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Nigel Hawthorne
ACTOR

Nigel Hawthorne

Known for Tarzan · Demolition Man · Gandhi

Sir Nigel Barnard Hawthorne (April 5, 1929 – December 26, 2001) was an English actor, perhaps best remembered for his role as Sir Humphrey Appleby, the Permanent Secretary in the 1980s sitcom Yes Minister and the Cabinet Secretary in its sequel, Yes, Prime Minister. For this role he would win four Bafta Awards during the 1980s in the 'Best Light Entertainment Performance' Category. In the 1990s He would win two more Bafta Awards, one…

Snapshot 2026-10-16

Born
Apr 5, 1929
Died
Dec 26, 2001
Birthplace
Hertfordshire, England, UK
Known For
Acting

Biography

Sir Nigel Barnard Hawthorne (April 5, 1929 – December 26, 2001) was an English actor, perhaps best remembered for his role as Sir Humphrey Appleby, the Permanent Secretary in the 1980s sitcom Yes Minister and the Cabinet Secretary in its sequel, Yes, Prime Minister. For this role he would win four Bafta Awards during the 1980s in the 'Best Light Entertainment Performance' Category. In the 1990s He would win two more Bafta Awards, one as Best TV Actor for 'The Fragile Heart' and one as Best Film Actor for 'The Madness of King George'. His role in the latter also garnered him his sole Oscar Nomination.

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Known For

MOVIETarzan
TarzanProfessor Archimedes Q. Porter (voice) · 1999
★ 7.4
MOVIEDemolition Man
Demolition ManDr. Raymond Cocteau · 1993
★ 6.8
MOVIEGandhi
GandhiKinnoch · 1982
★ 7.6
MOVIEAmistad
AmistadMartin Van Buren · 1997
★ 7.0
MOVIEHistory of the World: Part I
History of the World: Part ICitizen Official - The French Revolution · 1981
★ 6.7
MOVIEThe Object of My Affection
The Object of My AffectionRodney Fraser · 1998
★ 5.8
MOVIEThe Madness of King George
The Madness of King GeorgeGeorge III · 1994
★ 6.8
MOVIERichard III
Richard IIIThe Duke of Clarence · 1995
★ 6.8

Filmography

Movies

Carve Her Name with PridePark Soldier (uncredited)
1958
Alma MaterMajor
1971
Young WinstonBoer Sentry (uncredited)
1972
The Emergency ChannelGraham
1973
OccupationsLibertini
1974
S*P*Y*SCroft
1974
Child of HopePolice Captain
1975
The FloaterMorris Shelman
1975
The Hiding PlacePastor De Ruiter
1975
BuffetJack
1976
Play ThingsTenby
1976
SpiderwebErik Lönnrot
1976
DestinyMajor Lewis Rolfe
1978
Edward & Mrs. SimpsonWalter Monkton
1978
Sweeney 2Det. Chief Insp. Dilke
1978
The Sailor's ReturnMr Fosse
1978
Watership DownCaptain Campion (voice)
1978
The KnowledgeMr Burgess
1979
AR
A Rod of IronTrevor
1980
A Tale of Two CitiesMr. CJ Stryver
1980
JessieMr Edmonds
1980
The EnigmaFenton
1980
The MisanthropePhilinte
1980
The TempestStephano
1980
A Brush with Mr. Porter on the Road to El DoradoFulton
1981
History of the World: Part ICitizen Official - The French Revolution
1981
Memoirs of a SurvivorVictorian Father
1981
ProtestStanek / Vanek
1981
A Woman Called GoldaKing Abdullah
1982
FirefoxPyotr Baranovich
1982
GandhiKinnoch
1982
TC
The CriticMr. Sneer
1982
The Funny Side of ChristmasSir Humphrey Appleby
1982
The Hunchback of Notre DameMagistrate at Esmeralda's trial
1982
The Plague DogsDr. Boycott (voice)
1982
The World Cup: A Captain's TaleJohn Westwood
1982
Dead on TimeDoctor
1983
Tartuffe, or The ImposterOrgon
1983
The Crimson Permanent AssurancePasserby (uncredited)
1983
Pope John Paul IICardinal Stefan Wyszynski
1984
The ChainMr Thorn
1984
The HouseGeneral Fagg
1984
Jenny's WarColonel
1985
The Black CauldronFflewddur Fflam (voice)
1985
Turtle DiaryPublisher
1985
RARGStoryteller
1988
A Handful of TimeTed Walker
1989
Relatively SpeakingPhilip Carter
1989
The ShawlJohn
1989
The Spirit of ManRev. Jonathan Guerdon
1989
King of the WindAchmet
1990
The Trials of OzBrian Leary
1991
FB
Flea BitesKryst
1992
Freddie As F.R.O.7.Brigadier G (voice)
1992
Demolition ManDr. Raymond Cocteau
1993
Late-Flowering LustCousin John
1994
PO
Portrait or BustHimself (uncredited)
1994
The Madness of King GeorgeGeorge III
1994
Richard IIIThe Duke of Clarence
1995
InsideColonel
1996
The Happy PrinceNarrator (voice)
1996
Twelfth NightMalvolio
1996
AmistadMartin Van Buren
1997
Forbidden Territory: Stanley's Search for LivingstoneDavid Livingstone
1997
Murder in MindDr. Ellis
1997
Murder in MindAssociate Producer
1997
MadelineLord Covington
1998
The Object of My AffectionRodney Fraser
1998
A Reasonable ManJudge Wendon
1999
Atatürk: Founder of Modern TurkeySir Percy Lorraine, British Ambassador
1999
TarzanProfessor Archimedes Q. Porter (voice)
1999
The Big Brass RingKim Mennaker
1999
The Clandestine MarriageLord Ogleby
1999
The Winslow BoyArthur Winslow
1999
Call Me ClausNick
2001
Higher LoveUncle Cullen
2001
Higher LoveExecutive Producer
2001
Victoria & AlbertLord William Lamb
2001
AS
Animal StoriesNarrator (Orig. U.K.)
2005
Once Upon a HalloweenFflewddur Fflam (voice) (archive sound)
2005
TF
The Funny Blokes of British ComedySir Humphrey Appleby (archive footage) (uncredited)
2005
Yes, Prime Minister: Re-electedSelf (Archive Material)
2013

