
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 โ 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 Cafรฉ (2006) and PBS's Page Eight (2012).
Known For
Credits
- 2024 ยทThat Christmasas Lighthouse Bill (voice)
- 2024 ยทJoyas Patrick Steptoe
- 2024 ยทThe Wild Robotas Longneck (voice)
- 2024 ยทGracie & Pedro: Pets to the Rescueas Conrad (voice)
- 2024 ยท10 Livesas Professor Craven (voice)
- 2024 ยทThe First Omenas Cardinal Lawrence
- 2024 ยทThe Beautiful Gameas Mal
- 2023 ยทRole Playas Bob
- 2023 ยทBloody Furyas Bloody's Consciousness (voice)
- 2023 ยทNorfolk & Suffolk: Coast & Countryas Self - Narrator (voice)
- 2022 ยทThe Laughter & Secrets of Love Actually: 20 Years Later โ A Diane Sawyer Specialas Self
- 2022 ยทLivingas Williams
- 2022 ยทThe Man Who Fell to Earthas Thomas Jerome Newton
- 2021 ยทIberia's Woodlands: Life on the Edgeas Self - Narrator (voice)
- 2021 ยทMeerkat Manor: Rise of the Dynastyas Self - Narrator (voice)
- 2021 ยทWorld's Most Scenic River Journeysas Self - Narrator (voice)
- 2020 ยทMinamataas Robert "Bob" Hayes
- 2020 ยทEmma.as Mr. Woodhouse
- 2019 ยทThe Kindness of Strangersas Timofey
- 2019 ยทStarDog and TurboCatas Sinclair (voice)
- 2019 ยทWorld's Most Scenic Railway Journeysas Narrator (voice)
- 2019 ยทHope Gapas Edward
- 2019 ยทPokรฉmon Detective Pikachuas Howard Clifford
- 2019 ยทSometimes Always Neveras Alan
- 2018 ยทOrdeal by Innocenceas Leo Argyll
- 2017 ยทThe Bookshopas Mr. Brundish
- 2017 ยทCastlevaniaas Saint Germain (voice)
- 2017 ยทRed Nose Day Actuallyas Billy Mack
- 2017 ยทTheir Finestas Ambrose Hilliard / Uncle Frank
- 2016 ยทThe Limehouse Golemas John Kildare
- 2016 ยทDad's Armyas Sergeant Wilson
- 2016 ยทNorm of the Northas Socrates (voice)
- 2015 ยทA Grand Night In: The Story of Aardmanas Self - 'Flushed Away' and 'Arthur Christmas'
- 2015 ยทThe Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotelas Douglas Ainslie
- 2014 ยทPrideas Cliff
- 2014 ยทSalting the Battlefieldas Johnny Worricker
- 2014 ยทTurks & Caicosas Johnny Worricker
- 2014 ยทLate Night with Seth Meyersas Self
- 2014 ยทI, Frankensteinas Naberius
- 2013 ยทAbout Timeas Dad
- 2013 ยทThe World's Endas The Network (voice)
- 2013 ยทGreat White Sharkas Self - Narrator (voice)
- 2013 ยทJack the Giant Slayeras General Fallon
- 2012 ยทLondon: The Modern Babylonas Spoken Quotations (voice)
- 2012 ยทTotal Recallas Matthias
- 2012 ยทWrath of the Titansas Hephaestus
- 2012 ยทThe Best Exotic Marigold Hotelas Douglas Ainslie
- 2011 ยทArthur Christmasas Grandsanta (voice)
- 2011 ยทPage Eightas Johnny Worricker
- 2011 ยทRangoas Rattlesnake Jake (voice)
- 2011 ยทChalet Girlas Richard Madsen
- 2010 ยทHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1as Rufus Scrimgeour
