# James Cosmo

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Scottish actor (born 1947)

James Cosmo MBE Cosmo in 2023 Born James Ronald Gordon Copeland 1947 (age 78–79) Dumbarton, Dunbartonshire, Scotland Years active 1965–present Spouse Annie Harris ​ (m. 2000)​ Children 2

Cosmo in 2014

**James Ronald Gordon Copeland** (born 1947),[1] known professionally as **James Cosmo**, is a Scottish actor. Known for his [character work](/source/Character_actor),[2] he has played supporting roles in films such as *[Highlander](/source/Highlander_(film))* (1986), *[Braveheart](/source/Braveheart)* (1995), *[Trainspotting](/source/Trainspotting_(film))* (1996), *[Troy](/source/Troy_(film))* (2004), *[The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe](/source/The_Chronicles_of_Narnia%3A_The_Lion%2C_the_Witch_and_the_Wardrobe)* (2005), *[Ben-Hur](/source/Ben-Hur_(2016_film))* (2016), and *[Wonder Woman](/source/Wonder_Woman_(2017_film))* (2017). On television, he appeared as Father Kellan Ashby on the [third season](/source/Sons_of_Anarchy_season_3) of *[Sons of Anarchy](/source/Sons_of_Anarchy)* (2010), [Jeor Mormont](/source/List_of_A_Song_of_Ice_and_Fire_characters#Jeor_Mormont) on [HBO](/source/HBO)'s *[Game of Thrones](/source/Game_of_Thrones)* (2011–2013), Farder Coram in the [BBC](/source/BBC) series *[His Dark Materials](/source/His_Dark_Materials_(TV_series))* (2019), and Luka Gocharov on the [third season](/source/Jack_Ryan_(TV_series)#Season_3_(2022)) of [Amazon Prime](/source/Amazon_Prime_Video)'s *[Jack Ryan](/source/Jack_Ryan_(TV_series))* (2022). Cosmo appeared as a contestant on the [nineteenth series](/source/Celebrity_Big_Brother_(British_TV_series)_series_19) of *[Celebrity Big Brother](/source/Celebrity_Big_Brother_(British_TV_series))* in 2017, finishing in fourth place.

## Early life

Cosmo is the son of actor [James Copeland](/source/James_Copeland_(actor)) and Helen Goodlet Findlay.[3] He attended Hartfield Primary School in [Dumbarton](/source/Dumbarton). Through his father, young James played cricket on [Hampstead Heath](/source/Hampstead_Heath) with [Sean Connery](/source/Sean_Connery) while his father was in the pub with [Peter O'Toole](/source/Peter_O'Toole).[4] He has a sister.[4] When he was 11, he moved back to Glasgow and later he worked for a time at Arnott Young shipbreakers in [Dalmuir](/source/Dalmuir).[4]

## Career

At the start of his career he adopted Cosmo, the middle name of his mother Helen, as his stage surname.[5] Cosmo is best known for his film roles as Angus MacLeod in *[Highlander](/source/Highlander_(film))*, Campbell in *[Braveheart](/source/Braveheart)* and as [Father Christmas](/source/Father_Christmas) in the adaptation of *[The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe](/source/The_Chronicles_of_Narnia%3A_The_Lion%2C_the_Witch_and_the_Wardrobe)*.[6] Over the years he has also had roles in other films such as *[Trainspotting](/source/Trainspotting_(film))*, *[The Last Legion](/source/The_Last_Legion)* and *[2081](/source/2081_(film))*.[7] He appeared in *[Troy](/source/Troy_(film))* with future *[Game of Thrones](/source/Game_of_Thrones)* cast members [Sean Bean](/source/Sean_Bean) and [Julian Glover](/source/Julian_Glover).[8] He also appeared in [UFO](/source/UFO_(British_TV_series)) as SHADO operative Lieutenant Anderson, in *[Take the High Road](/source/Take_the_High_Road)* as Alex Geddes from 1982 until 1983 and in 1984 played Jock McLeish in the *[Minder](/source/Minder_(TV_series))* episode *Senior Citizen Caine*.[9][6] He appeared as Lieutenant-Colonel Philip Drysdale in the seventh series of *[Soldier Soldier](/source/Soldier_Soldier)*.[9]

