peter
- Agatha Christie: 100 Years of Poirot and Miss Marple (2020) as Self - Inspector Japp, ITV's Poirot
- Bumps (2020) as Howard
- Shakespeare & Hathaway - Private Investigators (2018) as Chamberlain
- Above the Clouds (2018) as William
- Peterloo (2018) as John Knight
- The Good Karma Hospital (2017) as Paul Smart
- Bad Move (2017) as Ken
- Raised by Wolves (2015) as Grampy
- Boomers (2014) as Alan
- Patrick's Day (2014) as John Freeman
- The Best Offer (2013) as Fred
- Believe (2013) as Bob
- Ragged (2013) as Prison Governor
- Playhouse Presents (2012) as Prison Governor
- Cuckoo (2012) as Tony
- Stars in Shorts (2012) as Trevor
- Spike Island (2012) as Mr. Jackson
- Death in Paradise (2011) as David Witton
- Celebrity Antiques Road Trip (2011) as Self - Participant
- My Week with Marilyn (2011) as Roger Smith
- Friend Request Pending (2011) as Trevor
- Sugartown (2011)
- City State (2011) as William
- The First Men in the Moon (2010) as Voice of Grand Lunar
- The Queen (2009) as Harold Wilson
- Home Time (2009) as Roy Jacks
- Margaret (2009) as Bernard Ingham
- Crooked House (2008) as Joseph Bloxham
- Margaret Thatcher: The Long Walk to Finchley (2008) as Alfred Roberts
- Place of Execution (2008) as Old George Bennett
- Fanny Hill (2007) as Mr. Croft
- I Want Candy (2007) as Stephen, Joe's Dad
- Grow Your Own (2007) as Big John
- Fanny Hill (2007) as Mr. Croft
- Ancient Rome: The Rise and Fall of an Empire (2006) as Jovius
- The Chase (2006)
- The Chase (2006) as Frank Jones
- Funland (2005) as Leo Finch
- A Little Trip to Heaven (2005) as William
- The Best Man (2005) as Mr. Barker
- Shameless (2004) as Barry
- New Tricks (2004)
- Hustle (2004) as Arthur Bond
- Murder in Suburbia (2004) as Bill Jackson
- London (2004) as Samuel Pepys
- Von Trapped (2004) as Torsten
- Little Britain (2003)
- Trust (2003) as James
- Second Nature (2003) as Lawrence Augenblick
- Coogan's Runner (2003) as Self
- Mother Teresa of Calcutta (2003) as Logan
- Foyle's War (2002) as Alan Carter
- The Intended (2002) as Norton
- Crime and Punishment (2002) as Marmaladov
- Cruise of the Gods (2002) as Hugh Bispham
- Mike Bassett: England Manager (2001) as Lonnie Urquart
- Black Cab (2000) as Robert
- The Sins (2000) as Mickey Thomas
- Victoria Wood with All the Trimmings (2000) as Willis
- Around The World In 80 Days (2000) as Inspector Fix (voice)
- The Vice (1999) as Nigel Wingrave
- Cousin Bette (1998) as De Wissembourg
- The Ambassador (1998)
- What Rats Won't Do (1998)
- The Last Salute (1998) as Leonard Spanwick
- Girls' Night (1998) as Dave Simpson
- Little Voice (1998) as George
- Our Boy (1998) as DS Yorke
- Midsomer Murders (1997) as Daniel Snape
- The Opium War (1997) as 船长怀特
- Silent Witness (1996)
- Brassed Off (1996) as Jim
- Hamish Macbeth (1995) as Malachi McBean
- Bramwell (1995) as Ronald Kennedy
- Black Hearts in Battersea (1995) as Eustace Buckle
- The Wimbledon Poisoner (1994) as Detective Inspector Russell Rush
- Downwardly Mobile (1994)
- The Last Dance (1993) as Police Inspector
- Bad Behavior (1993) as Howard Spink
- 15: The Life and Death of Philip Knight (1993) as Stan Eastwood
- Heartbeat (1992) as Ken Marsden
- Heartbeat (1992) as Brian Simpson
- A Touch of Frost (1992) as Sergent Sharpe
- A Touch of Frost (1992) as D.S. Sharpe
- Thacker (1992) as Ben Royce
- Murder Most Horrid (1991) as Patron
