James D'Arcy (born Simon Richard D'Arcy; 24 August 1975) is an English actor and film director. He is known for his portrayals of Howard Stark's butler, Edwin Jarvis, in the

Marvel Cinematic Universe The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is an American media franchise and shared universe centered on List of Marvel Cinematic Universe films, a series of superhero films produced by Marvel Studios. The films are based on characters that appe ...

television series '' Agent Carter'' and the 2019 film '' Avengers: Endgame'', and murder suspect Lee Ashworth in the second season of the ITV series ''

Broadchurch ''Broadchurch'' is a British crime drama television series broadcast on ITV for three series between 2013 and 2017. It was created by Chris Chibnall, who acted as an executive producer and wrote all 24 episodes; it was produced by Kudos in a ...

''. D'Arcy also co-starred in

Christopher Nolan Sir Christopher Edward Nolan (born 30 July 1970) is a British and American filmmaker. Known for his Cinema of the United States, Hollywood Blockbuster (entertainment), blockbusters with complex storytelling, he is considered a leading filmma ...

's war movies ''

Dunkirk Dunkirk ( ; ; ; Picard language, Picard: ''Dunkèke''; ; or ) is a major port city in the Departments of France, department of Nord (French department), Nord in northern France. It lies from the Belgium, Belgian border. It has the third-larg ...

'' (2017) and '' Oppenheimer'' (2023). He wrote and directed '' Made in Italy'' (2020).

Early life

Simon D'Arcy was born on 24 August 1975 in Amersham, Buckinghamshire. His father Richard died when he was a child. His mother, Caroline, was a nurse. The source incorrectly states that he was born in London; he was raised in London. She raised D'Arcy and his sister Charlotte in

Fulham Fulham () is an area of the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in West London, England, southwest of Charing Cross. It lies in a loop on the north bank of the River Thames, bordering Hammersmith, Kensington and Chelsea, London, Chelsea ...

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

. In 1991, after graduating from the

West Sussex West Sussex is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South East England. It is bordered by Surrey to the north, East Sussex to the east, the English Channel to the south, and Hampshire to the west. The largest settlement is Cr ...

school

Christ's Hospital Christ's Hospital is a Public school (United Kingdom), public school (English Private schools in the United Kingdom, fee-charging boarding school for pupils aged 11–18) with a royal charter, located to the south of Horsham in West Sussex. T ...

, D'Arcy went to Australia, where he worked in the drama department of a school in

Perth Perth () is the list of Australian capital cities, capital city of Western Australia. It is the list of cities in Australia by population, fourth-most-populous city in Australia, with a population of over 2.3 million within Greater Perth . The ...

for one year. When he returned to London, he entered a three-year course at the

London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) is a drama school located in Hammersmith, London. Founded in 1861, it is the oldest specialist drama school in the British Isles and a founding member of the Federation of Drama Schools. In ...

(LAMDA), completing a BA in Acting in 1995.

Career

His first appearances on television were small roles on the television series '' Silent Witness'' (1996) and '' Dalziel and Pascoe'' (1996), followed by roles in television films such as Ruth Rendell's ''Bribery and Corruption'', '' The Canterville Ghost'', and the title role in ''The Ice House'' (all 1997). In 1997, he played Blifil in ''

The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling ''The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling'', often known simply as ''Tom Jones'', is a comic novel by English playwright and novelist Henry Fielding. It is a ''Bildungsroman'' and a picaresque novel. It was first published on 28 February 1749 in ...

'' and he appeared in '' Wilde''. In 1999, he acted in the

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

drama '' The Trench'' as well as having a small role in the comedy '' Guest House Paradiso''. From 2001 to the present he has played bigger roles and leading characters in the mini-series '' Rebel Heart'' (2001 as Ernie Coyne), '' The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby'' (2001, Nicholas Nickleby) and ''

Revelation Revelation, or divine revelation, is the disclosing of some form of Religious views on truth, truth or Knowledge#Religion, knowledge through communication with a deity (god) or other supernatural entity or entities in the view of religion and t ...

'' (2001, Jake Martel). In 2002, he portrayed a young

Sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes () is a Detective fiction, fictional detective created by British author Arthur Conan Doyle. Referring to himself as a "Private investigator, consulting detective" in his stories, Holmes is known for his proficiency with obser ...

in the television film '' Sherlock: Case of Evil''. In 2003, he played the role of Barnaby Caspian in the film '' Dot the I'', and the character Jim Caddon on the series '' P.O.W''. He also gained wider recognition when he portrayed 1st Lt. Tom Pullings in Peter Weir's '' Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World'' (2003). He appeared in the horror films '' Exorcist: The Beginning'' (2004, Father Francis), '' An American Haunting'' (2005, Richard Powell) and '' Rise: Blood Hunter'' (2007, Bishop). He also appeared on television as Derek Kettering in '' Agatha Christie's Poirot'': ''

The Mystery of the Blue Train ''The Mystery of the Blue Train'' is a work of detective fiction by British writer Agatha Christie, first published in the United Kingdom by William Collins & Sons on 29 March 1928 and in the United States by Dodd, Mead and Company later in ...