From 2011–2013, Cosmo portrayed [Jeor Mormont](/source/List_of_A_Song_of_Ice_and_Fire_characters#Jeor_Mormont), Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, and father of [Jorah Mormont](/source/Jorah_Mormont) (played by [Iain Glen](/source/Iain_Glen)), in the [HBO](/source/HBO) series *[Game of Thrones](/source/Game_of_Thrones)*.[10] He was involved in the filming of the thriller *[Breakdown](/source/Breakdown_(2016_film))* in which he appeared alongside [Craig Fairbrass](/source/Craig_Fairbrass), [Bruce Payne](/source/Bruce_Payne), [Emmett Scanlan](/source/Emmett_J._Scanlan), [Olivia Grant](/source/Olivia_Grant_(actress%2C_born_1983)) and [Tamer Hassan](/source/Tamer_Hassan).[11] He played the antagonist in the Indian film, *[Jagame Thandhiram](/source/Jagame_Thandhiram)*, which released in 2021.[12] He played a Russian intelligence officer named Luka Gocharov in season 3 of the [Amazon](/source/Amazon_Video) show *[Jack Ryan](/source/Jack_Ryan_(TV_series))*.[13]

He is a patron of the charity Chance for Childhood.[14]

## Filmography

### Film

Year Title Role Notes 1969 Battle of Britain Jamie The Virgin Soldiers Waller 1971 Assault Det. Sgt. Beale 1972 Doomwatch Bob Gillette Young Winston Officer on Train 1982 Living Apart Together Priest 1986 Highlander Angus MacLeod 1988 Stormy Monday Tony 1990 The Fool Mr. Bowring 1995 Braveheart Campbell The Key Gangster Short film 1996 Trainspotting David Renton Emma Mr. Weston 1997 Santa/Claws Santa Claus Short film 1998 Urban Ghost Story Minister Babe: Pig in the City Thelonius (voice) 1999 Sunset Heights MacDonald The Match Billy Bailey Billy and Zorba Zorba Short film One More Kiss Frank 2000 Honest Tommy Chase Reflections Upon the Origin of the Pineapple Narrator (voice) Short film 2001 To End All Wars Lt. Col. Stuart McLean All the Queen's Men Archie 2002 Once Upon a Time in the Midlands Billy The Four Feathers Col. Sutch 2003 Skagerrak Robert Man Dancin' Donnie McGlone The Reckoning Lambert Solid Air Finn 2004 One Last Chance Big John Troy Glaucus 2005 The Adventures of Greyfriars Bobby James Brown The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Father Christmas 2006 Half Light Finlay Murray Free Jimmy HudMaSpecs (voice) AKA Slipp Jimmy fri (Original title) The Lives of the Saints Mr. Karva 2007 The Last Legion Hrothgar The Seeker: The Dark Is Rising Dawson Where Have I Been All Your Life? John Short film 2009 2081 George Bergeron The Clan Hector McKinley 2010 Outcast Laird Donkeys Alfie The Runway Sutherland 2011 No Saints for Sinners Murphy The Glass Man Pecco 2012 Citadel Priest Songs for Amy Murdo 2013 Get Lucky Mr. Zigic The Golden Scallop Judge Wellington Hammer of the Gods King Bagsecg Justin and the Knights of Valour Blucher (voice) The Christmas Candle Herbert Hopewell Sea Out Old Joe Short film Dying Light Policeman 2014 The Boogeyman Dr. Harper Short film We Still Kill the Old Way Arthur Hole Cooper Short film 2015 Moonwalkers Dawson Carried Henry Hunter Short film The Legend of Barney Thomson James Henderson The Pyramid Texts Ray January Albert AKA Estranged (Original title) 2016 Project 12: The Bunker Brian Balanowsky Breakdown Albert Chapman Mikelis Mikelis Short film Dark Signal Alan Ben-Hur Quintus Whisky Galore! MacAlister, the Minister Monochrome Roger Daniels Eliminators Cooper 2017 London Heist Ray Dixon T2 Trainspotting David Renton Last Respects Philip Drummond (voice) Short film Wonder Woman Field Marshal Haig 2018 Rogue Trooper: The Quartz Massacre Narrator (voice) Short film In Darkness Niall Outlaw King Robert Bruce Senior Ashes in the Snow Mr. Stakas Malevolent Grandpa Sayers Tomorrow Mr. Charles 2019 The Hole in the Ground Des Brady Forget Me Not Benedict Short film Get Duked! Farmer Off Grid John Tanner Short film Shadow Boxer Eddie Royce Short film 2020 Skylines Grant 2021 Jagame Thanthiram Peter Sprott Tamil film The Kindred Frank Menzies 2022 Breath Nick My Sailor, My Love Howard Scrooge: A Christmas Carol Mr. Fezziwig (voice) 2023 The Three Musketeers Cardinal Richelieu 2024 Can You Hear Me? Johnny The Beast Within Waylon The Last Redemption Lord Goran 2025 Salvable Welly The Morrigan Francis Crowley 2026 Storm Rider: Legend of Hammerhead Dida Preschool Joe Voidance Agent Polo

