Bill Nighy

Photo of Bill Nighy

Biography

Despite decades on the British dramatic stage and in small, offbeat comedies, Bill Nighy remained one of England's best kept secrets until scene-stealing supporting roles in a number of mainstream American hits led to his remarkable success after the age of 50. Following his series role on the widely acclaimed British serial "State of Play" (BBC One, 2003), Nighy had his international breakthrough with his casting as the villainous Viktor in …
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Job Title

Actor, Producer, Music

Born

William Francis Nighy on December 12, 1949 in Surrey, England, GB

Career Milestones

1977

Made London stage debut at the National Theatre in "Illuminatus!"

1980

Made TV series debut in the British sitcom, "Agony"

1981

Feature film debut in Richard Marquand's "Eye of the Needle"

1983

Had a small role as an ENT Doctor in Blake Edwards' "Curse of the Pink Panther"

1985

Co-starred with John Shea in the TV-movie "Hitler's SS: Portrait in Evil"

1989

Starred as Barton in "The Phantom of the Opera"

1990

Appeared opposite Raul Julia and Richard Harris in "Mack the Knife"

1991

Cast in the London production of Harold Pinter's play "Betrayal"

1991

Played Prof. Mark Carleton in the sexually-charged British series, "The Men's Room"

1995

Appeared in David Hare's London play "Skylight"

1998

Co-starred with Stephen Rea and Billy Connolly in "Still Crazy"

2001

Co-starred with Alan Rickman and Josh Hartnett, as Ray Roberts, the reigning hairdressing champion in "Blow Dry"

2001

Starred in Peter Cattaneo's "Lucky Break"

2003

Played a burned-out rock star whose career gets rejuvenated by the Christmas hit 'Love Is All Around Us' in the film "Love Actually," directed by Richard Curtis

2003

Portrayed a vampire in the Len Wiseman directed "Underworld"

2004

Co-starred in the thriller "Enduring Love"

2005

Appeared in the Fernando Meirelles directed thriller "The Constant Gardener"

2005

Co-starred with Kelly Macdonald in the HBO movie "The Girl in the Cafe"; earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a TV movie

2006

Cast as Davey Jones in Gore Verbinski's "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest"

2006

Once again played a vampire in the Len Wiseman helmed "Underworld: Evolution"

2006

Played Cate Blanchett's husband in the award-winning film "Notes on a Scandal"

2006

Played a public relations guru in BBC America's romantic drama "Gideon's Daughter"

2006

Portrayed Oliver, a reclusive doctor hostile to the war in Iraq, in David Hare's Broadway play "The Vertical Hour"

2007

Reprised role of Davy Jones for "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End"

2008

Co-starred in the WWII thriller "Valkyrie"

2009

Played the ship's Captain, Quentin, in Richard Curtis' "Pirate Radio"

2009

Reprised role of Viktor for "Underworld: Rise of the Lycans"

2010

Cast as Rufus Scrimgeour for the seventh and final installment of the serie, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows"; film released in two parts, Part 1 in November 2010 and Part 2 in July 2011

2011

Voiced Rattlesnake Jake in the computer-animated comedy "Rango"

2011

Voiced the character Grandsanta in the animated feature "Arthur Christmas"

2012

Co-starred in the ensemble comedy drama "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel"

2012

Replaced Paul Kynman in the role of Hephaestus in the fantasy adventure sequel "Wrath of the Titans"

Awards

2003

BAFTA Award for Actor In a Supporting Role in Love Actually

2003

Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor in AKA

2003

Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor in I Capture the Castle

2003

Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor in Love Actually

2003

Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor in The Lawless Heart

2005

Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-series or Motion Picture Made for Television in The Girl in the Café

2006

Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-series or Motion Picture Made for Television in Gideon's Daughter

2007

MTV Movie Award for Best Villain in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest

2011

Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-series or Motion Picture Made for Television in Page Eight

2012

Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture in The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel