---
name: "David Morrissey"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/david-morrissey"
fi1m_id: "david-morrissey"
imdb_id: "nm0607375"
tmdb_id: 18616
wikidata_id: "Q725686"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "21 June 1964"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 13
average_fi1m_score: 71
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 13
updated: "2026-10-07T20:00:03.846338+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# David Morrissey

## Identity

David Morrissey

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/david-morrissey
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** david-morrissey
- **IMDb ID:** nm0607375
- **TMDB ID:** 18616
- **Wikidata ID:** Q725686
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Morrissey, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q725686, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0607375/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/18616

Actor. Born 21 June 1964 in Everton, Liverpool, England, UK.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 21 June 1964, Everton, Liverpool, England, UK
- **Active:** 1988–present
- **Also known as:** David Mark Morrissey, David Mark Joseph Morrissey
- **Frequently works with:** [John Madden](https://film.one/person/john-madden.md), [Kate Ogborn](https://film.one/person/kate-ogborn.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 71, as actor, over 13 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 2000s 67 (8), 2010s 78 (3), 2020s 78 (2)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 68 to 68 across 8 titles
- **Score spread:** 5 at 80+, 6 at 60–79, 2 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 6 of 11 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 10, Crime 7, Mystery 4, Romance 2, Thriller 2, Action & Adventure 1
- **Screen time:** 9 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $107m across 3 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Morrissey, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q725686, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0607375/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/18616

## Streaming the US now

- **Apple TV:** [*The Missing*](https://film.one/tv/the-missing-2014.md) (83), [*Sherwood*](https://film.one/tv/sherwood.md) (82)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Nowhere Boy*](https://film.one/film/nowhere-boy.md) (72)
- **Netflix:** [*The Walking Dead*](https://film.one/tv/the-walking-dead.md) (68)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on David Morrissey

> David Morrissey makes men in authority worth watching even when they give little away. We rate him most highly in patient ensemble dramas, where his restraint can unsettle us; the risk is being asked to look troubled once too often.

In *State of Play* (2003), David Morrissey's Stephen Collins is hard to read, and worth the effort. John Simm gives Cal McAffrey an urgency that helps us follow the story; Morrissey asks us to pay closer attention to the man speaking. We were uneasy watching Collins because Morrissey's restraint left us uncertain how to read him. Yates gives the performance time, and Morrissey makes that patience worthwhile. This is where we rate him most highly, playing someone whose authority does not tell us everything we need to know about him.

His screen career began with *One Summer* (1983), but the useful starting point for understanding his work is the pair of dramas that brought wider recognition in 2003. Alongside Collins came Gordon Brown in *The Deal* (2003), directed by Stephen Frears. These are the kinds of roles he suits: public figures whose credibility need not make us comfortable with them. The Hollywood work has been less consistent, with *Basic Instinct 2* (2006) among the setbacks.

He has often been cast as authority figures, from detective Maurice Jobson in *Red Riding* (2009) to the Governor in *The Walking Dead* (2012–2015). The latter widened his international profile; *Sherwood* (2022), as DCS Ian St Clair, continued his work in British television drama. His size and reserve can make authority convincing before much has been said, and can make it threatening with little outward effort. Repeated casting as stern, troubled men does risk making a performance seem familiar before it has begun. We would welcome more parts that do not require him to arrive looking burdened.

*State of Play* remains our recommendation because Paul Abbott's writing and the ensemble give that reserve something to work against. The complicated story can leave us keeping track of details when we would rather stay with a character, and Morrissey is one reason we feel the loss. Beside Simm's urgency and Kelly Macdonald's directness as Della Smith, Collins is someone we have to work harder to understand. He does not need to make every scene his, which matters in a programme with this much to follow. Start there, and give him the attention Yates does.

## Biography

David Morrissey is an English actor and director. Born on 21 June 1964 in Everton, Liverpool, he trained at the Everyman Youth Theatre and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. He made his screen debut in the 1983 series *One Summer* and later worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre.

