Bill Nighy
Born
December 12, 1949 (age 76)
Birthplace
Caterham, Surrey, England, UK

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).

Movies

& Sons
& Sons
2025 ★ 5.8
Andrew
This Is the Beginning
This Is the Beginning
2025
Bulk
Bulk
2025 ★ 3.8
(voice)
That Christmas
That Christmas
2024 ★ 7.2
Lighthouse Bill (voice)
Joy
Joy
2024 ★ 6.8
Patrick Steptoe
The Wild Robot
The Wild Robot
2024 ★ 8.3
Longneck (voice)
Gracie & Pedro: Pets to the Rescue
Gracie & Pedro: Pets to the Rescue
2024 ★ 6.9
Conrad (voice)
10 Lives
10 Lives
2024 ★ 7.7
Professor Craven (voice)
The First Omen
The First Omen
2024 ★ 6.8
Cardinal Lawrence
The Beautiful Game
The Beautiful Game
2024 ★ 6.4
Mal
Role Play
Role Play
2023 ★ 5.9
Bob
Darkling
Darkling
2023
Spectre of the Bear
Spectre of the Bear
2023
Bennett (voice)
Bloody Fury
Bloody Fury
2023
Bloody's Consciousness (voice)
Living
Living
2022 ★ 7.0
Williams
Buckley's Chance
Buckley's Chance
2021 ★ 6.2
Spencer
Minamata
Minamata
2020 ★ 6.9
Robert "Bob" Hayes
Emma.
Emma.
2020 ★ 7.0
Mr. Woodhouse
The Kindness of Strangers
The Kindness of Strangers
2019 ★ 6.3
Timofey
StarDog and TurboCat
StarDog and TurboCat
2019 ★ 7.1
Sinclair (voice)
Hope Gap
Hope Gap
2019 ★ 6.3
Edward
Pokémon Detective Pikachu
Pokémon Detective Pikachu
2019 ★ 6.9
Howard Clifford
Sometimes Always Never
Sometimes Always Never
2019 ★ 6.4
Alan
The Bookshop
The Bookshop
2017 ★ 6.5
Mr. Brundish
Red Nose Day Actually
Red Nose Day Actually
2017 ★ 7.0
Billy Mack
Their Finest
Their Finest
2017 ★ 6.6
Ambrose Hilliard / Uncle Frank
The Limehouse Golem
The Limehouse Golem
2016 ★ 6.2
John Kildare
Dad's Army
Dad's Army
2016 ★ 5.0
Sergeant Wilson
Norm of the North
Norm of the North
2016 ★ 4.7
Socrates (voice)
The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
2015 ★ 6.4
Douglas Ainslie
Pride
Pride
2014 ★ 7.7
Cliff
National Theatre Live: Skylight
National Theatre Live: Skylight
2014 ★ 8.9
Tom Sergeant
Salting the Battlefield
Salting the Battlefield
2014 ★ 6.2
Johnny Worricker
Turks & Caicos
Turks & Caicos
2014 ★ 6.2
Johnny Worricker
I, Frankenstein
I, Frankenstein
2014 ★ 5.4
Naberius
About Time
About Time
2013 ★ 7.9
Dad
The World's End
The World's End
2013 ★ 6.8
The Network (voice)
The Hungry Corpse
The Hungry Corpse
2013
The Hungry Corpse
Jack the Giant Slayer
Jack the Giant Slayer
2013 ★ 5.9
General Fallon
Dangerous Edge: A Life of Graham Greene
Dangerous Edge: A Life of Graham Greene
2013 ★ 1.0
Graham Greene (voice)
London: The Modern Babylon
London: The Modern Babylon
2012 ★ 6.3
Spoken Quotations (voice)
Total Recall
Total Recall
2012 ★ 6.0
Matthias
Wrath of the Titans
Wrath of the Titans
2012 ★ 5.8
Hephaestus
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
2012 ★ 6.9
Douglas Ainslie
Arthur Christmas
Arthur Christmas
2011 ★ 6.8
Grandsanta (voice)
Page Eight
Page Eight
2011 ★ 6.6
Johnny Worricker
Astonish Me
Astonish Me
2011 ★ 8.0
The Professor
The Man with the Stolen Heart
The Man with the Stolen Heart
2011
Narrator
Rango
Rango
2011 ★ 6.9
Rattlesnake Jake (voice)
Chalet Girl
Chalet Girl
2011 ★ 6.4
Richard Madsen
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
2010 ★ 7.7
Rufus Scrimgeour
Wild Target
Wild Target
2010 ★ 6.4
Victor Maynard
Glorious 39
Glorious 39
2009 ★ 6.0
Alexander Keyes
Astro Boy
Astro Boy
2009 ★ 6.3
Dr. Elefun / Robotsky (voice)
G-Force
G-Force
2009 ★ 5.5
Leonard Saber
The Boat That Rocked
The Boat That Rocked
2009 ★ 7.2
Quentin
Underworld: Rise of the Lycans
Underworld: Rise of the Lycans
2009 ★ 6.5
Viktor
Valkyrie
Valkyrie
2008 ★ 6.9
Friedrich Olbricht
Slapper
Slapper
2008 ★ 3.5
Arnold Percy
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
