Joss Ackland
Updated: 12/20/2025, 12:33:19 PM Wikipedia source
Sidney Edmond Jocelyn Ackland (29 February 1928 – 19 November 2023) was an English actor who appeared in more than 130 film, radio and television roles. He was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for portraying Jock Delves Broughton in White Mischief (1987).
Infobox
Born
Sidney Edmond Jocelyn Ackland(1928-02-29)29 February 1928North Kensington, London, England
Died
19 November 2023(2023-11-19) (aged 95)Clovelly, Devon, England
Education
Central School of Speech and Drama
Occupation
Actor
Years active
1945–2014
Spouse
mw- Rosemary Kirkcaldy (m. 1951; died 2002)
Children
7
Tables
· Filmography › Film
1973
Role(s)
Gen. Burgdorf
Role(s)
Jones
Role(s)
Haller
Role(s)
D'Artagnan's Father
1974
Role(s)
Chief Supt. Wray
Role(s)
Martinson
Role(s)
The King
Role(s)
Joe Gargery
1975
Role(s)
B.J. Spence
Role(s)
Sapten
Role(s)
Janák
1978
Role(s)
Black Rabbit (voice)
Role(s)
Henry Foreman
Role(s)
Cantrell
1979
Role(s)
Yardley
1987
Role(s)
Sir Jock Delves Broughton
Role(s)
Don Masino Croce
Role(s)
Priest/Murderer
1990
Role(s)
Mafia boss
Role(s)
Ambassador Andrei Lysenko
Role(s)
Gaetano Leporino
1992
Role(s)
Col. Johnston
Role(s)
Hercules Popodopoulos
Role(s)
Kinderman
Role(s)
Smithson
Role(s)
Hans
1994
Role(s)
Brando
Role(s)
Father Glaise
1995
Role(s)
Insp. Sam Stringer
Role(s)
Brigand (voice)
Role(s)
King Arthur
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1949 | Landfall | O'Neill (uncredited) | |
| 1950 | Seven Days to Noon | ||
| 1952 | Ghost Ship | Ron, a seaman | |
| 1959 | A Midsummer Night's Dream | ||
| 1962 | In Search of the Castaways | Seaman on yacht | Uncredited |
| 1966 | Rasputin: the Mad Monk | The Bishop | |
| 1969 | Crescendo | Carter | |
| 1970 | The House That Dripped Blood | Neville Rogers | |
| 1971 | Villain | Edgar Lewis | |
| Mr. Forbush and the Penguins | The Leader | ||
| 1972 | The Happiness Cage | Dr Frederick | |
| 1973 | Hitler: The Last Ten Days | Gen. Burgdorf | |
| Penny Gold | Jones | ||
| England Made Me | Haller | ||
| The Three Musketeers | D'Artagnan's Father | ||
| 1974 | The Black Windmill | Chief Supt. Wray | |
| S*P*Y*S | Martinson | ||
| The Little Prince | The King | ||
| Great Expectations | Joe Gargery | ||
| 1975 | One of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing | Spence | |
| Royal Flash | Sapten | ||
| Operation Daybreak | Janák | ||
| 1977 | The Strange Case of the End of Civilisation as We Know It | President | |
| 1978 | Watership Down | Black Rabbit (voice) | |
| Silver Bears | Henry Foreman | ||
| The Greek Tycoon | |||
| Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe? | Cantrell | ||
| 1979 | A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square | Prison Warden | Uncredited |
| Saint Jack | Yardley | ||
| 1980 | Rough Cut | Insp. Vanderveld | |
| The Apple | Hippie Leader/Mr Topps | ||
| 1985 | A Zed & Two Noughts | Van Hoyten | |
| 1986 | Lady Jane | Sir John Bridges | |
| 1987 | White Mischief | Sir Jock Delves Broughton | |
| The Sicilian | Don Masino Croce | ||
| It Couldn't Happen Here | Priest/Murderer | ||
| 1988 | To Kill a Priest | Colonel | |
| 1989 | Lethal Weapon 2 | Arjen 'Aryan' Rudd | |
| 1990 | Dimenticare Palermo | Mafia boss | |
| The Hunt for Red October | Ambassador Andrei Lysenko | ||
| Tre colonne in cronaca | Gaetano Leporino | ||
| 1991 | The Object of Beauty | Mr Mercer | |
| Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey | Chuck De Nomolos | ||
