Joss Ackland

Biography

Joss Ackland was an English actor who took on more than 130 roles across film, radio and television. Born in North Kensington, London, in 1928, he left school at fifteen to become an actor and trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama with Elsie Fogerty. He made his professional stage debut at seventeen in The Hasty Heart in 1945, later joined the Old Vic, and worked steadily in television and film through the 1960s and 1970s. He was nominated for a BAFTA for his supporting role in White Mischief (1987). His career advanced in the 1980s with films such as The Sicilian (1987), Lethal Weapon 2 (1989), and The Hunt for Red October (1990). On television he appeared opposite Alec Guinness in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. On stage he created the role of Juan Perón in Evita and appeared in A Little Night Music. He was made a CBE in 2001 and died in 2023.

95years old at death

Born February 29, 1928Kensington
Died November 19, 2023Clovelly
Star sign: PiscesThe sign runs February 19 to March 20
Sidney Edmond Jocelyn Ackland (birth name)

Movie Career

Films: 60
Career span: 61 years1952 to 2013

Genres

Drama58%, 35 films
Crime32%, 19 films
Comedy28%, 17 films
Action22%, 13 films
Adventure20%, 12 films

First and latest

Photos

Did you know?!

Beyond film
On stage, Ackland originated the part of Juan Perón in Evita, the musical by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, and Elaine Paige played opposite him.
Early training
Ackland left school at fifteen to become an actor. Elsie Fogerty trained him at the Central School of Speech and Drama, which was then based at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
First role
After training at London's Central School of Speech and Drama, Ackland made his professional stage debut at 17, appearing in The Hasty Heart in 1945.
Beyond film
In several episodes of Jacob Bronowski's 1973 documentary series The Ascent of Man, Ackland's voice was heard reading quotations, as was Roy Dotrice's.
Beyond film
Ackland took the part of Lear in a gala staging of Shakespeare's King Lear. Jonathan Miller directed the production, which was held at the Old Vic in London in September 2013.

