Jason Isaacs | |
|---|---|
 Isaacs in 2024 | |
| Born | (1963-06-06)6 June 1963 (age 61) Liverpool, England |
| Education | University of Bristol (BA) Central School of Speech and Drama (GrDip) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1988–present |
| Works | Full list |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
Jason Isaacs (born 6 June 1963) is an English actor.[1] He is best known for his work in film, including roles such asLucius Malfoy in theHarry Potter series (2002–2011) andGeorgy Zhukov inThe Death of Stalin (2017). He has also worked in television, including leading roles inBrotherhood (2006–2008),Awake (2012),The OA (2016–2019),Star Trek: Discovery (2017–2018), andThe White Lotus (2025).
His voice acting roles includeAdmiral Zhao inAvatar: The Last Airbender (2005),the Grand Inquisitor / Sentinel inStar Wars Rebels (2014–2016), Lord Enver Gortash in the video gameBaldur's Gate 3 (2023), and Eminence in theMarvel Cinematic Universe television seriesWhat If...? (2024).
Isaacs has appeared on stage as Louis Ironson inDeclan Donnellan's 1992 and 1993Royal National Theatre premiere ofTony Kushner'sPulitzer Prize-winning playAngels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes,[2] and as hitman Ben in a 2007 revival ofHarold Pinter's 1957 playThe Dumb Waiter atTrafalgar Studios in theWest End.[3][4][5]
He was nominated for theGolden Globe Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film forThe State Within (2006) and for theBritish Academy Television Award for Best Actor for his portrayal ofHarry H. Corbett inThe Curse of Steptoe (2008). He also was nominated for theInternational Emmy Award for Best Actor forCase Histories (2011–2013).
Isaacs was born toJewish parents inLiverpool on 6 June 1963.[6] His father was a jeweller.[7] He has two older brothers and one younger brother.[6] He spent his earliest childhood years in the Liverpool suburb ofChildwall, in a "closely knit & integrated" Jewish community co-founded by hisEastern European Jewish great-grandparents.[8] He has said that being Jewish played a big role in his childhood, as he attended youth club in the localsynagogue ofKing David High School in Liverpool'sChildwall district, as well as acheder twice a week as a young adult.[9][10][11] When he was 11, he moved with his family toLondon and attended theHaberdashers' Aske's Boys' School in nearbyElstree at the same time asDavid Baddiel,Sacha Baron Cohen,Mark Kermode, andMatt Lucas.[9] He describes the bullying and intolerance he observed and experienced during his childhood as "preparation" for portraying the "unattractive" villains he has most often played.[3][9]
As a Jewish teen in London, Isaacs enduredantisemitism by theNational Front, afar-right extremist organisation. His parents eventuallyemigrated to Israel.[9] He later told an interviewer, "There were constantly people beating us up or smashing windows. If you were ever, say, on a Jewish holiday, identifiably Jewish, there was lots of violence around. But particularly when I was 16, in 1979, the National Front were really taking hold, there were leaflets at school, andSieg Heiling and peoplegoose-stepping down the road and coming after us."[7] Following in the footsteps of his three brothers (one who became a doctor, one a lawyer, and one an accountant),[6] he studied law atBristol University from 1982 to 1985, becoming involved in the university's theatre club there; he eventually acted in over 30 plays and performed each summer at theEdinburgh Festival Fringe, first with Bristol University and then twice with the National Student Theatre Company. After graduating, he went immediately to train at London'sCentral School of Speech and Drama from 1985 to 1988.[3][6][12]
After training as an actor, Isaacs immediately began appearing on the stage and on television; his film debut was in a minor role as a doctor inMel Smith'sThe Tall Guy (1989).[12] He was initially known as a television actor, with starring roles in the ITV dramaCapital City (1989) and the BBC dramaCivvies (1992) and guest roles in series such asTaggart,Inspector Morse andHighlander: The Series (1993).[12] He also played Michael Ryan in ITV's adaptation ofMartina Cole's novelDangerous Lady, directed by Jack Woods and produced byLavinia Warner in 1995.[13]
On stage, he portrayed the "emotionally waffling"[12] gay Jewish office temp Louis Ironson in Tony Kushner's Pulitzer-Prize-winningAngels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes, at theRoyal National Theatre, in its London première, performing the role in both parts,Part One: Millennium Approaches, in 1992, andPart Two: Perestroika, in 1993.[2] When auditioning for that role, he told the producers, "Look, I play all these tough guys and thugs and strong, complex characters. In real life, I am a cringing, neurotic Jewish mess. Can't I for once play that on stage?"[10]
After appearing inDragonheart (1996), Isaacs landed his first major Hollywood feature-film role alongsideLaurence Fishburne in the horror filmEvent Horizon (1997) where he played the role of D.J., the doctor of Lewis and Clark. Subsequently, he appeared in theBruce Willis blockbusterArmageddon (1998).[12] Initially called upon to take a fairly substantial role, Isaacs was eventually cast in a much smaller capacity as a planet-saving scientist so that he could accommodate his commitment toDivorcing Jack (1998), a comedy-thriller he was making withDavid Thewlis.[6] Isaacs played a charismatic honourable priest oppositeKirstie Alley in the miniseriesThe Last Don II (1998).[14] Following that he portrayed a priest oppositeJulianne Moore andRalph Fiennes inNeil Jordan's acclaimed adaptation ofGraham Greene'sThe End of the Affair (1999).
