Graham McTavish

Graham McTavish Headshot

Actor

Birth Name: Graham James McTavish

Birth Date: January 4, 1961

Age: 63 years old

Birth Place: Glasgow, Scotland, UK

Tall, rugged, and exuding an air of old school masculinity that has fallen out of fashion in modern movies, Scottish-born actor Graham McTavish has nevertheless found a place in action cinema. He is likely best known for his performance as the fierce dwarf warrior Dwalin in director Peter Jackson's epic fantasy "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" (2012). But before landing that role of a lifetime, the biggest of his career, McTavish was already known to many science fiction and action fans for his prominent roles on the beloved British cult sci-fi show "Red Dwarf" (BBC Two, 1988- ), playing Warden Ackerman, and in Sylvester Stallone's ultraviolent war picture "Rambo" (2008), where he played the mercenary Lewis. He is also well known for his role as the Russian conspirator Mikhail Novakovich on the television show "24" (Fox, 2001-2010). But despite his frequent typecasting as an onscreen bruiser, the gregarious Scotsman always brings a little of his own colorful personality to his roles.

Born in Glasgow, Scotland on Jan. 4, 1961, McTavish was the head of the English society while attending university and acted on stage performing Shakespeare in several amateur and professional productions. It was while appearing in a 1983 production of "Romeo and Juliet" when he first met his future "Hobbit" co-star, Andy Serkis, and the two remained friendly over the years.

After making his screen debut as an extra in Tobe Hooper's sci-fi horror film "Lifeforce" (1986), McTavish nabbed his first screen credit in an episode of the British television show "Return to Treasure Island" (1986). Bit parts came his way where he appeared as sideline cops, thugs and soldiers in movies such as the Denzel Washington thriller "For Queen and Country" (1988) and the comic epic "Eric the Viking" (1989).

Because of his background performing Shakespeare on stage, McTavish appeared in two of the Bard's screen adaptations, "Macbeth" (1997) and "King Lear" (1999). Although the strapping McTavish is regularly cast in action movies like "Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life" (2003) and "King Arthur" (2004), occasionally he has been cast in comedies as well, such as "Ali G Indahouse" (2002). He can also be seen on the long-running British medical drama "Casualty" (BBC One, 1986- ) and the crime series "The Bill" (ITV, 1984-2010).

Those roles were not far from his tough image, but they allowed the actor to reach a broader audience than usual. After many years working in Great Britain tolling away in television, movies and theater, McTavish left his native land with his wife and family in 2007 to try his luck in Hollywood.

The gamble proved to be worth it when he auditioned for a role in "Rambo" after living in America only a few days, landing the biggest role of his career. On top of recurring stints on the hit TV thrillers "Prison Break" (Fox, 2005-09) and "24," McTavish reached the largest audience of his career as Dwalin, the bald-headed, tattooed dwarf in Peter Jackson's "Hobbit" trilogy, kicking off with 2012's "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey." Along with his busy film and television schedule, McTavish also works frequently doing voice work for videogames.

