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Colin Andrew Ignatius Peter McFarlane (born 15 September 1961) is a British actor, narrator and voice actor. He is known for his roles in film and television including Gillian B. Loeb in two films of Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Trilogy and Ulysses in the STARZ television drama series Outlander. McFarlane's voice roles include JJ in Bob the Builder, Bulgy and Beresford in Thomas & Friends and PC Malcolm Williams in Fireman Sam. He was the voice of The Cube in the ITV game show.
Colin McFarlane | |
|---|---|
 McFarlane at the Sasnak City Convention in 2019 | |
| Born | Colin Andrew Ignatius Peter McFarlane 15 September 1961 Upper Clapton, London, England |
| Education | The Perse School |
| Alma mater | Loughborough University |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, narrator, voice actor |
| Years active | 1984–present |
| Spouse |
Kate McFarlane (m. 1991) |
| Children | 3 |
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McFarlane was born on 15 September 1961 in Upper Clapton, London, to Jamaican parents.[1] His father, Sidney McFarlane, MBE, served in the RAF and his mother, Gwendolyn McFarlane, worked in the NHS. His father was appointed an MBE in 1999 for voluntary service to the community and for service with the Ministry of Defence.[2] The family subsequently moved several times before settling in Lincoln in the East Midlands, where McFarlane grew up.[3] He attended the Perse School, Cambridge, and later read drama at Loughborough University, graduating in 1983.[4][5][6]
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Television
McFarlane's first professional television role was in 1985 with a three episode guest stint, as Detective Sergeant Watson, in ITV's hit police procedural Dempsey and Makepeace.[7] From there, he would go on to feature in London Weekend Television's made-for-TV film Dutch Girls, alongside Colin Firth and fellow Outlander alumni Bill Paterson.[8] The next year he featured in an episode of London Weekend Television's maternity mini-series To Have and To Hold, which focused on a surrogate mother carrying a child for her sister.[9] In 1988, McFarlane guest starred in a season two episode of ITV's drama Bust, which followed a man in the wake of bankruptcy.[10]
1992 saw McFarlane appear in CITV's children's series Tales From the Poop Deck, where he portrayed Lieutenant Parkinson of HMS Intrepid, and a guest appearance on several episodes of Channel 4's sitcom Sean's Show.[11][12] Later that year he would feature in an episode of mystery series Virtual Murder, an episode of BBC's anthology series Screen One entitled Black and Blue, and the made-for-TV film Lenny Henry: In Dreams.[13][14][15] In 1993 he would guest star in children's series Runaway Bay and ITV's comedy Jeeves and Wooster, which focused on Hugh Laurie's Wooster and Stephen Fry's Jeeves.[16][17] Two years later he would have guest appearances on ITV's Class Act and BBC's police procedural Backup.[18][19]
McFarlane would go on, in 1996, to feature in an episode of BBC's Rowan Atkinson led police comedy The Thin Blue Line, Channel 4's made-for-TV film The Final Passage, and the finale of ITV's four part thriller series Circles of Deceit.[20][21][22]
His numerous TV credits include Judge John Deed, Jonathan Creek, Casualty, Death in Paradise, Father Brown and Holby City.[23] He has also appeared in two of the UK's most-watched soap operas. He appeared in five episodes of Coronation Street from August to September 2010 as a consultant neurosurgeon, Mr Jordan, and played DCI Irving in an episode of EastEnders in April 2014 as part of the "Who Killed Lucy Beale?" storyline.
He has also made regular appearances in British TV comedy, in the shows The Fast Show, Randall & Hopkirk, Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, Harry and Paul and The Thin Blue Line. He played Inspector Norris in the Black Books episode The Blackout, Inspector Terrence Brown in the first episode of Dirk Gently and voiced the Judge in the 2016 revival of the sitcom Porridge.
He also featured in the CBBC shows M.I. High and Hounded as the evil Dr Muhahahaha.
Film
McFarlane's first film was 1996's short film A Mulatto Song, which focused on the life of George Bridgetower, a virtuoso violinist from the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.[24][25] The next year would see him feature in the direct-to-film film I'd Like A Word With You, a corporate training video on how to deal with discipline interviews.[26] He portrayed Police Commissioner Gillian B. Loeb in the critically acclaimed films Batman Begins (2005) and The Dark Knight (2008). He has also made numerous appearances in Doctor Who, voicing the Heavenly Host in the Christmas special "Voyage of the Damned" and playing Moran in the "Under the Lake" and "Before the Flood" episodes of the ninth series[27] from 2015. In addition, he also appeared in the third series of Torchwood, Children of Earth, as the American military representative Colonel Pierce.
He appeared alongside Matt Smith and Natalie Dormer in the action horror film Patient Zero (2018). He then appeared as the governor in the 2019 thriller film Crawl, featuring Kaya Scodelario and Barry Pepper.
