Ken Stott

Stott was born in Edinburgh.[1] His mother, Antonia (née Sansica), was a Sicilian lecturer,[1][2] his father, David Stott, was a Scottish teacher and educational administrator.[1][3][1] Stott was educated at George Heriot's School in Lauriston, Edinburgh.[1] For three years in his youth he fronted a pop-band,[1] but left to pursue his career in acting.[4]

After attending Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in London, Stott began working in the theatre for the Royal Shakespeare Company, but for some years his earnings from acting were minimal and he was forced to support himself by also working as a double glazing salesman.[4]

Stott's career began in 1974 at the Lyric Theatre, Belfast.[1] His early work in theatre included a notable leading role in the dramatisation of Dominic Behan's play about the Northern Ireland troubles The Folk Singer,[5] where he also played the part of Judas in the first regional production of Jesus Christ Superstar directed by Michael Poynor (1973).[5]

In 1996, he created the leading role in The Prince's Play, a translation and adaptation by Tony Harrison of Victor Hugo's Le Roi s'amuse, for the National Theatre, London, 1996.[6] In 1997, he was nominated for the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor for his role in the Yasmina Reza play Art, in which he appeared with Albert Finney and Tom Courtenay at Wyndham's Theatre.[7]

In 2008 Stott starred in another West End production of a Reza play, this time God of Carnage, alongside Tamsin Greig, Janet McTeer and Ralph Fiennes at the Gielgud Theatre.[8] He starred in a revival of Arthur Miller's A View From The Bridge at the Duke of York's Theatre in early 2009, and reprised his role of Michael in God of Carnage on Broadway (as a replacement for James Gandolfini) at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre in New York.[8]

He returned to the Duke of York's Theatre in 2016 to play " Sir" (alongside Reece Shearsmith) in Ronald Harwood's The Dresser.[8]

Stott appeared in the BBC series such as Secret Army (1977),[5] The Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare (King Lear, 1982),[5] and Dennis Potter's The Singing Detective (1986).[5] He also featured in an advert for the British COI's "Drinking And Driving Wrecks Lives" campaign, playing a fireman.[5]

His television roles have included hospital radio DJ Eddie McKenna in BBC Scotland's Takin' Over The Asylum,[5] the leading character, DCI Red Metcalfe, in the BBC crime drama series Messiah (BBC One, 2001–05);[9] DI Chappell in ITV police drama The Vice (1999–2003);[9] as a drunk who fantasises about finding redemption by joining the Salvation Army in Promoted to Glory (ITV, 2003); as Adolf Hitler in Uncle Adolf (ITV, 2005),[9] and as a fictional Chancellor of the Exchequer in Richard Curtis's The Girl in the Café (BBC One, 2005).[9] 2006 saw him take over the title character in detective series Rebus,[1] a television adaptation of the Ian Rankin novels which had previously starred John Hannah.[9]

In 2008 Stott was nominated for a Scottish BAFTA for his performance as comedian Tony Hancock in BBC Four's Hancock and Joan.[9] He played the father of cookery writer Nigel Slater in the BBC One adaptation of Slater's autobiographical novel Toast,[9] opposite Helena Bonham Carter and Freddie Highmore.[9] In 2015, Stott played Arthur Birling in Helen Edmundson's BBC TV adaptation of J. B. Priestley's An Inspector Calls.[9]

On the big screen, he has tended to play mostly supporting parts, such as DI McCall in Shallow Grave (1994),[5] Ted in Fever Pitch (1997),[5] Marius Honorius in King Arthur (2004), an Israeli arms merchant in Charlie Wilson's War (2007),[9] and Trufflehunter, a badger loyal to Prince Caspian in The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008).[9] However, he has had occasional starring roles in the cinema, most notably opposite Billy Connolly and Iain Robertson in The Debt Collector (1999),[9] and Plunkett and Macleane of the same year.[9] Most recently, he has starred as Balin in the live-action adaptation of The Hobbit,[9] and played the role to critical acclaim. Stott played a supporting role as Dexter Mayhew's father in One Day (2011) starring Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess.[9]

He narrated for the series Send in the Dogs, following the work of UK Police Officers and their canine partners.[9]

Stott has a son, David (born 1985), by his first marriage, which ended in divorce. He married his long-time partner the artist Nina Gehl in 2016.[4] Stott is a supporter of Hearts Football Club.[10]

• Ken Stott at IMDb