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Bill Paterson

Actor

Bill Paterson

Born June 3, 1945 in Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland, UK91 films

William Tulloch Paterson (born 3 June 1945) is a Scottish actor. Throughout his career he has appeared regularly in radio drama and provided the narration for a large number of documentaries. Paterson has appeared in films and television series including Comfort and Joy (1984), Traffik (1989), Auf Wiedersehen, Pet (1986), Truly, Madly, Deeply (1990), The Witches (1990), Wives and Daughters (1999), Sea of Souls (2004–2007), Amazing Grace (2006), Miss Potter (2006), Little Dorrit (2008), Doctor Who (2010), Outlander (2014), Fleabag (2016–2019), Inside No. 9 (2018), Good Omens (2019), Brassic (2020) and House of the Dragon (2022). He is a recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Scottish BAFTAs.

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William Tulloch Paterson was born in Glasgow on 3 June 1945. Paterson was raised in Dennistoun by his father, a plumber, and his mother, a hairdresser. He states that his interest in acting began with a school trip to the Citizens Theatre in the Gorbals in 1961. However, after school he chose to initially pursue a career based on an interest in architecture and spent three years as a quantity surveyor's apprentice before deciding to attend the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama

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The best way into Bill Paterson's work
Chaplin posterFirst watchChaplin19927.4as Stage ManagerAn aged Charlie Chaplin narrates his life to his autobiography's editor, including his rise to wealth and comedic fame from poverty, his turbulent personal life and his run-ins with the FBI.View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach
The Killing Fields poster7.5The Killing Fields1984The Witches poster7.0The Witches1990The Adventures of Baron Munchausen poster7.0The Adventures of Baron Munchausen1988The Man Who Invented Christmas poster6.8The Man Who Invented Christmas2017Rebecca poster6.3Rebecca2020Miss Potter poster6.7Miss Potter2006How to Lose Friends & Alienate People poster6.0How to Lose Friends & Alienate People2008High-Rise poster5.6High-Rise2015

Filmography

91 films as actor
  1. TBAThe White RoomJackie Jordan
  2. 2026Ladies FirstLouis
  3. 2025The House Was Not Hungry ThenFather
  4. 2024Arthur's WhiskyHenry
  5. 2023A Bear Named WojtekZoo Director (voice)
  6. 2022The Spirit of 1926Family Lawyer
  7. 2021The Colour RoomGordon Forsythe
  8. 2020RebeccaDr. Baker
  9. 2020MarionetteDr. Mandelbaum
  10. 2020Love SarahFelix
  11. 2018Happy New Year, Colin BursteadGordon Burstead
  12. 2018WonderdateKolodon
  13. 2018ZanzibarMr Green
  14. 2017The Man Who Invented ChristmasMr. Grimsby
  15. 2016Churchill's SecretLord Moran
  16. 2016Dad's ArmyPrivate Frazer
  17. 2015High-RiseMercer
  18. 2015The VoteSimon Featherstone
  19. 2013The ListReg Troughton
  20. 2011Fast Freddie, the Widow and MeJudge Underwood
  21. 2011The Man who Crossed HitlerKurt Ohnesorge
  22. 2009CreationDr. Gully
  23. 2009Spanish Flu: The Forgotten FallenDr James Niven
  24. 2009Into the StormClement Attlee
  25. 2008Gone FishingOld Bill
  26. 2008How to Lose Friends & Alienate PeopleRichard Young
  27. 2007Sherlock Holmes and the Baker Street IrregularsDr Watson
  28. 2007Amazing GraceLord Dundas
  29. 2007InterventionDr. Martin
  30. 2006Miss PotterRupert Potter
  31. 2005Kingdom Of Heaven (Director's Cut)Bishop
  32. 2005Rag TaleTulloch 'Lucky' Lloyd
  33. 2003Bright Young ThingsSir James Brown
  34. 2003Danielle Cable: EyewitnessDI Nick Biddiss
  35. 2002CrushGerald
  36. 2002Home Road MoviesFather
  37. 2001OthelloSinclair Carver
  38. 2001The Whistle-BlowerD.I. Neil Sleightholme
  39. 2000ComplicityWallace Byatt
  40. 1999Chrono-PerambulatorProfessor Teddy Knox
  41. 1999SunshineMinister of Justice
  42. 1999The MatchTommy
  43. 1999HeartMr. Kreitman
  44. 1998Hilary and JackieCello Teacher
  45. 1998The Animal TrainWalrus
  46. 1997Mr White Goes To WestminsterBen White
  47. 1997Spice WorldBrian
  48. 1996VictoryCapt. Davidson
  49. 1996The Writing on the WallBull
  50. 1995Richard IIISir Richard Ratcliffe
  51. 1995The Pen
  52. 1995The TurnaroundJames Webb
  53. 1993Wall of SilenceHoward Mullen
  54. 1992God on the RocksKenneth Marsh
  55. 1992In DreamsDr Gold
  56. 1992ChaplinStage Manager
  57. 1992Tell Tale HeartsAnthony Steadman
  58. 1991Truly Madly DeeplySandy
  59. 1991The Object of BeautyVictor Swayle
  60. 1990YellowbacksAlex McPherson
  61. 1990The WitchesMr Jenkins
  62. 1989Bearskin: An Urban FairytaleJordan
  63. 1989The Rachel PapersGordon Highway
  64. 1989The Return of the MusketeersCharles I
  65. 1988The Adventures of Baron MunchausenHenry Salt
  66. 1988Just Ask for DiamondChief Inspector Snape
  67. 1988Byrne About ByrneFather/F.S. McDade
  68. 1987The Story of a RecluseThe Producer
  69. 1987The Interrogation of JohnDet. Supt. Chase
  70. 1987Friendship's DeathSullivan
  71. 1987Lily My LoveColin
  72. 1987Hidden CityAnthony
  73. 1987Coming Up RosesMr. Valentine
  74. 1986God's Chosen Car ParkVictor Rosen
  75. 1986Defence of the RealmJack Macleod
  76. 1985Dutch GirlsMr Mole
  77. 1984The Killing FieldsDr. MacEntire
  78. 1984A Private FunctionWormold
  79. 1984Comfort and JoyAlan
  80. 1983The Ploughman's LunchLecturer
  81. 1981United KingdomTony
  82. 1981The Cherry OrchardLopakhin
  83. 1979One Fine DayThird Man in Lift
  84. 1978The Vanishing ArmyGirling
  85. 1978Jackie McCafferty's RomanceBus Conductor
  86. 1978The Odd JobSergeant Mull
  87. 1978Licking HitlerArchie MacLean
  88. 1977The Thin End of the WedgeLuke
  89. 1977The Garden BeyondJim Finlayson
  90. 1974Suilven Spring
  91. 1973Passing Places