Voice acting
McFarlane's first voice role was in 1994 as Othello in S4C's Emmy Award winning animated series Shakespeare: The Animated Tales, which adapted and condensed classic Shakespearean plays for children.[28] The next year would see him voice the main villain in BBC's animated series Oscar's Orchestra, which explored a future where music was banned.[29][30] In 1996, McFarlane voiced two characters, God and Goliath, in the Emmy winning animated series Testament: The Bible in Animation.[31][32] From there he would go on to voice the recurring role of Sergeant Slipper, from 1996 to 1998, in the animated Dennis the Menace cartoon Dennis and Gnasher.[33]
His best-known voice roles include JJ and Skip in the original series of Bob the Builder, and as the narrator on the ITV gameshow The Cube. He has also voiced Jonah in the 1997 animated series Captain Pugwash, Bulgy the Double Decker Bus and Beresford the Crane in Thomas & Friends and its 2017 feature film Journey Beyond Sodor.[34][non-primary source needed] In addition, he played the part of Elvis the horse in Iconicles, Sparky the dragon in Mike the Knight, voiced several characters in the episode "The Sweater" of The Amazing World of Gumball.[citation needed], and as well as Police Constable Malcolm Williams in the twelfth series of Fireman Sam and its 2020 1-hour special, Norman Price and the Mystery in the Sky.
He played US General Trent Stone in the 2014 original audio drama Osiris by Everybodyelse Productions.
Video games
McFarlane has lent his voice to numerous video games, the earliest being 1996's Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars. He would go on to voice characters in G-Police, Codename: Tenka, and The City of Lost Children in 1997.[35] He also voiced Greg in the Buzz! quiz game series, the character Avalon Centrifuge in the 2011 game LittleBigPlanet 2, and provided additional dialogue for Batman: Arkham Knight. He played "The Forgotten One", the central villain of the two downloadable content packs for Castlevania: Lords of Shadow.[36] Also lending his voice to Thunder, in the first Fable video game.
Theatre
In 2013, McFarlane appeared with Lenny Henry in a critically acclaimed revival of August Wilson's Fences at the Duchess Theatre in London's West End.[37][38]
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On 30 June 1991, McFarlane married his wife, Kate, with whom he has three children. He divides his time between homes in Lincoln and North London.
McFarlane is an avid supporter of Lincoln City F.C.
In June 2023, McFarlane announced that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer.[39]
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Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | A Mulatto Song | Frederick DeAugust | Short film |
| 1997 | Countdown to Tomorrow | Narrator | Documentary film |
| I'd Like a Word with You | George | Direct-to-video | |
| 1998 | The First 9½ Weeks | Remy | |
| 1999 | The Criminal | Businessman | |
| 2000 | Sorted | Doctor | Credited as Colin McFarlan |
| 2001 | The Ultimate Stress Show: Managing Stress | ||
| Chunky Monkey | Trevor | ||
| Christmas Carol: The Movie | Mr. Fezziwig (Voice) | ||
| 2002 | War Game | Little General, King George (voices) | Short film |
| The King's Beard | Jasper (voice) | ||
| 2005 | Batman Begins | Commissioner Gillian B. Loeb | |
| Fragile | Roy | ||
| 2006 | Jungle Boogie | Makita (voice) | |
| 2008 | The Dark Knight | Commissioner Gillian B. Loeb | |
| 2011 | The Last Belle | The Barman (voice) | Short film |
| 2013 | Experiment K5-C | The Voice (voice) | |
| 2014 | Shadows of a Stranger | Asmo | |
| 2015 | Slick Cars | Tiberius the Cabover Peterbilt (voice) | |
| 2016 | The 101-Year-Old Man Who Skipped Out on the Bill and Disappeared | Seth | |
| 2017 | The Invisible Guardian | Dupree | |
| Peppa Pig: My First Cinema Experience | Mr. Lion (voice) | ||
| Thomas & Friends: Journey Beyond Sodor | Beresford (voice) | UK/US versions | |
| 2018 | The Commuter | Conductor Sam | |
| Patient Zero | Colonel Pierce | ||
| 2019 | The Queen's Corgi | Chief (voice) | UK version |
| Crawl | Governor | ||
| The Legacy of the Bones | Aloisius Dupree | Spanish title: Legado en los huesos | |
