Ian McDiarmid

Photo of Mr. McDiarmid from dsdmp.de

Ian McDiarmid was born on August 11, 1944 in Carnoustie, Tayside, Scotland, he was raised in Dundee, also in Scotland.  Before McDiarmid's theatrical endeavors he studied the social sciences.  He earned an MA at St Andrews University, in Fife, but found no great joy in being a clinical Psychologist. McDiarmid went on to attend the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama where he won a gold medal in 1968 ...'by doing all the boring jobs you have to do when you are young, to eke out an existence',  McDiarmid notes, and the Citizens Theater in Glasgow in the 1970's.  

After a decade in repertory, particularly at the Citizens and in Manchester, he joined the Royal Shakespeare Company. McDiarmid was joint artistic director of the Almeida Theatre in Islington, north London, with which Oliver Ford Davies (Sio Bibble) also works.  

McDiarmid's passion is theater.  In 1990, Ian and Jonathan Kent took over the Almeida Theatre as co-artistic directors.  McDiarmid and Kent were awarded the Theatrical Achievement of the Year by the Evening Standard in 1998, and in their time directing the Almeida it was awarded 45 theater awards.  McDiarmid ended his relationship with the Almeida to concentrate on other projects and Michael Attenborough took over as artistic director.

McDiarmid, about Star Wars, mentions..."there was a wonderful concentration of purpose on set:  Lucas runs a relatively small operation, with everyone utterly determined to get everything right.  Financially it's nothing like the Almeida, but those principles are not unlike ours. "

 

 

Film

Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith~2005 - Supreme Chancellor/Emperor Cos Palpatine/Lord Darth Sidious

*Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith Soundtrack~2005 - (DVD portion) each section is introduced by McDiarmid

Charles II: The Power and the Passion~2003 - Sir Charles Hyde

Star Wars episode II - Attack of the Clones~2002 - Supreme Chancellor/Senator Cos Palpatine/Darth Sidious

Sleepy Hollow~1999 - Dr Thomas Lancaster

Star Wars Episode I - The Phantom Menace~1999 - Senator Cos Palpatine/Darth Sidious

Restoration~1995 - Ambrose

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels~1988 - Arthur

Gorky Park~1989 - Professor Andreev

Star Wars Episode VI - Return of the Jedi~1983 - Emperor Cos Palpatine

Dragonslayer~1981 - Brother Jacobs

Richard's Things~1981 - Burglar

Star Wars: Episode IV - The Empire Strikes Back~1980 - Emperor Cos Palpatine **2004 release only (Thanks to MsFanatic51!)

Awakening, The~1980 - Dr Richter

Sir Henry at Rawlinson End~1980 - Reg Smeeton

Likely Lads~1976 - Vicar

*A first with Star Wars soundtracks.

 

TV 
Elizabeth I~2006 - William Cecil, Lord Burghley (Thanks to Tom Earley!)

Our Hidden Lives~2005 - B Charles

Star Wars: Feel the Force~2005 - Himself

Spooks~2004 - Professor Fred Roberts (#3.2) 10/18/04

Making of Charles II~2003 - Himself

Crime and Punishment~2002  mini-series - Porfiry

All the King's Men~1999  -Reverend Pierrepoint Edwards

Great Expectatations~1999  - Jaggers

Unsuitable Job for a Woman, An~1998 - Ronald Callendar in The Sacrifice (#1.1) 1998

Touching Evil~1997  mini series - Professor Ronald Hinks

Rebecca~1997 - coroner

Hillsborough~1996  - Dr Popper

Karaoke~1996  mini series - Oliver Morse

Heart of Darkness~1994  - Doctor

Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, The~1992 - Professor Levi  in Paris in October (#2.16) 7/10/1993

Chernobyl: The Final Warning~1991  - Dr Vatisenko

Modern World: Ten Great Writers, The~1988  mini series

The Nation's Health~1983 - Mr. Vernon Davis (see Actor Connections - TV) (Thanks to Susanna!)

