Alex Norton

Scottish actor Alex Norton achieved success in his career without formal instruction, working his way up from theater to television and into film, both back home and in the United States. Norton began working in television in his native Scotland in the late 1960s, appearing in "This Man Craig" and continuing to work in both series and made-for-television moves in the U.K. He is best known for his portrayal of DCI Matt Burke on "Taggart," a drama series about the Maryhill CID which investigates murders in Glasgow. He appeared in 59 episodes of the series from 1986 to 2010. His other most popular part as a series regular was that of Eddie McAvoy on "Renford Rejects."

He began appearing in larger American films in the 1990s, with his most notable performances in drama and action motion pictures, such as 1992's "Patriot Games" and the 1995 epic drama "Braveheart." In the 2000s, Norton appeared in two American blockbusters, taking on the historical role of Napoleon in the 2002 drama "The Count of Monte Cristo" and in 2006's "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" as Captain Bellamy. These remain his most well known credits in American film and he continues working both in the U.K. and in the U.S.