Morrissey gained wider recognition for his performances as Stephen Collins in the 2003 series *State of Play*, for which he received a British Academy Television Award nomination, and as Gordon Brown in *The Deal* (2003), which earned him a Royal Television Society Award for Best Actor. His other notable credits include roles in *The Walking Dead* (2012–2015), *The Other Boleyn Girl* (2008), *Nowhere Boy* (2009) and *Centurion* (2010). He has also directed and produced television drama.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, themoviedb.org, screenonline.org.uk.*

## On Fi1m (13)

- *The Long Shadow* (2023), Fi1m 74, as ACC George Oldfield — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-long-shadow.md)
- *Sherwood* (2022), Fi1m 82, as DCS Ian St Clair — [page](https://film.one/tv/sherwood.md)
- *The Missing* (2014), Fi1m 83, as Sam Webster — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-missing-2014.md)
- *The Hollow Crown* (2012), Fi1m 82, as Earl of Northumberland — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-hollow-crown.md)
- *The Walking Dead* (2010), Fi1m 68, as Philip Blake — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-walking-dead.md)
- *Nowhere Boy* (2009), Fi1m 72, as Bobby Dykins — [page](https://film.one/film/nowhere-boy.md)
- *Red Riding* (2009), Fi1m 80, as DS Maurice Jobson — [page](https://film.one/tv/red-riding.md)
- *Five Days* (2007), Fi1m 76, as DI Mal Craig — [page](https://film.one/tv/five-days.md)
- *Taking Liberties* (2007), Fi1m 66, as Narration — [page](https://film.one/film/taking-liberties.md)
- *Basic Instinct 2* (2006), Fi1m 36, as Michael Glass — [page](https://film.one/film/basic-instinct-2.md)
- *State of Play* (2003), Fi1m 88, as Stephen Collins — [page](https://film.one/tv/state-of-play.md)
- *The Deal* (2003), Fi1m 73, as Gordon Brown — [page](https://film.one/film/the-deal.md)
- *Captain Corelli's Mandolin* (2001), Fi1m 48, as Captain Günther Weber — [page](https://film.one/film/captain-corellis-mandolin.md)

