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