In 2000, Isaacs appeared in thehistoricalepic filmThe Patriot, oppositeMel Gibson andHeath Ledger, playing sadistic cavalry officerColonel William Tavington. Critics deemed the performance "memorable";[12] aMoviefone article called it "his biggest international break to date".[12][15] It led to rumours that Isaacs would be nominated for theAcademy Award for Best Supporting Actor at the73rd Academy Awards. Nonetheless, demonstrating his range beyond historic films, Isaacs next chose to play adrag queen in the romantic comedy-dramaSweet November (2001).[6]
Isaacs has appeared in many other films, most notably asLucius Malfoy in theHarry Potter series of films (2002–2011). Regarding the Harry Potter books byJ. K. Rowling, he has said: "I went off and read the books after the audition and I read the first four books in one sitting—you know—didn't wash, didn't eat, drove around with them on the steering wheel like a lunatic. I suddenly understood why my friends, who I'd thought were slightly backward, had been so addicted to these children's books. They're likecrack." (From an interview in 2009 on ITV'sThe Justin Lee Collins Show)[16]
In "The Naked and the Dead", an article published in theSan Francisco Chronicle, on 26 November 2006, Neva Chonin named the character Lucius Malfoy one of the 12 "Sexiest Men Who Were Never Alive" and Isaacs one of the 13 "Sexiest Men Who Are Real and Alive".[17]
Prior to the making of the film, when asked whether or not he would be inHarry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007), Isaacs replied, "I hope so – you'll have to ask David (producerDavid Heyman). I can't bear the idea that somebody else would get to wear myParis Hilton wig, but you never know."[18] Isaacs also talked to Rowling on the inclusion of Lucius Malfoy in the then unpublishedHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, so that he would have a part in the seventh and final film: "The character does not appear in the sixth book,Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince; but ... [Isaacs joked], 'I fell to my knees and begged ... It didn't do any good. I'm sure she doesn't need plot ideas from me. But I made my point. We'll see. Like everybody else, I'm holding my breath to July to see what's in there. I just want to bust out of prison, that's all. I don't want to stay inAzkaban most of my life.' "[19] Ultimately Isaacs did reprise the role of Malfoy as acameo appearance inHarry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009), where he is seen in a movingportrait. Afterwards, Isaacs reprised the role again inHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (2010) andPart 2 (2011).[20]
Isaacs appeared inBlack Hawk Down (2001),Jackie Chan'sThe Tuxedo (2002), asGeorge Darling andCaptain Hook inP. J. Hogan's adaptation ofPeter Pan (2003), and as the voice of Admiral Zhao inthe first season of the animatedNickelodeon seriesAvatar: The Last Airbender (2005). He played the leading role of Sir Mark Brydon, the British Ambassador to the United States, in the BBC Four miniseriesThe State Within (2006), for which he was nominated for theBest Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television for the65th Golden Globe Awards.[21][22]
On television, he also portrayed actorHarry H. Corbett inThe Curse of Steptoe, part of "a season of newone-off dramas forBBC Four revealing the stories behind some of Britain's best loved television entertainers, and their achievements", first broadcast in March 2008.[23][24] On American television, Isaacs appeared in three episodes ofThe West Wing in 2004, prior to developing his most notable TV serial role, as Michael Caffee inBrotherhood (2006–08).
