Stanley Townsend
Biography
Stanley Townsend is an Irish actor born in Dublin in August 1961. He was brought up in Dublin, attending Wesley College before studying mathematics and civil engineering at Trinity College. While at Trinity College, he joined the Dublin University Players, the college amateur dramatic society. He later co-founded the co-operative theatre company Rough Magic alongside writer and director Declan Hughes and theatre director Lynne Parker. With Rough Magic, he performed in numerous productions including The Country Wife, Nightshade, and Sexual Perversity in Chicago, and he subsequently performed in several productions at The Gate and The Abbey Theatres in Dublin. In London, his stage work has included collaborations with director Sam Mendes. His television career began with shows for RTE in Dublin and later expanded to London-based series including Spooks, The Commander, Hustle, Waking the Dead, and Omagh Bombing, alongside film work.
Career overview
Stanley Townsend is an Irish actor born in Dublin in August 1961. He was brought up in Dublin, where he attended Wesley College and subsequently studied mathematics and civil engineering at Trinity College. During his time at Trinity College, he joined the Dublin University Players, the college amateur dramatic society. He later co-founded the cooperative theatre company Rough Magic alongside writer and director Declan Hughes and theatre director Lynne Parker. With Rough Magic, he performed in numerous productions including The Country Wife, Nightshade, and Sexual Perversity in Chicago. He subsequently performed in several productions at The Gate Theatre and The Abbey Theatre in Dublin, and in London he worked with directors such as Sam Mendes.
Townsend's television career began with a number of shows for RTÉ in Dublin. After moving to London, his television appearances expanded to include Spooks, The Commander, Hustle, Waking the Dead, and Omagh Bombing. In addition to his television and stage work, his filmography includes appearances in projects such as Sherlock, Andor, and Agent. Throughout his career, he has accumulated numerous known acting credits across film and television.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
95 titles- The Uprising (2026)
- Once Upon a Time in a Cinema (2026) as Harry Conway
- Jay Kelly (2025) as First Voice (voice)
- National Theatre Live: Retrograde (2025) as Mr Parks
- KAOS (2024) as President Minos
- The Regime (2024) as Emil Bartos
- Blackshore (2024) as Bill McGuire
- The Teacher (2024) as Simon Cohen
- Kinked (2023)
- Andor (2022) as Commandant Jayhold Beehaz
- Becoming Elizabeth (2022) as Anthony Denny
- Phil Lynott: The Long Goodbye (2022) as Narrator
- The Spy (2019) as General Ad-Din
- Resistance (2019) as Senator Daniel Shea
- Traitors (2019) as Henry
- The Song of Names (2019) as Gilbert
- Agatha and the Curse of Ishtar (2019) as Sir Constance
- A Girl from Mogadishu (2019) as Joe Costello
- National Theatre Live: All About Eve (2019) as Addison Dewett
- The Current War (2018) as Franklin Pope
- Psychomanteum (2018) as Narrator
- Florence Foster Jenkins (2016) as Phineas Stark
- Galavant (2015) as King of Valencia
- New Worlds (2014) as Colonel Blood
- Der Medicus (2014) as Bar Kappara
- The Voices (2014) as Sheriff Weinbacher
- Quirke (2014) as Inspector Hackett
- Fleming (2014) as Colonel William Donovan
- National Theatre Live: King Lear (2014) as The Earl of Kent
- Standby (2014) as Paul
- The Physician (2013) as Bar Kappara
- Toast of London (2013)
- One Chance (2013) as Luciano Pavarotti
- Burton and Taylor (2013) as Milton Katselas
- Lovely Louise (2013) as Bill
- Call the Midwife (2012) as Father Joe
- Ripper Street (2012) as Aiden Galvin
- The Hollow Crown (2012) as Warwick
- Titanic: Blood and Steel (2012) as Rex Riley
- Cars 2 (2011) as Victor Hugo / Vladimir Trunkov / Ivan the Tow Truck (voice)
- Fresh Meat (2011) as John Frobisher
- Zen (2011) as Moscati
- Killing Bono (2011) as Danny Machin
- Sherlock (2010) as Angelo
- The Pizza Miracle (2010) as Gianni
- Holy Water (2009) as Inspector Brian Hogan
- Hilde (2009) as David O. Selznick
- National Theatre Live: Phèdre (2009) as Theseus
- Ashes to Ashes (2008) as Sacks
- Happy-Go-Lucky (2008) as Tramp
- Whistleblower (2008) as Michael Neary
- Flawless (2007) as Henry
- Saddam's Tribe (2007) as Saddam
- The Nativity Story (2006) as Zechariah
- Thin Lizzy: Outlawed - The Real Phil Lynott (2006) as Narrator
- Isolation (2005) as Garda Hourigan
- Dot.Kill (2005) as Capt. Tommy Byrnes
- Omagh (2005) as Sam Pollock
- Hustle (2004) as Johnny Keyes
- The Libertine (2004) as Keown
- Murder City (2004)
- Inside I'm Dancing (2004) as Interview Panelist
- Fallen (2004) as Mara
- Wondrous Oblivion (2004) as Victor
- What a Girl Wants (2003) as Bride's Father
- The Commander (2003)
- Byron (2003) as Turkish Governor
- Monsieur N. (2003) as Dr. O'Meara
- Mystics (2003) as Mickey Mac
- Spooks (2002) as Roy Woodring
- Foyle's War (2002) as Jose De Perez
- Wire in the Blood (2002)
- 24 (2001) as Anatol Stolnavich
- Waking the Dead (2001) as DI Bailey
- Station Jim (2001) as Matapan
- Rat (2000) as Newsreader
- Altmann's Tongue (2000) as Narrator
- The Ambassador (1998)
- Jonathan Creek (1997) as Det. Inspector Barrison
- Ballykissangel (1996) as Micky Keeler
- The Van (1996) as Des, Health Inspector
- My Friend Joe (1996) as Mr. Doyle
- Jake's Progress (1995) as Consultant
- Beyond Reason (1995) as John Horan
- Peak Practice (1993) as Keith Johnson
- In the Name of the Father (1993) as Hooker's Driver
- The Snapper (1993) as Anaesthetist
- Heartbeat (1992) as Igor Saukas
- Parnell & the Englishwoman (1991) as Thomas Sexton
- The Miracle (1991) as Washington, Destry Rides Again
- Taffin (1988) as Les
- Ink (1988)
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Constable
- Golden Boy
- Another Turn of the Screw as Henry James
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Stanley Townsend best known for?
Stanley Townsend is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including The Uprising (2026), Jay Kelly (2025), KAOS (2024), Andor (2022).
When and where was Stanley Townsend born?
Stanley Townsend was born on August 20, 1961 in Dublin, Ireland.
How many credits does Stanley Townsend have?
Stanley Townsend has accumulated over 95 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1951 to 2026.
What is Stanley Townsend's background in cinema and television?
Stanley Townsend is an Irish actor born in Dublin in August 1961. He was brought up in Dublin, attending Wesley College before studying mathematics and civil engineering at Trinity College. While at Trinity College, he joined the Dublin University Players, the college amateur dramatic society. He later co-founded the c...