'' (2005), as Jerry Burton in '' Agatha Christie's Marple: The Moving Finger'', as

Tiberius Gracchus Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus (; 163 – 133 BC) was a Roman politician best known for his agrarian reform law entailing the transfer of land from the Roman state and wealthy landowners to poorer citizens. He had also served in the ...

in the '' Ancient Rome: The Rise and Fall of an Empire'' episode "Revolution" (2007), as Toby Clifford in ''

Fallen Angel Fallen angels are angels who were expelled from Heaven. The literal term "fallen angel" does not appear in any Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic religious texts, but is used to describe angels cast out of heaven. Such angels are often described ...

'' (2007) and as Tom Bertram in ITV's production of ''

Mansfield Park ''Mansfield Park'' is the third published novel by the English author Jane Austen, first published in 1814 by Thomas Egerton (publisher), Thomas Egerton. A second edition was published in 1816 by John Murray (publishing house), John Murray, st ...

'' (2007). He lent his voice to BBC radio dramas such as

Thomas Hardy Thomas Hardy (2 June 1840 – 11 January 1928) was an English novelist and poet. A Literary realism, Victorian realist in the tradition of George Eliot, he was influenced both in his novels and in his poetry by Romanticism, including the poetry ...

's ''

Tess of the d'Urbervilles ''Tess of the d'Urbervilles: A Pure Woman'' is the twelfth published novel by English author Thomas Hardy. It initially appeared in a Book censorship, censored and Serialized novel, serialised version, published by the British illustrated newsp ...

'',

Bram Stoker Abraham Stoker (8 November 1847 – 20 April 1912), better known by his pen name Bram Stoker, was an Irish novelist who wrote the 1897 Gothic horror novel ''Dracula''. The book is widely considered a milestone in Vampire fiction, and one of t ...

's ''

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'', and Winifred Holtby's ''The Crowded Street''. He played the role of Duncan Atwood in '' Secret Diary of a Call Girl''. In 2011 he played the role of King

Edward VIII Edward VIII (Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David; 23 June 1894 – 28 May 1972), later known as the Duke of Windsor, was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Empire, and Emperor of India, from 20 January ...

in '' W.E.'', directed by

Madonna Madonna Louise Ciccone ( ; born August 16, 1958) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Referred to as the "Queen of Pop", she has been recognized for her continual reinvention and versatility in music production, ...

. In 2012, he played Rufus Sixsmith (young and old) in addition to two other minor roles in the independent film '' Cloud Atlas'', as well as '' Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho'' star Anthony Perkins in '' Hitchcock''. In 2013, he played the role of Eric Zimit in '' After the Dark'' (other title: ''The Philosophers''). In mid-2014 he played the role of Lee Ashworth in series 2 of ''

''. He appeared as the main villain in the 2014 action comedy ''

Let's Be Cops ''Let's Be Cops'' is a 2014 American Buddy cop film, buddy cop action comedy film co-written and directed by Luke Greenfield. The film stars Damon Wayans Jr. and Jake Johnson as two friends who Police impersonation, pretend to be police officers ...

'', as a malevolent Los Angeles crime boss. In 2015, he appeared in the films ''

Survivor Survivor(s) may refer to: * one who survives Arts, entertainment and media Fictional entities * Survivors, characters in the 1997 KKnD series#Armies, ''KKnD'' video-game series * ''The Survivors'', or the ''New Survivors Foundation'', a fictional ...

'' and '' Jupiter Ascending''. He starred as a British Army

Colonel Colonel ( ; abbreviated as Col., Col, or COL) is a senior military Officer (armed forces), officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colon ...

Winnant in

's ''

'' (2017). In 2018, he appeared in the Showtime series ''

Homeland A homeland is a place where a national or ethnic identity has formed. The definition can also mean simply one's country of birth. When used as a proper noun, the Homeland, as well as its equivalents in other languages, often has ethnic natio ...

''. Between January 2015 and March 2016 D'Arcy was a series regular in the television series '' Agent Carter''. In the series, he played Edwin Jarvis, the loyal butler of Howard Stark, which shares continuity with the

. It was his first comedic role. He reprised his role of Edwin Jarvis in '' Avengers: Endgame'', making D'Arcy the first to have portrayed the same character originally from an MCU TV series into an MCU film. In 2017, he appeared in the film '' The Snowman''. D'Arcy starred in the war film '' Oppenheimer'' in 2023. D'Arcy made his directorial debut with '' Made in Italy'' of 2020. In 2024 he played the character of Mr Greed in the music video "HAHAHA" by American rapper

Lil Dicky David Andrew Burd (born March 15, 1988), better known by his stage name Lil Dicky, is an American rapper, singer, comedian, and actor. He first received recognition after the music video for his 2013 song, "Ex-Boyfriend" became a viral video, v ...

Personal life

D'Arcy dated Lucy Punch for about three years after they met during filming of the TV movie ''Come Together'' in 2002.

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards

*Nominated for the Ian Charleson Award in 2002 (Outstanding Performance in a Classical Role) for '' Edward II''.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:D'Arcy, James 1975 births Living people Actors from Amersham Actors from the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham Alumni of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art English male film actors English male television actors English male voice actors Male actors from Buckinghamshire Male actors from London People educated at Christ's Hospital People from Fulham 20th-century English male actors 21st-century English male actors