- 2010 ยทWild Targetas Victor Maynard
- 2009 ยท10 Minute Talesas
- 2009 ยทGlorious 39as Alexander Keyes
- 2009 ยทAstro Boyas Dr. Elefun / Robotsky (voice)
- 2009 ยทLive from Studio Fiveas Self
- 2009 ยทG-Forceas Leonard Saber
- 2009 ยทThe Big Art Projectas Narrator
- 2009 ยทThe Boat That Rockedas Quentin
- 2009 ยทUnderworld: Rise of the Lycansas Viktor
- 2008 ยทValkyrieas Friedrich Olbricht
- 2007 ยทPirates of the Caribbean: At World's Endas Davy Jones
- 2007 ยทHot Fuzzas Met Chief Inspector
- 2006 ยทNotes on a Scandalas Richard Hart
- 2006 ยทFlushed Awayas Whitey (voice)
- 2006 ยทThe One Showas Self
- 2006 ยทStormbreakeras Alan Blunt
- 2006 ยทPirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chestas Davy Jones
- 2006 ยทUnderworld: Evolutionas Viktor
- 2006 ยทAnatomy of a Global Thriller: Behind the Scenes of The Constant Gardeneras Self
- 2005 ยทGideon's Daughteras Gideon Warner
- 2005 ยทMeerkat Manoras Narrator
- 2005 ยทThe Constant Gardeneras Sir Bernard Pellegrin
- 2005 ยทThe Girl in the Cafรฉas Lawrence
- 2005 ยทThe Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxyas Slartibartfast
- 2005 ยทDoctor Whoas Dr Black
- 2004 ยทEnduring Loveas Robin
- 2004 ยทThe Magic Roundaboutas Dylan (voice)
- 2004 ยทHe Knew He Was Rightas Colonel Osborne
- 2004 ยทShaun of the Deadas Phillip
- 2003 ยทGrumpy Old Menas Self
- 2003 ยทUnderworldas Viktor
- 2003 ยทCanterbury Talesas James
- 2003 ยทLove Actuallyas Billy Mack
- 2003 ยทState of Playas Cameron Foster
- 2003 ยทI Capture the Castleas James Mortmain
- 2003 ยทThe Lost Princeas Stamfordham
- 2002 ยทTimeshiftas self (voice)
- 2002 ยทThe Inspector Lynley Mysteriesas Lockwood
- 2002 ยทAKAas Uncle Louis Gryffoyn
- 2001 ยทRichard & Judyas Self
- 2001 ยทLucky Breakas Roger
- 2001 ยทBlow Dryas Ray Robertson
- 2000 ยทBlack Booksas Man at bar
- 2000 ยทLongitudeas Lord Sandwich
- 2000 ยทLongitudeas Lord Sandwich
- 1999 ยทGuest House Paradisoas Mr. Johnson
- 1999 ยทPeople Like Usas Will Rushmore
- 1998 ยทStill Crazyas Ray Simms
- 1998 ยทParkinsonas Self
- 1997 ยทFairyTale: A True Storyas Edward Gardner
- 1996 ยทTestament: The Bible in Animationas Belshazzar (voice)
- 1995 ยทKavanagh Q.C.as Giles Culpepper QC
- 1994 ยทWycliffeas David Cleeve
- 1994 ยทBeing Humanas Julian
- 1993 ยทDon't Leave Me This Wayas John Tracey
- 1993 ยทPeak Practiceas Alan Sinclair
- 1993 ยทEye of the Stormas Tom Frewen
- 1991 ยทPerformanceas Roger Maitland
- 1991 ยทPerformanceas Hugh Marriner
- 1990 ยทChillersas Tom Dickenson
- 1990 ยทMaking Newsas Sam Courtney
- 1989 ยทThe Phantom of the Operaas Martin Barton
- 1988 ยทSouth Of The Borderas Tony Freason
- 1988 ยทThis Morningas Self
- 1985 ยทThe Last Place on Earthas Cecil Meares
- 1985 ยทHitler's SS: Portrait in Evilas Helmut Hoffmann
