Angus Macfadyen

Angus Macfadyen (born 21 September 1963) is a Scottish actor. His roles include Robert the Bruce, both in ''Braveheart'' and ''Robert the Bruce'', Komodo in ''Warriors of Virtue'', Vice-Counsel Dupont in '' Equilibrium'', Jeff Denlon in the ''Saw'' franchise, Robert Rogers in the AMC historical drama '' Turn: Washington's Spies'', McCreedy in Cameron Crowe's ''We Bought a Zoo,'' and biologist James Murray in '' The Lost City of Z''. He has made appearances on several television series such as ''Californication'', ''Criminal Minds'', the final season of ''Chuck'' and ''Superman & Lois''.

Early life

Macfadyen was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and was brought up in the Philippines, Africa, Singapore and France. His father was a doctor in the World Health Organization. Macfadyen attended the University of Edinburgh and the Central School of Speech and Drama in London.

Career

1990s

Macfadyen's first role was Philip in the film made for television '' The Lost Language of Cranes'' (1991). He portrayed a young man who must tell his parents that he is gay. Playing the role of his father was fellow Scottish actor Brian Cox. Macfadyen then acted in five episodes of ''Soldier Soldier'' before appearing in the television film ''15: The Life and Death of Philip Knight'' (1993) and also on the television series ''Takin' Over the Asylum'' (1994) about a salesman who runs a radio station in a mental institution. That role led to his role as Robert the Bruce in Mel Gibson's film ''Braveheart'' (1995). In 1995 he also portrayed Richard Burton in the TV miniseries '' Liz: The Elizabeth Taylor Story''.

After ''Braveheart'' won Best Picture at the Academy Awards, Macfadyen acted in the independent film ''Nevada'' (1997), before giving the most over-the-top performance of his career in the action/fantasy ''Warriors of Virtue'' (1997). He also co-starred alongside Don Cheadle and Ray Liotta when he played Peter Lawford in the HBO film ''The Rat Pack'' (1998).

Macfadyen played Orson Welles in Tim Robbins's third directorial film ''Cradle Will Rock'' (1999). Although the film received a nomination for the Palme d'Or at Cannes, it was a financial flop. Macfadyen next made the Shakespearan film ''Titus'' (1999), alongside Anthony Hopkins, where he played Lucius, eldest son of Titus Andronicus. Directed by Julie Taymor, the film was a critical triumph but with mediocre box office results.

2000s

After the noir film ''Second Skin'' (2000), Macfadyen acted in a number of poorly received films. One such film was the action film ''Styx'' (2001) which starred Peter Weller. A year later, he acted in the comedy film ''Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood'' (2002) alongside a number of famous names: Sandra Bullock, Ellen Burstyn, Maggie Smith and Ashley Judd. That same year, Macfadyen took the role of Vice-Counsel Dupont in '' Equilibrium'' (also 2002). The film, also starring Christian Bale, Sean Bean, Taye Diggs and Emily Watson, is set in the future, where a fascist regime forbids all emotions.

Macfadyen acted as Marcus Crassus in a TV mini-series of ''Spartacus'' (2004), and the character of Bill in '' The Pleasure Drivers'' (2005).

In 2006, he was the lead in the dramatic film ''The Virgin of Juarez'' (2006). He then starred in Kevin Connor's mini-series ''Blackbeard'', it co-stars Richard Chamberlain, Jessica Chastain, Mark Umbers, Stacy Keach, David Winters, and Rachel Ward. It's about pirate Blackbeard (Macfadyen), who wreaks havoc on the high-seas looking for Captain Kidd's treasure. His dark presence causes controversy in the local port town of New Providence, especially among Gov. Charles Eden (Chamberlain) and his adopted daughter Charlotte (Chastain), who is being wooed by Lt. Robert Maynard (Umbers).

His next big role was that of Jeff Denlon in ''Saw III'' (also 2006). Jeff is a man obsessed with revenge, and he is led into a series of traps that test his ability to forgive. The film was a smash hit for its $10 million budget, earning almost $200 million worldwide. Macfadyen then co-starred in the box office bomb '' Redline'' and ''Saw IV'' (both 2007), which was also a box office success.

Macfadyen continued making films, starring as the outlaw Will Tunney in his western film ''Shadowheart'' (2009). He has appeared on television on the series ''Killer Wave'' (2007) and ''Californication'' (2008) He has also acted in the mystery film '' San Saba'' (2008) and the thriller film '' Clean Break'' (aka, ''Unnatural Causes'', 2008).

2010s

Macfadyen has appeared in two thrillers: ''Pound of Flesh'' (2010) alongside Malcolm McDowell which revolves around a corrupt college professor, and the crime thriller ''Shadows of the White Nights'' (aka, ''Assassins Run'', 2013) alongside Christian Slater. He starred as Lucas Blackstone in the Christian film ''Taken by Grace'' (also 2013). Additionally, Macfadyen was part of the cast of the USA Network's television series ''Psych'', the Cameron Crowe feature film ''We Bought a Zoo'' (2011) starring Matt Damon, and the final season of ''Chuck'' as villain Nicholas Quinn.

Macfadyen also starred as Robert Rogers in AMC's historical drama series '' Turn: Washington's Spies'' (2014–17), and Allan Pinkerton on the first-run syndicated series ''The Pinkertons'' (2014–15). ''Macbeth: Unhinged'' (2016) is a modernised feature-length film adapted from the Shakespearean play in which he stars and directs. He appeared opposite Charlie Hunnam and Robert Pattinson as biologist James Murray in the 2016 biographical drama '' The Lost City of Z.''

In 2021, Macfadyen was cast as Jor-El in ''Superman & Lois''.

Filmography

Film

Television

References

External links

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Starring Angus Macfadyen

{{DEFAULTSORT:Macfadyen, Angus
1963 births
Living people
Male actors from Glasgow
Scottish male film actors
Scottish male stage actors
Scottish male television actors
Alumni of the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
Alumni of the University of Edinburgh
20th-century Scottish male actors
21st-century Scottish male actors