- Murder Most Horrid (1991) as Police Sergeant
- Agatha Christie's Poirot (1989) as Chief Inspector James Harold Japp
- Agatha Christie's Poirot (1989) as Assistant Commissioner Japp
- High Hopes (1989) as Martin Burke
- The Storyteller (1988) as King
- The Play on One (1988) as Greg
- The Storyteller: The Luck Child (1988) as King
- The Dark Room (1988) as Greg
- The Fourth Protocol (1987) as Burkinshaw
- First Sight (1987) as Malcolm
- Rat in the Skull (1987) as Detective Superintendent Derek Harris
- On the Palm (1987) as Dawlish
- Lizzie's Pictures (1987)
- Casualty (1986) as Rob Royson
- A Passage to Wisbech (1986) as Narrator
- Screen Two (1985) as Dawlish
- The Doctor and the Devils (1985) as Andrew Merry-Lees
- Glamour Night (1985) as Bob
- Robin of Sherwood (1984) as Abbot Hugo de Rainault
- Robin of Sherwood: Robin Hood and the Sorcerer (1984) as Abbot Hugo de Rainault
- Give My Regards to Broad Street (1984) as Alan
- A Pattern of Roses (1983) as Builder
- Pocketful of Dreams (1982) as Denny
- Games Without Frontiers (1980) as Clive
- Sounding Brass (1980) as Arthur Mannion
- Pasmore (1980) as Colin Pasmore
- Tales of the Unexpected (1979) as George Forester
- Scum (1979) as Mr Greaves
- Afternoon Off (1979) as Bernard
- Two Up, Two Down (1979)
- Strangers (1978) as Nose Treacy
- Leave it to Charlie (1978) as Geoffrey
- Pennies from Heaven (1978) as Dave
- Life at Stake (1978) as Mallison
- Pickersgill People (1978) as DC Billy Blincoe
- Premiere (1977) as Geoff
- Don't Forget to Write! (1977) as Norman
- A Little Outing (1977) as Geoff
- For the Love of Albert (1977)
- The Chester Mystery Plays (1976)
- Pressure (1976) as 2nd CID Officer
- Brensham People (1976) as Jeremy Briggs
- Red Letter Day (1976) as Stan
- Rogue Male (1976) as 1st Seaman
- Well Thank You, Thursday (1976) as Stan
- Keep an Eye on Albert (1975) as Tarpy
- Playhouse (1974) as Clive
- Playhouse (1974) as Denny
- Churchill's People (1974) as Boatman
- Porridge (1974) as Melvin 'Dylan' Bottomley
- Pig Bin (1974) as Ken
- Last of the Summer Wine (1973) as Gordon
- Orson Welles' Great Mysteries (1973) as Carson
- Second City Firsts (1973) as Ken
- Shakespeare or Bust (1973) as Hippie
- Blooming Youth (1973) as Jeff
- The Pigeon Fancier (1971) as Harry
- Play for Today (1970) as Colin Pasmore
- BBC Play of the Month (1965) as Thompson
- True Love (Once Removed) as Bus driver
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Philip Jackson best known for?
Philip Jackson is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including The Day of the Jackal (2024), Shakespeare & Hathaway - Private Investigators (2018), The Best Offer (2013), Cuckoo (2012).
When and where was Philip Jackson born?
Philip Jackson was born on June 18, 1948 in Retford, Nottinghamshire, England, UK.
How many credits does Philip Jackson have?
Philip Jackson has accumulated over 155 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1965 to 2026.
What is Philip Jackson's background in cinema and television?
Philip Jackson is an English actor born on June 18, 1948, in Retford, Nottinghamshire, England. He began acting while studying Drama and German at the University of Bristol and has worked in the theatre in Leeds, Liverpool, and London. His notable television and film roles include playing Chief Inspector Japp in the te...