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Jonathan Hyde
Jonathan Hyde by Gage Skidmore.jpg
Hyde at the 2015 San Diego Comic-Con
Born
Jonathan Stephen Geoffrey King

(1948-05-21) 21 May 1948 (age 77)
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Citizenship
  • Australia
  • United Kingdom
Occupation Actor
Years active 1972–present
Spouse(s)
Isobel Buchanan
(m. 1980)
Children 2, including Georgia King

Jonathan Stephen Geoffrey King (born 21 May 1948), known as Jonathan Hyde, is an Australian actor. He is famous for playing many different characters in movies and TV shows.

Some of his well-known roles include Herbert Arthur Runcible Cadbury in the movie Richie Rich (1994). He also played two characters, Samuel Parrish and Van Pelt, in the adventure film Jumanji (1995). You might also know him as J. Bruce Ismay in the epic movie Titanic (1997).

He was also in Anaconda (1997) as Warren Westridge and The Mummy (1999) as Dr. Allen Chamberlain. More recently, he played Eldritch Palmer in the TV series The Strain. Even though he is Australian, Jonathan Hyde has mostly lived in the United Kingdom since 1969.

Early Life and Training

Jonathan Hyde was born in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. He grew up in a middle-class family. His father, Stephen Geoffrey King, was a lawyer.

Jonathan first thought about studying law at university. However, he soon realized his true passion was acting and theatre. In 1969, he moved to London to follow his dream. He earned a special spot at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. This is a very famous acting school. In 1972, he graduated and won the Bancroft Gold Medal. This award is given for excellent performance. Jonathan has said that he didn't try to lose his Australian accent. He says it still "comes and goes."

Acting Career Highlights

Jonathan Hyde is a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company. This is a very respected theatre group. He has played many important roles on stage.

Famous Movie Roles

Jonathan Hyde has appeared in many popular films.

  • In Jumanji, he played two characters: Samuel Parrish and the hunter Van Pelt.
  • He was J. Bruce Ismay, the boss of the White Star Line, in the movie Titanic.
  • He played Dr. Allen Chamberlain, an expert on ancient Egypt, in The Mummy.
  • He also appeared in Anaconda and Richie Rich.

Television Appearances

Jonathan Hyde has also been in many TV shows and movies.

  • He played a lawyer named Edward Marshall Hall in the BBC drama Shadow of the Noose (1989).
  • He was Culverton Smith in an episode of The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes.
  • He also appeared in the mystery series Midsomer Murders.
  • From 2014 to 2017, he had a main role as Eldritch Palmer in the TV series The Strain.
  • In 2011, he played Ilya Gavrik, a Russian Minister, in the BBC series Spooks.
  • He also voiced the character Walt Strickler in the animated series Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia (2016–2018).

Theatre Work

Jonathan Hyde has a long and successful career in theatre. He has performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company many times.

  • In 2007, he played Dr. Dorn in The Seagull and the Earl of Kent in King Lear. He performed these plays with famous actors like Ian McKellen.
  • He also played Lionel Logue, the speech therapist, in the play The King's Speech in London's West End.
  • In 2019, he was nominated for an Olivier Award for his role as Beau in the play Gently Down The Stream.

Personal Life

Jonathan Hyde married Scottish opera singer Isobel Buchanan in 1980. They have two daughters together. One of their daughters, Georgia King, is also an actress.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1993 Being Human Francisco
Deadly Advice George Joseph Smith
1994 Richie Rich Herbert Arthur Runcible Cadbury
1995 Jumanji Samuel Parrish / Van Pelt
1997 Titanic J. Bruce Ismay
Anaconda Warren Westridge
1999 The Mummy Dr. Allen Chamberlain
2000 Eisenstein Vsevolod Meyerhold
2001 The Tailor of Panama Cavendish
2006 The Contract Turner
Land of the Blind Smith
2015 Crimson Peak Ogilvie
2017 Breathe Dr. Entwistle
2021 Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans Walt Strickler (voice)
2023 Doctor Jekyll Henry Jekyll
2024 Sebastian Nicholas
Hamlet Claudius
The Brutalist Lesley Woodrow

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1978 The Professionals Tommy 1 episode
1985 Screen Two Wilson Barrett 1 episode
1985 A.D. Tigellinus Miniseries, 1 episode
1985 Honour, Profit and Pleasure Aaron Hill Television film
1986 Caravaggio Baglione Television film
1989 Shadow of the Noose Edward Marshall Hall 8 episodes
1993 Lovejoy Jonathan Wilsher 1 episode
1994 The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes Culverton Smith 1 episode: The Dying Detective
1994 Cadfael Lord Godfrid Picard 1 episode
1995 Bliss Dr. Oliver Pleasance Television film
1996 A Touch of Frost Dr. Keith Michaelson 1 episode
2000 The Prince and the Pauper Lord Hertford Television film
2001 Attila Flavius Felix Miniseries, 2 episodes
2001 Princess of Thieves Prince John Television film
2002 Midsomer Murders Frank Smythe-Webster 1 episode
2002 Dinotopia Mayor Waldo Main role, 8 episodes
2004 Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Silk Stocking George Pentney Television film
2006 The Curse of King Tut's Tomb Morgan Sinclair Television film
2008 King Lear Kent Television film
2011 Spooks Ilya Gavrik Recurring role, 6 episodes
2013 Foyle's War Colonel Galt 1 episode
2013 Endeavour Sir Edmund Sloan 1 episode
2014–2017 The Strain Eldritch Palmer / The Master Main role, 46 episodes
2016 Tokyo Trial William Webb Miniseries, 4 episodes
2016–2018 Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia Walt Strickler (voice) Main role, 42 episodes
2018 3Below: Tales of Arcadia Walt Strickler (voice) 1 episode
2023 The Crown Duke of Norfolk 1 episode

Theatre Work

Jonathan Hyde has performed in many plays with different theatre companies.

With the Glasgow Citizens' Theatre

He performed in plays like Camino Real, Hamlet, and Romeo and Juliet. He took on various roles from 1974 to 1979.

With the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC)

Jonathan Hyde has been a key member of the RSC.

Other Theatre Performances

Jonathan Hyde has also performed in many other famous plays.

  • He was Ferdinand in The Duchess of Malfi in 1985.
  • He played Valmont in Les liaisons dangereuses in 1987.
  • In 1999, he was Creon in Antigone.
  • He also played Captain Hook in a special production of Peter Pan (Three Sixty Entertainment) in 2009.
  • More recently, he played Richard Nixon in Frost/Nixon in 2018 and Claudius in Hamlet in 2021.
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