--- name: "John Shrapnel" canonical: "https://film.one/person/john-shrapnel" roles: ["Actor"] born: "27 April 1942" died: "14 February 2020" reviewed_on_fi1m: 3 average_fi1m_score: 82 average_as: "actor" average_over: 3 updated: "2026-09-18T10:37:08.284224+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." --- # John Shrapnel Actor. Born 27 April 1942 in Birmingham, England, UK. Died 14 February 2020. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 27 April 1942, Birmingham, England, UK - **Died:** 14 February 2020 - **Active:** 1991–2000 - **Also known as:** John Morley Shrapnel - **Average Fi1m score:** 82, as actor, over 3 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 82 (2), 2000s 84 (1) - **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 1 at 60–79, 0 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 0 of 1 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Drama 2, Action 1, Adventure 1, Comedy 1, Romance 1 - **Screen time:** 5 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $829m across 2 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Shrapnel, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1375689, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0795344/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/940 ## Streaming the US now - **Hulu:** [*Gladiator*](https://film.one/film/gladiator.md) (84) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Biography John Morley Shrapnel (1942–2020) was an English actor known for his stage work with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre, as well as numerous film and television appearances. He trained at the City of London School and St Catharine's College, Cambridge, and began his professional career in 1965. His film roles included Senator Gaius in *Gladiator* (2000), Nestor in *Troy* (2004), Mr Skinner in *101 Dalmatians* (1996) and the PR Chief in *Notting Hill* (1999). On television he played Deputy Assistant Commissioner Dunning in the series *Between the Lines* (1992) and appeared in productions such as *Elizabeth R* (1971) and *Midsomer Murders*. Shrapnel was married to Francesca Ann Bartley from 1975 until his death; they had three sons, including actor Lex Shrapnel. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.* ## On Fi1m (3) - *Gladiator* (2000), Fi1m 84, as Gaius — [page](https://film.one/film/gladiator.md) - *Notting Hill* (1999), Fi1m 78, as PR Chief — [page](https://film.one/film/notting-hill.md) - *G.B.H.* (1991), Fi1m 85, as Dr Jacobs — [page](https://film.one/tv/g-b-h.md) ## Complete filmography (130) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Hamlet Within* (2022), Acting - *The Lions Rule* (2017), series, as Narrator (voice) - *King Charles III* (2017), as Archbishop of Canterbury - *Britain's Nuclear Bomb - The Inside Story* (2017), as Narrator (Voice) - *The Return of the Flying Scotsman* (2016), as Narrator - (Voice) - *Branagh Theatre Live: The Winter's Tale* (2015), as Camilo - *Hamlet* (2015), as Claudius/Ghost - *OXI, an Act of Resistance* (2014), as Creon - *Building Burma's Death Railway: Moving Half the Mountain* (2014), as Narrator - *National Theatre Live: Macbeth* (2013), as Duncan/Seyton/Old Man - *Run.* (2013), as St. Peter - *The Awakening* (2011), as Reverend Hugh Purslow - *National Theatre Live: Phèdre* (2009), as Théramène - *An Organization of Dreams* (2009), as Father - *Apparitions* (2008), series, as Cardinal Bukovak - *Merlin* (2008), series, as The Sarrum - *The Duchess* (2008), as General Grey - *Mirrors* (2008), as Lorenzo Sapelli - *Chemical Wedding* (2008), as Crowley - *Elizabeth: The Golden Age* (2007), as Lord Howard - *Once Upon a Time on the Westway* (2007), as Billy Palmer - *Ancient Rome: The Rise and Fall of an Empire* (2006), series, as Pompey - *Alien Autopsy* (2006), as Michael Kuhn - *Wachau - Valley of Golden Magic* (2005), as Narrator (English Version) - *Shadow of the Sword* (2005), as Archbishop - *Seven Wonders of Ancient Greece* (2004), as Narrator - *Troy* (2004), as Nestor - *I Am Not an Animal* (2004), series, as Narrator (voice) - *Seven Wonders of Ancient Egypt* (2004), as Narrator - *New Tricks* (2004), series, as DAC John Felsham - *Seven Wonders of Ancient Rome* (2004), as Narrator - *The Race for Everest* (2003), as Narrator - *Wild Women of Viramba* (2003), as Narrator - *Schönbrunn - Well of Beauty* (2002), as Narrator (English Version) - *Foyle's War* (2002), series, as Raymond Brooks - *Whistle* (2002), as Paul - *K-19: The Widowmaker* (2002), as Admiral Bratyeev - *Claim* (2002), as Lex Vandenberg - *Alone* (2002), as Hannah - *The Inspector Lynley Mysteries* (2002), series, as Sergent Mike McCaffrey - *The Gentleman Thief* (2001), as Monty Sinclair - *Animals of the Ocean Desert* (2001), as Narrator - *Waking the Dead* (2001), series, as John