--- name: "David Threlfall" canonical: "https://film.one/person/david-threlfall" fi1m_id: "david-threlfall" imdb_id: "nm0861915" tmdb_id: 59081 wikidata_id: "Q5240418" roles: ["Actor","Director"] born: "12 October 1953" reviewed_on_fi1m: 9 average_fi1m_score: 74 average_as: "actor" average_over: 8 updated: "2026-10-07T14:22:58.273170+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 Threlfall ## Identity David Threlfall - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/david-threlfall - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** david-threlfall - **IMDb ID:** nm0861915 - **TMDB ID:** 59081 - **Wikidata ID:** Q5240418 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Threlfall, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5240418, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0861915/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/59081 Actor and director. Born 12 October 1953 in Burnage, Manchester, England, UK. ## Details - **Work:** Actor, Director - **Born:** 12 October 1953, Burnage, Manchester, England, UK - **Active:** 1986–2009 - **Also known as:** دیوید ترلفال - **Titles on Fi1m:** 9: 8 acting, 1 directing - **Average Fi1m score:** 74, as actor, over 8 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 68 (2), 2000s 76 (7) - **Fi1m against the critics:** 71 to 63 across 5 titles - **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 4 at 60–79, 1 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 1 of 4 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Drama 7, History 3, Action 2, Crime 2, War 2, Adventure 1 - **Screen time:** 14 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $551m across 5 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Threlfall, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5240418, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0861915/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/59081 ## Streaming the US now - **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Housewife, 49*](https://film.one/film/housewife-49.md) (77), [*The Clothes in the Wardrobe*](https://film.one/film/the-clothes-in-the-wardrobe.md) (74), [*Nowhere Boy*](https://film.one/film/nowhere-boy.md) (72) - **Apple TV:** [*Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World*](https://film.one/film/master-and-commander-the-far-side-of-the-world.md) (86), [*Shameless*](https://film.one/tv/shameless.md) (75) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on David Threlfall > David Threlfall makes self-satisfaction funny without making it forgivable. We value his timing and his nerve, though *Shameless* sometimes relies on his confidence to get through scenes that needed another pass at the writing. Frank Gallagher lets his self-satisfaction linger until it becomes ridiculous, and David Threlfall knows exactly how long that takes. In Paul Abbott’s *Shameless* (2004), the timing matters as much as the volume. We laughed at Frank’s certainty of his own worth, then grew cross with him because Threlfall gives his unpleasantness no reassuring wink. He allows irritation to survive the joke. That is the acting we value most here: precise enough to keep us watching a man whose company can be exhausting. That precision was being put to work well before Frank. Threlfall’s Smike in the RSC’s stage production of *Nicholas Nickleby* (1980) established his theatre reputation; the 1980s and 1990s brought steady character parts in television and film. In Peter Weir’s *Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World* (2003), he plays Preserved Killick, the captain’s steward, within a naval adventure we recommend warmly despite a middle stretch that needs tightening. *Shameless* then gave him a central role sustained across eleven series. The difficulty comes when Abbott’s programme relies on that central performance instead of giving it a stronger scene. Threlfall can hold our attention through confidence alone, but the writing sometimes lets Frank become exhausting. Rebecca Ryan’s Debbie Gallagher offers a quieter, more watchful presence, and the change of pace is welcome. She need not match his volume to be noticed. The ensemble gives us other people worth watching when Frank has worn us down, which is why the programme remains good company in measured doses. Threlfall also directed nineteen episodes of *Shameless*, so his work on it extends beyond Frank. His comic supporting part as Martin Blower in *Hot Fuzz* (2007) is another reminder that the Gallagher role does not account for a whole career. His close attention to accent and physical detail gives us reason to seek out those other parts, rather than expect another version of the same performance. Start with *Shameless* for the timing, and give the quieter members of its cast equal attention. ## Biography David Threlfall is an English stage, film and television actor and director. He was born on 12 October 1953 in Burnage, Manchester. He trained at Manchester Polytechnic School of Drama. On stage, he won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his performance in *Nicholas Nickleby* (1980). His film roles include Preserved Killick in *Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World* (2003), Martin Blower in *Hot Fuzz* (2007), Inspector Highland in *Patriot Games* (1992), Dr John Dee in *Elizabeth: The Golden Age* (2007), and George Toogood Smith in *Nowhere Boy* (2009). Threlfall is best known for playing Frank Gallagher in the Channel 4 series *Shameless* (2004–2013), for which he also directed several episodes. He has been married to actress Brana Bajic since 1995. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.