---
name: "Kenneth Cranham"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/kenneth-cranham"
fi1m_id: "kenneth-cranham"
imdb_id: "nm0186469"
tmdb_id: 26258
wikidata_id: "Q1229052"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "12 December 1944"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 12
average_fi1m_score: 71
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 12
updated: "2026-10-07T17:33:37.422263+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."
---

# Kenneth Cranham

## Identity

Kenneth Cranham

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/kenneth-cranham
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** kenneth-cranham
- **IMDb ID:** nm0186469
- **TMDB ID:** 26258
- **Wikidata ID:** Q1229052
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenneth_Cranham, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1229052, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0186469/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/26258

Actor. Born 12 December 1944 in Dunfermline - Scotland - UK.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 12 December 1944, Dunfermline - Scotland - UK
- **Active:** 1968–2019
- **Also known as:**  Ken Cranham , Кеннет Крэнем
- **Average Fi1m score:** 71, as actor, over 12 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1960s 76 (1), 1980s 64 (2), 1990s 77 (2), 2000s 83 (2), 2010s 66 (5)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 69 to 64 across 9 titles
- **Score spread:** 4 at 80+, 6 at 60–79, 2 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 7 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 9, Romance 3, Action 2, Family 2, Thriller 2, Action & Adventure 1
- **Screen time:** 13 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $918m across 7 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenneth_Cranham, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1229052, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0186469/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/26258

## Streaming the US now

- **Apple TV:** [*Brideshead Revisited*](https://film.one/tv/brideshead-revisited.md) (83)
- **AMC+:** [*In the Flesh*](https://film.one/tv/in-the-flesh.md) (78)
- **Disney+:** [*Maleficent*](https://film.one/film/maleficent.md) (55)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Hellbound: Hellraiser II*](https://film.one/film/hellbound-hellraiser-ii.md) (44)

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

## Biography

Kenneth Cranham is a British actor. He was born on 12 December 1944 in Dunfermline, Scotland, and trained at the National Youth Theatre and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, graduating in 1966.

His screen credits include Noah Claypole in *Oliver!* (1968), Sergeant Block in *Brideshead Revisited* (1981), the title role in the television series *Shine on Harvey Moon* (1982–1985), Dr Philip Channard in *Hellbound: Hellraiser II* (1988), James Reaper in *Hot Fuzz* (2007), Jimmy Price in *Layer Cake* (2004), King Henry in *Maleficent* (2014), and Gnaeus Pompey Magnus in the series *Rome* (2005).

On stage, Cranham originated the role of Inspector Goole in the 1992 revival of *An Inspector Calls* and played André in Florian Zeller's *The Father*. He received an Olivier Award nomination for the former and won the Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Play for the latter in 2016. He was appointed CBE in 2023 for services to drama.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (12)

- *Official Secrets* (2019), Fi1m 68, as Judge Hyam — [page](https://film.one/film/official-secrets.md)
- *Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool* (2017), Fi1m 66, as Joe Turner — [page](https://film.one/film/film-stars-dont-die-in-liverpool.md)
- *War and Peace* (2016), Fi1m 65, as Uncle Mikhail — [page](https://film.one/tv/war-and-peace.md)
- *Maleficent* (2014), Fi1m 55, as King Henry — [page](https://film.one/film/maleficent.md)
- *In the Flesh* (2013), Fi1m 78, as Vicar Oddie — [page](https://film.one/tv/in-the-flesh.md)
- *Hot Fuzz* (2007), Fi1m 84, as James Reaper — [page](https://film.one/film/hot-fuzz.md)
- *Rome* (2005), Fi1m 82, as Gnaeus Pompey Magnus — [page](https://film.one/tv/rome.md)
- *The Boxer* (1997), Fi1m 68, as Matt MaGuire — [page](https://film.one/film/the-boxer.md)
- *Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit* (1990), Fi1m 86, as Pastor Finch — [page](https://film.one/tv/oranges-are-not-the-only-fruit.md)
- *Hellbound: Hellraiser II* (1988), Fi1m 44, as Dr. Philip Channard / Channard Cenobite — [page](https://film.one/film/hellbound-hellraiser-ii.md)
- *Brideshead Revisited* (1981), Fi1m 83, as Sergeant Block — [page](https://film.one/tv/brideshead-revisited.md)
- *Oliver!* (1968), Fi1m 76, as Noah Claypole — [page](https://film.one/film/oliver.md)