| 2020 | Thomas and the Royal Engine | Bulgy and Beresford (voices) | UK/US versions |
| Thomas & Friends: Marvellous Machinery | Dr. Holyfield (voice) | UK/US versions | |
| Offering to the Storm | Aloisius Dupree | Spanish title: Ofrenda a la Tormenta | |
| 2021 | Jungle Cruise | Dromm | |
| Supermind: The Brain Drain | Supermind |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Dempsey and Makepeace | Detective Sergeant Watson | 3 episodes |
| Dutch Girls | Mkwela | Television film | |
| 1986 | To Have & To Hold | Teacher | 1 episode |
| 1988 | Bust | Steve | |
| 1992 | Tales from the Poop Deck | Lieutenant Parkinson | Episode: "Here Be Pirates!" |
| Sean's Show | Announcer | 3 episodes | |
| Screen One: Black and Blue | Jesse Jarman | 1 episode | |
| 1993 | Runaway Bay | Henchman | |
| Jeeves and Wooster | Toto | Episode: "Totleigh Towers (or, Trouble at Totleigh Towers)" | |
| 1994 | Shakespeare: The Animated Tales | Othello (voice) | Episode: "Othello" |
| 1995 | Class Act | Newscaster | 1 episode |
| Backup | DCI Clews | Episode: "Clubbing" | |
| 1995–1996 | Oscar's Orchestra | Thadius Vent, Tank (voices) | 37 episodes |
| 1996 | The Thin Blue Line | European Commissioner Mustafa Delcroix | Episode: "Ism Ism Ism" |
| Testament: The Bible in Animation | God, Goliath (voices) | Episodes: "Elijah" and "David and Saul" | |
| The Final Passage | Cast member | Television film | |
| Circles of Deceit: Kalon | Interrogator | 1 episode | |
| 1996–1998 | Dennis and Gnasher | Sergeant Slipper (voice) | 26 episodes |
| 1997 | Countdown to Tomorrow Never Dies | Narrator | Television documentary movie |
| 1998 | The Adventures of Captain Pugwash | Jonah, Dook (voices) | 26 episodes |
| 2000 | Black Books | Inspector Barry Norris | Episode: "Blackout" |
| 2001 | Office Gossip | Charles Mandelson | Episode: "Moving On" |
| Oswald | Johnny Snowman (UK voice) | Episode: "The Go-Kart Race/Autumn Leaves" | |
| Randall & Hopkirk | Sebastian Snellgrove | Episode: "Marshall and Snellgrove" | |
| 2001–2003 | Bob the Builder | JJ (UK/US voice) Skip (UK voice) |
UK/US versions 16 episodes |
| 2002–2005 | Ginger's Egg-scellent Adventures | Pembroke (voice) | UK/US versions Recurring cast |
| 2002–2006 | Judge John Deed | Newman Mason Allen Q.C. | 5 episodes |
| 2002 | Murder in Mind | Ray Marker | Episode: "Swan Song" |
| Mysteries of Easter Island | Narrator | UK version Television documentary movie | |
| Babyfather | Consultant | Episode: "#2.3" | |
| 2003 | Strange | Reverend Johnson | Episode: "Zoxim" Television miniseries |
| Yoko! Jakamoko! Toto! | Additional Voices (voice) | Episode: "The Snow" | |
| 2004 | Jonathan Creek | Inspector Fell | Episode: "The Chequered Box" |
| 2005 | Beneath the Skin | Jeremy | Television movie |
| Holby City | Felix Kente | Episode: "Great Expectations" | |
| 2006–2012; 2019 | Little Princess | Chef, Prime Minister, Horace, Various (voices) | 25 episodes |
| 2006 | Hyperdrive | Male Bulaahg | Episode: "Asteroid" |
| Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps | Brian | Episode: "Cauliflower" | |
| 2007 | Doctor Who | Heavenly Host (voice) | Episode: "Voyage of the Damned" |
| 2008–2015, 2020–2021 | Chuggington | Harrison, the King of Buffertonia (voices) | 30 episodes UK/US versions |
| The Cube | Narrator | 86 episodes | |
| 2009 | Torchwood: Children of Earth | General Austin Pierce | 3 episodes |
| Collision | Bill Jackson | 3 episodes Television miniseries | |
| 2010 | Hounded | Dr. Muhahaha | 5 episodes |
| Coronation Street | Mr. Jordan | ||
| Schizo Samurai Shitzhu | Dr. 10 | ||
| Reggie Perrin | Mr. Fox | ||
| 2011–2013 | Mike the Knight | Sparkie the Dragon (voice) | UK version 8 episodes |
| 2011–2016 | SkaterBots | Streck (voice) | 120 episodes |
| 2011 | Iconicles | Elvis the Horse (voice) | Episode: "Puddle Muddle" |
| Tinga Tinga Tales | Majitu the Giant (voice) | Episode: "Why Bushbaby Has Big Eyes" | |
| Holby City | Nick Horton | Episode: "Big Lies, Little Lies" | |
| 2012 | Dirk Gently | Terence Brown | Episode: "#1.1" |
| Bad Education | Politician | Episode: "Politics" | |
| Harry & Paul | 2 episodes | ||
| 2012–2013 | The Amazing World of Gumball | Additional Voices (voice) | 6 episodes |