2007 ★ 7.3
Davy Jones
Hot Fuzz
Hot Fuzz
2007 ★ 7.6
Met Chief Inspector
Notes on a Scandal
Notes on a Scandal
2006 ★ 7.1
Richard Hart
Flushed Away
Flushed Away
2006 ★ 6.3
Whitey (voice)
Stormbreaker
Stormbreaker
2006 ★ 5.2
Alan Blunt
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
2006 ★ 7.4
Davy Jones
We Love Cigarettes
We Love Cigarettes
2006
Narrator
Underworld: Evolution
Underworld: Evolution
2006 ★ 6.6
Viktor
Gideon's Daughter
Gideon's Daughter
2005 ★ 6.2
Gideon Warner
The Constant Gardener
The Constant Gardener
2005 ★ 7.0
Sir Bernard Pellegrin
The Girl in the Café
The Girl in the Café
2005 ★ 7.0
Lawrence
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
2005 ★ 6.7
Slartibartfast
Bottom Mindless Violence
Bottom Mindless Violence
2004 ★ 7.5
Mr. Johnson (archive footage) (uncredited)
Enduring Love
Enduring Love
2004 ★ 5.7
Robin
The Magic Roundabout
The Magic Roundabout
2004 ★ 5.4
Dylan (voice)
Ready When You Are, Mr McGill
Ready When You Are, Mr McGill
2004 ★ 7.3
Phil Parish
Shaun of the Dead
Shaun of the Dead
2004 ★ 7.5
Phillip
Burst
Burst
2004
Maxwell's Fan 22
The Young Visiters
The Young Visiters
2003 ★ 5.4
Earl of Clincham
Below Deck: An Interactive History Of Pirates
Below Deck: An Interactive History Of Pirates
2003 ★ 4.0
Underworld
Underworld
2003 ★ 6.8
Viktor
Love Actually
Love Actually
2003 ★ 7.1
Billy Mack
I Capture the Castle
I Capture the Castle
2003 ★ 6.7
James Mortmain
Lawless Heart
Lawless Heart
2002 ★ 4.9
Dan
AKA
AKA
2002 ★ 5.3
Uncle Louis Gryffoyn
Lucky Break
Lucky Break
2001 ★ 6.1
Roger
Blow Dry
Blow Dry
2001 ★ 5.9
Ray Robertson
Longitude
Longitude
2000 ★ 7.4
Lord Sandwich
Guest House Paradiso
Guest House Paradiso
1999 ★ 6.1
Mr. Johnson
The Bass Player
The Bass Player
1999
Still Crazy
Still Crazy
1998 ★ 6.8
Ray Simms
FairyTale: A True Story
FairyTale: A True Story
1997 ★ 6.4
Edward Gardner
True Blue
True Blue
1996 ★ 5.7
Jeremy Saville
Alive and Kicking
Alive and Kicking
1996 ★ 4.5
Tristan
Being Human
Being Human
1994 ★ 5.1
Julian
The Maitlands
The Maitlands
1993
Roger Maitland
Don't Leave Me This Way
Don't Leave Me This Way
1993 ★ 7.0
John Tracey
Unnatural Causes
Unnatural Causes
1993 ★ 6.5
Oliver Latham
A Masculine Ending
A Masculine Ending
1992
John Tracey
Absolute Hell
Absolute Hell
1991 ★ 5.7
Hugh Marriner
Antonia and Jane
Antonia and Jane
1990 ★ 5.0
Howard Nash
The Phantom of the Opera
The Phantom of the Opera
1989 ★ 5.6
Martin Barton
Mack the Knife
Mack the Knife
1989 ★ 6.6
Tiger Brown
Thirteen at Dinner
Thirteen at Dinner
1985 ★ 5.7
Ronald Marsh
Hitler's SS: Portrait in Evil
Hitler's SS: Portrait in Evil
1985 ★ 4.5
Helmut Hoffmann
The Little Drummer Girl
The Little Drummer Girl
1984 ★ 5.4
Al
Curse of the Pink Panther
Curse of the Pink Panther
1983 ★ 4.6
ENT Doctor
Easter 2016
Easter 2016
1982
Connor Mullan
Under the Skin
Under the Skin
1982
Dave
Eye of the Needle
Eye of the Needle
1981 ★ 6.6
Squadron Leader Blenkinsop
Standing in for Henry
Standing in for Henry
1980
Bruno
Little Lord Fauntleroy
Little Lord Fauntleroy
1980 ★ 7.4
Officer
Fox
Fox
1980 ★ 1.0
Colin Street
Death Watch
Death Watch
1980 ★ 6.3
Katherine's Co-worker (uncredited)
Dreams of Leaving
Dreams of Leaving
1980 ★ 7.0
William
Deasey (Desperate)
Deasey (Desperate)
1979
Deasy
Soldiers Talking, Cleanly
Soldiers Talking, Cleanly
1978
Bill
Occupy!
Occupy!
1976
Player in Everyman Theatre Company, Liverpool
Heart of Darkness
Heart of Darkness
(voice)
The Turning Door
The Turning Door
(voice)
Welcome to Paradise
Welcome to Paradise
Hooker Duck Host (voice)
500 Miles
500 Miles
Pink Sky at Night
Pink Sky at Night
Man