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Between 2 February and 24 March 2007, Isaacs played Ben, oppositeLee Evans (Gus), in the 50th-anniversary production of Harold Pinter'sThe Dumb Waiter, atTrafalgar Studios, in London, his first theatre performance since appearing inThe Force of Change (2000).[3][4][5][25][26]
Isaacs played Major Briggs, an American military officer, oppositeMatt Damon andGreg Kinnear, in Paul Greengrass's thrillerGreen Zone (2010), a fictionalised drama set in Iraq after the defeat ofSaddam Hussein based on the bookImperial Life in the Emerald City: Inside Baghdad's Green Zone (2006), byRajiv Chandrasekaran, for which production began in Morocco, in January 2008.[27][28]
In 2007, he was originally cast inJan de Bont's then upcoming filmStopping Power, to play its starJohn Cusack's "nemesis",[29][30] but, on 31 August 2007,Variety reported that the film, which was also planned for release in 2009, had been cancelled after a financial backer pulled out.[31] Isaacs appeared in one episode of the TV showEntourage in the autumn of 2008 as Fredrick Line. In 2009, he was nominated at theBritish Academy Television Awards for Best Actor for his role asHarry H. Corbett inThe Curse of Steptoe.[32]
On the evening of 2 May 2009, Isaacs performed the role of Ben again, opposite hisBrotherhood co-star (andTony Award winner)Brían F. O'Byrne (as Gus), in a "rehearsed reading" ofThe Dumb Waiter.[citation needed] Their reading capped off theHarold Pinter Memorial Celebration being curated by Harry Burton (who had directed him and Evans at Trafalgar Studios). This tribute to Harold Pinter co-sponsored by the Martin E. Segal Theatre Center (MESTC), ofThe Graduate Center of TheCity University of New York (CUNY), was part of the Fifth AnnualPEN World Voices Festival of International Literature, held in New York City, from 27 April to 3 May 2009.[33][34]
He provided the voice ofRa's al Ghul in the DC animated film,Batman: Under the Red Hood (2010), and also the voice ofSinestro in the DC animated filmGreen Lantern: Emerald Knights (2011). In 2011, he starred asJackson Brodie in a BBC adaptation ofKate Atkinson'sCase Histories.
Isaacs starred as Detective Michael Britten in the NBC police procedural fantasy drama seriesAwake, which premiered on 1 March 2012, and ended in May 2012. After Britten gets into a terrible car wreck with his family, his dreams begin to take on two alternate realities, one in which his wife died in the crash and one in which his son died. Says Isaacs about the ambitious premise: "There's no question it's challenging. We've got a bunch of very experienced writers who have written things from HBO shows toThe X-Files, to24 and everything in between. And they are challenged. All of them have said that it's the hardest job that they've ever had. But sometimes that's a good thing. If it comes easily, that they could write in their sleep, I personally wouldn't want to act – and I think the audience wouldn't want to watch."[35]
In 2015, Isaacs took the lead role in theUSA Network action adventure drama seriesDig. Isaacs plays an FBI agent (which was named Peter Connelly) stationed in Jerusalem who uncovers a 2,000-year-old conspiracy while investigating an archaeologist's murder. The ten-episode series premiered 5 March 2015. In February 2016, he starred inMedusa's Ankles, a film directed by Harry Potter co-starBonnie Wright. In December 2016, he appeared in theNetflix seriesThe OA as Dr. Hunter Aloysius "Hap" Percy.[36]
It was announced in March 2017 that Isaacs would play the role of CaptainGabriel Lorca in the new CBS All Access (or Paramount+) seriesStar Trek: Discovery.[37][38] The series premiered on 24 September 2017. Isaacs made his first appearance as Lorca on 1 October 2017 in the third episode, "Context Is for Kings".[citation needed] Lorca was exposed as his 'mirror universe' self in episode 13, "What's Past Is Prologue", in which the character was killed.[39] In January 2019, showrunner Alex Kurtzman teased the possible return of Isaacs as 'Prime universe' Lorca at some point beyond season two.[40] Isaacs also voices the character for the 2019 role-playing gameStar Trek Online: Rise of Discovery.[41]
In September 2017, Isaacs played Field MarshalGeorgy Zhukov inThe Death of Stalin, apolitical satire anddark comedy film directed byArmando Iannucci. The film depicts the internal social and political power struggle among theCouncil of Ministers following thedeath of Soviet leaderJoseph Stalin in 1953. Isaacs starred alongsideSteve Buscemi,Simon Russell Beale,Jeffrey Tambor,Andrea Riseborough andMichael Palin. The film was a controversial yet critical success and Isaacs's performance earned him critical praise.[42] For his performance he earned anEvening Standard British Film Awards nomination for Best Supporting Actor losing to his co-starSimon Russell Beale.[43]
Isaacs also played the role of Dan in the 2018 psychological thriller,Look Away, starringMira Sorvino andIndia Eisley.[44] He also played the roles of Vasili in the action thrillerHotel Mumbai and Mark Asprey in the mystery thrillerLondon Fields respectively. Throughout 2018 and 2019, Isaacs also voiced various characters such as theSlenderman,Alliser Thorne,Slinky and Jack the Donkey in the stop motion sketch comedy TV seriesRobot Chicken. In 2019, Isaacs provided the voice of Skekso, the Emperor inThe Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance and in 2020, voicedDick Dastardly in theScooby-Doo filmScoob!.