* ## On Fi1m (9) ### Performed in (8) — the average rests on these - *Nowhere Boy* (2009), Fi1m 72, as George Toogood Smith — [page](https://film.one/film/nowhere-boy.md) - *Elizabeth: The Golden Age* (2007), Fi1m 54, as Dr. John Dee — [page](https://film.one/film/elizabeth-the-golden-age.md) - *Hot Fuzz* (2007), Fi1m 84, as Martin Blower — [page](https://film.one/film/hot-fuzz.md) - *Housewife, 49* (2006), Fi1m 77, as Will Last — [page](https://film.one/film/housewife-49.md) - *Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World* (2003), Fi1m 86, as Preserved Killick, Captain's Steward — [page](https://film.one/film/master-and-commander-the-far-side-of-the-world.md) - *Conspiracy* (2001), Fi1m 83, as Friedrich Wilhelm Kritzinger — [page](https://film.one/film/conspiracy.md) - *The Clothes in the Wardrobe* (1993), Fi1m 74, as Syl — [page](https://film.one/film/the-clothes-in-the-wardrobe.md) - *Patriot Games* (1992), Fi1m 61, as Inspector Highland — [page](https://film.one/film/patriot-games.md) ### Directed (1) - *Shameless* (2004), Fi1m 75, as Frank Gallagher — [page](https://film.one/tv/shameless.md) ## Complete filmography (77) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *The Death of Bunny Munro* (2025), series, as Bunny Snr - *Unforgivable* (2025), as Brian Mitchell - *Bing & Friends: Birthday Celebration* (2024), as Flop (voice) - *Nightsleeper* (2024), series, as Paul Peveril - *Passenger* (2024), series, as Jim Bracknell - *The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin* (2024), series, as Tom King - *Dodger Special: Bad Egg* (2023), as Sir Charles Rowan - *Funny Woman* (2023), series, as George Parker - *Dodger Special: Train* (2022), as Sir Charles Rowan - *Wolfe* (2021), series, as Howard - *Faith Healer* (2020), as Teddy - *Beckett Double Bill (Krapp's Last Tape / The Old Tune)* (2020), as Cream - *Troy: Fall of a City* (2018), series, as Priam - *Urban Myths* (2017), series, as Samuel Beckett - *Midwinter of the Spirit* (2015), series, as Rev Huw Owens - *Code of a Killer* (2015), series, as DCS David Baker - *The Ark* (2015), as Noah - *Black Sea* (2014), as Peters - *Tommy Cooper: Not Like That, Like This* (2014), as Tommy Cooper - *What Remains* (2013), series, as Len Harper - *Ripper Street* (2012), series, as Abel Croker — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/ripper-street.md) - *Nowhere Boy* (2009), as George Toogood Smith — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/nowhere-boy.md) - *Elizabeth: The Golden Age* (2007), as Dr. John Dee — Fi1m 54, [page](https://film.one/film/elizabeth-the-golden-age.md) - *Hot Fuzz* (2007), as Martin Blower — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/hot-fuzz.md) - *Housewife, 49* (2006), as Will Last — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/film/housewife-49.md) - *Ancient Rome: The Rise and Fall of an Empire* (2006), series, as Constantine the Great - *Like Minds* (2006), as John Colbie - *Alien Autopsy* (2006), as Jeffrey - *The Queen's Sister* (2005), as Prince Philip - *Benefit to Mankind* (2004), as Carl Swannee - *Shameless* (2004), series, as Frank Gallagher · Executive Producer, Director — Fi1m 75, [page](https://film.one/tv/shameless.md) - *Celebrity Mastermind* (2003), series, Actor - *Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World* (2003), as Preserved Killick, Captain's Steward — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/film/master-and-commander-the-far-side-of-the-world.md) - *Chunky Monkey* (2003), as Donald Leek - *Spooks* (2002), series, as Keith Moran — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/tv/spooks.md) - *Cutting It* (2002), series, as Beauregard Smee — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/cutting-it.md) - *Conspiracy* (2001), as Friedrich Wilhelm Kritzinger — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/conspiracy.md) - *A Dinner of Herbs* (2000), series, as Older Hal - *In the Beginning* (2000), series, as Aaron - *Mary, Mother of Jesus* (1999), as Joseph of Nazareth - *Sex, Chips & Rock n' Roll* (1999), series, as Norman - *Sex, Chips & Rock n' Roll* (1999), Actor - *Men of the World* (1994), series, as Lenny Smart - *The Clothes in the Wardrobe* (1993), as Syl — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/the-clothes-in-the-wardrobe.md) - *Diana: Her True Story* (1993), as Prince Charles - *A Statement of Affairs* (1993), as Alan - *Patriot Games* (1992), as Inspector Highland — Fi1m 61, [page](https://film.one/film/patriot-games.md) - *A Murder of Quality* (1991), as Stanley Rode - *Titmuss Regained* (1991), series, as Leslie Titmuss - *The Russia House* (1990), as Wicklow - *Nightingales* (1990), series, as Bell - *He's Asking For Me* (1990), as Andy - *A Casualty of War* (1989), as Tom Rowse - *Seeing in the Dark* (1989), as Tony - *Jumping The Queue* (1989), series, as Hugh Warner - *Murderers Among Us: The Simon Wiesenthal Story* (1989), as Alex - *When the Whales Came* (1989), as Jack Jenkins - *The Marksman* (1987), series, as Weaver - *Paradise Postponed* (1986), series, as Leslie Titmuss - *ScreenPlay* (1986), series, as Tony - *Paradise Postponed* (1986), as Leslie Titmus - *Screen Two* (1985), series, as Andy, Syl - *Dog Ends* (1984), as Robert - *The Gathering Seed* (1983), series, as Joe Henshaw - *Red Monarch* (1983), as Vasily - *King Lear* (1983), as Edgar - *Rolling Home* (1982), as Donald - *Objects of Affection* (1982), series, as Donald - *The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby* (1982), series, Actor - *The Brylcreem Boys* (1979), as George Hunn - *Scum* (1977), as Archer - *Here I Stand...* (1977), series, as Stapleton - *The Kiss of Death* (1977), as Trevor - *I Want to Be Like You* (1976), as Steve - *Playhouse* (1974), series, as George Hunn - *Second City Firsts* (1973), series, as Gaz - *Play for Today* (1970), series, as Robert ## Gallery - ![David Threlfall](https://film.one/media/person/98127/gallery-4f34e5189c70.jpg) David Threlfall — Adam Wimpenny, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/43/David_Threlfall_in_character_2013.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![David Threlfall](https://film.one/media/person/98127/gallery-b7281c117fdc.jpg) David Threlfall — Image via TMDB - ![David Threlfall](https://film.one/media/person/98127/gallery-edbab1760960.jpg) David Threlfall — Image via TMDB ## Awards ### Other awards — 1 won, 1 nominated - Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play 1982: Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play (nominated) - Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role 1980: Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role (won) *From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.* --- © 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-threlfall