Macbeth~1979  - the porter and Ross

The Professionals~1977 - Mickey Hamilton in  Madness of Mickey Hamilton (#3.5) 11/24/1979

 

Theater 
John Gabriel Borkman~2007 - John Gabriel Borkman (Donmar Warehouse Theatre, London, UK)

Stars in the Alley~2006 - himself (Shubert Alley, New York, NY) 6/7/06

Faith Healer~2006 - Teddy (Booth Theatre, New York, NY)

Lear~2005 - Lear (The Crucible Theatre, The Sheffield Theatres, Sheffield, UK)

Henry IV~2004 - Henry IV (Donmar Warehouse Theatre  and tour, UK)

Embalmer, The~2002 - Alexei Miscin (Almeida Theatre, London, UK)

Swing at Night, The~2001 - Otto (voice) (Barge Puppet Theatre, London, UK)

Tempest, The~2001 - Prospero (Almeida Theatre, UK)

Faith Healer~2001/2 - Teddy (King's Cross, London, UK)

The Jew of Malta~1999 - Barabas (Almeida Theatre, London, UK)

Der Freischütz~1999 - Samiel (London Coliseum, London, UK)

Into The Woods~1999 - voice of Samiel (recorded)

The Judas Kiss~1998 -  (The Playhouse, London, UK) (see Actor Connections - Theatre)

Doctor's Dilemma, The~1998 - Sir Colenso Ridgeon (Almeida Theatre, London, UK)

Government Inspector, The~1997 - Lord Provost (Almeida Theatre, London, UK)

Ivanov~1997 - Kosykh (Almeida Theatre, London, UK)

Cenci, The~1997 - Count Franscesco Cenci (Almeida Theatre, London, UK)

School for Wives, The~1996 - Arnolphe  (Almeida Theatre, London, UK)

Tartuffe~1996 - Orgon (Almeida Theatre, London, UK)

Experimentum Mundi~1995 - Narrator (Almeida Theatre, London, UK)

Hated Nightfall~1994 - Dancer (Royal Court)

Terrible Mouth~1992 - Goya (Almeida Theatre, London, UK)

The Early Hours of a Reviled Man~1992 - 

Mephisto~1991 - Hendrik Höfgen (Oxford Playhouse & Roundhouse, UK)

Hippolytos~1991 - Theseus (Almeida Theatre, London, UK)

Lulu Plays, The~1991 - Dr Schön (Almeida Theatre, London, UK)

Volpone~1989/90 - Volpone (Almeida Theatre, London, UK) (see Actor Connections - Theatre)

Black Prince, The~1989 - Bradley Pearson (Aldwych Theatre, London, UK)

Don Carlos~1988 - King Philip II of Spain (Royal Exchange Theater, Manchester, UK)

Country Wife, The~1986/7 - Mr. Pinchwife (Royal Exchange Theater, Manchester, UK)

Danton Affair, The~1986 - Robespierre (Barbican Theatre, London, UK)

Saxon Shore, The~1986 - Cambyses /Old Farmer /Llyr (Almeida Theatre, London, UK)

Edward II~1986 - King Edward II (Royal Exchange Theater, Manchester, UK)

Henry V~1984/5 - Chorus (Royal Shakespeare Company; Barbican Theatre, London, UK)

Barker Plays, The: Crimes in Hot Countries, The Castle, Downchild~1985 - Hacker/Stucley/Downchild (The Pit Theatre, London, UK)

The Castle~1985 - Stucly (RSC, London, UK)

War Plays Trilogy, The: Red, Black and Ignorant, The Tin Cat People, Great Peace~1985 - Monster/First Man/Officer (The Pit Theatre, London, UK)

Merchant of Venice~1984 - Shylock (Royal Shakespeare Company, UK)

The Party~1984 - John Tagg (The Other Place, Stratford-Upon-Avon, UK; The Pit Theatre, London, UK)

Crimes In Hot Countries~1984 - ? (Royal Shakespeare Company, UK)

Wild Duck, The~1983 - Gregers Werle (Oxford Playhouse & Royal Exchange, Manchester,  UK)

Tales From Hollywood~1983 - Berthold Brecht (Olivier Theatre & Bristol Hippodrome, UK)