## Complete filmography (124)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Tip Toe* (2026), series, as Clive Goss
- *Gone* (2026), series, as Michael Polly
- *The Woman in Cabin 10* (2025), as Thomas Heatherley
- *Prime Target* (2025), series, as Professor Robert Mallinder
- *Manhunt* (2025), series, as Narrator
- *Slingshot* (2024), as Sam Napier
- *Daddy Issues* (2024), series, as Malcolm
- *Parish* (2024), series, Executive Producer
- *The Walking Dead: The Return* (2024), as The Governor (archive footage)
- *Six Inches of Soil* (2024), as Narrator (animated sequence)
- *The Long Shadow* (2023), series, as DCS George Oldfield, ACC George Oldfield — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-long-shadow.md)
- *Gods of Tennis* (2023), series, as Narrator
- *Turkey: Empire of Erdogan* (2023), series, as Narrator
- *Britain's Notorious Prisons* (2023), series, as Narrator
- *Dampyr* (2022), as Gorka
- *Ellie & Natasia* (2022), series, as Dentist
- *Sherwood* (2022), series, as DCS Ian St Clair — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/sherwood.md)
- *The Colour Room* (2021), as Fred Ridgeway
- *The Singapore Grip* (2020), series, as Walter Blackett
- *Klopp: The Inside Story* (2020), as Narrator
- *A Separate Peace* (2020), as John Brown
- *Good Omens* (2019), series, as Captain Vincent
- *The City and the City* (2018), series, as Tyador Borlú
- *National Theatre Live: Julius Caesar* (2018), as Mark Antony
- *Britannia* (2018), series, as General Aulus Plautius
- *Lion Country: Night and Day* (2017), series, as Narrator (voice)
- *The Ones Below* (2016), as Jon
- *National Theatre Live: Hangmen* (2016), as Harry
- *The Not So Secret Life of the Manic Depressive: 10 Years On* (2016), as Narrator (voice)
- *Ronaldo* (2015), as Dramatic VO (voice)
- *Rock 'n' Roll America* (2015), series, as Narrator
- *Secrets of Mexico's Drug War* (2015), as Narrator
- *The Missing* (2014), series, as Sam Webster — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-missing-2014.md)
- *The Driver* (2014), series, as Vince McKee · Executive Producer
- *Extant* (2014), series, as Tobias Shepherd
- *Inside No. 9* (2014), series, as Martin — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/inside-no-9.md)
- *The 7.39* (2014), series, as Carl Matthews
- *Welcome to the Punch* (2013), as Thomas Geiger
- *The Hollow Crown* (2012), series, as Earl of Northumberland — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-hollow-crown.md)
- *True Love* (2012), series, as Adrian
- *Earthbound* (2012), as Bill Norman
- *London's Burning* (2011), as Borough Commander
- *Blitz* (2011), as Dunlop
- *The Field of Blood* (2011), series, as Murray Devlin
- *Macbeth* (2011), as Macbeth
- *South Riding* (2011), series, as Robert Carne
- *Gee Gee* (2011), as Michael
- *The Walking Dead* (2010), series, as Philip Blake — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-walking-dead.md)
- *Thorne: Scaredycat* (2010), as DI Tom Thorne
- *Thorne* (2010), series, as Tom Thorne · Creator
- *Cooked* (2010), as (voice)
- *Centurion* (2010), as Bothos
- *Mrs Mandela* (2010), as Theunis Swanepoel
- *Nowhere Boy* (2009), as Bobby Dykins — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/nowhere-boy.md)
- *Red Riding: The Year of Our Lord 1974* (2009), as Maurice Jobson
- *Red Riding: The Year of Our Lord 1980* (2009), as Maurice Jobson
- *Red Riding: The Year of Our Lord 1983* (2009), as Maurice Jobson
- *U Be Dead* (2009), as Dr. Jan Falkowski
- *Is Anybody There?* (2009), as Steve
- *Red Riding* (2009), series, as DS Maurice Jobson — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/red-riding.md)
- *Don't Worry About Me* (2009), Director
- *Doctor Who: The Next Doctor* (2008), as Jackson Lake
- *Meet The Immigrants* (2008), series, Actor
- *The Other Boleyn Girl* (2008), as Thomas Howard - Duke of Norfolk
- *Sense and Sensibility* (2008), series, as Colonel Brandon
- *The Water Horse* (2007), as Captain Thomas Hamilton
- *Meadowlands* (2007), series, as Danny Brogan
- *The Reaping* (2007), as Doug
- *Five Days* (2007), series, as DI Mal Craig — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/tv/five-days.md)
- *Taking Liberties* (2007), as Narration — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/film/taking-liberties.md)
- *Viva Blackpool* (2006), as Ripley Holden
- *Basic Instinct 2* (2006), as Michael Glass — Fi1m 36, [page](https://film.one/film/basic-instinct-2.md)
- *Stoned* (2005), as Tom Keylock
- *Derailed* (2005), as Sam Griffin
- *The Year London Blew Up* (2005), as Narrator (voice)
- *Blackpool* (2004), series, as Ripley Holden
- *Zero Hour: Massacre at Columbine High* (2004), as Narrator
- *Zero Hour* (2004), series, as Narrator (Voice) · Vocal Coach
- *Passer By* (2004), series, Director
- *This World* (2004), series, Actor
- *9mm: Guns and Gangs* (2003), series, as Narrator
- *The Deal* (2003), as Gordon Brown — Fi1m 73, [page](https://film.one/film/the-deal.md)
- *State of Play* (2003), series, as Stephen Collins — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/state-of-play.md)
- *This Little Life* (2003), as Richie MacGregor
- *Out of Control* (2002), as Mike
- *Murder* (2002), series, as Dave Dewston
- *Linda Green* (2001), series, as Pete
- *Sweet Revenge* (2001), series, Director
- *Captain Corelli's Mandolin* (2001), as Captain Günther Weber — Fi1m 48, [page](https://film.one/film/captain-corellis-mandolin.md)
- *Born Romantic* (2000), as Fergus
- *Some Voices* (2000), as Pete
- *The Suicide Club* (2000), as Henry Joyce
- *Fanny & Elvis* (1999), as Rob
- *Pure Wickedness* (1999), series, as Frank Healy
- *Hilary and Jackie* (1998), as Kiffer Finzi
- *Big Cat* (1998), as Leo
- *Our Mutual Friend* (1998), series, as Bradley Headstone
- *The Commissioner* (1998), as Murray Lomax
- *Holding On* (1997), series, as Shaun
- *The One That Got Away* (1996), as Andy "Mac" McNab
- *Out of the Blue* (1995), series, as DS Jim 'Lew' Lewyn
- *Devil's Advocate* (1995), series, as Matthew Salt
- *Finney* (1994), series, as Stephen Finney
- *Being Human* (1994), as Cyprion's Man
- *The Knock* (1994), series, as Gerry Birch
- *Framed* (1992), series, as DC Lawrence 'Larry' Jackson
- *Black and Blue* (1992), as DC Norman Mills
- *Between the Lines* (1992), series, Actor
- *Waterland* (1992), as Dick Crick
- *The Storyteller: Greek Myths* (1991), series, as Theseus
- *Clubland* (1991), as DC Judd
- *Robin Hood* (1991), as Little John
- *The Widowmaker* (1990), as Rob
- *Available Light* (1990), as Marcus
- *Screen One* (1989), series, as DC Norman Mills
- *Agatha Christie's Poirot* (1989), series, as John Arbuthnot — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/agatha-christies-poirot.md)
- *Drowning by Numbers* (1988), as Bellamy
- *Out of Town* (1988), as The Traveller
- *Cause Célèbre* (1987), as George Bowman
- *ScreenPlay* (1986), series, as Marcus, Judd
- *One Summer* (1983), series, as Billy Rizley
- *The Siege*, series, Actor
- *Inflicted Kindness*, as DS Mark Thompson
- *Too Far Gone*, as Philip Blake (The Govenor)