In November 2019, it was announced that Isaacs will appear besideJim Broadbent in the filmThe Dead Spit of Kelly.[45]
In March 2020, Isaacs played in the lead role of Dr. Rob "Griff" Griffith in theCBS drama pilotGood Sam, which was later picked up to series in 2021 for a mid-season premiere on 5 January 2022.[46][47]
In 2021, Isaacs played Carl inDr. Bird's Advice for Sad Poets, AdmiralJohn Henry Godfrey inOperation Mincemeat,[48] Jay Perry in the drama filmMass, Ralph in the biographical filmCreation Stories and John in the short filmCera. He also voiced King Arthur Pendragon, Winston Pilkingstonshire andThundarr the Barbarian in theDirect-to-DVD animated comedy filmScooby-Doo! The Sword and the Scoob. He also had a minor role in Series 3 of the British comedy-dramaSex Education and appeared in an episode of anthology seriesInside No. 9.
In 2023, Isaacs voiced one of three principal villains in the video gameBaldur's Gate 3. Later that year, he starred asCary Grant inArchie.[49] In 2025, he starred as Timothy Ratliff in the third season ofThe White Lotus. Filming took place inThailand, beginning in February 2024.[50]
Isaacs moved in with his girlfriend,BBC documentary filmmaker Emma Hewitt, in 1987.[51] They began dating while studying at theCentral School of Speech and Drama and were married in 2001.[52] They have two daughters.[9]
Isaacs has described himself as "profoundlyJewish but not in a religious way".[9] He does not keepkosher[53] and is anatheist.[1] He has spoken of travelling unrecognised to film premieres on theLondon Underground, but said that "as soon as [he] get[s] on the red carpet they start screaming and screaming".[3] He is involved with a number of charities and is a patron of the Scottish veterans charityBravehound.[54][55]
In British politics, Isaacs has long supported theLabour Party and has said that he will never support theConservative Party.[56] In 2011, he said that he endorsed Labour on its educational policies but opposed its involvement in the2003 invasion of Iraq.[57] In 2019, he referred to U.S. PresidentDonald Trump as a "vainglorious man" and described the British political scene as an "EtonianLord of the Flies situation".[53] He also called Labour leaderJeremy Corbyn's handling ofantisemitic allegations about the Labour Party "appalling".[56][58] Ahead of the2019 UK general election, he campaigned for former Labour memberLuciana Berger in her unsuccessful bid to become theLiberal Democrats' MP for theFinchley and Golders Green constituency.[59]
In August 2020, Isaacs revealed that he had achieved sobriety after struggling with a drug and alcohol addiction for over two decades.[60] He traced his experience back to being 12 years old, when a bartender gave him and his friends a bottle ofSouthern Comfort, after which he "woke up with a splitting headache, stinking of puke with a huge scab and the memory of having utterly shamed [himself]".[60] He subsequently "chased the sheer ecstatic joy [he] felt that night for another 20 years with increasingly dire consequences".[60] He eventually realised he needed help, but asked fans onTwitter not to congratulate him on his sobriety as "pride is the worst part".[61]
I'm an English atheist
Strictly limited run:Lee Evans and Jason Isaacs to star in major revival of Harold Pinter'sThe Dumb Waiter directed by Harry Burton ... To coincide with the play's 50th anniversary....
Although he first became interested in acting in part because 'it was a great way to meet girls,' Isaacs soon found deeper meaning in the theatre (in one interview he was quoted as saying 'I could release myself into acting in a way that I was not released socially') and duly dropped out of Bristol to hone his skills at London'sCentral School of Speech and Drama.
Order of the Phoenix open[ed] July 13, [2007].
We got married in the end, my wife and I, for insurance purposes.
| Preceded by | Voice of Dick Dastardly 2020 filmScoob! | Succeeded by None |
