James Murray (English actor)

James Murray (born 22 January 1975) is an English actor, artist, and river conservationist. He is well known for his work campaigning for British rivers and is a wild salmon advocate. He currently holds the position of Deputy Chair for River Action, and founded Activist Anglers in 2023. Jim and his wife Sarah Parish set up The Murray Parish Trust in 2014 in memory of their late daughter Ella-Jayne and have raised over £5 million for paediatric facilities. They were both awarded MBEs in the 2025 New Year Honours. His television roles include Stephen Hart in Primeval (2007–2008), Niles Pottinger in Defiance (2014), Daniel Coltrane in Cucumber (2015), Chief Superintendent John Houseman in McDonald & Dodds (2020–2021), Prince Andrew in The Crown (2022–2023), and Colonel Neil 'Chick' Harding in Masters of the Air (2024).

Infobox

Born

(1975-01-22) 22 January 1975 (age 50)Manchester, England

Other names

Jim Murray

Occupation

Actor

Years active

1998–present

Spouse

mw- Sarah Parish (m. 2007)

Children

Website

https://jimmurray.art/

Tables

· Filmography › Film

2000

Kevin & Perry Go Large

Role(s)

Candice's Adonis

2001

Phoenix Blue

Role(s)

Rick

2002

Nailing Vienna

Role(s)

Peter

2009

It's Alive

Role(s)

Frank Davis

2019

6 Underground

Role(s)

Caleb

2024

Lee

Role(s)

Colonel Spencer

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2000	Kevin & Perry Go Large	Candice's Adonis
2001	Phoenix Blue	Rick
2002	Nailing Vienna	Peter
2009	It's Alive	Frank Davis
2019	6 Underground	Caleb
2024	Lee	Colonel Spencer

· Filmography › Television

1998

Coronation Street

Role(s)

Sandy Hunter

Notes

5 episodes

1999

Roger Roger

Role(s)

Jason the Gardener

Notes

Episode: "Two Much Wine, Too Many Stars"

All the King's Men

Role(s)

Pte. Will Needham

Notes

TV film

2000

Peak Practice

Role(s)

Marcus Johnson

Notes

Episode: "Turning Tides"

Other People's Children

Role(s)

Lucas

Notes

Episode #1.3

North Square

Role(s)

Johnny Boy

Notes

10 episodes

2002

Clocking Off

Role(s)

Mark Talbot

Notes

2 episodes

Always and Everyone

Role(s)

Dr. Danny Barton

Notes

8 episodes

2003

Sons and Lovers

Role(s)

William Morel

Notes

TV film

20 Thing's to Do Before You're 30

Role(s)

Glen

Notes

7 episodes

Keen Eddie

Role(s)

Colin Kinney

Notes

Episode: "Eddie Loves Baseball"

2004–2005

Role(s)

Cutting It

Notes

Liam Carney

2005

Under the Greenwood Tree

Role(s)

Dick Dewy

Notes

TV film

2006

Agatha Christie's Marple: The Sittaford Mystery

Role(s)

Charles Burnaby

Notes

TV film

2007–2008

Role(s)

Primeval

Notes

Stephen Hart

2009

Kröd Mändoon and the Flaming Sword of Fire

Role(s)

Ralph Longshaft

Notes

4 episodes

2011

CHAOS

Role(s)

Billy Collins

Notes

Pilot and 12 episodes

2012

New Tricks

Role(s)

Luke Oswald

Notes

Episode: "Dead Poets"

2013

Death in Paradise

Role(s)

Ronnie Stuart

Notes

Episode: "A Dash of Sunshine"

Midsomer Murders

Role(s)

Ollie Tabori

Notes

Episode: "A Christmas Haunting"

2014

Defiance

Role(s)

Niles Pottinger

Notes

Series 2; series 3, episode 3

2015

Cucumber

Role(s)

Daniel Coltrane

Notes

Series 1, 6 episodes

2016

Suspects

Role(s)

D.C.I. Daniel Drummond

Notes

Series 5, 6 episodes

HIM

Role(s)

Edward

Notes

3 episodes

Medici: Masters of Florence

Role(s)

Doge Foscari

Notes

Series 1, episode 5

2018

Age Before Beauty

Role(s)

Wesley

Notes

6 episodes)

2020–2021

Role(s)

McDonald & Dodds

Notes

Chief Superintendent John Houseman

2022–2023

Role(s)