Christie - *Mountain Men: The Ghosts of K2* (2001), as Narrator - *The Body* (2001), as Moshe Cohen - *The Misfit and the Matterhorn* (2001), as Narrator - *Horizon: Supermassive Black Holes* (2000), as Narrator - *Gladiator* (2000), as Gaius — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/gladiator.md) - *The 10th Kingdom* (2000), series, as Governor of Prison - *Mary, Mother of Jesus* (1999), as Simon - *Notting Hill* (1999), as PR Chief — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/notting-hill.md) - *Hornblower: The Frogs and the Lobsters* (1999), as General Charette - *The Strange Case of Delfina Potocka* (1999), as Iwaszkiewicz - *Solo Shuttle* (1998), as Cain - *Lion Queen* (1998), as Narrator (voice) - *Invasion: Earth* (1998), series, as Air Marshal Bentley - *St. Stephen's: The Living Cathedral* (1997), as Narrator (English voice) - *Predators Killing for a Living* (1997), series, Acting - *Jonathan Creek* (1997), series, as Prof. Lance Graumann — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/jonathan-creek.md) - *Bodyguards* (1997), series, as Commander Alan MacIntyre - *Midsomer Murders* (1997), series, as Max Jennings, Leo Clarke - *True Tilda* (1997), series, as Reverand Glasson - *101 Dalmatians* (1996), as Skinner - *Two Deaths* (1996), as Cinca - *Alien Empire* (1996), series, as Narrator - *Coogan's Run* (1995), series, as Douglas Crown - *King Arthur: His Life and Legends* (1995), Acting - *Kavanagh Q.C.* (1995), series, as Mr. Justice Griffin - *England, My England* (1995), as Samuel Pepys - *Fatherland* (1994), as General Globus - *Wycliffe* (1994), series, as Dr. Sam Malvern - *Selling Hitler* (1993), as Gerd Schulte-Hillen - *Hamlet* (1992), as Claudius - *Shakespeare: The Animated Tales* (1992), series, as Claudius / The Ghost (voice) - *Between the Lines* (1992), series, as Deputy Assistant Commissioner Dunning, D.C.C. Dunning - *SS-3: The Assassination of Reinhard Heydrich* (1992), as Narrator - *Selling Hitler* (1991), series, as Gerd Schülte-Hillen - *G.B.H.* (1991), series, as Dr Jacobs — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/tv/g-b-h.md) - *For the Greater Good* (1991), series, as Norman May-Boys MP - *The Tragedy of Flight 103: The Inside Story* (1990), as BKA Police Chief - *Centrepoint* (1990), series, as Claud Wareing - *The Chief* (1990), series, as Dan Cheyney - *Blackeyes* (1989), series, as Detective Blake - *About Face* (1989), series, Acting - *How to Get Ahead in Advertising* (1989), as Psychiatrist - *Testimony* (1988), as Andre Zhdanov - *The Modern World: Ten Great Writers* (1988), series, as Thomas Mann - *Vanity Fair* (1987), series, as Lord Steyne - *Partition* (1987), as General Flood - *Personal Services* (1987), as Lionel - *Theban Plays: Antigone* (1986), as Creon - *Theban Plays: Oedipus at Colonus* (1986), as Creon - *Theban Plays: Oedipus the King* (1986), as Creon - *The Burston Rebellion* (1985), as Rev. Charles Tucker Eland - *Poppyland* (1985), as George Sims - *Screen Two* (1985), series, as Rev. Charles Tucker Eland, Heiger - *Sorrell and Son* (1984), series, as Thomas Roland - *Mr. Palfrey of Westminster* (1984), series, as Adrian Vyner - *Natural World* (1983), series, as Narrator - *King Lear* (1982), as Earl of Kent - *The Woman in White* (1982), series, as Sir Percival Glyde - *Troilus & Cressida* (1981), as Hector - *Private Schulz* (1981), series, as German Newsreel Commentator (voice, uncredited) - *Timon of Athens* (1981), as Alcibiades - *The Tom Machine* (1980), Acting - *The Victim* (1980), as Vincent Craig - *Screenplay* (1979), series, as Matthias Erzberger - *Gossip from the Forest* (1979), as Matthias Erzberger - *Edward and Mrs Simpson* (1978), series, as Major Alexander Hardinge - *Edward & Mrs. Simpson* (1978), as Maj. Alexander Hardinge - *Flayed* (1978), as Robert - *Armchair Thriller* (1978), series, as Vincent Craig - *The Three Hostages* (1977), as Gaudian - *Professional Foul* (1977), as McKendrick - *BBC2 Play of the Week* (1977), series, as McKendrick, Robert - *Hitting Town* (1976), as Leonard Brazil (voice) - *Plays for Britain* (1976), series, as Voice of Leonard Brazil - *Hennessy* (1975), as Tipaldi - *Space: 1999* (1975), series, as Jack Tanner - *King Lear* (1975), as Duke of Cornwall - *Good Girl* (1974), series, as Christopher Wimple - *Pope Joan* (1972), as Father James - *Nicholas and Alexandra* (1971), as Petya - *Justice* (1971), series, as Roger Anderson - *Elizabeth R* (1971), series, as Earl of Sussex - *It's Called the Sugar Plum* (1969), as Wally Zuckerman - *The Ha-Ha* (1969), as Jamie - *Omnibus* (1967), series, as Zborowski - *ITV Playhouse* (1967), series, as Schoner - *BBC Play of the Month* (1965), series, as Duke of Cornwall, Viktor Myshlaevsky --- © 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/john-shrapnel