## Complete filmography (171)

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

- *Finding Alice* (2021), series, as Gerry Walsh
- *Trying* (2020), series, as Barry
- *Mr. Jones* (2019), as Lloyd George
- *Official Secrets* (2019), as Judge Hyam — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/film/official-secrets.md)
- *Hatton Garden* (2019), series, as Brian Reader
- *The Spanish Princess* (2019), series, as John Morton
- *Born a King* (2019), as Lord Curzon
- *Egon Schiele: Dangerous Desires* (2018), as Leopold Czihaczek
- *Bancroft* (2017), series, as Charlie Haverstock
- *Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool* (2017), as Joe Turner — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/film/film-stars-dont-die-in-liverpool.md)
- *Strike* (2017), series, as Dennis Creed
- *Dark Ditties Presents: The Offer* (2017), as The Host
- *The White Princess* (2017), series, as John Morton
- *Neil Gaiman's Likely Stories* (2016), series, as Dean Smith
- *War and Peace* (2016), series, as Uncle Mikhail — Fi1m 65, [page](https://film.one/tv/war-and-peace.md)
- *Maleficent* (2014), as King Henry — Fi1m 55, [page](https://film.one/film/maleficent.md)
- *37 Days* (2014), series, as John Burns
- *Inside No. 9* (2014), series, as Rupert — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/inside-no-9.md)
- *The Legend of Hercules* (2014), as Lucius
- *Closed Circuit* (2013), as Cameron Fischer
- *Flying Blind* (2013), as Victor
- *In the Flesh* (2013), series, as Vicar Oddie — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/in-the-flesh.md)
- *Panto!* (2012), as Jerry
- *Suspension of Disbelief* (2012), as Bullock
- *Death in Paradise* (2011), series, as Father John
- *Graffiti Wars* (2011), as Narrator (Voice)
- *National Theatre Live: The Cherry Orchard* (2011), as Firs
- *5 Days of War* (2011), as Michael Stilton
- *The Night Watch* (2011), as Horace Mundy
- *Upstairs Downstairs* (2010), series, as Sgt Ashworth
- *Made in Dagenham* (2010), as Monty Taylor
- *Spanish Flu: The Forgotten Fallen* (2009), as MJ O'Loughlin
- *Moving On* (2009), series, as Mike
- *The Addictions of Sin: WH Auden in His Own Words* (2009), series, as W H Auden
- *Valkyrie* (2008), as Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel
- *Merlin* (2008), series, as Aulfric
- *Tess of the D'Urbervilles* (2008), series, as Mr Clare
- *Heroes and Villains* (2007), series, Actor
- *Heroes & Villains: Napoleon* (2007), as General Carteaux
- *The Man from Montevideo* (2007), as Gary Solway
- *Sinking of the Lusitania: Terror at Sea* (2007), as Captain Turner
- *Hot Fuzz* (2007), as James Reaper — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/hot-fuzz.md)
- *Lilies* (2007), series, as Health Inspector
- *A Good Year* (2006), as Sir Nigel
- *The Line of Beauty* (2006), series, as Sir Maurice Tipper
- *Hannibal: Rome's Worst Nightmare* (2006), as Narrator
- *The Chatterley Affair* (2006), as Older Keith
- *The Lavender List* (2006), as Harold Wilson
- *Rome* (2005), series, as Gnaeus Pompey Magnus — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/rome.md)
- *Mangal Pandey - The Rising* (2005), as Mr. Kent
- *Agatha Christie's Marple* (2004), series, as Rex Fortescue
- *Layer Cake* (2004), as Jimmy Price
- *Trauma* (2004), as DC Jackson
