Born:
September 29, 1942
in
Blackburn
Best Known For:
Playing antiques dealer Lovejoy.
Early-life:
Ian David McShane was born on September 29, 1942, in Blackburn, Lancashire, but grew up in Urmston. He's the son of Scottish footballer Harry McShane, who was playing for Blackburn Rovers at the time, and his wife Irene. Despite considering a career in football, he knew he would never be as good as his dad, and turned to acting instead. He trained alongside Anthony Hopkins and John Hurt at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art during the early 1960s.
Career:
McShane's first film was 1962's The Wild and the Willing. After that, he built a reputation as a fine stage actor thanks to various West End productions. His first starring role came in 1966's Skywest and Crooked, which co-starred Hayley Mills and was directed by her actor father John. He played Heathcliff in an acclaimed TV adaptation of Wuthering Heights and gained plaudits for such productions as Roots, Jesus of Nazareth and Disraeli. McShane became a household name thanks to Lovejoy in 1986, and even appeared in Dallas. Other projects include Deadwood (for which he won a Golden Globe award), Sexy Beast, Kings, 44 Inch Chest, The Pillars of the Earth, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides and Jack the Giant Slayer.
Quote:
"There are times when I think this is such a silly business, that a lad from Manchester should be doing a real job."
Trivia:
Divorced twice, but has been happily married to actress Gwen Humble since 1981. He has two grown-up children.