| 2013 | Jo | Captain Heger | Television miniseries Episodes: "The Opera" and "The Catacombes" Credited as Colin McFarlan |
| It's Kevin | Various | Episode: "#1.3" | |
| 2013–2014 | Zack & Quack | Belly-Up (voice) | 28 episodes |
| 2013–2016 | Officer Blue | Lieutenant Thelonius Browne | 96 episodes |
| 2014 | EastEnders | DCI Irving | One episode |
| Plebs | Doctor | Episode: "The Patron" | |
| Citizen Khan | DI Taylor | Episode: "The In-Laws" | |
| On Angel Wings | Joseph | Television short movie | |
| 2015 | Casualty | Clifton Duheney | Episode: "Toxic Relationships" |
| Death in Paradise | Anton Burrage | Episode: "The Perfect Murder" | |
| Olympus | Hades | Episode: "Truth" | |
| Doctor Who | Moran | Episodes: "Under the Lake" and "Before the Flood" | |
| Crown for Christmas | Chancellor Riggs | Television movie | |
| 2016 | Father Brown | Cardinal Papillon | Episode: "The Daughter of Autolycus" |
| A Midsummer Night's Dream | Egeus | Television movie | |
| Porridge | Judge | ||
| Peppa Pig | Mr. Lion (voice) | Episode: "The Zoo" | |
| Hooten & the Lady | Caleb | Television miniseries Episode: "The Caribbean" | |
| 2017 | Porridge | Judge (voice) | 3 episodes Television miniseries |
| The Rebel | Roderick | Episode: "Love" | |
| 2017–2020 | Thomas & Friends | Bulgy, Beresford, Dr. Holyfield, Various (voices) | UK/US versions |
| 2018 | Midsomer Murders | Jordan Briggs | Episode: "Till Death Do Us Part" |
| Starship Goldfish | The Avianaut / Secateur | Episode: "Starship Goldfish Cartoon Pilot" | |
| 2018–2020 | Outlander | Ulysses | Main character; Seasons 4–5 |
| 2020 | Industry | Lord Oaki | Episode: "Nutcracker" |
| 2020–present | Fireman Sam | Police Constable Malcolm Williams (voice)[40] | UK/US version |
| 2020 | Fireman Sam: Norman Price and the Mystery in the Sky | UK/US version Television movie | |
| 2021 | Queens of Mystery | Finton Boyle | Episode: "#2.5" |
| Code 404 | Bad Brian | Episode: "#2.4" | |
| The Cube (U.S) | The Cube (voice) | 10 episodes | |
| Milo | Suds (voice) | Channel 5 | |
| 2022 | Toast of Tinseltown | Weech Beacon | Episode: "3. The Scorecard" |
| Dodger | Mr Canker | Episode: "1. Runaways" | |
| Not Going Out | Foreman | 1 episode | |
| 2024 | Piglets | Chief Superintendent Cunningham | 3 episodes |
| 2025 | The War Between the Land and the Sea[41] | General Austin Pierce | 5 episodes |
Theatre
| Year | Title | Role | Director | Theatre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Fences | Bono | Paulette Randall | Duchess Theatre |
Radio
| Year | Title | Character | Production | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Roland's Afterlife | Empoli[42] | BBC Radio 4 | Glyn Dearman |
Video games
| Year | Title | Voice role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars | Duane Henderson, Concierge, Museum Security Guard | US title: Broken Sword: Circle of Blood |
| 1997 | The City of Lost Children | Additional Voices | |
| G-Police | |||
| Lifeforce Tenka | US Title: Codename: Tenka | ||
| 2000 | Imperium Galactica II: Alliances | ||
| 2001 | Gothic | NPCs | English dub |
| 2002 | Gothic II | ||
| 2003 | Primal | Abaddon / King Ilbis | |
| 2004 | Fable | Thunder | |
| 2005 | Constantine | Papa Midnite[43] | |
| Cold Winter | Mahmoud Al-Fariq | ||
| Shinobido: Way of the Ninja | Uzimushi | English dub | |
| 2010 | Castlevania: Lords of Shadow | The Forgotten One | |
| 2011 | LittleBigPlanet 2 | Avalon Centrifuge | |
| Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch | Rashaad, Rusty | English version Credited as Colin MacFarlane | |
| 2012 | PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale | Buzz Announcer | |
| 2013 | Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch | Rashaad / Rusty | English dub |
| 2015 | Batman: Arkham Knight | Additional Voices | |
| 2017 | Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2 | Heimdall, Horus, Red Wolf | |
| 2019 | Planet Zoo | Bernard Goodwin | |
| 2020 | Othercide | Suffering | |
| 2022 | Xenoblade Chronicles 3 | Y[44] | English dub |
| 2023 | Dead Island 2 | Dr. Reuben Reed | |
| Final Fantasy XVI | Zoltan[45] | ||
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