Bill Paterson

Bill Paterson

Acting
Born 1945-06-03Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland, UK

Biography

William Tulloch Paterson (born 3 June 1945) is a Scottish actor. Throughout his career he has appeared regularly in radio drama and provided the narration for a large number of documentaries. Paterson has appeared in films and television series including Comfort and Joy (1984), Traffik (1989), Auf Wiedersehen, Pet (1986), Truly, Madly, Deeply (1990), The Witches (1990), Wives and Daughters (1999), Sea of Souls (2004–2007), Amazing Grace (2006), Miss Potter (2006), Little Dorrit (2008), Doctor Who (2010), Outlander (2014), Fleabag (2016–2019), Inside No. 9 (2018), Good Omens (2019), Brassic (2020) and House of the Dragon (2022). He is a recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Scottish BAFTAs. William Tulloch Paterson was born in Glasgow on 3 June 1945. Paterson was raised in Dennistoun by his father, a plumber, and his mother, a hairdresser. He states that his interest in acting began with a school trip to the Citizens Theatre in the Gorbals in 1961. However, after school he chose to initially pursue a career based on an interest in architecture and spent three years as a quantity surveyor's apprentice before deciding to attend the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama

Movies (113)

Ladies First
6.0

Ladies First

2026Movie6.0
The Witches
6.9

The Witches

1990Movie6.9
Chaplin
7.4

Chaplin

1992Movie7.4
Miss Potter
6.7

Miss Potter

2006Movie6.7
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen
7.0

The Adventures of Baron Munchausen

1988Movie7.0
High-Rise
5.6

High-Rise

2015Movie5.6
Spice World
4.9

Spice World

1997Movie4.9
Love Sarah
6.2

Love Sarah

2020Movie6.2
Rebecca
6.3

Rebecca

2020Movie6.3
The Killing Fields
7.5

The Killing Fields

1984Movie7.5
How to Lose Friends & Alienate People
6.0

How to Lose Friends & Alienate People

2008Movie6.0
The Man Who Invented Christmas
6.8

The Man Who Invented Christmas

2017Movie6.8
Sunshine
6.4

Sunshine

1999Movie6.4
Crush
5.7

Crush

2002Movie5.7
Spanish Flu: The Forgotten Fallen
7.3

Spanish Flu: The Forgotten Fallen

2009Movie7.3
Amazing Grace
6.9

Amazing Grace

2006Movie6.9
The Thin End of the Wedge

The Thin End of the Wedge

1977Movie
Dad's Army
5.0

Dad's Army

2016Movie5.0
Creation
6.4

Creation

2009Movie6.4
The Return of the Musketeers
6.2

The Return of the Musketeers

1989Movie6.2
Richard III
6.8

Richard III

1995Movie6.8
Into the Storm
6.4

Into the Storm

2009Movie6.4
Rag Tale
3.3

Rag Tale

2005Movie3.3
Bright Young Things
6.3

Bright Young Things

2003Movie6.3
The Madness and Misadventures of Munchausen
7.8

The Madness and Misadventures of Munchausen

2008Movie7.8
Chaplin's Goliath
6.6

Chaplin's Goliath

1996Movie6.6
Hilary and Jackie
6.6

Hilary and Jackie

1998Movie6.6
Truly Madly Deeply
6.9

Truly Madly Deeply

1991Movie6.9
The Rachel Papers
5.1

The Rachel Papers

1989Movie5.1
The Colour Room
6.1

The Colour Room

2021Movie6.1
Heart
5.4

Heart

1999Movie5.4
A Private Function
6.4

A Private Function

1984Movie6.4
The 50 Greatest Television Dramas

The 50 Greatest Television Dramas

2007Movie
The Ploughman's Lunch
4.8

The Ploughman's Lunch

1983Movie4.8
Happy New Year, Colin Burstead
6.4

Happy New Year, Colin Burstead

2018Movie6.4
Sherlock Holmes and the Baker Street Irregulars
6.8

Sherlock Holmes and the Baker Street Irregulars

2007Movie6.8
Dutch Girls
4.1

Dutch Girls

1985Movie4.1
Just Ask for Diamond
5.6

Just Ask for Diamond

1988Movie5.6
The Match
6.0

The Match

1999Movie6.0
Intervention
5.5

Intervention

2007Movie5.5
Arthur's Whisky
5.7

Arthur's Whisky

2024Movie5.7
Being Stanley Baxter

Being Stanley Baxter

2025Movie
Churchill's Secret
6.3

Churchill's Secret

2016Movie6.3
Licking Hitler

Licking Hitler

1978Movie
The Object of Beauty
5.3

