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Ian McDiarmid

Highest Rated: 89% Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988)

Lowest Rated: 0% The Awakening (1980)

Birthday: Aug 11, 1944

Birthplace: Carnoustie, Scotland, UK

Despite a résumé rich in classical stage roles and numerous accolades from the British critics, Scottish actor Ian McDiarmid was a pop cultural nonentity until he took an undemanding paying job as the despotic Emperor Palpatine in "Return of the Jedi" (1983), the second sequel to George Lucas' paradigm-smashing space opera "Star Wars" (1977). Obscured under heavy makeup for his time onscreen, McDiarmid could not have anticipated how much of a bite the role would take out of his professional life. Immortalized in Lucasfilm merchandising for 15 years as he returned to a purposeful career as an actor, director and theatrical impresario, McDiarmid was recalled to the franchise for "The Phantom Menace" (1999), a prequel to "Star Wars" that required the veteran actor to reinterpret the same character fifty years younger. He would play the vampiric Palpatine twice more, in "Attack of the Clones" (2002) and "Revenge of the Sith" (2005), but the stage would remain McDiarmid's true home. In 2008, the 61-year-old actor suffered a heart attack while performing at London's Gielgud Theater, but staved off an EMS crew until after he had taken his curtain call. Seen later as the star of the U.K. miniseries "City of Vice" (2008) and as controversial British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's doting husband in "Margaret" (2009), McDiarmid remained what he had long been to the theatregoers of London's West End: a consummate and highly valued character actor.

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Highest rated movies

89% 84% Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Watchlist
86% 58% The Lost City of Z Watchlist
84% 63% Dragonslayer
Watchlist
82% 94% Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi Watchlist 80% 66% Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith Watchlist
78% 59% Gorky Park
Watchlist
70% 80% Sleepy Hollow Watchlist 65% 56% Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones Watchlist 52% 59% Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace Watchlist 51% 86% Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Watchlist

Filmography

Movies

Credit
No Score Yet 99% Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi - 40th Anniversary The Emperor (Character) - 2023
51% 86% Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Palpatine (Character) $515.2M 2019
86% 58% The Lost City of Z Sir George Goldie (Character) $8.6M 2016
No Score Yet 44% Margaret Denis Thatcher (Character) - 2009
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Odds Unknown (Character) - 2009
No Score Yet 60% City of Vice Unknown (Character) - 2008
80% 66% Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith Supreme Chancellor/Emperor Palpatine/Darth Sidious (Character) $380.3M 2005
No Score Yet 88% The Last King Sir Edward Hyde (Character) - 2004
65% 56% Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones Supreme Chancellor Palpatine (Character) $310.7M 2002
No Score Yet 68% All the King's Men Rev. Pierrepoint Edwards (Character) - 1999
70% 80% Sleepy Hollow Dr. Thomas Lancaster (Character) $101.1M 1999
52% 59% Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace Senator Palpatine/Supreme Chancellor Palpatine (Character) $452.0M 1999
No Score Yet 73% Great Expectations Jaggers (Character) - 1999
No Score Yet 82% Inquest Doctor Popper (Character) - 1996
No Score Yet 79% Rasputin Unknown (Character) - 1996
No Score Yet 56% Annie: A Royal Adventure Dr. Eli Eon (Character) - 1995
50% 39% Heart of Darkness Doctor (Character) - 1994
No Score Yet 50% Chernobyl: The Final Warning Dr. Vatisenko (Character) - 1991
89% 84% Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Arthur (Character) $40.9M 1988
78% 59% Gorky Park Prof. Andreev (Character) - 1983
82% 94% Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi The Emperor (Character) $314.3M 1983
84% 63% Dragonslayer Brother Jacobus (Character) - 1981
17% No Score Yet Richard's Things Burglar (Character) - 1980
0% 23% The Awakening Dr. Richter (Character) - 1980

TV

Credit
100% 92% Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi Darth Sidious (Character),
Unknown (Voice)
2022
92% 78% Britannia King Pellenor (Character) 2020
98% 85% Star Wars Rebels Emperor Palpatine (Guest Voice) 2018
No Score Yet No Score Yet 37 Days Edward Grey (Character) 2014
No Score Yet No Score Yet Elizabeth I Lord Burghley (Character) 2006
No Score Yet No Score Yet Spooks Unknown (Guest Star) 2004
No Score Yet No Score Yet Touching Evil Unknown (Character) 1997-1999
No Score Yet No Score Yet Mystery! Unknown (Character) 1998
78% 85% The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles Unknown (Guest Star) 1993
No Score Yet 78% Inspector Morse Unknown (Guest Star) 1990