Bill Nighy

Bill Nighy

William Francis Nighy (born 12 December 1949) is an English actor. Known for his work on screen and stage, he has received numerous awards, including two BAFTA Awards, a Golden Globe Award and nominations for an Academy Award and a Tony Award. Nighy started his career with the Everyman Theatre, Liverpool and made his London debut with the Royal National Theatre starting with The Illuminatus! in 1977. There he gained acclaim for his roles in David Hare's Pravda in 1985, Harold Pinter's Betrayal in 1991, Tom Stoppard's Arcadia in 1993, and Anton Chekov's The Seagull in 1994. He received a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor nomination for his performance in Blue/Orange in 2001. He made his Broadway debut in Hare's The Vertical Hour in 2006, and returned in the 2015 revival of Hare's Skylight earning a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play nomination. Early film roles include in the comedies Still Crazy (1998), and Blow Dry (1999) before his breakout role in Love Actually (2003) which earned him a BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actor. He soon gained recognition portraying Davy Jones in the Pirates of the Caribbean film series (2006-2007), and Viktor in the Underworld film series (2003-2009). Other films include Shaun of the Dead (2004), The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005), The Constant Gardener (2005), Notes on a Scandal (2006), Hot Fuzz (2007), Valkyrie (2008), Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (2010), The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2012), About Time (2013), Emma (2020), and Living (2022), the last of these earning him his first career Academy Award nomination. Nighy has gained acclaim for his roles in television earning a British Academy Television Award for Best Actor for his performance in BBC One series State of Play (2003), and a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor for the BBC film Gideon's Daughter (2007). He's also known for his roles in HBO's The Girl in the Café (2006) and PBS's Page Eight (2012).

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Known For

Filmography

2024

10 Lives
10 Lives
as Professor Craven (voice)
Movie - Released: 4/18/2024
The First Omen
The First Omen
as Cardinal Lawrence
Movie - Released: 4/3/2024
Joy
Joy
as Patrick Steptoe
Movie - Released: 11/15/2024
Gracie & Pedro: Pets to the Rescue
Gracie & Pedro: Pets to the Rescue
as Conrad (voice)
Movie - Released: 5/1/2024
The Wild Robot
The Wild Robot
as Longneck (voice)
Movie - Released: 9/12/2024
That Christmas
That Christmas
as Lighthouse Bill (voice)
Movie - Released: 11/27/2024
The Beautiful Game
The Beautiful Game
as Mal
Movie - Released: 3/22/2024
Kent: Garden of England
Kent: Garden of England
as Self - Narrator (voice)
TV - Released: 9/11/2024

2023

Role Play
Role Play
as Bob
Movie - Released: 12/14/2023
Darkling
Darkling
Movie - Released: 10/23/2023
Spectre of the Bear
Spectre of the Bear
as Bennett (voice)
Movie - Released: 10/7/2023
Bloody Fury
Bloody Fury
as Bloody's Consciousness (voice)
Movie - Released: 9/23/2023
Norfolk & Suffolk: Coast & Country
Norfolk & Suffolk: Coast & Country
as Self - Narrator (voice)
TV - Released: 9/6/2023

2022

Living
Living
as Williams
Movie - Released: 11/4/2022
The Man Who Fell to Earth
The Man Who Fell to Earth
as Thomas Jerome Newton
TV - Released: 4/24/2022

2021

Christmas Magic at Kew Gardens
Christmas Magic at Kew Gardens
as Self - Narrator (voice)
Movie - Released: 12/14/2021
Buckley's Chance
Buckley's Chance
as Spencer
Movie - Released: 6/24/2021
Lotus: A New Dawn
Lotus: A New Dawn
as Self - Narrator (voice)
Movie - Released: 7/28/2021
World's Most Scenic River Journeys
World's Most Scenic River Journeys
as Self - Narrator (voice)
TV - Released: 4/2/2021
Meerkat Manor: Rise of the Dynasty
Meerkat Manor: Rise of the Dynasty
as Self - Narrator (voice)
TV - Released: 6/5/2021
Iberia's Woodlands: Life on the Edge
Iberia's Woodlands: Life on the Edge
as Self - Narrator (voice)
TV - Released: 6/29/2021