The Crown

Notes

Prince Andrew, Duke of York

2024

Masters of the Air

Role(s)

Colonel Neil 'Chick' Harding

Notes

Miniseries

Geek Girl

Role(s)

Mr. Fiennes

Notes

2 episodes

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1998	Coronation Street	Sandy Hunter	5 episodes
1999	Roger Roger	Jason the Gardener	Episode: "Two Much Wine, Too Many Stars"
1999	All the King's Men	Pte. Will Needham	TV film
2000	Peak Practice	Marcus Johnson	Episode: "Turning Tides"
	Other People's Children	Lucas	Episode
	North Square	Johnny Boy	10 episodes
2002	Clocking Off	Mark Talbot	2 episodes
2002	Always and Everyone	Dr. Danny Barton	8 episodes
2003	Sons and Lovers	William Morel	TV film
	20 Thing's to Do Before You're 30	Glen	7 episodes
	Keen Eddie	Colin Kinney	Episode: "Eddie Loves Baseball"
2004–2005	Cutting It	Liam Carney	12 episodes
2005	Under the Greenwood Tree	Dick Dewy	TV film
2006	Agatha Christie's Marple: The Sittaford Mystery	Charles Burnaby	TV film
2007–2008	Primeval	Stephen Hart	13 episodes
2009	Kröd Mändoon and the Flaming Sword of Fire	Ralph Longshaft	4 episodes
2011	CHAOS	Billy Collins	Pilot and 12 episodes
2012	New Tricks	Luke Oswald	Episode: "Dead Poets"
2013	Death in Paradise	Ronnie Stuart	Episode: "A Dash of Sunshine"
2013	Midsomer Murders	Ollie Tabori	Episode: "A Christmas Haunting"
2014	Defiance	Niles Pottinger	Series 2; series 3, episode 3
2015	Cucumber	Daniel Coltrane	Series 1, 6 episodes
2016	Suspects	Daniel Drummond	Series 5, 6 episodes
	HIM	Edward	3 episodes
	Medici: Masters of Florence	Doge Foscari	Series 1, episode 5
2018	Age Before Beauty	Wesley	6 episodes)
2020–2021	McDonald & Dodds	Chief Superintendent John Houseman	3 episodes
2022–2023	The Crown	Prince Andrew, Duke of York	Supporting role (seasons 5–6)
2024	Masters of the Air	Colonel Neil 'Chick' Harding	Miniseries
2024	Geek Girl	Mr. Fiennes	2 episodes

· Awards and nominations

2024

Year

2024

Association

Screen Actors Guild Awards

References

BBC News
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwy32y7l6g6o
"Patent US1625905 – Light-reflecting device or unit"
https://patents.google.com/patent/US1625905
TV Fanatic
http://www.tvfanatic.com/2013/07/james-murray-cast-as-series-regular-on-defiance-season-2/
"James Murray joins the cast of Suspects"
http://www.channel5.com/james-murray-lenora-crichlow-and-perry-fitzpatrick-join-the-cast/
"HIM tv series at ITV.com"
http://www.itv.com/presscentre/ep1week42/him
"James Murray cast in ITV's Invisible"
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/lifestyle/a28503604/invisible-itv-cast-plot-air-date-spoilers/
Variety
https://variety.com/2022/tv/global/the-crown-james-murray-prince-andrew-1235430520/
"'Cutting It' star Sarah expecting first child with husband James"
http://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/2008/01/18/saraj-parish-baby/
Sarah Parish Mourning Death of Daughter Ella-Jayne Archived 6 September 2009 at the Wayback Machine Celebrity Baby Blog,
http://celebrity-babies.com/2009/01/20/sarah-parish-mourning-death-of-daughter-ella-jayne/
"rosie mitchell is fundraising for Friends of PICU"
https://www.justgiving.com/ella-jaynemurray
Friends of PICU
http://www.friendsofpicu.org.uk
"About The Murray Parish Trust"
https://themurrayparishtrust.com/our-story/
www.thegazette.co.uk
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/64607/supplement/N23
"Nominations Announced for the 30th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards®"
https://www.sagawards.org/media/news/releases/nominations-announced-30th-annual-screen-actors-guild-awardsr

Year	Association	Category	Project	Result	Ref.
2024	Screen Actors Guild Awards	Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series	The Crown	Nominated