- 1984 ยทThe Little Drummer Girlas Al
- 1983 ยทAuf Wiedersehen, Petas Jeffrey Grainger
- 1983 ยทReilly: Ace of Spiesas Goschen
- 1983 ยทCurse of the Pink Pantheras ENT Doctor
- 1982 ยทEaster 2016as Connor Mullan
- 1981 ยทBergeracas Barry
- 1981 ยทEye of the Needleas Squadron Leader Blenkinsop
- 1980 ยทLittle Lord Fauntleroyas Officer
- 1980 ยทDeath Watchas Katherine's Co-worker (uncredited)
- 1979 ยทMinderas Oates
- Future ยทLazarusas Doctor Lazarus ' Dr L'
- 1985 ยทThirteen at Dinneras Ronald Marsh
- 1980 ยทFoxas Colin Street
- 1979 ยทAgonyas Vincent Fish
- Future ยทRide or Dieas The Director
- Future ยทUntitled Jason Statham Action-Thrilleras
- 2024 ยทKent: Garden of Englandas Self - Narrator (voice)
- 2023 ยทDarklingas
- 2023 ยทSpectre of the Bearas Bennett (voice)
- 2021 ยทChristmas Magic at Kew Gardensas Self - Narrator (voice)
- 2021 ยทLotus: A New Dawnas Self - Narrator (voice)
- 2021 ยทBuckley's Chanceas Spencer
- 2020 ยทKatherine Jenkins Christmas Spectacularas Self
- 2014 ยทNational Theatre Live: Skylightas Tom Sergeant
- 2013 ยทThe Hungry Corpseas The Hungry Corpse
- 2013 ยทDangerous Edge: A Life of Graham Greeneas Graham Greene (voice)
- 2011 ยทAstonish Meas The Professor
- 2011 ยทReal Creatures of Dirtas Self / Rattlesnake Jake
- 2008 ยทSlapperas Arnold Percy
- 2008 ยทA Fox's Taleas Ringmaster (voice)
- 2007 ยทConclusive: We Made Hot Fuzzas Self
- 2006 ยทWe Love Cigarettesas Narrator
- 2005 ยทDon't Crash: The Documentary of the Making of the Movie of the Book of the Radio Series of 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy'as Self
- 2005 ยทInside 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy'as Self
- 2004 ยทReady When You Are, Mr McGillas Phil Parish
- 2004 ยทPeter Ustinov: The Parkinson Interviewsas Self - Narrator
- 2004 ยทBurstas Maxwell's Fan 22
- 2003 ยทLife Beyond the Box: Norman Stanley Fletcheras Narrator
- 2003 ยทThe Young Visitersas Earl of Clincham
- 2003 ยทBelow Deck: An Interactive History Of Piratesas
- 2002 ยทLawless Heartas Dan
- 1996 ยทTrue Blueas Jeremy Saville
- 1996 ยทAlive and Kickingas Tristan
- 1993 ยทUnnatural Causesas Oliver Latham
- 1992 ยทA Masculine Endingas John Tracey
- 1991 ยทAbsolute Hellas Hugh Marriner
- 1990 ยทAntonia and Janeas Howard Nash
- Future ยท& Sonsas
- 1999 ยทThe Bass Playeras
- 1993 ยทThe Maitlandsas Roger Maitland
- 1989 ยทMack the Knifeas Tiger Brown
- 1982 ยทUnder the Skinas Dave
- 1980 ยทStanding in for Henryas Bruno
- 1980 ยทFoxas Colin Street
- 1980 ยทDreams of Leavingas William
- 1979 ยทDeasey (Desperate)as Deasy
- 1978 ยทSoldiers Talking, Cleanlyas Bill
- 1976 ยทOccupy!as Player in Everyman Theatre Company, Liverpool
- 1970 ยทPlay for Todayas Dave
- Future ยท500 Milesas