| 1992 | The Sheltering Desert | Col. Johnston | |
| Once Upon a Crime | Hercules Popodopoulos | ||
| Shadowchaser | Kinderman | ||
| The Bridge | Smithson | ||
| The Mighty Ducks | Hans | ||
| 1993 | Nowhere to Run | Franklin Hale |
· Filmography › Television
1957
Destination Downing Street
Role(s)
Immelmann
Notes
TV series
1963
The Indian Tales of Rudyard Kipling
Role(s)
William Stevens
1964,
1967–1968
Role(s)
Z-Cars
Notes
Mr Shields/Det. Insp. Todd
1966
Lord Raingo
Role(s)
Tom Hogarth
Notes
3 episodes
1966–1968
Role(s)
The Troubleshooters
Notes
Mr Gibbon (1966), Sam Jardine (1966-1967), Considine (1968), Lewis (1968)
1967
The Further Adventures of the Three Musketeers
Role(s)
d'Artagnan
Notes
Miniseries
1969
W. Somerset Maugham
Role(s)
Harold Bannon
Notes
Episode: "Before the Party"
Canterbury Tales
Role(s)
The Host in the Wife of Bath's tale
Notes
Miniseries
1966, 1970
Role(s)
Play of the Month
Notes
Charley/Chebutykin
1971, 1972
Role(s)
Thirty-Minute Theatre
Notes
The Applicant/The Man
1972
Six Faces
Role(s)
Harry Mellor
Notes
2 episodes
1976
Centre Play
Role(s)
Doctor
Notes
Episode: "You Talk Too Much"
1978
1979
1980, 1988
Role(s)
Tales of the Unexpected
Notes
Jack Cutler, Colonel George Peregrine
1980
A Question of Guilt
Role(s)
Samuel Kent
The Love Tapes
Role(s)
Narrator (uncredited)
Notes
TV movie
1981
Thicker Than Water
Role(s)
Joseph Lockwood
Notes
TV series
1982
Role(s)
Mr. Twentyman
The Barretts of Wimpole Street
Role(s)
Edward Moulton-Barrett
Notes
TV movie
1984
1985
1987
1988
Role(s)
'C'
1989
A Quiet Conspiracy
Role(s)
Theo Carter
The Justice Game
Role(s)
Sir James Crichton
Notes
2 episodes
First and Last
Role(s)
Alan Holly
Notes
TV movie
1990
Role(s)
Charles Lanyon
Role(s)
Gen. Gerhard Hellstein
1991
Role(s)
Terence Fielding
Role(s)
Cumming
1992
Role(s)
King Edward
1993, 1996
Role(s)
Screen Two
Notes
Sir Charles (Archie) Peverall/Captain
1994
Citizen Locke
Role(s)
Lord Ashley
Notes
TV movie
1996
Hidden in Silence
Role(s)
German factory manager
2006
Role(s)
Winston Churchill
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1957 | Destination Downing Street | Immelmann | TV series |
| 1963 | The Indian Tales of Rudyard Kipling | William Stevens | |
| 1964, 1967–1968 | Z-Cars | Mr Shields/Det. Insp. Todd | 42 episodes |
| 1966 | David Copperfield | Mr. Peggotty | 6 episodes |
| Lord Raingo | Tom Hogarth | 3 episodes | |
| Theatre 625 | John Hinks | Episode: "On the March to the Sea" | |
| 1966–1968 | The Troubleshooters | Mr Gibbon (1966), Sam Jardine (1966-1967), Considine (1968), Lewis (1968) | 5 episodes |
| 1966 | Mystery and Imagination | Herr Scavenius, Mr. Smedhurst | 2 episodes |
| 1967 | The Further Adventures of the Three Musketeers | d'Artagnan | Miniseries |
| 1969 | The Avengers | Brig. Hansing | Episode: "The Morning After" |
| The Gold Robbers | Derek Hartford | Episode: "Grounded" | |
| W. Somerset Maugham | Harold Bannon | Episode: "Before the Party" | |
| Canterbury Tales | The Host in the Wife of Bath's tale | Miniseries | |
| 1966, 1970 | Play of the Month | Charley/Chebutykin | 2 episodes |
| 1971, 1972 | Thirty-Minute Theatre | The Applicant/The Man | |
| 1971 | Shirley's World | Inspector Vaughan | Episode: "The Reunion" |
| 1972 | The Persuaders! | Felix Meadowes | Episode: "Read and Destroy" |
| Six Faces | Harry Mellor | 2 episodes | |
| 1973 | The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes | Grubber | Episode: "The Mystery of the Amber Beads" |