Credits

Icons Unearthed: The Lord of The Rings

Narrator
Show
2024

The Vicar's Wife

Actor
McCracken
Movie
2024

Somewhere in Montana

Actor
John Alexander
Movie
2023

House of the Dragon FREE

Actor
Ser Harrold Westerling
Show
2022

Klapperschlangen - Geheimnisvolle Killer

Narrator
Show
2021

Men in Kilts: A Roadtrip With Sam and GrahamStream

Executive Producer
Docuseries
2021
100%

Men in Kilts: A Roadtrip With Sam and GrahamStream

Host
Docuseries
2021
100%

Blood Red SkyStream

Actor
Col. Alan Drummond
Movie
2021
81%

The Witcher: Nightmare of the WolfStream

Voice
Deglan
Movie
2021
100%

Inside Pink Floyd: A Critical Review 1975-1996

Actor
Self - Narrator (voice)
Show
2020

World's Deadliest Snakes

Narrator
Show
2020

Around the Table

Guest
Show
2020

The WitcherStream

Actor
Dijkstra
Series
2019
80%

The Big Scottish Book Club

Guest
Show
2019

Sargasso

Actor
Ibrahim Kozlov
Movie
2019

AquamanStream

Actor
King Atlan
Movie
2018
66%

Africa's Super Snake

Narrator
Show
2017

DuckTalesStream

Guest Voice
Fergus McDuck
Series
2017

CastlevaniaStream

Voice
Dracula
Series
2017
94%

Return of the Lion

Narrator
Show
2017

Hippos After Dark

Actor
Narrator
Show
2016

PreacherStream

Actor
The Saint of Killers/The Cowboy
Series
2016
87%

Preacher: Extras

Actor
Show
2016

ColonyStream

Guest Star
Andrew MacGregor
Series
2016
92%

The Finest Hours

Actor
Frank Fauteux
Movie
2016

The Stolen

Actor
Bully
Movie
2016

All in a Day's Work

Executive Producer
Show
2015

CreedStream

Actor
Tommy Holiday
Movie
2015
95%

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

Actor
Dwalin
Show
2014

OutlanderStream

Actor
Dougal MacKenzie
Series
2014
90%

Outlander: Extras

Actor
Show
2014

Plastic

Actor
Steve Dawson
Movie
2014

Realiti

Actor
Mandrake
Movie
2014

The Sixth Gun

Actor
Silas Hedgepeth
Movie
2013

The Hobbit: The Desolation of SmaugStream

Actor
Dwalin
Movie
2013
75%

The Hobbit: An Unexpected JourneyStream

Actor
Dwalin
Movie
2012
64%

Hulk vs. Thor

Voice
Loki
Show
2011

Dead Space: Aftermath

Voice
Captain Campbell
Movie
2011

ColombianaStream

Actor
Head Marshall Warren
Movie
2011
27%

The Good GuysStream

Guest Star
Series
2010

Dante's Inferno

Voice
Dante Alighieri
Movie
2010

The Wicker TreeStream

Actor
Sir Lachlan Morrison
Movie
2010
20%

The Project

Guest
Show
2009

Hulk Vs.

Voice
Loki
Movie
2009

Green Street Hooligans 2

Actor
Big Marc Turner
Movie
2009

Middle Men

Actor
Ivan
Movie
2009

Pandemic

Actor
Capt. Riley
Movie
2009

RamboStream

Actor
Lewis
Movie
2008
37%

Sisterhood

Actor
Movie
2008

Rembo IV

Actor
Movie
2008

Penance

Actor
Geeves
Movie
2008

Pushing DaisiesStream

Guest Star
Series
2007
96%

Cane

Guest Star
Show
2007

Sharpe's Challenge

Actor
McRae
Movie
2006

Good Girl, Bad Girl

Actor
Movie
2006

Ghost WhispererStream

Guest Star
Series
2005

Prison BreakStream

Guest Star
Ferguson
Series
2005
61%

RomeStream

Guest Star
Urbo
Series
2005
86%

Empire

Guest Star
Show
2005

NUMB3RSStream

Guest Star
John Corcoran
Series
2005

The Roots of Monty Python

Actor
Movie
2005

LostStream

Guest Star
Sergeant
Series
2004
86%

Murder CityStream

Actor
Series
2004

D-Day

Actor
Group Capt. James Stagg
Movie
2004

NCISStream

Guest Star
Aleksei
Series
2003

DinotopiaStream

Guest Star
Series
2002

Last Call With Carson Daly

Guest
Talk
2002

The Zulu Wars

Host
Show
2002

The Wars of the Roses: A Bloody Crown

Voice
Movie
2002

24Stream

Guest Star
Mikhail Novakovich
Series
2001
87%

Air Wars

Narrator
Show
2000

Super League Rugby

Actor
Show
1998

King Lear

Actor
Duke of Albany
Movie
1998

Merlin: The Magic Begins

Actor
Rengal
Movie
1998

Macbeth

Actor
Banquo
Movie
1997

The Wind in the Willows

Actor
Pijana łasica
Movie
1996

The Knock

Actor
Alan Fraser
Show
1994

SharpeStream

Actor
McRae
Series
1993

Red DwarfStream

Guest Star
Series
1988

For Queen and Country

Actor
Lieutenant
Movie
1988

Casualty

Actor
Gerry Talbot
Show
1986

Classic Casualty

Actor
Gerry Talbot
Show
1986

The Bill

Actor
Pete Larson
Show
1984

News aboutGraham McTavish

Graham McTavish and Lotte Verbeek in 'Outlander' Season 7
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‘Outlander’ Stars on Reuniting for Geillis & Dougal’s Pivotal Meet-Cute in Season 7