Joss Ackland movies on Netflix

Prisoners of the Sun2013IMDb rating 3.8as Prof. Mendella
Flawless2007IMDb rating 6.7as MKA
How About You...2007IMDb rating 6.6as Donald Vanston
Hogfather2006IMDb rating 7.4as Mustrum Ridcully
Moscow Zero2006IMDb rating 3.0as Tolstoy
Asylum2005IMDb rating 6.1as Jack Straffen
Icon2005IMDb rating 5.7as General Nikolayev
A Different Loyalty2004IMDb rating 5.0as Randolph Cauffield
Henry VIII2003IMDb rating 7.1as Henry VII
I'll Be There2003IMDb rating 6.5as Evil Edmonds
K-19: The Widowmaker2002IMDb rating 6.7as Marshal Zelentsov
No Good Deed2002IMDb rating 5.4as Mr. Quarre
Passion of Mind2000IMDb rating 5.5as Dr. Langer, the French Psychiatrist
Swept from the Sea1998IMDb rating 6.7as Mr. Swaffer
Firelight1997IMDb rating 7.2as Lord Clare
D3: The Mighty Ducks1996IMDb rating 5.5as Hans
Surviving Picasso1996IMDb rating 6.3as Henri Matisse
A Kid in King Arthur's Court1995IMDb rating 4.8as King Arthur
Citizen X1995IMDb rating 7.4as Bondarchuk
Jacob1994IMDb rating 6.6as Isaak
Miracle on 34th Street1994IMDb rating 6.7as Victor Landbergh
Mother's Boys1993IMDb rating 5.4as Lansing, Jude's Attorney
Nowhere to Run1993IMDb rating 5.7as Franklin Hale
Once Upon a Crime...1992IMDb rating 5.8as Hercules Popodopoulos
Project: Shadowchaser1992IMDb rating 4.5as Kinderman
Sherlock Holmes: Incident at Victoria Falls1992IMDb rating 6.1as King Edward
The Mighty Ducks1992IMDb rating 6.6as Hans
Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey1991IMDb rating 6.3as De Nomolos
Miss Marple: They Do It with Mirrors1991IMDb rating 7.2as Lewis Serrocold
The Object of Beauty1991IMDb rating 5.6as Mr. Mercer
The Princess and the Goblin1991IMDb rating 6.7as King Papa (voice)
Jekyll & Hyde1990IMDb rating 6.1as Dr. Charles Lanyon
The Hunt for Red October1990IMDb rating 7.5as Andrei Lysenko
The Secret Life of Ian Fleming1990IMDb rating 6.2as Gen. Gerhard Hellstein
Tre colonne in cronaca1990IMDb rating 5.9as Gaetano Leporino, il finanziere
Lethal Weapon 21989IMDb rating 7.3as Arjen Rudd
To Kill a Priest1988IMDb rating 6.1as Colonel
The Sicilian1987IMDb rating 5.4as Don Masino Croce
White Mischief1987IMDb rating 6.4as 'Jock' Delves Broughton
Lady Jane1986IMDb rating 7.1as Sir John Bridges
A Zed & Two Noughts1985IMDb rating 7.2as Van Hoyten
Shadowlands1985IMDb rating 7.5as C.S. Lewis
Rough Cut1980IMDb rating 5.7as Insp. Vanderveld
The Apple1980IMDb rating 4.3as Mr. Topps / Hippie Leader
Watership Down1978IMDb rating 7.5as Black Rabbit (voice)
Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe?1978IMDb rating 6.4as Cantrell
Silver Bears1977IMDb rating 6.1as Henry Foreman
One of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing1975IMDb rating 5.9as B.J. Spence
Operation: Daybreak1975IMDb rating 7.0as Janák
Royal Flash1975IMDb rating 6.3as Sapten
S*P*Y*S1974IMDb rating 4.5as Martinson
The Black Windmill1974IMDb rating 6.3as Chief Supt. Wray
The Little Prince1974IMDb rating 6.5as The King
Hitler: The Last Ten Days1973IMDb rating 6.5as General Burgdorf
Penny Gold1973IMDb rating 5.4as Jones
The Three Musketeers1973IMDb rating 7.1as D’Artagnan’s Father
The Happiness Cage1972IMDb rating 5.5as Dr. Frederick
The House That Dripped Blood1971IMDb rating 6.5as Rogers (segment "Waxworks")
Rasputin: The Mad Monk1966IMDb rating 6.2as The Bishop
Ghost Ship1952IMDb rating 5.3as Ron, 2nd Fisherman

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

Top

Lethal Weapon 21989 Action, Comedy, Crime, Thrilleras Arjen Rudd
IMDb rating 7.3203K votes
The Mighty Ducks1992 Comedy, Drama, Familyas Hans
IMDb rating 6.678K votes
The Hunt for Red October1990as Andrei Lysenko
IMDb rating 7.5234K votes
Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey1991as De Nomolos
IMDb rating 6.386K votes
K-19: The Widowmaker2002as Marshal Zelentsov
IMDb rating 6.773K votes
Citizen X1995as Bondarchuk
IMDb rating 7.427K votes
D3: The Mighty Ducks1996as Hans
IMDb rating 5.531K votes
A Zed & Two Noughts1985as Van Hoyten
IMDb rating 7.28.2K votes

Most often with

Michael Radford directed two of these films, Richard Lester two and Don Siegel two. Two actors appear in four of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

