Ian McShane

A classically trained British actor who remained a relative unknown to American audiences for the bulk of his career, Ian McShane was born in Blackburn, England, on Sept. 29, 1942. He studied his craft at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art but left a semester early to appear in his first film, The Wild and the Willing (1962).

McShane's résumé includes scores of television and movie roles, including a long run on the BBC drama "Lovejoy" (1986-94). But an attention-grabbing turn as a London crime lord in Sexy Beast (2001) showed off his talents -- and piercing looks -- in a whole new light.

In 2005, McShane nabbed a Golden Globe Award for his portrayal of a powerful saloon owner on the critically acclaimed HBO series "Deadwood" (2004-06). He also earned a Golden Globe nod for his work on the Starz miniseries "The Pillars of the Earth" (2010), playing a darkly ambitious archdeacon.

Filmography