Bill Paterson

Bill Paterson

William Tulloch Paterson (born 3 June 1945) is a Scottish actor. Throughout his career he has appeared regularly in radio drama and provided the narration for a large number of documentaries. Paterson has appeared in films and television series including Comfort and Joy (1984), Traffik (1989), Auf Wiedersehen, Pet (1986), Truly, Madly, Deeply (1990), The Witches (1990), Wives and Daughters (1999), Sea of Souls (2004–2007), Amazing Grace (2006), Miss Potter (2006), Little Dorrit (2008), Doctor Who (2010), Outlander (2014), Fleabag (2016–2019), Inside No. 9 (2018), Good Omens (2019), Brassic (2020) and House of the Dragon (2022). He is a recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Scottish BAFTAs. William Tulloch Paterson was born in Glasgow on 3 June 1945. Paterson was raised in Dennistoun by his father, a plumber, and his mother, a hairdresser. He states that his interest in acting began with a school trip to the Citizens Theatre in the Gorbals in 1961. However, after school he chose to initially pursue a career based on an interest in architecture and spent three years as a quantity surveyor's apprentice before deciding to attend the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama

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Known For

Filmography

2025

The House Was Not Hungry Then
The House Was Not Hungry Then
as Father
Movie - Released: 3/22/2025

2024

Arthur's Whisky
Arthur's Whisky
as Henry
Movie - Released: 9/19/2024
A Bear Named Wojtek
A Bear Named Wojtek
as Zoo Director (voice)
Movie - Released: 4/19/2024
Children of the Wicker Man
Children of the Wicker Man
as Self
Movie - Released: 8/23/2024

2022

The Spirit of 1926
The Spirit of 1926
as Family Lawyer
Movie - Released: 11/16/2022
The Sandman
The Sandman
as Dr. John Hathaway
TV - Released: 8/5/2022
House of the Dragon
House of the Dragon
as Lord Lyman Beesbury
TV - Released: 8/21/2022
Halo
Halo
as Ackerson's Dad
TV - Released: 3/24/2022

2021

The Colour Room
The Colour Room
as Gordon Forsythe
Movie - Released: 11/12/2021
Britain’s Scenic Railways
Britain’s Scenic Railways
as Narrator
TV - Released: 11/3/2021

2020

Marionette
Marionette
as Dr. Mandelbaum
Movie - Released: 9/28/2020
Love Sarah
Love Sarah
as Felix
Movie - Released: 7/2/2020
Rebecca
Rebecca
as Dr. Baker
Movie - Released: 10/16/2020
Between the Covers
Between the Covers
as Self
TV - Released: 10/9/2020

2019

The Day Mountbatten Died
The Day Mountbatten Died
as Narrator (voice)
Movie - Released: 8/19/2019
Good Omens
Good Omens
as Tadfield Neighbourhood Watch
TV - Released: 5/31/2019
Brassic
Brassic
as Tony Tillerton
TV - Released: 8/22/2019
Guilt
Guilt
as Roy Lynch
TV - Released: 10/24/2019

2018

Happy New Year, Colin Burstead
Happy New Year, Colin Burstead
as Gordon Burstead
Movie - Released: 10/11/2018
Wonderdate
Wonderdate
as Kolodon
Movie - Released: 9/27/2018

2017

The Man Who Invented Christmas
The Man Who Invented Christmas
as Mr. Grimsby
Movie - Released: 10/12/2017
Urban Myths
Urban Myths
as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
TV - Released: 1/19/2017
The Repair Shop
The Repair Shop
as Self - Narrator
TV - Released: 3/27/2017
The Repair Shop
The Repair Shop
as Narrator (voice)
TV - Released: 3/27/2017

2016

Dad's Army
Dad's Army
as Private Frazer
Movie - Released: 2/5/2016
Churchill's Secret
Churchill's Secret
as Lord Moran
Movie - Released: 2/29/2016
Fleabag
Fleabag
as Dad
TV - Released: 7/21/2016
The Rebel
The Rebel
as Charles
TV - Released: 7/20/2016

2015

The Vote
The Vote
as Simon Featherstone
Movie - Released: 5/7/2015
High-Rise
High-Rise
as Mercer
Movie - Released: 11/22/2015

2014

Movie
Documenting John Grierson
as Narrator
Movie - Released: 2/28/2014
37 Days
37 Days
as Lord Morley
TV - Released: 3/6/2014
Outlander
Outlander
as Ned Gowan
TV - Released: 8/9/2014
Scot Squad
Scot Squad
as Sir Neville Archibald
TV - Released: 11/3/2014
Inside No. 9
Inside No. 9
as Mr. Green
TV - Released: 2/5/2014