### Television

Year Title Role Notes 1965 Dr. Finlay's Casebook Peter Randall Episode: "The Vision" 1966 Ransom for a Pretty Girl Charlie Milne Mini series, 6 episodes This Man Craig Douglas McGrath Episode: "Nurinder" 1967 St. Ives Dalmahoy 2 episodes: "The Assembly Ball" and "Journey's End" The Revenue Men Andrew Episode: "A Pretty Flat Kind of Existence" 1968 Detective Det. Sgt. MacGregor Episode: "Dover and the Deadly Poison Pen Letters" Splash O.K. Hamish MacPherson Television film 1969 Dr. Finlay's Casebook Private Davidson Episode: "Single or Return" Softly Softly McBride Episode: "In at the Death" 1970 The Borderers Hector Episode: "A Woman or an Epitaph" The Wednesday Play Senior Under Officer Patterson Episode: "Sovereign's Company" 1971 Long Voyage Out of War Thorpe Episode: "Battle at Tematangi" UFO Lt. Anderson Episode: "Reflections in the Water" The Persuaders! Inspector Williams Episode: "Element of Risk" The View from Daniel Pike Det. Con. Sanderson Episode: "A Tale of Two Cities" 1972 Sutherland's Law Ian Campbell Television film The Stone Tape Cliff Dow 1973 ITV Playhouse Sgt. Robbins Episode: "Professional" Sutherland's Law Ian Campbell Episode: "The Sea" 1973–1977 Warship Leading Regulator ("Sheriff") Pat Fuller 21 episodes 1974 Play for Today Loch Episode: "The Cheviot, the Stag and the Black, Black Oil" 1975 Churchill's People Robert Bruce Episode: "The Wallace" Quiller Hamilton Episode: "Target North" 1976 Survivors Lenny Carter Episode: "The Chosen" Orde Wingate Brigadier Calvert 3 episodes 1977 George & Mildred Keith Episode: "The Dorothy Letters" The Mackenzie Affair James Mackenzie Mini series, 5 episodes 1977–1978 Midnight Is a Place Davey Scatcherd 3 episodes 1978 The Standard Harry Bray Episode: "New Standards" The Sweeney Det. Sgt. Davy Freeth Episode: "Hard Men" Kidnapped Beggar Mini series, episode: "Uncle Ebenezer" 1979 Dick Barton: Special Agent Jock Anderson 29 episodes Thundercloud CPO Hawkins 13 episodes The Onedin Line Glasgow McDade Episode: "To Honour and Obey" The Professionals Glover Episode: "Runner" 1980 Hammer House of Horror Willis Episode: "The Thirteenth Reunion" 1981 The Nightmare Man Sergeant Carch 4 episodes The House on the Hill Bonfield Episode: "Semper Fidelis" Strangers Det. Sgt. Galbraith Episode: "A Dear Green Place" 1982 King's Royal Colin Lindsay 4 episodes 1982–1984 Take the High Road Alex Geddes 42 episodes 1984 Minder Jock McLeish Episode: "Senior Citizen Caine" Murder Not Proven? Sergeant Munro Episode: "Death on the Mountain" Scarecrow and Mrs. King Dr. Ian McCarran Episode: "The Legend of Das Geisterschloss" Fairly Secret Army Crazy Colin Carstairs 2 episodes: "Romance Plughole" and "The Pulses Quicken" The Master of Ballantrae Horseman (uncredited) Television film 1985 Lytton's Diary Harry Owen Episode: "Daddy's Girls" Big Deal McFee Episode: "Down and Under" Operation Julie Longfellow Television film 1985-1986 C.A.T.S. Eyes McNeill / Howard 2 episodes: "Under Plain Cover" and "Fit" 1986 Running Scared Detective Inspector McNeill 6 episodes Lost Empires Inspector Furness Mini series, episode: "#1.6" 1987 Super Gran Mr. McBigg Episode: "Supergran Snookered" Brond Primo 3 episodes 1988 Codename: Kyril Bonham Mini series, episode: "#1.1" Taggart Victor Baird 3 episodes: "Dead Giveaway: Parts 1, 2 & 3" 1989 William Tell Anton AKA Crossbow (Original title). Episode: "Silver Rider" Winners and Losers Frank Kerr Mini series, 3 episodes The Justice Game Glen 4 episodes Saracen Miekera Episode: "Into Africa" Casualty John Breckman Episode: "A Grand in the Hand" The Bill D.C.I. Cameron Episode: "Seen to Be Done" The Nightwatch James