---
name: "Paul Eddington"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/paul-eddington"
fi1m_id: "paul-eddington"
imdb_id: "nm0248844"
tmdb_id: 1198078
wikidata_id: "Q955048"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "18 June 1927"
died: "4 November 1995"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 3
average_fi1m_score: 86
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 3
updated: "2026-10-07T11:42:22.370792+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."
---

# Paul Eddington

## Identity

Paul Eddington

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/paul-eddington
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** paul-eddington
- **IMDb ID:** nm0248844
- **TMDB ID:** 1198078
- **Wikidata ID:** Q955048
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Eddington, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q955048, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0248844/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1198078

Actor. Born 18 June 1927 in St John's Wood, London, England, UK. Died 4 November 1995.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 18 June 1927, St John's Wood, London, England, UK
- **Died:** 4 November 1995
- **Active:** 1967–1992
- **Also known as:** 保罗·爱丁顿
- **Frequently works with:** [Antony Jay](https://film.one/person/antony-jay.md), [Derek Fowlds](https://film.one/person/derek-fowlds.md), [Felicity Kendal](https://film.one/person/felicity-kendal.md), [Jonathan Lynn](https://film.one/person/jonathan-lynn.md), [Nigel Hawthorne](https://film.one/person/nigel-hawthorne.md), [Peter Whitmore](https://film.one/person/peter-whitmore.md), [Sydney Lotterby](https://film.one/person/sydney-lotterby.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 86, as actor, over 3 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1960s 84 (1), 1970s 85 (1), 1980s 89 (1)
- **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 0 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 1 of 3 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Comedy 2, Drama 1, Mystery 1, Sci-Fi & Fantasy 1, War & Politics 1
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Eddington, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q955048, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0248844/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1198078

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Yes Minister*](https://film.one/tv/yes-minister.md) (89), [*The Prisoner*](https://film.one/tv/the-prisoner.md) (84)

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

## Fi1m on Paul Eddington

> Paul Eddington makes reserve funny: the frozen smile, the injured dignity, the patience to let someone else have the joke. We rate him highly because his put-upon men remain people, even when the comedy needs them outmanoeuvred.

In *The Good Life* (1975), Paul Eddington's Jerry Leadbetter can be reserved without disappearing beside Penelope Keith's Margo. He gives her room to finish a joke, and she gives him the same consideration. We laughed hardest at their disagreements, because the timing suggests that both have been preparing their replies for some time. Eddington keeps Jerry's personality clear without needing to make every line an occasion. It is the sort of supporting work we recommend watching for itself, particularly when Keith gives him so much to respond to.

The familiar television manner came late in a career that had remained primarily on stage until his late forties. Cobb in *The Prisoner* (1967) was one of the earlier supporting television parts; the series is worth seeing, but it is not where we would send someone to understand Eddington's comedy. His stage appearance in *Absurd Person Singular* (1974) led directly to his casting in *The Good Life*. He continued working in the theatre alongside his later television roles, so the sitcoms should not be mistaken for the whole actor.

Jim Hacker in *Yes Minister* (1980) gave his gift for looking put upon a leading role. Opposite Nigel Hawthorne's Sir Humphrey, he could suggest decency and bewilderment while remaining believable as a man with authority. The frozen smile works because Hacker cannot see why he is funny, and Eddington does not ask us to applaud him for knowing better. The role continued in *Yes, Prime Minister* (1986); the pleasure is still in seeing how long he can maintain his dignity.

Our reservation about *The Good Life* is with its writing. It is too ready to forgive Tom Good. Jerry's reserve remains funny without reducing him to a blank for the louder characters to talk at. With Keith, Eddington makes a disagreement matter to both people, however much we enjoy their handling of it. Start there, and give the quieter half of the exchange your attention.

## Biography

Paul Eddington was an English actor. He played Cobb in the 1967 series *The Prisoner* and Jim Hacker in the BBC sitcoms *Yes Minister* (1980–1984) and *Yes, Prime Minister* (1986–1988). He was also known for the role of Jerry Leadbetter in *The Good Life* (1975–1978).

Eddington began his career in theatre and repertory productions before appearing on television in the 1950s, with roles in series including *The Adventures of Robin Hood*. He received the CBE in 1987 for services to drama. He died in London on 4 November 1995.

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

## On Fi1m (3)

- *Yes Minister* (1980), Fi1m 89, as Jim Hacker — [page](https://film.one/tv/yes-minister.md)
- *The Good Life* (1975), Fi1m 85, as Jerry Leadbetter — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-good-life.md)
- *The Prisoner* (1967), Fi1m 84, as Cobb — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-prisoner.md)