Insignificance~1982 - The Professor (Einstein) (Royal Court Theater, London, UK)

Seduced~1981 - Harry Hackamore (older man) Note: This play got McDiarmid noticed for Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi)

Love of a Good Man~1980 - ? (Royal Court)

The Duchess of Malfi~1979 - (The Leeds Grand Theatre, Leeds, UK)

Miserable and Lonely Death, A~1978 - Lang (Donmar Warehouse, Donmar, UK; Aldwych Theatre, London, UK)

Vieux Carré~1978 - Nightingale (Nottingham Playhouse, UK)

That Good Between Us~1977 - Billy McPhee (Donmar Warehouse, Donmar, UK)

Days of the Commune~1977 - Rigault (Aldwych Theatre, London, UK)

Destiny~1977 - Turner (The Other Place Theatre, Stratford-Upon-Avon, UK; Aldwych Theatre, London, UK)

Macbeth~1976-8 - The Porter/Ross (The Other Place Theatre, Stratford-Upon-Avon, UK; Young Vic Theatre, London, UK)

Much Ado About Nothing~1976/7 - Don Juan (John) (Royal Shakespeare Company; Aldwych Theatre, London, UK)

Schweyk in the Second World War~1976/77 - Goebbels/Brettschneider  (The Other Place, Stratford-Upon-Avon, UK; Donmar Warehouse Theatre, Donmar (London), UK)

Dingo~1976/7 - Comic (The Other Place Theatre, Stratford-Upon-Avon, UK; Donmar Warehouse Theatre, Donmar (London), UK)

Afore Night Come~1974 - Roche (The Other Place Theatre, Stratford-Upon-Avon, UK)

Measure for Measure~1974 - Elbow (Royal Shakespeare Theatre, London, UK)

Macbeth~1975 - (Aldwych Theare, London, UK)

Tempest, The~1974 - Trinculo (The Other Place, Stratford-Upon-Avon, UK)

Macbett~1973 - (Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, UK)

Peer Gynt~1973 - Peer Gynt (Oxford Playhouse, UK)

Schweyk in the Second World War~1973 - Hitler (Edinburgh Lyceum, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK)

Tamburlaine~1973 - Bajazeth (Edinburgh Festival, Edinburgh, Scotland)

Toad of Toad Hall~1973 - Judge (Royal Shakespeare Theatre, London, UK); Glasgow Citizen's Theatre, Scotland)

Twelfth Night~1973 - Tony Belch (Edinburgh Festival, Edinburgh, Scotland)

Hamlet~1972 - Claudius (Library Theatre, Manchester, UK)

Speckled Band: An Adventure of Sherlock Holmes, The~1970 - Armitage / Dr. Montague (Library Theater, Manchester, UK)

Danton's Death~1971 - St. Juste (Royal Shakespeare Company, London, UK & The Almeida, UK)

Galileo~1971 - Galileo (Glasgow Citizens Theatre, Glasgow, Scotland)

Timon of Athens~1971 - Timon (Glasgow Citizens Theatre, Glasgow, Scotland)

The Speckled Band~1970 - Mr. Montague Armitage (Library Theater, Manchester, UK)

What the Butler Saw~1970 - Sergeant Match (Library Theatre, Manchester, UK)

The Wild Duck~1969 - (Nottingham Playhouse, )

The Soldier's Tale~ - Narrator (The London Symphony Orchestra, London, UK)

Kurt Weill Concerts~ - (Almeida Theatre, London,  UK)

Creditors~ - Gustav (Almeida Theatre, London, UK)

12th Ian Charleson Awards ceremony - guest star/ presenter

Raft of the Medusa~ - (Barbican Theatre, London, UK)

Scribes~ - Arnold (Tyneside Theatre Company, Tyneside, UK)

Local Stigmatic~ - Ray (Open Space )

That Good Between Us~ - (Royal Shakespeare Company)

Ezra Pound~ - Ezra Pound ( )

Worlds, The~ - Trench (Half Moon, UK)

Every Good Boy Deserves Favour~1978 - Ivanov (Mermaid Theatre,

Woyzeck~ - Captain (Tyneside Theatre Company, )