TV Series

Harlan Coben's Lazarus
Harlan Coben's Lazarus
2025 ★ 6.4
Doctor Lazarus 'Dr L'
6 Episodes
The Man Who Fell to Earth
The Man Who Fell to Earth
2022 ★ 7.4
Thomas Jerome Newton
10 Episodes
World's Most Scenic Railway Journeys
World's Most Scenic Railway Journeys
2019 ★ 8.1
Narrator (voice)
39 Episodes
Ordeal by Innocence
Ordeal by Innocence
2018 ★ 6.9
Leo Argyll
3 Episodes
Castlevania
Castlevania
2017 ★ 8.3
Saint Germain (voice)
20 Episodes
10 Minute Tales
10 Minute Tales
2009 ★ 7.5
1 Episode
The Big Art Project
The Big Art Project
2009
Narrator
4 Episodes
Meerkat Manor
Meerkat Manor
2005 ★ 7.6
Narrator
52 Episodes
Doctor Who
Doctor Who
2005 ★ 7.6
Dr Black
1 Episode
He Knew He Was Right
He Knew He Was Right
2004 ★ 7.6
Colonel Osborne
4 Episodes
Canterbury Tales
Canterbury Tales
2003 ★ 6.9
James
1 Episode
State of Play
State of Play
2003 ★ 7.4
Cameron Foster
6 Episodes
The Lost Prince
The Lost Prince
2003 ★ 7.1
Stamfordham
2 Episodes
The Inspector Lynley Mysteries
The Inspector Lynley Mysteries
2002 ★ 7.2
Lockwood
1 Episode
Black Books
Black Books
2000 ★ 8.0
Man at bar
1 Episode
Longitude
Longitude
2000 ★ 7.0
Lord Sandwich
1 Episode
People Like Us
People Like Us
1999 ★ 8.0
Will Rushmore
1 Episode
Testament: The Bible in Animation
Testament: The Bible in Animation
1996 ★ 6.4
Belshazzar (voice)
1 Episode
Kavanagh Q.C.
Kavanagh Q.C.
1995 ★ 7.0
Giles Culpepper QC
1 Episode
Wycliffe
Wycliffe
1994 ★ 6.0
David Cleeve
1 Episode
Peak Practice
Peak Practice
1993 ★ 6.1
Alan Sinclair
1 Episode
Eye of the Storm
Eye of the Storm
1993 ★ 8.0
Tom Frewen
6 Episodes
Chillers
Chillers
1992 ★ 6.2
Tom Dickenson
1 Episode
Performance
Performance
1991 ★ 6.0
Roger Maitland
1 Episode
Making News
Making News
1990 ★ 4.2
Sam Courtney
6 Episodes
South Of The Border
South Of The Border
1988
Tony Freason
1 Episode
The Last Place on Earth
The Last Place on Earth
1985 ★ 6.8
Cecil Meares
7 Episodes
Auf Wiedersehen, Pet
Auf Wiedersehen, Pet
1983 ★ 7.8
Jeffrey Grainger
6 Episodes
Reilly: Ace of Spies
Reilly: Ace of Spies
1983 ★ 7.0
Goschen
1 Episode
Fox
Fox
1980 ★ 5.7
Colin Street
2 Episodes
Minder
Minder
1979 ★ 6.8
Oates
1 Episode
Agony
Agony
1979 ★ 5.7
Vincent Fish
20 Episodes
Playhouse
Playhouse
1974 ★ 7.0
Bruno
1 Episode
Play for Today
Play for Today
1970 ★ 6.3
Dave
1 Episode
Ride or Die
Ride or Die
The Director
2 Episodes
California Avenue
California Avenue
Jerry