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‘Men in Kilts’: Sam Heughan & Graham McTavish Return in Adrenaline-Filled Premiere (RECAP)

Graham McTavish and Sam Heughan in 'Men in Kilts' Season 2
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‘Men in Kilts’ Stars Sam Heughan & Graham McTavish Preview Season 2 Shenanigans

'The Witcher' Season 3 cast video

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Sam Heughan & Graham McTavish Tackle New Zealand in New ‘Clanlands’ Book

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‘Outlander’: Graham McTavish, Nell Hudson & More to Return for Season 7

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Starz Renews ‘Men in Kilts’ for Season 2 With Sam Heughan & Graham McTavish

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Men in Kilts: A Roadtrip with Sam and Graham - Season 1
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‘Men in Kilts’ Finale: Sam & Graham Revisit Culloden, Scotland’s Most Notorious Battle (RECAP)

Graham McTavish and Sam Heughan in Men in Kilts - Season 1
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‘Men in Kilts’: Sam & Graham Explore the History of the ‘Outlander’ Clans (RECAP)

Sam Heughan and Graham McTavis in Men in Kilts
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‘Men in Kilts’: Sam & Graham Bike the Highlands, and Graham Fights Off His Fear of Heights (RECAP)

Adjoa Andoh, Graham McTavish, Kevin Doyle

‘The Witcher’ Season 2 Adds ‘Bridgerton’s Adjoa Andoh, ‘Outlander’s Graham McTavish and More Big Stars

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‘Men in Kilts’: Sam & Graham Wrangle Sheep and Fight Off Midges (RECAP)

Men in Kilts - Graham McTavish and Sam Heughan - Season 4
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‘Men in Kilts’: Sam & Graham Make Spooky Pit Stops in ‘Witchcraft & Superstition’ (RECAP)

Graham McTavish Sam Heughan Men in Kilts
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‘Men in Kilts’ Preview: Sam’s ‘Diabolical Mind,’ and a Visit to an ‘Outlander’-Like Stone Circle

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‘Men in Kilts’: Sam & Graham Talk ‘Outlander,’ Plus Do a Little Song and Dance (RECAP)

Graham McTavish and Sam Heughan - Men In Kilts
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‘Men in Kilts’: Sam Heughan & Graham McTavish on a Very Sporty Episode

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Sam Heughan Talks About His Passion Project, ‘Men in Kilts: A Roadtrip With Sam and Graham’

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Enter to Win a Roadtrip Kit Picked by ‘Men in Kilts’ Stars Sam Heughan & Graham McTavish

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Hot Scots: Sam Heughan & Graham McTavish of ‘Men in Kilts’

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‘Outlander’s Sam Heughan & Graham McTavish Set ‘Men in Kilts’ Premiere at Starz

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‘Outlander’s Sam Heughan & Graham McTavish Announce Book Ahead of ‘Men in Kilts’

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Outlander Season 5
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‘Outlander’: Jamie’s Inner Battle & Roger’s Task in ‘The Ballad of Roger Mac’ (RECAP)

Actor Graham McTavish attend the premiere of AMC's 'Preacher' Season 3 on June 14, 2018

‘Lucifer’ Season 4: ‘Outlander’ & ‘Preacher’ Star Graham McTavish Joins the Cast

Graham McTavish attends WIRED Cafe during Comic-Con International 2016

My TV Obsessions: Graham McTavish Reveals His Last TV Binge & More

Graham McTavish in Preacher
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Graham McTavish on ‘Preacher’ Season 3: ‘It’s a Whole New Level of Dark & Twisted’

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