Top

Christopher Lee

Michael Caine

David Warner

Stellan Skarsgård

Michael Hordern

Imelda StauntonMichael RadfordDirector, 2 films

Richard LesterDirector, 2 films

Don SiegelDirector, 2 films

Films together

Christopher Lee4 films together, 1966 to 1992
Christopher Lee's page
- Sherlock Holmes: Incident at Victoria Falls1992IMDb rating 6.1Ackland as King EdwardLee as Sherlock Holmes
- The Three Musketeers1973IMDb rating 7.1Ackland as D’Artagnan’s FatherLee as Rochefort
- The House That Dripped Blood1971IMDb rating 6.5Ackland as Rogers (segment "Waxworks")Lee as Reid (segment "Sweets to the Sweet")
- Rasputin: The Mad Monk1966IMDb rating 6.2Ackland as The BishopLee as Grigori Rasputin
Michael Caine4 films together, 1974 to 2007
Michael Caine's page
- Flawless2007IMDb rating 6.7Ackland as MKACaine as Hobbs
- Jekyll & Hyde1990IMDb rating 6.1Ackland as Dr. Charles LanyonCaine as Dr. Henry Jekyll…
- Silver Bears1977IMDb rating 6.1Ackland as Henry ForemanCaine as Doc Fletcher
- The Black Windmill1974IMDb rating 6.3Ackland as Chief Supt. WrayCaine as Maj. John Tarrant
David Warner3 films together, 1977 to 2006
David Warner's page
- Hogfather2006IMDb rating 7.4Ackland as Mustrum RidcullyWarner as Lord Downey
- The Secret Life of Ian Fleming1990IMDb rating 6.2Ackland as Gen. Gerhard HellsteinWarner as Adm. Godfrey
- Silver Bears1977IMDb rating 6.1Ackland as Henry ForemanWarner as Agha Firdausi
Stellan Skarsgård3 films together, 1990 to 2002
Stellan Skarsgård's page
- No Good Deed2002IMDb rating 5.4Ackland as Mr. QuarreSkarsgård as Tyrone
- Passion of Mind2000IMDb rating 5.5Ackland as Dr. Langer, the French PsychiatristSkarsgård as William Granther
- The Hunt for Red October1990IMDb rating 7.5Ackland as Andrei LysenkoSkarsgård as Captain Tupolev
Michael Hordern3 films together, 1975 to 1986
Michael Hordern's page
- Lady Jane1986IMDb rating 7.1Ackland as Sir John BridgesHordern as Doctor Feckenham
- Watership Down1978IMDb rating 7.5Ackland as Black RabbitvoiceHordern as Frithvoice
- Royal Flash1975IMDb rating 6.3Ackland as SaptenHordern as Headmaster
Imelda Staunton3 films together, 1995 to 2007
Imelda Staunton's page
- How About You...2007IMDb rating 6.6Ackland as Donald VanstonStaunton as Hazel Nightingale
- I'll Be There2003IMDb rating 6.5Ackland as Evil EdmondsStaunton as Dr. Bridget
- Citizen X1995IMDb rating 7.4Ackland as BondarchukStaunton as Mrs. Burakov
Michael RadfordDirector, 2 films, 1987 to 2007
All films by Michael Radford
- Flawless2007IMDb rating 6.7Ackland as MKA
- White Mischief1987IMDb rating 6.4Ackland as 'Jock' Delves Broughton
Richard LesterDirector, 2 films, 1973 to 1975
All films by Richard Lester
- Royal Flash1975IMDb rating 6.3Ackland as Sapten
- The Three Musketeers1973IMDb rating 7.1Ackland as D’Artagnan’s Father
Don SiegelDirector, 2 films, 1974 to 1980
All films by Don Siegel
- Rough Cut1980IMDb rating 5.7Ackland as Insp. Vanderveld
- The Black Windmill1974IMDb rating 6.3Ackland as Chief Supt. Wray
Also three films together4 more actors
- Roy KinnearThe Princess and the Goblin (1991), Watership Down (1978) and The Three Musketeers (1973)
- Clive RevillOne of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing (1975), The Black Windmill (1974) and The Little Prince (1974)
- Wolf KahlerFirelight (1997), A Zed & Two Noughts (1985) and Rough Cut (1980)
- John BennettWatership Down (1978), Hitler: The Last Ten Days (1973) and The House That Dripped Blood (1971)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.