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Gary Lewis

Highest Rated: 93% Catch Me Daddy (2014)

Lowest Rated: 15% Eragon (2006)

Birthday: Nov 30, 1957

Birthplace: Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland, UK

A compact actor whose features were dominated by his blue eyes, Gary Lewis was one of an increasing number of Scottish performers who began making a mark on world cinema in the 1990s. Whether called upon to play an alcoholic security guard, a grief-stricken striking miner or a sanctimonious sibling, Lewis could be counted on to create indelible portraits that linger in audiences' memories long after the lights have come up. Born and raised in the tough Easterhouse section of Glasgow, Lewis described in interviews the dichotomy of his upbringing: his parents stressed the value of education, yet he his formal studies were spotty at best. When he graduated, he lacked a sense of purpose, taking a job as a roadsweeper to earn a living. Later, Lewis found employment in the local library. Encouraged by his brother, he read voraciously and thought about pursuing a career as an actor. lthough he had pursued amateur theatrics, Lewis was 32 when he committed to showbiz, joining Robert Carlyle's newly formed Raindog Theatre. His career received a boost when he was befriended by actor-director Peter Mullan whom he met at a socialist lecture. Mullan hired Lewis for a role in the short "Close" which began filming in 1991 but took some three years to complete. By that time, both actors had appeared in "Shallow Grave" (1994). Lewis went on to act in Mullan's subsequent shorts "Good Day for the Bad Guys" (1995) and the award-winning "Fridge" (1996). Lewis joined director Kenneth Loach's unofficial stock company lending support to his two mentors in separate films: with Carlyle, he co-starred in "Carla's Song" (1996), while he essayed a recovering alcoholic alongside Mullan in "My Name Is Joe" (1998). In between, Mullan cast him as the over-righteous, somewhat dimwitted elder sibling Thomas in "Orphans" (1997), a blistering examination of a dysfunctional family. Lewis' exceptional performance was one of the film's highlights. He went on to co-star with Max Beesley in "The Match" (1999; released on video in USA in 2001) before landing his international breakthrough part as the father of a young boy who wants to become a ballet dancer in "Billy Elliot" (2000). Lewis delivered a multi-layered turn as a man coping with grief over the death of his wife, a violent strike that threatens his livelihood and the struggles of raising two sons. The actor rounded out his banner year teaming with Irish actor Sean McGinley in "What Where," a 12-minute short film of Samuel Beckett's play, and supporting Michael Caine as a boxing coach who may or may not have been involved in a murder in "Shiner" (screened at the San Sebastian Film Festival). Lewis increased his American exposure with co-starring roles in Martin Scorsese's "Gangs of New York" (2002) and Sally Potter's "Yes" (2004). After several years working steadily in British film, Lewis moved to television with a supporting role as Colum MacKenzie in the romantic fantasy "Outlander" (Starz 2014- ).

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Highest rated movies

93% 71% Catch Me Daddy
Watchlist
89% 86% My Name Is Joe
Watchlist
88% 80% Carla's Song
Watchlist
88% 77% Ae Fond Kiss ...
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86% 89% The Keeper Watchlist
85% 89% Billy Elliot
Watchlist
84% 48% The Vanishing
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82% 76% True North
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74% 89% Merry Christmas
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73% 71% Falling for Figaro Watchlist

Filmography

Movies

Credit
No Score Yet No Score Yet Stella Lord Rig (Character) - 2022
33% 40% My Son Inspector Roy (Character) - 2021
73% 71% Falling for Figaro Unknown (Character) $35.8K 2020
86% 89% The Keeper Jock Thompson (Character) - 2018
84% 48% The Vanishing Kenny (Character) - 2018
93% 71% Catch Me Daddy Unknown (Character) - 2014
No Score Yet No Score Yet Something Good: The Mercury Factor Unknown (Character) - 2013
31% 37% Not Another Happy Ending Benny Lockhart (Character) - 2013
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Strange Case of Wilhelm Reich Dr. Cameron (Character) - 2012
No Score Yet 100% Mo Adam Ingram (Character) - 2010
70% 49% Valhalla Rising Kare (Character) $17.5K 2009
No Score Yet 40% Blessed Howie (Character) - 2008
No Score Yet 46% Dorothy Mills Pastor Ross (Character) - 2008
No Score Yet 19% Cargo Herman (Character) - 2006
82% 76% True North The Skipper (Character) - 2006
15% 46% Eragon King Hrothgar (Character) $75.0M 2006
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Rocket Post Jimmy Roach (Character) - 2006
74% 89% Merry Christmas Palmer (Character) - 2005
43% 77% Goal! The Dream Begins Mal Braithwaite (Character) $4.3M 2005
No Score Yet 69% Supervolcano Unknown (Character) - 2005
No Score Yet 87% Yasmin Detective (Character) - 2004
52% 74% Yes Billy (Character) $396.0K 2004
88% 77% Ae Fond Kiss ... Danny (Character) - 2004
No Score Yet No Score Yet My Brother Is a Dog Antiquitätenhändler (Character) - 2004
No Score Yet No Score Yet Niceland Max (Character) - 2004
No Score Yet 57% Skagerrak Willy (Character) - 2003
No Score Yet No Score Yet Warrior Queen Magior the Shaman (Character) - 2003
No Score Yet 72% Pure Detective Inspector French (Character) $102.0K 2002
No Score Yet 48% The Escapist Ron (Character) - 2002
72% 81% Gangs of New York McGloin (Character) - 2002
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Many Trials of One Jane Doe Jeremy Sharp (Character) - 2002
46% 29% Shiner Vic (Character) - 2000
85% 89% Billy Elliot Dad (Character) $22.0M 2000
No Score Yet 20% Postmortem Wallace (Character) - 1998
89% 86% My Name Is Joe Shanks (Character) $346.7K 1998
47% 77% Orphans Thomas (Character) $49.5K 1998
No Score Yet 69% The Princess Stallion Rab (Character) - 1997
88% 80% Carla's Song Sammy (Character) $18.4K 1996
72% 83% Shallow Grave Visitor (Character) $1.7M 1995

TV

Credit
91% 88% Outlander Colum MacKenzie (Character) 2014-2019 2024
No Score Yet 75% The Bay Vinnie Morrison (Character) 2022-2024
69% 72% Vigil Colin Robertson (Character) 2023
97% 92% It's a Sin Duncan Finch (Character) 2021
84% 82% His Dark Materials Thorold (Character) 2019
No Score Yet No Score Yet Retribution Alastair (Character) 2016
No Score Yet No Score Yet Stonemouth Mike MacAvett (Character) 2015
85% 88% The Adventures of Merlin Alator (Character),
Unknown (Guest Star)
2011-2012
100% 67% Prime Suspect Unknown (Character) 2006