2013

The List
The List
as Reg Troughton
Movie - Released: 7/5/2013
Shetland
Shetland
as James Perez
TV - Released: 3/10/2013

2012

Scotland's Finest: The Story of the Highland Games
Scotland's Finest: The Story of the Highland Games
as Narrator
Movie - Released: 7/8/2012
Them From That Thing
Them From That Thing
as Various
TV - Released: 8/21/2012
Dirk Gently
Dirk Gently
as Professor Jericho
TV - Released: 3/5/2012

2011

The Man who Crossed Hitler
The Man who Crossed Hitler
as Kurt Ohnesorge
Movie - Released: 8/21/2011
Movie
Fast Freddie, the Widow and Me
as Judge Underwood
Movie - Released: 12/27/2011
Movie
The Phoenix: A Century of Cinema
as Narrator (Voice)
Movie - Released: 1/1/2011

2010

TV
The Michael Ball Show
as Self
TV - Released: 8/16/2010
TV
Birds Britannia
TV - Released: 11/3/2010

2009

Movie
Ghosts in the Machine
as Himself
Movie - Released: 10/27/2009
Spanish Flu: The Forgotten Fallen
Spanish Flu: The Forgotten Fallen
as Dr James Niven
Movie - Released: 8/5/2009
Creation
Creation
as Dr. Gully
Movie - Released: 9/25/2009
1929: The Great Crash
1929: The Great Crash
as Narrator
Movie - Released: 1/1/2009
Into the Storm
Into the Storm
as Clement Attlee
Movie - Released: 5/31/2009
Law & Order: UK
Law & Order: UK
as George Castle
TV - Released: 2/23/2009

2008

The Man Who Lives with Bears
The Man Who Lives with Bears
as Self - Narrator (voice)
Movie - Released: 1/3/2008
How to Lose Friends & Alienate People
How to Lose Friends & Alienate People
as Richard Young
Movie - Released: 10/2/2008
The Madness and Misadventures of Munchausen
The Madness and Misadventures of Munchausen
as Self - 'Henry Salt'
Movie - Released: 4/8/2008
Criminal Justice
Criminal Justice
as Harry Box
TV - Released: 6/30/2008
Little Dorrit
Little Dorrit
TV - Released: 10/26/2008

2007

The 50 Greatest Television Dramas
The 50 Greatest Television Dramas
as Self
Movie - Released: 2/3/2007
Sherlock Holmes and the Baker Street Irregulars
Sherlock Holmes and the Baker Street Irregulars
as Dr Watson
Movie - Released: 3/25/2007
Intervention
Intervention
as Dr. Martin
Movie - Released: 1/1/2007

2006

Miss Potter
Miss Potter
as Rupert Potter
Movie - Released: 12/3/2006
Amazing Grace
Amazing Grace
as Lord Dundas
Movie - Released: 9/16/2006
A War on Science
A War on Science
as Narrator (voice)
Movie - Released: 1/26/2006
Fascism in Colour
Fascism in Colour
as Narrator (voice)
Movie - Released: 1/1/2006
The One Show
The One Show
as Self - Guest
TV - Released: 8/14/2006

2005

Rag Tale
Rag Tale
as Tulloch 'Lucky' Lloyd
Movie - Released: 10/7/2005
ShakespeaRe-Told
ShakespeaRe-Told
TV - Released: 11/7/2005
Doctor Who
Doctor Who
as Edwin Bracewell
TV - Released: 3/26/2005
TV
A Passion for Churches
as Narrator
TV - Released: 12/28/2005

2004

Lie with Me
Lie with Me
as DCI Collman
Movie - Released: 11/15/2004
Sea of Souls
Sea of Souls
as Dr. Douglas Monaghan
TV - Released: 2/2/2004
Shoebox Zoo
Shoebox Zoo
as The Storyteller (voice)
TV - Released: 9/21/2004
Agatha Christie's Marple
Agatha Christie's Marple
as Bradley
TV - Released: 12/12/2004

2003

Bright Young Things
Bright Young Things
as Sir James Brown
Movie - Released: 10/3/2003
Danielle Cable: Eyewitness
Danielle Cable: Eyewitness
as DI Nick Biddiss
Movie - Released: 4/14/2003
Canterbury Tales
Canterbury Tales
as Theo
TV - Released: 9/11/2003