- *Hannibal: The Man Who Hated Rome* (2004), as Narrator
- *The Genius of Mozart* (2004), series, as Leopold Mozart
- *Hustle* (2004), series, as Francis Owen
- *Man Dancin'* (2004), as D.I. Walter 'Pancho' Villers
- *New Tricks* (2004), series, Actor
- *Sparkling Cyanide* (2003), as George Barton
- *Blackball* (2003), as Chairman Collins
- *Murder Investigation Team* (2003), series, as Ray Morgan
- *Killing Hitler* (2003), as Brigadier Sir Stewart Menzies
- *Pollyanna* (2003), as Mr. Pendleton
- *Two Men Went To War* (2002), as Sgt. Peter King
- *Believe Nothing* (2002), series, as DI Aldiss
- *Dickens* (2002), series, as John Forster
- *Night Flight* (2002), as Ted Atwell
- *The Voynich Mystery* (2002), as Narrator
- *Women Talking Dirty* (2001), as George
- *Without Motive* (2000), series, as DCS Derek Henderson
- *Shiner* (2000), as Gibson
- *Born Romantic* (2000), as Barney
- *The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Espionage Escapades* (2000), as Colonel Schmidt
- *Gangster No. 1* (2000), as Tommy
- *The Most Fertile Man in Ireland* (2000), as Da
- *Lady Audley's Secret* (2000), as Sir Michael Audley
- *Kevin & Perry Go Large* (2000), as Vicar
- *Justice in Wonderland* (2000), as George Carman
- *The Murder of Stephen Lawrence* (1999), as Michael Mansfield QC
- *The Last Yellow* (1999), as Len
- *Vigo* (1998), as The Producer
- *RPM* (1998), as Biggerman
- *Our Mutual Friend* (1998), series, as Silas Wegg
- *The Boxer* (1997), as Matt MaGuire — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/film/the-boxer.md)
- *Midnight Man* (1997), as Brigadier Charles Ferguson
- *Midsomer Murders* (1997), series, as Jude Langham — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/tv/midsomer-murders.md)
- *The Tenant of Wildfell Hall* (1996), series, as Reverend Michael Millward
- *Deep in the Heart* (1996), as Robert Flaherty
- *On Dangerous Ground* (1996), as Brigadier Charles Ferguson
- *Dalziel and Pascoe* (1996), series, as Tommy Collingwood
- *Bed of Roses* (1996), as Simon
- *Kavanagh Q.C.* (1995), series, as Roy Lawrence
- *Requiem Apache* (1994), as Tony
- *The Vision Thing* (1993), as Dick Naughton
- *Royal Celebration* (1993), as Douglas
- *He-Play She-Play* (1993), series, as Detective Inspector
- *Tale of a Vampire* (1993), as Edgar
- *Monkey Boy* (1992), as Hennessey
- *A Little Bit of Lippy* (1992), as Reggie Titherington
- *Between the Lines* (1992), series, as DCI Stubbs
- *Heartbeat* (1992), series, as Charlie Wallace
- *The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles* (1992), series, as Colonel Schmidt
- *Murder Most Horrid* (1991), series, as Insp Salford
- *Under Suspicion* (1991), as Frank Vance
- *Prospero's Books* (1991), as Sebastian
- *Chimera* (1991), series, as Hennessey
- *Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit* (1990), series, as Pastor Finch — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/oranges-are-not-the-only-fruit.md)
- *Rules of Engagement* (1989), series, as Martin Goodman
- *A Master of the Marionettes* (1989), as Teddy
- *Just Another Secret* (1989), as Brosch
- *Hellbound: Hellraiser II* (1988), as Dr. Philip Channard / Channard Cenobite — Fi1m 44, [page](https://film.one/film/hellbound-hellraiser-ii.md)
- *The Black and Blue Lamp* (1988), as Supt. Cherry
