Theo James facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Theo James
James in 2024
Born	Theodore Peter James Kinnaird Taptiklis (1984-12-16) 16 December 1984 (age 40) High Wycombe, England
Alma mater	University of Nottingham (BA) Bristol Old Vic Theatre School
Occupation	Actor
Years active	2010–present
Spouse(s)	Ruth Kearney
Children	2

Theodore Peter James Kinnaird Taptiklis (born December 16, 1984), known professionally as Theo James, is an English actor. He is famous for playing Tobias "Four" Eaton in the popular movie series The Divergent Series (2014–2016).

James has also starred in horror movies like Underworld: Awakening (2012) and Underworld: Blood Wars (2016). He appeared in the science fiction film Archive (2020) and the dark comedy The Monkey (2025), where he played twin brothers.

On television, he was in the crime show Golden Boy (2013) and the romance series The Time Traveler's Wife (2022). His role in the comedy series The White Lotus (2022) earned him a nomination for a Primetime Emmy Award. In 2024, he played the main character in the action comedy series The Gentlemen.

Early Life and School

Theo James was born on December 16, 1984, in High Wycombe, England. His father, Philip Taptiklis, was a business consultant, and his mother, Jane Martin, worked for the National Health Service (the UK's public healthcare system).

His grandfather on his father's side was a Greek refugee who moved to Syria during World War II. James also has Scottish family roots. He is the youngest of five children, with two older brothers and two older sisters.

James grew up in Askett, a village in England. He went to Aylesbury Grammar School and later studied philosophy at the University of Nottingham. After university, he trained to be an actor at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.

Acting Career

Early Roles

James started his acting career in 2010. He appeared in the TV show A Passionate Woman and played a Turkish diplomat in an episode of Downton Abbey. That same year, he was in the movie You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger. He was named a "Star of Tomorrow" in 2009 by the magazine Screen International.

In 2011, he had the main role in the horror TV series Bedlam. He also appeared in the British comedy movie The Inbetweeners Movie. In 2012, he acted in the TV shows Room at the Top and Case Sensitive. He also played the character David in the movie Underworld: Awakening, a role he played again in the sequel, Underworld: Blood Wars.

Breakthrough with Divergent

Theo James at the premiere of Divergent in 2014.

James's big break came in 2014 when he played Tobias "Four" Eaton in the movie Divergent. The film was based on the popular young adult novel by Veronica Roth. He became very well-known for this role.

He played Four again in the sequels, The Divergent Series: Insurgent (2015) and The Divergent Series: Allegiant (2016). James did his own stunts for the action scenes in these movies.

Recent Work

After Divergent, James starred in many other movies and TV shows. He acted alongside stars like Richard Gere and Dakota Fanning in the drama The Benefactor (2015). He also starred in the Netflix movie How It Ends (2018).

In 2019, he was a main character in the historical drama Sanditon, which was based on a novel by Jane Austen. He also started his own movie and TV production company called Untapped.

In 2022, he starred in the TV series The Time Traveler's Wife and was a main character in the second season of The White Lotus. His performance in The White Lotus was highly praised. In 2024, he played the lead role of Eddie Horniman in the Netflix series The Gentlemen.

Other Activities

Besides acting, James has other interests. He was the singer and guitarist for a London-based band called Shere Khan before they broke up in 2012.

In 2015, he became the face of Hugo Boss fragrances for men. He has appeared in many ads and commercials for the brand.

Personal Life

James is married to Irish actress Ruth Kearney. They met while studying at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. They got married in 2018 and have two children, a daughter born in 2021 and another child born in 2023. The family lives in both Venice Beach, California, and London.

In 2016, James worked with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), a group that helps refugees. He traveled to Greece to meet with Syrian refugees and learn about their struggles. He supports refugees' rights and has called for more help for those affected by the Syrian Civil War.

Filmography

Film

Television

Theatre

Awards and nominations

See also

In Spanish: Theo James para niños