Television

Hallmark Hall of FameMagistrate · 1 eps
1951
Tony AwardsSelf - Winner · 1 eps
1956
Man of the WorldAssistant Director · 1 eps
1962
The Desperate PeopleCliff Fletcher · 4 eps
1963
BBC Play of the MonthMr Sneer · 1 eps
1965
BBC Play of the MonthPhilinte · 1 eps
1965
ITV PlayhouseTrevor · 1 eps
1967
Omnibus1 eps
1967
Dad's ArmyAngry Man · 1 eps
1968
ITV Saturday Night TheatreHugh · 1 eps
1969
Play for TodayGraham · 2 eps
1970
Play for TodayMajor Lewis Rolfe · 1 eps
1970
Play for TodayJack · 1 eps
1970
Play for TodayMorris Shelman · 1 eps
1970
Play for TodayPolice Captain · 1 eps
1970
Play for TodayStanek / Vanek · 1 eps
1970
Play for TodayFulton · 1 eps
1970
F'
Film '72Self · 1 eps
1971
PlayhouseTenby · 1 eps
1974
PlayhouseFenton · 1 eps
1974
Bill BrandBrowning · 1 eps
1976
Marie CuriePierre Curie · 5 eps
1977
Edward and Mrs SimpsonWalter Monkton · 5 eps
1978
Going StraightWorm Wellings · 1 eps
1978
HolocaustOhldendorf · 1 eps
1978
The BBC Television ShakespeareStephano · 1 eps
1978
Warrior QueenCatus Decianus · 6 eps
1978
Tales of the UnexpectedCharles Drummond · 1 eps
1979
TO
The Other SideSkellow · 5 eps
1979
Thomas & SarahWilson · 1 eps
1979
RH
Russell Harty1 eps
1980
Yes MinisterSir Humphrey Appleby · 21 eps
1980
The Barchester ChroniclesDr Grantly · 7 eps
1982
Natural WorldNarrator · 1 eps
1983
Jenny's WarColonel · 4 eps
1985
Mapp & LuciaGeorgie Pillson · 10 eps
1985
Theatre NightHarpagon · 1 eps
1985
ScreenPlayRev. Jonathan Guerdon · 1 eps
1986
Yes, Prime MinisterSir Humphrey Appleby · 16 eps
1986
The Play on OneJohn · 1 eps
1988
PerformanceBrian Leary · 1 eps
1991
Russia's War: Blood Upon the SnowNarrator · 10 eps
1996
The Fragile HeartDr. Edgar Pascoe · 3 eps
1996
Animal StoriesNarrator (voice) · 52 eps
1998
ParkinsonSelf · 1 eps
1998
Victoria & AlbertViscount Melbourne · 2 eps
2001

Photos

Nigel Hawthorne photo
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