| 1974 | The Protectors | Arthur Gordon | Episode: "Trial" |
| 1976 | Centre Play | Doctor | Episode: "You Talk Too Much" |
| The Crezz | Charles Bronte | 12 episodes | |
| 1978 | Enemy at the Door | Major General Laidlaw | Episode: "Treason" |
| Return of the Saint | Gunther | Episode: "The Nightmare Man" | |
| The Sweeney | Alan Ember | Episode: "Feet of Clay" | |
| 1979 | Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy | Jerry Westerby | Episode: "Smiley Sets a Trap" |
| 1980, 1988 | Tales of the Unexpected | Jack Cutler, Colonel George Peregrine | 2 episodes |
| 1980 | A Question of Guilt | Samuel Kent | |
| The Love Tapes | Narrator (uncredited) | TV movie | |
| The Gentle Touch | Ivor Stocker | Episode: "Menaces" | |
| 1981 | Dangerous Davies – The Last Detective | Chief Insp. Yardbird | TV movie |
| Thicker Than Water | Joseph Lockwood | TV series | |
| 1982 | The Confessions of Felix Krull | Mr. Twentyman | |
| The Barretts of Wimpole Street | Edward Moulton-Barrett | TV movie | |
| 1984 | Shroud for a Nightingale | Stephen Courtney-Briggs, surgeon | Mini-series |
| BBC Television Shakespeare | Menenius | Episode: The Tragedy of Coriolanus | |
| 1985 | Shadowlands | C. S. Lewis | TV movie |
| The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes | Jephro Rucastle | Episode: "The Copper Beeches" | |
| 1987 | A Killing on the Exchange | Sir Max Sillman | TV movie |
| Queenie | Sir Burton Rumsey | Mini-series | |
| When We Are Married | Henry Ormonroyd | TV movie | |
| 1988 | The Man Who Lived at the Ritz | Hermann Göring | Mini-series |
| Codename: Kyril | 'C' | ||
| 1989 | A Quiet Conspiracy | Theo Carter | |
| The Justice Game | Sir James Crichton | 2 episodes | |
| First and Last | Alan Holly | TV movie | |
| 1990 | Jekyll & Hyde | Charles Lanyon | |
| Spymaker: The Secret Life of Ian Fleming | Gen. Gerhard Hellstein | ||
| 1991 | A Murder of Quality | Terence Fielding |
· Awards and nominations
| Year | Awards | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
| 1982 | Laurence Olivier Awards | Actor of the Year in a Revival | Henry IV, Part 1 and 2 | Nominated | |
| 1989 | British Academy Film Awards | Best Actor in a Supporting Role | White Mischief | Nominated | |
| 1990 | British Academy Television Awards | Best Actor | First and Last | Nominated |
References
- The New York Timeshttps://web.archive.org/web/20090621063807/http://movies.nytimes.com/person/194/Joss-Ackland/biography
- "Film in 1989" - Winners & Nominees at awards.bafta.orghttp://awards.bafta.org/award/1989/film
- "Joss Ackland"https://web.archive.org/web/20160528035022/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b9f1caeb2
- My Better Half and Me, Joss Ackland and Rosemary Ackland, Random House, 2010, p. 1
- People of Today 2017, Debrett's Ltd, 2017, p. 2127
- Joss Ackland Biography (1928–). FilmReference.com.http://www.filmreference.com/film/82/Joss-Ackland.html
- The Independenthttps://www.independent.co.uk/property/house-and-home/i-remember-the-smell-of-black-dusty-sacks-of-coal-where-i-grew-up-1237882.html
- "Joss Ackland obituary"https://www.thetimes.com/article/joss-ackland-dies-actor-dq3dq3xgc
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/nov/20/joss-ackland-obituary
- V&A, Theatre and Performance Special Collections, Elsie Fogerty Archive, THM/324
- The Scotsmanhttps://www.scotsman.com/news/interview-joss-ackland-love-and-joss-2443493
