Jason Isaacs
About
Biography
Filmography
Family & Companions
Notes
"A few times I've played these unbelievably tough, scary, nasty men, probably because I'm such a wimp in my life. I don't confront people, ever, or stand up to them. I get to be the bully that I never was, I was always the bullied. It's pretty good therapy!" --Jason Issacs to Michelle Erica Green at AnotherUniverse.com, October 23, 1998
Since he has played several drug dealers, Isaacs was asked about his own use of illegal substances. He reportedly replied: "I'm paranoid enough as it is," he said. "I don't need any pharmaceutical assistance. Chinese food is my drug." --From Rush & Malloy's gossip column in Daily News, August 4, 2000.
Biography
Having emerged from his native Liverpool an established and respected performer, actor Jason Isaacs became casting directors' ideal choice for playing imperious screen villains in the early 2000s. Possessing a steely gaze and stentorian tones, he lent an elegant evil to such onscreen bad guys as Mel Gibson's British nemesis in "The Patriot" (2000), the theatrical Lucius Malfoy in the "Harry Potter" series, and Captain Hook in "Peter Pan" (2003). He showed more complex sides to his talent in films like "The End of the Affair" (1999) and "Black Hawk Down" (2001), though his finest showcases came on television series like "Brotherhood" (Showtime, 2006-08) and "The State Within" (BBC, 2006), which earned him widespread acclaim and propelled the actor to stardom in America. By the time he reprised Death Eater Lucius Malfoy for "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows" (2010), Isaacs had established himself as one of England's most versatile talents who managed to also become a star in America.
Filmography
Cast (Feature Film)
Misc. Crew (Feature Film)
Cast (Special)
Cinematography (Special)
Cast (TV Mini-Series)
Life Events
1988
Early TV credit, a guest appearance on the series "This Is David Lander"
1989
Had regular role of Chas Ewell on the British series "Capital City"
1989
Feature acting debut in small role of a doctor in "The Tall Guy"
1991
Acted in the British miniseries "Ashenden" (aired in the US on A&E in 1992)
1992
Delivered memorable role as a man who murders his twin in the three-part "Taggart: Double Exposure"
1992
Again played a nefarious character, a doctor who has developed an anti-aging drug in "Inspector Morse: Cherubim & Seraphim"
1993
Won acclaim for originating the role of Louis in Declan Donnellan's staging of Tony Kushner's "Angels in America" at the Royal National Theatre
1994
Co-starred with Jude Law and Sadie Frost in "Shopping"; first film with director Paul Anderson
1995
Played a drug dealer in "Loved Up"
1996
Starred as Vittorio Mussolini in Patrick Marber's play "1953" at the Almeida Theater
1997
Re-teamed with Anderson for "Event Horizon"
1998
Had featured role as an IRA terrorist in the comedy thriller "Divorcing Jack"
1998
Played a priest who has an affair with a gangster's daughter in the CBS miniseries "Mario Puzo's The Last Don II"
1998
Third collaboration with Anderson, playing the despotic Colonel Mekum in "Soldier"
1999
Portrayed Father Smythe, the confidante of Julianne Moore's Sarah in Neil Jordan's remake of "The End of the Affair"
2000
Returned to the London stage as a British detective interrogating a suspected terrorist in "The Force of Change" at the Royal Court Theatre
2000
Delivered villainous role as British Colonel Tavington in the Revolutionary War epic "The Patriot"
2001
Had featured role as American Ranger Captain Mike Steele in "Black Hawk Down"
2001
Co-starred with Charlize Theron and Keanu Reeves in the remake of "Sweet November"; played a drag queen
2002
Cast as Major Mellitz in John Woo's "Windtalkers"
2002
Played villainous Lucius Malfoy in "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"
2003
Cast as the villainous Captain Hook in "Peter Pan"
2005
Cast in the Rodrigo García ensemble "Nine Lives"
2005
Starred in Paul Haggis' directorial debut "Crash"
2005
Again played Lucius Malfoy in "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire"
2006
Played Michael Caffee on the Showtime series "Brotherhood"
2006
Cast in Nicole Holofcener's "Friends with Money"
2007
Played Sir Mark Brydon, a British Ambassador to Washington in The State Within (aired on the BBC in Britain and BBC America), earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Mini-series or TV Movie
2007
Reprised the role of Lucius Malfoy in "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," adapted from the fifth book in the fantasy series
2008
Co-starred with Viggo Mortensen in "Good"
2010
Reprised the role of Lucius Malfoy for the seventh and final installment of the series directed by David Yates, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows"; film released in two parts, Part 1 in November 2010 and Part 2 in July 2011
2011
Starred in BBC crime drama "Case Histories"
2012
Played a police detective living parallel lives on NBC's "Awake"
2014
Voiced Satan in the disappointing video game sequel "Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2"
2014
Portrayed Satanist Roman Castevet in the mini-series adaptation of "Rosemary's Baby"
2014
Voiced the Inquisitor on "Star Wars: Rebels"
2016
Cast as Dr. Hap on "The OA"
2017
Began starring as Captain Gabriel Lorca on "Star Trek: Discovery"
2017
Co-starred in ensemble comedy/satire "The Death of Stalin"
Companions
Bibliography
Notes
"A few times I've played these unbelievably tough, scary, nasty men, probably because I'm such a wimp in my life. I don't confront people, ever, or stand up to them. I get to be the bully that I never was, I was always the bullied. It's pretty good therapy!" --Jason Issacs to Michelle Erica Green at AnotherUniverse.com, October 23, 1998
Since he has played several drug dealers, Isaacs was asked about his own use of illegal substances. He reportedly replied: "I'm paranoid enough as it is," he said. "I don't need any pharmaceutical assistance. Chinese food is my drug." --From Rush & Malloy's gossip column in Daily News, August 4, 2000.