Smithson Television film 1990 The Campbells Sgt. Henderson Episode: "Old Ways and New" El C.I.D. Sands Episode: "Getting Even" Treasure Island Redruth Television film 1991 The Sharp End Carmichael Mini series, 8 episodes Stay Lucky Bigmac Episode: "Hard Times, Hard Men" 1992 Screaming Medics Harry Liverege Episode: "#2.4" Heartbeat Matthew Chapman Episode: "Nowt But a Prank" Rab C. Nesbitt Teacher Episode: "Lesson" 1993 Scene Reception Officer Episode: "Pig Boy" Between the Lines D.C.C. Birman Episode: "Manoeuvre 11" Casualty Tony Episode: "Cat in Hell" 1994 The House of Eliott James Maxton Episode: "#3.5" Alleyn Mysteries Major Keith Ballantyne Episode: "Dead Water" Screen Two Jerry Episode: "Sin Bin" 1994–1995 Roughnecks Tom 13 episodes 1996 Bad Boys Tam Devlin Episode: "Dead Men Don't Wear Bunnets" 1997 Ivanhoe Cedric Mini series, 5 episodes Ain't Misbehavin' Malky Fraser Mini series, 3 episodes Soldier Soldier Lt. Col. Philip Drysdale 9 episodes 1998 Two Lives Eddie Episode: "Golden Wedding" 1999 Cleopatra Agrippa Mini series, 2 episodes: "Parts 1 & 2" Comedy Lab David (voice) Episode: "Heart and Sole" The Bill Patrick Grainger: Lennox's Story Episode: "Haunted" Split Second Donald Paterson Television film 2000 The 10th Kingdom Blind Woodsman Mini series, 2 episodes: "#1.4" and "#1.10" Tales from the Madhouse The Centurion Mini series, episode: "The Centurion" Badger Charlie Maddox Episode: "Predators" The Last of the Blonde Bombshells McNab Television film 2000–2001 Rebus Morris Gerald Cafferty 2 episodes: "The Hanging Garden" and "Mortal Causes" 2001 Best of Both Worlds William Landucci 2004 Biography Narrator (voice) Documentary series, episode: "Tchaikovsky" 2005 Little House on the Prairie Mr. Scott Mini series, 4 episodes 2007 Midsomer Murders Jack 'Axeman' McKinley Episode: "The Axeman Cometh" Impact Earth Brenden Kelly Television film 2008 The Colour of Magic Galder Weatherwax Mini series, episode: "Part 1: The Colour of Magic" 2009 Merlin Hengist Episode: "Lancelot and Guinevere" The Narnia Code Narrator Television film 2010 Castle Finn Rourke Episode: "Sucker Punch" FlashForward Philip Episode: "Revelation Zero: Part 2" Sons of Anarchy Father Kellan Ashby 8 episodes One Night in Emergency Television film The Santa Incident Nick 2011–2013 Game of Thrones Jeor Mormont 12 episodes 2012 Silent Witness Arnold Mears Episode: "Paradise Lost: Parts 1 & 2" 2013 Death in Paradise Roger Seymour Episode: "Murder on the Plantation" Case Histories Len Lomax Episode: "Started Early, Took My Dog" 2014 New Worlds Goffe Mini series, episode: "#1.1" 2015 Magnum Opus Moshe Navon Episode: "Fuck Da Babylon" (Pilot) 2016 Shetland Arthur McCall 4 episodes Stag The Gamekeeper Mini series, episodes 1 & 2 The Collection Jules Trouvier 4 episodes 2016, 2018–2019 The Durrells Captain Creech 4 episodes 2017 Celebrity Big Brother Himself Series 19 finalist and third runner-up, 19 episodes SS-GB Harry Woods Mini series, 5 episodes 2018 Mystery of the Lost Paintings Narrator (voice) Documentary series, 8 episodes 2018–2019 Hold the Sunset Bob 9 episodes 2019 The Name of the Rose Jorge da Burgos 8 episodes Chernobyl Miner Episode: 'Open Wide, O Earth' His Dark Materials Farder Coram 6 episodes 2021 The Bay Bill Bradwell 2022 Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan Luka Gocharov 8 episodes 2023–2025 Highland Cops Narrator (voice) Documentary series, 18 episodes (3 Series) Six Four Jim Mackie Mini series, 4 episodes 2024 Nightsleeper Fraser Warren 6 episodes 2025 Fear Allan Berwick 2 episodes Karen Pirie Brodie Grant Snr 3 episodes Hostage Max Dalton 3 episodes Talamasca Director Houseman 1 episode