- "Time and place: Joss Ackland"https://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/uk-travel/england/london-travel/time-and-place-joss-ackland-798qdj2bs08
- The Daily Telegraphhttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1404337/Rosemary-Ackland.html
- "Joss Ackland admits 'awful' films". BBC News. 6 August 2001http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1476550.stm
- Radio Timeshttps://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/dc5fc3215aed46e991b610095c41bd89
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/stage/2014/sep/22/evita-review-andrew-lloyd-webber-theatre
- "A Little Night Music - 1975 Original London Cast"https://castalbums.org/recordings/A-Little-Night-Music-1975-Original-London-Cast/3722
- BFI Playerhttps://player.bfi.org.uk/subscription/film/watch-it-couldnt-happen-here-1987-online
- "The Mighty Ducks (1992) - Stephen Herek | Cast and Crew"https://www.allmovie.com/movie/the-mighty-ducks-v32593/cast-crew
- "How about You (2007)"https://web.archive.org/web/20190516175314/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b8bf5354a
- Radio Timeshttps://web.archive.org/web/20210513134733/https://www.radiotimes.com/tv-programme/e/cpmt/midsomer-murders--series-9---3-vixen/
- "The Old Vic - King Lear"https://web.archive.org/web/20131029195502/http://bookings.oldvictheatre.com/single/PSDetail.aspx?psn=16151
- "Travelling with the archetypal Englishman Joss Ackland has spent fifty years in showbusiness" by Alison Jones, The Birmhttps://www.proquest.com/docview/326412989
- Daily Expresshttps://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/182273/Motor-neurone-disease-made-Joss-Ackland-and-his-wife-live-life-to-the-full
- The Timeshttps://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/uk-travel/england/london-travel/time-and-place-joss-ackland-798qdj2bs08
- Burke's Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage, 107th edition, vol. 2, pp. 1694-5, 2932
- Burke's Irish Family Records, ed. Hugh Montgomery-Massingberd, Burke's Peerage Ltd, 1976, p. 531
- Irish Examinerhttps://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/arid-30061326.html
- Daily Expresshttps://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/182273/Motor-neurone-disease-made-Joss-Ackland-and-his-wife-live-life-to-the-full
- The Timeshttps://www.thetimes.com/comment/register/article/joss-ackland-on-love-life-with-wife-rosemary-v36nd83fvcg
- DevonLivehttps://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/legendary-devon-actor-joss-ackland-4061973
- "92-year-old Joss Ackland reads a letter to the world - #ReadALetter"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03RvlxssMHo
- Daily Mirrorhttps://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/breaking-midsomer-murders-star-joss-31478801
- "Joss Ackland Dies: 'White Mischief' And 'Lethal Weapon 2' Star Was 95"https://deadline.com/2023/11/joss-ackland-dead-white-mischief-lethal-weapon-2-star-was-95-obituary-1235627487/
- behindthevoiceactors.comhttps://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Joss-Ackland/
- "Gorillaz ready for four 'special' releases" at www.nme.comhttps://www.nme.com/news/music/gorillaz-114-1340924
- The London Gazettehttps://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/56070/supplement/7
- Olivier Awardshttps://officiallondontheatre.com/olivier-awards/winners/olivier-winners-1982/
- Baftahttps://www.bafta.org/awards/film/supporting-actor
- Baftahttps://www.bafta.org/awards/television/actor-television