The Object of Beauty

1991Movie5.3
Othello
6.9

Othello

2001Movie6.9
Suilven Spring

Suilven Spring

1974Movie
Behind Bars

Behind Bars

2001Movie
Defence of the Realm
6.4

Defence of the Realm

1986Movie6.4
United Kingdom
7.0

United Kingdom

1981Movie7.0
Marionette
6.3

Marionette

2020Movie6.3
Bearskin: An Urban Fairytale
8.3

Bearskin: An Urban Fairytale

1989Movie8.3
Wonderdate
6.0

Wonderdate

2018Movie6.0
The Cherry Orchard
7.0

The Cherry Orchard

1981Movie7.0
Zanzibar

Zanzibar

2018Movie
The Vanishing Army

The Vanishing Army

1978Movie
Victory
5.2

Victory

1996Movie5.2
The Entity
8.0

The Entity

2002Movie8.0
Passing Places

Passing Places

1973Movie
Hidden City
5.4

Hidden City

1987Movie5.4
Comfort and Joy
6.6

Comfort and Joy

1984Movie6.6
One Fine Day
5.3

One Fine Day

1979Movie5.3
Byrne About Byrne

Byrne About Byrne

1988Movie
The Vote
8.4

The Vote

2015Movie8.4
1929: The Great Crash
7.2

1929: The Great Crash

2009Movie7.2
The List
4.3

The List

2013Movie4.3
The White Room

The White Room

Movie
Ghosts in the Machine

Ghosts in the Machine

2009Movie
Lily My Love

Lily My Love

1987Movie
Complicity
5.8

Complicity

2000Movie5.8
A War on Science
8.0

A War on Science

2006Movie8.0
The Odd Job
5.9

The Odd Job

1978Movie5.9
The Animal Train
7.0

The Animal Train

1998Movie7.0
The Spirit of 1926

The Spirit of 1926

2022Movie
In Dreams
8.5

In Dreams

1992Movie8.5
The Whistle-Blower
7.8

The Whistle-Blower

2001Movie7.8
Danielle Cable: Eyewitness
8.5

Danielle Cable: Eyewitness

2003Movie8.5
The Writing on the Wall
3.6

The Writing on the Wall

1996Movie3.6
Hard Times
7.7

Hard Times

1994Movie7.7
Wall of Silence
8.0

Wall of Silence

1993Movie8.0
The Phoenix: A Century of Cinema

The Phoenix: A Century of Cinema

2011Movie
The Man who Crossed Hitler
6.5

The Man who Crossed Hitler

2011Movie6.5
Home Road Movies
6.4

Home Road Movies

2002Movie6.4
The Cheviot, the Stag and the Black, Black Oil
8.0

The Cheviot, the Stag and the Black, Black Oil

1974Movie8.0
Yellowbacks
8.0

Yellowbacks

1990Movie8.0
God's Chosen Car Park

God's Chosen Car Park

1986Movie
Shooting from the Heart: Chris Menges, Cameraman

Shooting from the Heart: Chris Menges, Cameraman

1985Movie
Children of the Wicker Man

Children of the Wicker Man

2024Movie
Franz Kafka's 'The Trial'

Franz Kafka's 'The Trial'

1988Movie
Friendship's Death
6.8

Friendship's Death

1987Movie6.8
Coming Up Roses
6.7

Coming Up Roses

1987Movie6.7
The Pen

The Pen

1995Movie
God on the Rocks
7.0

God on the Rocks

1992Movie7.0
Fast Freddie, the Widow and Me
5.5

Fast Freddie, the Widow and Me

2011Movie5.5
A Bear Named Wojtek
8.0

A Bear Named Wojtek

2023Movie8.0
The Story of a Recluse

The Story of a Recluse

1987Movie
The Turnaround
5.0

The Turnaround

1995Movie5.0
Gone Fishing
8.0

Gone Fishing

2008Movie8.0
The Day Mountbatten Died
10.0

The Day Mountbatten Died

2019Movie10.0
The Interrogation of John

The Interrogation of John

1987Movie
Mr White Goes To Westminster
5.0

Mr White Goes To Westminster

1997Movie5.0
Hitler on Trial: The Truth Behind the Story

Hitler on Trial: The Truth Behind the Story

2015Movie
The House Was Not Hungry Then
4.2

The House Was Not Hungry Then

2025Movie4.2
Jackie McCafferty's Romance

Jackie McCafferty's Romance

1978Movie
Chrono-Perambulator
10.0

Chrono-Perambulator

1999Movie10.0
Fascism in Colour
7.5

Fascism in Colour

2006Movie7.5
Documenting John Grierson

Documenting John Grierson

2014Movie
Scotland's Finest: The Story of the Highland Games

Scotland's Finest: The Story of the Highland Games

2012Movie
Tell Tale Hearts
8.0

Tell Tale Hearts

1992Movie8.0
Clydescope
7.0

Clydescope

1974Movie7.0
The Garden Beyond

The Garden Beyond

1977Movie
The Man Who Lives with Bears

The Man Who Lives with Bears

2008Movie
The Riddle of the Sands

The Riddle of the Sands

1995Movie

TV Shows (67)