The Crucible~ - (Sheffield)

The King Goes Forth to France~ - (Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, UK)

The Nuns~ - Mother Superior (Tyneside Theatre, Company, )

They Handcuffed the Flowers~ - Pronos (Open Space Theatre, )

 

Theater Director: 

Venice Preserv'd~1995

Siren Song~1994 (Almeida Theatre, London, UK)

A Hard Heart~1992 - (Almeida Theatre, London, UK)

Hippolytus~1991 (Almeida Theatre, London, UK)

Lulu Plays, The~1991

Rehearsal, The~1990 -  (Almeida Theatre, London, UK)

Possibilities, The~1988 (Almeida Theatre, London, UK)

Slave Island~1988 - (Royal Exchange, Manchester, UK)

Venice Preserv'd~1986 (Almeida Theatre, London, UK)

Scenes From an Execution~1985

 

Radio (HUGE thank you to Claudia Groiss for Mr. McDiarmid's radio credits!)

Paradise Lost~2005 - Narrator (Radio 4 BBC)

Shalken the Painter~2005 - Narrator (Radio 7 BBC)

Volpone~2005 - Volpone (Radio 3 BBC)

King Arthur~2004 - Merlin (Radio 4 BBC - 6 parts)

the Shifting of the Sands~2004 -  Narrator (Radio 4 BBC)

The Silence~2004 - Narrator (Radio 3 BBC)

The Goalkeeper's Boo-Boo~2003 - (Radio 4 BBC)

The MacGuffin~2003 - Angus MacPhail (Radio 4 BBC)

The Remains of the Day~2003 - Stevens (Radio 4 BBC)

Volpone~2003 - Volpone

The Queen's Conjuror~2001 - Narrator (Radio 4 BBC)

A Tale of Two Cities~2000 - Narrator (BBC Int'l)

Albertina~1999 - The Bishop (Radio 4 BBC)

Departure From a Position~1999 - (Radio 3 BBC)

The Picture of Dorian Gray~1999 - Narrator, Lord Henry Wotton (BBC radio)

Russian Overture~1994 - Commander

Raft of the Medusa~1991 - Charon (Radio 3 BBC)

 

Live Performances

Tony Awards~2006 - himself/recipient 6/11/06

Benefits for the Beast~???? - performer (Wonderful Beast Company, UK)

Brummie Comedy Cocktail~???? - performer (UK)

 

Awards/Honors/Nominations

Clarence Derwent Award:

Rec'd 2002 Best Supporting Actor for Faith Healer

Critic's Circle Theater Awards (London):

Rec'd 2001 Best Actor for Faith Healer

Evening Standard:

Rec'd 1998 - Theatrical Achievement of the Year
Olivier Award (Society of West End Theatres SWET Award):

Rec'd 1982 Best Actor in a New Play for Insignificance

Nom 1991 Observer Award for Outstanding Achievement for Volpone / The Rehearsal / Betrayal Field

    Day Theatre Company for ten years presenting Irish drama

Manchester Evening News Award:

Rec'd 2004 Best Actor for Henry IV

Rec'd 1995 Best Actor  for Hated Nightfall

Outer Critics Circle Awards

Nom 2006 Outstanding Actor in a Play for Faith Healer

Theatre Management Associations Theatre Awards:

Rec'd 2005 Best Actor in a Play for Lear

Rec'd 2004 Best Actor for Henry IV

Time Out Award:

Rec'd 1990 for directing Scenes From An Execution and Valpone

Tony Awards (Antoinette Perry):

Rec'd 2006 Best Featured Actor in a Play for Faith Healer

Spacey Awards

Rec'd 2006 Best Villain for Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith

 

Miscellany

2005 - Emperor Palpatine was voted by Total Film Magazine as the top film villain.

 

Only actor,  playing a human, to cross over from the first trilogy to the second.

 

Provided narration for Madame Tussaud's French Revolution exhibition section in New York City.

Toured for 6 months in Paris (theatre)

Archives

CONTESTS

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LINKS

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Other

Stuff!

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