2002

Crush
Crush
as Gerald
Movie - Released: 6/7/2002
The Entity
The Entity
Movie - Released: 4/9/2002
Movie
Home Road Movies
as Father
Movie - Released: 6/7/2002
Foyle's War
Foyle's War
as Patrick Jamieson
TV - Released: 10/27/2002
Doctor Zhivago
Doctor Zhivago
as Alexander Gromyko
TV - Released: 11/24/2002
Born and Bred
Born and Bred
as Harry Woolf
TV - Released: 4/21/2002
Battle of the Atlantic
Battle of the Atlantic
as Himself - Narrator
TV - Released: 7/7/2002

2001

Othello
Othello
as Sinclair Carver
Movie - Released: 12/23/2001
The Whistle-Blower
The Whistle-Blower
as D.I. Neil Sleightholme
Movie - Released: 4/14/2001
Behind Bars
Behind Bars
as Narrator
Movie - Released: 3/14/2001
Rebel Heart
Rebel Heart
as James Connolly
TV - Released: 1/7/2001

2000

Complicity
Complicity
as Wallace Byatt
Movie - Released: 5/6/2000
The Secret Adventures of Jules Verne
The Secret Adventures of Jules Verne
TV - Released: 6/18/2000

1999

Sunshine
Sunshine
as Minister of Justice
Movie - Released: 9/13/1999
The Match
The Match
as Tommy
Movie - Released: 8/13/1999
Heart
Heart
as Mr. Kreitman
Movie - Released: 1/1/1999
Movie
Chrono-Perambulator
as Professor Teddy Knox
Movie - Released: 12/12/1999
Wives and Daughters
Wives and Daughters
as Mr. Gibson
TV - Released: 11/28/1999

1998

Hilary and Jackie
Hilary and Jackie
as Cello Teacher
Movie - Released: 12/30/1998

1997

Mr White Goes To Westminster
Mr White Goes To Westminster
as Ben White
Movie - Released: 12/31/1997
Spice World
Spice World
as Brian
Movie - Released: 12/18/1997
Melissa
Melissa
as DCI Cameron
TV - Released: 5/12/1997
TV
Arthouse
as Self
TV - Released: 10/26/1997

1996

Victory
Victory
as Capt. Davidson
Movie - Released: 12/13/1996
The Writing on the Wall
The Writing on the Wall
as Bull
Movie - Released: 7/21/1996
Chaplin's Goliath
Chaplin's Goliath
as Narrator (voice)
Movie - Released: 1/1/1996
The Crow Road
The Crow Road
as Kenneth McHoan
TV - Released: 11/4/1996

1995

The Riddle of the Sands
The Riddle of the Sands
as Narrator
Movie - Released: 3/19/1995
Richard III
Richard III
as Sir Richard Ratcliffe
Movie - Released: 12/29/1995
The Turnaround
The Turnaround
as James Webb
Movie - Released: 4/5/1995
Movie
The Pen
Movie - Released: 8/25/1995
Oliver's Travels
Oliver's Travels
as Baxter
TV - Released: 6/11/1995
Sharman
Sharman
as James Webb
TV - Released: 4/5/1995

1994

Hard Times
Hard Times
as Stephen Blackpool
Movie - Released: 4/29/1994
TV
Junior Masterchef
TV - Released: 8/14/1994
Hard Times
Hard Times
as Stephen Blackpool
TV - Released: 4/29/1994

1993

Wall of Silence
Wall of Silence
as Howard Mullen
Movie - Released: 10/17/1993

1992

Chaplin
Chaplin
as Stage Manager
Movie - Released: 12/17/1992
Movie
In Dreams
as Dr Gold
Movie - Released: 12/23/1992
Movie
Tell Tale Hearts
as Anthony Steadman
Movie - Released: 11/1/1992
God on the Rocks
God on the Rocks
as Kenneth Marsh
Movie - Released: 12/29/1992

1991

Truly Madly Deeply
Truly Madly Deeply
as Sandy
Movie - Released: 5/3/1991
The Object of Beauty
The Object of Beauty
as Victor Swayle
Movie - Released: 4/12/1991
Murder Most Horrid
Murder Most Horrid
as Chief Inspector
TV - Released: 11/14/1991

1990

The Witches
The Witches
as Mr Jenkins
Movie - Released: 5/25/1990
Yellowbacks
Yellowbacks
as Alex McPherson
Movie - Released: 8/30/1990

1989

The Return of the Musketeers
The Return of the Musketeers
as Charles I
Movie - Released: 4/12/1989
Bearskin: An Urban Fairytale
Bearskin: An Urban Fairytale
as Jordan
Movie - Released: 11/5/1989
The Rachel Papers
The Rachel Papers
as Gordon Highway
Movie - Released: 5/12/1989
Traffik
Traffik
as John Lithgow
TV - Released: 6/22/1989
A Wanted Man
A Wanted Man
as Det. Supt. Chase
TV - Released: 9/25/1989

1988

Byrne About Byrne
Byrne About Byrne
as Father/F.S. McDade
Movie - Released: 4/1/1988
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen
as Henry Salt
Movie - Released: 12/7/1988
Franz Kafka's 'The Trial'
Franz Kafka's 'The Trial'
as Titorelli
Movie - Released: 10/1/1988
Just Ask for Diamond
Just Ask for Diamond
as Chief Inspector Snape
Movie - Released: 9/1/1988
The Play on One
The Play on One
as Alex McPherson
TV - Released: 1/19/1988
The Modern World: Ten Great Writers
The Modern World: Ten Great Writers
as Titorelli
TV - Released: 1/10/1988

1987

Friendship's Death
Friendship's Death
as Sullivan
Movie - Released: 8/17/1987
Coming Up Roses
Coming Up Roses
as Mr. Valentine
Movie - Released: 2/20/1987
The Interrogation of John
The Interrogation of John
as Det. Supt. Chase
Movie - Released: 9/30/1987
Lily My Love
Lily My Love
as Colin
Movie - Released: 7/29/1987
Hidden City
Hidden City
as Anthony
Movie - Released: 6/24/1987

1986

Defence of the Realm
Defence of the Realm
as Jack Macleod
Movie - Released: 5/9/1986
Movie
God's Chosen Car Park
as Victor Rosen
Movie - Released: 12/1/1986
The Singing Detective
The Singing Detective
as Dr. Gibbon
TV - Released: 11/16/1986

1985

Dutch Girls
Dutch Girls
as Mr Mole
Movie - Released: 10/18/1985
Shooting from the Heart: Chris Menges, Cameraman
Shooting from the Heart: Chris Menges, Cameraman
as Self
Movie - Released: 12/31/1985

1984

Comfort and Joy
Comfort and Joy
as Alan
Movie - Released: 8/14/1984
The Killing Fields
The Killing Fields
as Dr. MacEntire
Movie - Released: 11/23/1984
A Private Function
A Private Function
as Wormold
Movie - Released: 11/9/1984

1983

The Ploughman's Lunch
The Ploughman's Lunch
as Lecturer
Movie - Released: 5/30/1983
Auf Wiedersehen, Pet
Auf Wiedersehen, Pet
as Ally Fraser
TV - Released: 11/11/1983

1982

Smiley's People
Smiley's People
as Lauder Strickland
TV - Released: 9/20/1982

1981

The Cherry Orchard
The Cherry Orchard
as Lopakhin
Movie - Released: 10/13/1981
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
as Tony
Movie - Released: 12/8/1981

1979

One Fine Day
One Fine Day
as Third Man in Lift
Movie - Released: 2/17/1979

1978

Licking Hitler
Licking Hitler
as Archie MacLean
Movie - Released: 1/10/1978
Jackie McCafferty's Romance
Jackie McCafferty's Romance
as Bus Conductor
Movie - Released: 10/5/1978
The Odd Job
The Odd Job
as Sergeant Mull
Movie - Released: 8/31/1978
The Vanishing Army
The Vanishing Army
as Girling
Movie - Released: 11/29/1978
Life of Shakespeare
Life of Shakespeare
as King James I
TV - Released: 6/13/1978
Will Shakespeare
Will Shakespeare
TV - Released: 6/13/1978

1977

Movie
The Garden Beyond
as Jim Finlayson
Movie - Released: 1/1/1977
The Thin End of the Wedge
The Thin End of the Wedge
as Luke
Movie - Released: 12/20/1977

1974

The Cheviot, the Stag and the Black, Black Oil
The Cheviot, the Stag and the Black, Black Oil
as Various
Movie - Released: 6/6/1974
Clydescope
Clydescope
as Model Boat Show Commentator (voice) (uncredited)
Movie - Released: 1/1/1974

1970

Play for Today
Play for Today
as Luke
TV - Released: 10/15/1970

1964

Horizon
Horizon
TV - Released: 2/4/1964

Unknown

Movie
The White Room
as Jackie Jordan
Movie