## Gallery

- ![David Morrissey](https://film.one/media/person/60643/gallery-ab11d384b6fa.jpg) David Morrissey — Paul Cantrell, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/73/David_Morrissey_%28Cropped%29.jpg/1280px-David_Morrissey_%28Cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Chad Coleman, David Morrissey and Norman Reedus speaking at the 2013 San Diego Comic Con International, for "The Walking Dead", at the San Diego Convention Cent](https://film.one/media/person/60643/gallery-92d1d7611c6c.jpg) Chad Coleman, David Morrissey and Norman Reedus speaking at the 2013 San Diego Comic Con International, for "The Walking Dead", at the San Diego Convention Cent — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a6/Chad_Coleman%2C_David_Morrissey_%26_Norman_Reedus.jpg/1280px-Chad_Coleman%2C_David_Morrissey_%26_Norman_Reedus.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Chad Coleman and David Morrissey speaking at the 2013 San Diego Comic Con International, for "The Walking Dead", at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego](https://film.one/media/person/60643/gallery-f2c457a1240d.jpg) Chad Coleman and David Morrissey speaking at the 2013 San Diego Comic Con International, for "The Walking Dead", at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/71/Chad_Coleman_%26_David_Morrissey.jpg/1280px-Chad_Coleman_%26_David_Morrissey.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![David Morrissey at Showroom Cinema in Sheffield in June 2010.](https://film.one/media/person/60643/gallery-fffece43c78b.jpg) David Morrissey at Showroom Cinema in Sheffield in June 2010. — Paul Cantrell at https://www.flickr.com/photos/starquake/, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2d/DavidMorrisseyJun10.jpg/1280px-DavidMorrisseyJun10.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![David Morrissey](https://film.one/media/person/60643/gallery-c7c5ab1ab92a.jpg) David Morrissey — Image via TMDB
- ![David Morrissey](https://film.one/media/person/60643/gallery-086525164ac2.jpg) David Morrissey — Image via TMDB
- ![David Morrissey](https://film.one/media/person/60643/gallery-2dbe66851daa.jpg) David Morrissey — Image via TMDB
- ![Unfortunately, this is really the only decent picture I got of him. 2014 Fan Expo Canada](https://film.one/media/person/60643/gallery-b32d410441b0.jpg) Unfortunately, this is really the only decent picture I got of him. 2014 Fan Expo Canada — GabboT, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3f/David_Morrissey_%2815131286581%29.jpg/1280px-David_Morrissey_%2815131286581%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![David Morrissey speaking at the 2015 Phoenix Comicon at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Arizona. Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used elsewhere.](https://film.one/media/person/60643/gallery-5eb910bf7c12.jpg) David Morrissey speaking at the 2015 Phoenix Comicon at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Arizona. Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used elsewhere. — Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c2/David_Morrissey_%2817667961303%29.jpg/1280px-David_Morrissey_%2817667961303%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/david-morrissey