2020

Emma.
Emma.
as Mr. Woodhouse
Movie - Released: 2/13/2020
Minamata
Minamata
as Robert "Bob" Hayes
Movie - Released: 3/13/2020
Katherine Jenkins Christmas Spectacular
Katherine Jenkins Christmas Spectacular
as Self
Movie - Released: 12/1/2020

2019

Pokémon Detective Pikachu
Pokémon Detective Pikachu
as Howard Clifford
Movie - Released: 5/3/2019
The Kindness of Strangers
The Kindness of Strangers
as Timofey
Movie - Released: 12/12/2019
Hope Gap
Hope Gap
as Edward
Movie - Released: 10/3/2019
Sometimes Always Never
Sometimes Always Never
as Alan
Movie - Released: 3/14/2019
StarDog and TurboCat
StarDog and TurboCat
as Sinclair (voice)
Movie - Released: 12/6/2019
World's Most Scenic Railway Journeys
World's Most Scenic Railway Journeys
as Narrator (voice)
TV - Released: 10/25/2019

2018

Ordeal by Innocence
Ordeal by Innocence
as Leo Argyll
TV - Released: 4/1/2018

2017

Their Finest
Their Finest
as Ambrose Hilliard / Uncle Frank
Movie - Released: 2/19/2017
The Bookshop
The Bookshop
as Mr. Brundish
Movie - Released: 11/10/2017
Red Nose Day Actually
Red Nose Day Actually
as Billy Mack
Movie - Released: 3/24/2017
Castlevania
Castlevania
as Saint Germain (voice)
TV - Released: 7/7/2017

2016

Norm of the North
Norm of the North
as Socrates (voice)
Movie - Released: 1/14/2016
Dad's Army
Dad's Army
as Sergeant Wilson
Movie - Released: 2/5/2016
The Limehouse Golem
The Limehouse Golem
as John Kildare
Movie - Released: 10/18/2016

2015

The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
as Douglas Ainslie
Movie - Released: 2/26/2015
A Grand Night In: The Story of Aardman
A Grand Night In: The Story of Aardman
as Self - 'Flushed Away' and 'Arthur Christmas'
Movie - Released: 12/26/2015

2014

I, Frankenstein
I, Frankenstein
as Naberius
Movie - Released: 1/22/2014
Pride
Pride
as Cliff
Movie - Released: 9/12/2014
Turks & Caicos
Turks & Caicos
as Johnny Worricker
Movie - Released: 3/20/2014
Salting the Battlefield
Salting the Battlefield
as Johnny Worricker
Movie - Released: 3/27/2014
National Theatre Live: Skylight
National Theatre Live: Skylight
as Tom Sergeant
Movie - Released: 7/24/2014
Late Night with Seth Meyers
Late Night with Seth Meyers
as Self
TV - Released: 2/25/2014

2013

Jack the Giant Slayer
Jack the Giant Slayer
as General Fallon
Movie - Released: 2/27/2013
The World's End
The World's End
as The Network (voice)
Movie - Released: 7/18/2013
About Time
About Time
as Dad
Movie - Released: 9/4/2013
Great White Shark
Great White Shark
as Self - Narrator (voice)
Movie - Released: 5/24/2013
Dangerous Edge: A Life of Graham Greene
Dangerous Edge: A Life of Graham Greene
as Graham Greene (voice)
Movie - Released: 1/1/2013
The Hungry Corpse
The Hungry Corpse
as The Hungry Corpse
Movie - Released: 6/26/2013