House of the Dragon
8.4

House of the Dragon

2022Series8.4
Doctor Who
7.6

Doctor Who

2005Series7.6
Outlander
8.2

Outlander

2014Series8.2
Play for Today
6.6

Play for Today

1970Series6.6
The Sandman
7.9

The Sandman

2022Series7.9
Horizon
7.5

Horizon

1964Series7.5
Shetland
7.5

Shetland

2013Series7.5
Agatha Christie's Marple
7.8

Agatha Christie's Marple

2004Series7.8
The One Show
4.4

The One Show

2006Series4.4
Halo
8.2

Halo

2022Series8.2
Omnibus
7.2

Omnibus

1967Series7.2
Good Omens
8.0

Good Omens

2019Series8.0
Foyle's War
7.9

Foyle's War

2002Series7.9
Inside No. 9
8.1

Inside No. 9

2014Series8.1
The Repair Shop
7.0

The Repair Shop

2017Series7.0
Brassic
8.4

Brassic

2019Series8.4
Fleabag
8.3

Fleabag

2016Series8.3
Law & Order: UK
7.0

Law & Order: UK

2009Series7.0
BBC2 Play of the Week
7.0

BBC2 Play of the Week

1977Series7.0
ScreenPlay
6.0

ScreenPlay

1986Series6.0
Little Dorrit
7.9

Little Dorrit

2008Series7.9
Murder Most Horrid
6.9

Murder Most Horrid

1991Series6.9
The Play on One
6.0

The Play on One

1988Series6.0
Guilt
6.6

Guilt

2019Series6.6
Wives and Daughters
7.3

Wives and Daughters

1999Series7.3
Screen One
7.2

Screen One

1989Series7.2
Auf Wiedersehen, Pet
7.9

Auf Wiedersehen, Pet

1983Series7.9
Shoebox Zoo
7.7

Shoebox Zoo

2004Series7.7
Between the Covers
5.5

Between the Covers

2020Series5.5
Urban Myths
7.4

Urban Myths

2017Series7.4
The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo
5.5

The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo

Series5.5
Born and Bred
9.0

Born and Bred

2002Series9.0
Scot Squad
6.8

Scot Squad

2014Series6.8
The Repair Shop on the Road

The Repair Shop on the Road

2025Series
Dirk Gently
7.1

Dirk Gently

2012Series7.1
Criminal Justice
7.6

Criminal Justice

2008Series7.6
The Singing Detective
7.6

The Singing Detective

1986Series7.6
The Michael Ball Show

The Michael Ball Show

2010Series
Canterbury Tales
6.9

Canterbury Tales

2003Series6.9
Doctor Zhivago
6.7

Doctor Zhivago

2002Series6.7
The Ghostbusters of East Finchley
7.0

The Ghostbusters of East Finchley

1995Series7.0
ShakespeaRe-Told
7.4

ShakespeaRe-Told

2005Series7.4
Sea of Souls
8.0

Sea of Souls

2004Series8.0
Junior Masterchef
5.5

Junior Masterchef

1994Series5.5
Traffik
7.6

Traffik

1989Series7.6
Melissa
6.8

Melissa

1997Series6.8
Smiley's People
7.7

Smiley's People

1982Series7.7
The Secret Adventures of Jules Verne
7.1

The Secret Adventures of Jules Verne

2000Series7.1
The Modern World: Ten Great Writers
8.0

The Modern World: Ten Great Writers

1988Series8.0
Sherlock Holmes and the Baker Street Irregulars

Sherlock Holmes and the Baker Street Irregulars

2007Series
Arthouse

Arthouse

1997Series
37 Days
7.5

37 Days

2014Series7.5
Oliver's Travels
6.0

Oliver's Travels

1995Series6.0
Sharman

Sharman

1995Series
The Crow Road
6.9

The Crow Road

1996Series6.9
Rebel Heart
7.3

Rebel Heart

2001Series7.3
Trust
6.5

Trust

2003Series6.5
Them From That Thing
6.0

Them From That Thing

2012Series6.0
Hard Times

Hard Times

1994Series
Shrinks

Shrinks

1991Series
Tomb Raider

Tomb Raider

Series
The Rebel
7.2

The Rebel

2016Series7.2
Lie with Me

Lie with Me

2004Series
Battle of the Atlantic
7.4

Battle of the Atlantic

2002Series7.4
A Passion for Churches

A Passion for Churches

2005Series
Birds Britannia

Birds Britannia

2010Series
Britain’s Scenic Railways

Britain’s Scenic Railways

2021Series