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Nelson, Alex (12 April 2019). ["Here are the Scottish actors made famous by Game of Thrones"](https://www.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/film-and-tv/here-are-the-scottish-actors-made-famous-by-game-of-thrones-1419923). *[The Scotsman](/source/The_Scotsman)*. Retrieved 31 March 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Klein, Paul (December 2020). [""People perceive me as the older gruffer authoritarian figure" – James Cosmo talks Skylines \[The FH Interview\]"](https://filmhounds.co.uk/2020/12/people-perceive-me-as-the-older-gruffer-authoritarian-figure-james-cosmo-talks-skylines-the-fh-interview/). *Filmhounds Magazine*. Retrieved 31 March 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["James Cosmo Biography (1948–)"](http://www.filmreference.com/film/60/James-Cosmo.html). Filmreference.com. Retrieved 5 October 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:0_4-2) ["James Cosmo on Game of Thrones, Whisky Galore and his strange days on Big Brother"](https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/15255014.james-cosmo-on-game-of-thrones-whisky-galore-and-his-strange-days-on-big-brother/). *HeraldScotland*. Retrieved 5 October 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-tvguide_5-0)** ["James Cosmo"](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/james-cosmo/bio/3000476767/). *TVGuide*.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-bfi_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-bfi_6-1) ["James Cosmo"](https://web.archive.org/web/20170310064821/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2ba13c13bf). *BFI*. Archived from [the original](https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2ba13c13bf) on 10 March 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["James Cosmo | Movies and Filmography"](https://www.allmovie.com/artist/james-cosmo-p123890/filmography). *AllMovie*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Troy (2004) - Wolfgang Petersen | Cast and Crew | AllMovie"](https://www.allmovie.com/movie/troy-v286522/cast-crew) – via www.allmovie.com.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-aveleyman_9-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-aveleyman_9-1) ["James Cosmo"](https://www.aveleyman.com/ActorCredit.aspx?ActorID=3684). *www.aveleyman.com*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-game_10-0)** ["Game of Thrones star James Cosmo jokes he 'drew the short straw' with sex scenes"](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/game-of-thrones-james-cosmo-sex-scenes-b1781176.html). *The Independent*. 1 January 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Breakdown (2016)"](https://web.archive.org/web/20201025002858/https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/566766d500494). *BFI*. Archived from [the original](https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/566766d500494) on 25 October 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["James Cosmo: 'My friend said: They're going to drink beer out of your skull'"](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/jan/01/james-cosmo-interview-the-bay-the-simpsons). *the Guardian*. 1 January 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Every New 'Jack Ryan' Cast Member and What They Mean for the Show"](https://www.newsweek.com/jack-ryan-cast-new-season-3-characters-michael-pena-betty-gabriel-1768632?amp=1). *Newsweek*. 21 December 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["Our patrons | Chance for Childhood - Children's charity"](https://web.archive.org/web/20190724093202/https://chanceforchildhood.org/about-us/patrons/). *Chance for Childhood*. Archived from [the original](https://chanceforchildhood.org/about-us/patrons/) on 24 July 2019. Retrieved 5 October 2020.

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [James Cosmo](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:James_Cosmo).

- [Official Website](https://jamescosmo.com/)

- [James Cosmo](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0181920/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier))

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [James Cosmo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Cosmo) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Cosmo?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.