2012

Total Recall
Total Recall
as Matthias
Movie - Released: 8/2/2012
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
as Douglas Ainslie
Movie - Released: 2/23/2012
Wrath of the Titans
Wrath of the Titans
as Hephaestus
Movie - Released: 3/28/2012
London: The Modern Babylon
London: The Modern Babylon
as Spoken Quotations (voice)
Movie - Released: 8/3/2012

2011

Rango
Rango
as Rattlesnake Jake (voice)
Movie - Released: 3/2/2011
Arthur Christmas
Arthur Christmas
as Grandsanta (voice)
Movie - Released: 11/10/2011
Real Creatures of Dirt
Real Creatures of Dirt
as Self / Rattlesnake Jake
Movie - Released: 7/15/2011
Page Eight
Page Eight
as Johnny Worricker
Movie - Released: 8/28/2011
Chalet Girl
Chalet Girl
as Richard Madsen
Movie - Released: 2/2/2011
Astonish Me
Astonish Me
as The Professor
Movie - Released: 7/26/2011

2010

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
as Rufus Scrimgeour
Movie - Released: 11/17/2010
Wild Target
Wild Target
as Victor Maynard
Movie - Released: 6/17/2010

2009

Underworld: Rise of the Lycans
Underworld: Rise of the Lycans
as Viktor
Movie - Released: 1/22/2009
Glorious 39
Glorious 39
as Alexander Keyes
Movie - Released: 11/20/2009
Astro Boy
Astro Boy
as Dr. Elefun / Robotsky (voice)
Movie - Released: 10/15/2009
The Boat That Rocked
The Boat That Rocked
as Quentin
Movie - Released: 4/1/2009
G-Force
G-Force
as Leonard Saber
Movie - Released: 7/24/2009
TV
The Big Art Project
as Narrator
TV - Released: 5/10/2009
Live from Studio Five
Live from Studio Five
as Self
TV - Released: 9/14/2009
TV
10 Minute Tales
TV - Released: 12/21/2009

2008

Valkyrie
Valkyrie
as Friedrich Olbricht
Movie - Released: 12/25/2008
A Fox's Tale
A Fox's Tale
as Ringmaster (voice)
Movie - Released: 4/17/2008
Slapper
Slapper
as Arnold Percy
Movie - Released: 6/21/2008

2007

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
as Davy Jones
Movie - Released: 5/19/2007
Hot Fuzz
Hot Fuzz
as Met Chief Inspector
Movie - Released: 2/14/2007
Conclusive: We Made Hot Fuzz
Conclusive: We Made Hot Fuzz
as Self
Movie - Released: 6/11/2007

2006

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
as Davy Jones
Movie - Released: 7/6/2006
Notes on a Scandal
Notes on a Scandal
as Richard Hart
Movie - Released: 12/25/2006
Underworld: Evolution
Underworld: Evolution
as Viktor
Movie - Released: 1/12/2006
Flushed Away
Flushed Away
as Whitey (voice)
Movie - Released: 10/22/2006
Stormbreaker
Stormbreaker
as Alan Blunt
Movie - Released: 7/21/2006
We Love Cigarettes
We Love Cigarettes
as Narrator
Movie - Released: 6/29/2006
The One Show
The One Show
as Self
TV - Released: 8/14/2006

2005

The Constant Gardener
The Constant Gardener
as Sir Bernard Pellegrin
Movie - Released: 8/31/2005
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
as Slartibartfast
Movie - Released: 4/28/2005
The Girl in the Café
The Girl in the Café
as Lawrence
Movie - Released: 6/25/2005
Gideon's Daughter
Gideon's Daughter
as Gideon Warner
Movie - Released: 10/21/2005
Inside 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy'
Inside 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy'
as Self
Movie - Released: 7/5/2005
Meerkat Manor
Meerkat Manor
as Narrator
TV - Released: 9/2/2005
Doctor Who
Doctor Who
as Dr Black
TV - Released: 3/26/2005