- *Stealing Heaven* (1988), as Vice Chancellor Suger
- *Chocolat* (1988), as Jonathan Boothby
- *The Party* (1988), as Joe Shawcross
- *Normal Service* (1988), as Peter
- *The Play on One* (1988), series, as Peter, Joe Shawcross, Teddy Rose
- *The Birthday Party* (1987), as Stanley Webber
- *Inspector Morse* (1987), series, as Cedric Downes — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/inspector-morse.md)
- *Making Waves* (1987), as Joe Nash
- *A Sort of Innocence* (1986), series, Actor
- *Casualty* (1986), series, as James Lawrence — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/tv/casualty.md)
- *ScreenPlay* (1986), series, as Supt. Cherry, Reggie Titherington, Dick Naughton
- *Lovejoy* (1986), series, as Litvak
- *Dead Man's Folly* (1986), as Insp. Bland
- *Lady Windermere's Fan* (1985), as Lord Darlington
- *Theatre Night* (1985), series, as Stanley
- *The Dumb Waiter* (1985), as Gus
- *Natural World* (1983), series, Actor
- *Reilly: Ace of Spies* (1983), series, as Lenin
- *The Bell* (1982), series, as Nick Fawley
- *Shine on Harvey Moon* (1982), series, as Harvey Moon
- *Brideshead Revisited* (1981), series, as Sergeant Block — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/brideshead-revisited.md)
- *The Caretaker* (1981), as Aston
- *The Sin Bin* (1981), as Alan Grieves
- *The Merchant of Venice* (1980), as Gratiano
- *'Tis Pity She's a Whore* (1980), as Giovanni
- *Cribb* (1980), series, as Francis Mostyn-Smith
- *Therese Raquin* (1980), series, as Camille Raquin
- *Donkeys' Years* (1980), as Bill Taylor
- *Minder* (1979), series, as Walter — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/minder.md)
- *Danger UXB* (1979), series, as Sapper Salt, L / Corporal Salt
- *Butterflies Don't Count* (1978), as Tom
- *Strangers* (1978), series, as Willie Bruce, DCI Jim Lennard
- *Enemy at the Door* (1978), series, as Jack Foster
- *Joseph Andrews* (1977), as The Wicked Squire
- *Robin and Marian* (1976), as Jack's Apprentice
- *Against the Crowd* (1975), series, as Geoff Smailes
- *Vampira* (1974), as Paddy
- *The Changeling* (1974), as Antonio
- *Achilles Heel* (1973), as Gordon
- *Crown Court* (1972), series, as John Tucker
- *Van der Valk* (1972), series, as Dirk Boutsen
- *New Scotland Yard* (1972), series, as David Collins
- *Brother Sun, Sister Moon* (1972), as Paolo
- *Budgie* (1971), series, as Inky Ballantine
- *Up Pompeii* (1971), as Christian
- *Play for Today* (1970), series, as Alan Grieves, Tom
- *From a Bird's Eye View* (1970), series, as Tim O'Donovan
- *Fragment of Fear* (1970), as Joe
- *All the Way Up* (1970), as Tom Midway
- *Sling Your Hook* (1969), as Roland
- *Otley* (1969), as Kid
- *ITV Saturday Night Theatre* (1969), series, as Terry
- *Oliver!* (1968), as Noah Claypole — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/film/oliver.md)
- *Death of a Private* (1967), as Young intellectual
- *ITV Playhouse* (1967), series, as Private Seaton
- *Boy Meets Girl* (1967), series, as Tom Last
- *BBC Play of the Month* (1965), series, as Antonio
- *Thirty-Minute Theatre* (1965), series, as Charlie, Barry
- *Coronation Street* (1960), series, as Roy — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/coronation-street.md)

---
© 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/kenneth-cranham