2004

Shaun of the Dead
Shaun of the Dead
as Phillip
Movie - Released: 4/9/2004
Enduring Love
Enduring Love
as Robin
Movie - Released: 10/29/2004
The Magic Roundabout
The Magic Roundabout
as Dylan (voice)
Movie - Released: 10/24/2004
Ready When You Are, Mr McGill
Ready When You Are, Mr McGill
as Phil Parish
Movie - Released: 9/1/2004
Burst
Burst
as Maxwell's Fan 22
Movie - Released: 1/1/2004
Peter Ustinov: The Parkinson Interviews
Peter Ustinov: The Parkinson Interviews
as Self - Narrator
Movie - Released: 4/22/2004
He Knew He Was Right
He Knew He Was Right
as Colonel Osborne
TV - Released: 4/18/2004

2003

Underworld
Underworld
as Viktor
Movie - Released: 9/19/2003
Love Actually
Love Actually
as Billy Mack
Movie - Released: 9/7/2003
I Capture the Castle
I Capture the Castle
as James Mortmain
Movie - Released: 5/9/2003
The Young Visiters
The Young Visiters
as Earl of Clincham
Movie - Released: 12/26/2003
Life Beyond the Box: Norman Stanley Fletcher
Life Beyond the Box: Norman Stanley Fletcher
as Narrator
Movie - Released: 12/29/2003
State of Play
State of Play
as Cameron Foster
TV - Released: 5/18/2003
The Lost Prince
The Lost Prince
as Stamfordham
TV - Released: 1/19/2003
Canterbury Tales
Canterbury Tales
as James
TV - Released: 9/11/2003
Grumpy Old Men
Grumpy Old Men
as Self
TV - Released: 10/10/2003

2002

Lawless Heart
Lawless Heart
as Dan
Movie - Released: 6/28/2002
AKA
AKA
as Uncle Louis Gryffoyn
Movie - Released: 1/19/2002
The Inspector Lynley Mysteries
The Inspector Lynley Mysteries
as Lockwood
TV - Released: 4/8/2002
Timeshift
Timeshift
as self (voice)
TV - Released: 10/10/2002

2001

Lucky Break
Lucky Break
as Roger
Movie - Released: 8/24/2001
Blow Dry
Blow Dry
as Ray Robertson
Movie - Released: 3/1/2001
Richard & Judy
Richard & Judy
as Self
TV - Released: 11/26/2001

2000

Longitude
Longitude
as Lord Sandwich
Movie - Released: 1/2/2000
Black Books
Black Books
as Man at bar
TV - Released: 9/29/2000
Longitude
Longitude
as Lord Sandwich
TV - Released: 1/2/2000

1999

Guest House Paradiso
Guest House Paradiso
as Mr. Johnson
Movie - Released: 12/3/1999
Movie
The Bass Player
Movie - Released: 10/1/1999
People Like Us
People Like Us
as Will Rushmore
TV - Released: 9/20/1999

1998

Still Crazy
Still Crazy
as Ray Simms
Movie - Released: 10/30/1998
Parkinson
Parkinson
as Self
TV - Released: 1/9/1998

1997

FairyTale: A True Story
FairyTale: A True Story
as Edward Gardner
Movie - Released: 10/24/1997

1996

True Blue
True Blue
as Jeremy Saville
Movie - Released: 11/15/1996
Alive and Kicking
Alive and Kicking
as Tristan
Movie - Released: 11/8/1996
Testament: The Bible in Animation
Testament: The Bible in Animation
as Belshazzar (voice)
TV - Released: 10/16/1996

1995

Kavanagh Q.C.
Kavanagh Q.C.
as Giles Culpepper QC
TV - Released: 1/3/1995

1994

Being Human
Being Human
as Julian
Movie - Released: 5/6/1994
Wycliffe
Wycliffe
as David Cleeve
TV - Released: 7/24/1994

1993

Unnatural Causes
Unnatural Causes
as Oliver Latham
Movie - Released: 1/2/1993
The Maitlands
The Maitlands
as Roger Maitland
Movie - Released: 11/13/1993
Don't Leave Me This Way
Don't Leave Me This Way
as John Tracey
Movie - Released: 5/30/1993
Peak Practice
Peak Practice
as Alan Sinclair
TV - Released: 5/10/1993
Eye of the Storm
Eye of the Storm
as Tom Frewen
TV - Released: 1/8/1993

1992

A Masculine Ending
A Masculine Ending
as John Tracey
Movie - Released: 4/12/1992

1991

Absolute Hell
Absolute Hell
as Hugh Marriner
Movie - Released: 10/5/1991
Performance
Performance
as Roger Maitland
TV - Released: 2/22/1991
Performance
Performance
as Hugh Marriner
TV - Released: 2/22/1991

1990

Antonia and Jane
Antonia and Jane
as Howard Nash
Movie - Released: 1/1/1990
TV
Making News
as Sam Courtney
TV - Released: 1/16/1990
Chillers
Chillers
as Tom Dickenson
TV - Released: 4/14/1990

1989

Mack the Knife
Mack the Knife
as Tiger Brown
Movie - Released: 11/1/1989
The Phantom of the Opera
The Phantom of the Opera
as Martin Barton
Movie - Released: 11/4/1989

1988

South Of The Border
South Of The Border
as Tony Freason
TV - Released: 10/25/1988
This Morning
This Morning
as Self
TV - Released: 10/3/1988

1985

Thirteen at Dinner
Thirteen at Dinner
as Ronald Marsh
Movie - Released: 9/19/1985
Hitler's SS: Portrait in Evil
Hitler's SS: Portrait in Evil
as Helmut Hoffmann
Movie - Released: 2/17/1985
The Last Place on Earth
The Last Place on Earth
as Cecil Meares
TV - Released: 2/18/1985

1984

The Little Drummer Girl
The Little Drummer Girl
as Al
Movie - Released: 10/19/1984

1983

Curse of the Pink Panther
Curse of the Pink Panther
as ENT Doctor
Movie - Released: 8/12/1983
Auf Wiedersehen, Pet
Auf Wiedersehen, Pet
as Jeffrey Grainger
TV - Released: 11/11/1983
Reilly: Ace of Spies
Reilly: Ace of Spies
as Goschen
TV - Released: 9/5/1983

1982

Easter 2016
Easter 2016
as Connor Mullan
Movie - Released: 5/18/1982
Under the Skin
Under the Skin
as Dave
Movie - Released: 1/19/1982

1981

Eye of the Needle
Eye of the Needle
as Squadron Leader Blenkinsop
Movie - Released: 7/24/1981
Bergerac
Bergerac
as Barry
TV - Released: 10/18/1981

1980

Little Lord Fauntleroy
Little Lord Fauntleroy
as Officer
Movie - Released: 12/1/1980
Movie
Fox
as Colin Street
Movie - Released: 3/10/1980
Dreams of Leaving
Dreams of Leaving
as William
Movie - Released: 1/17/1980
Death Watch
Death Watch
as Katherine's Co-worker (uncredited)
Movie - Released: 1/23/1980
Standing in for Henry
Standing in for Henry
as Bruno
Movie - Released: 12/19/1980
Fox
Fox
as Colin Street
TV - Released: 3/10/1980

1979

Deasey (Desperate)
Deasey (Desperate)
as Deasy
Movie - Released: 12/6/1979
Agony
Agony
as Vincent Fish
TV - Released: 3/11/1979
Minder
Minder
as Oates
TV - Released: 10/29/1979

1978

Soldiers Talking, Cleanly
Soldiers Talking, Cleanly
as Bill
Movie - Released: 12/5/1978

1976

Occupy!
Occupy!
as Player in Everyman Theatre Company, Liverpool
Movie - Released: 1/1/1976

1970

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

Unknown

Movie
500 Miles
Movie
Movie
& Sons
Movie
TV
Lazarus
as Doctor Lazarus ' Dr L'
TV
TV
Ride or Die
as The Director
TV