## Complete filmography (73)

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

- *The Good Life: Inside Out* (2025), Actor
- *The Good Life: Secret & Scandals* (2022), as (archive footage)
- *Richard Wilson - Both Feet In the Army* (2013), as (archive footage)
- *All About The Good Life* (2010), Actor
- *The Funny Blokes of British Comedy* (2005), as Jim Hacker, MP / Jerry Leadbetter (archive footage) (uncredited)
- *The Garden Party* (1998), series, Actor
- *The Adventures of Toad* (1996), as Badger
- *The Adventures of Mole* (1995), as Badger
- *The Camomile Lawn* (1992), series, as Richard
- *Performance* (1991), series, as Robert Shallow
- *A Bit of Fry & Laurie* (1989), series, Actor
- *Hammer: The Studio That Dripped Blood* (1987), as Richard Eaton (archive footage)
- *Miss Marple: The Murder at the Vicarage* (1986), as Rev Leonard Clement
- *Omnibus Presents Comic Relief* (1986), series, Actor
- *Yes, Prime Minister* (1986), series, as Jim Hacker
- *Alice in Wonderland* (1985), as White Rabbit (voice)
- *Alice in Wonderland* (1985), series, as White Rabbit
- *Hay Fever* (1984), as David Bliss
- *Royal Variety Performance 1984* (1984), Actor
- *The Funny Side of Christmas* (1982), as James Hacker
- *Outside Edge* (1982), as Roger
- *Let There Be Love* (1982), series, Actor
- *Sin with Our Permission* (1981), as Harry Dudley
- *Yes Minister* (1980), series, as Jim Hacker — Fi1m 89, [page](https://film.one/tv/yes-minister.md)
- *Minder* (1979), series, as Guy Wheeler — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/minder.md)
- *Cinderella CND* (1977), as Mr. Mitchell
- *Jubilee 1977* (1977), series, as Mr Mitchell
- *The Good Life* (1975), series, as Jerry Leadbetter — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-good-life.md)
- *Goodbye* (1975), as Varley
- *Fall of Eagles* (1974), series, as Plekhanov
- *Baxter!* (1973), as Mr Rawling
- *The Amazing Mr. Blunden* (1972), as Vicar
- *The Breaking of Colonel Keyser* (1972), as Vandenburgh
- *The Adventurer* (1972), series, as Charlesworth
- *Van der Valk* (1972), series, as Wolf Gebhardt
- *Villains* (1972), series, as Harvey Percival
- *Justice* (1971), series, as Cooper, Kendall Blumenthal
- *The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes* (1971), series, as Hamer
- *Hine* (1971), series, Actor
- *The Ten Commandments* (1971), series, as Willy
- *The Prime Minister's Daughter* (1970), as Ormston
- *Catweazle* (1970), series, as Vandanti
- *Doomwatch* (1970), series, as Reynolds
- *ITV Saturday Night Theatre* (1969), series, as Paul Bordone
- *The Champions* (1968), series, as Klein
- *The Devil Rides Out* (1968), as Richard Eaton
- *The Prisoner* (1967), series, as Cobb — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-prisoner.md)
- *ITV Playhouse* (1967), series, as Richard, Harry Dudley
- *Half Hour Story* (1967), series, as Tim Phipps-Arnold
- *Johnson Over Jordan* (1965), as George Noble
- *Ring of Spies* (1964), as Johnnie (uncredited)
- *The Spread of the Eagle* (1963), series, as Marcus Brutus
- *Out of This World* (1962), series, as Joe Manx
- *Z-Cars* (1962), series, Actor
- *Faces of Jim* (1961), series, as Colonel Downs
- *The Avengers* (1961), series, as Beaumont — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-avengers-1961.md)
- *Maigret* (1960), series, as Harry Brown
- *The Man Who Was Nobody* (1960), as Franz Reuter
- *Danger Man* (1960), series, as Captain Schulman
- *The Days of Vengeance* (1960), series, as Power
- *Jet Storm* (1959), as Victor Tracer
- *Desert Mice* (1959), as Army Officer (uncredited)
- *The Diary of Samuel Pepys* (1958), series, as William Coventry, Sir William Coventry
- *Ivanhoe* (1958), series, as Robber Chief
- *Rupert of Hentzau* (1957), as Count Luzau-Rischenheim
- *Kenilworth* (1957), series, as Edmund Tressilian
- *The Buccaneers* (1956), series, as Capt. La Forte
- *Sailor Beware* (1956), as Bearded Sailor (Uncredited)
- *Armchair Theatre* (1956), series, as Steve Leeds, Vandenburgh
- *The Secret of the Forest* (1956), as Museum Tour Leader
- *The Adventures of Robin Hood* (1955), series, as 2nd Villager, Count William, Man-at-arms, Pierre of Bordeaux, Patrick, Sir Harold, Bailiff, Connor, Rolfe, Rypon, Aaron, Sir Walter, Look-out, Baron Mornay, Duc de Guise, Count Duprez, Leborgne, Captain, Sir Hugh, Sir Paul, Henry, Sir Reginald Fitzurse, Lieutenant, Tom, Wilfrid, Sir Eustace / Lord G
- *Dixon of Dock Green* (1955), series, as Mr. Birch
- *Sunday Night Theatre* (1950), series, as The Hon. Willoughby Speake

## Gallery

- ![ID of English actor Paul Eddington, with his profile picture colourised. I was not convinced by the typical Photoshop colourisation methods, so today I created  (2017)](https://film.one/media/person/60127/gallery-7aa55d93056f.png) ID of English actor Paul Eddington, with his profile picture colourised. I was not convinced by the typical Photoshop colourisation methods, so today I created  (2017) — Cassowary Colorizations, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9c/ID_of_English_actor_Paul_Eddington_%2836939236674%29.png/1280px-ID_of_English_actor_Paul_Eddington_%2836939236674%29.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Paul Eddington](https://film.one/media/person/60127/gallery-ef30937095be.jpg) Paul Eddington — Rama, CC BY-SA 2.0 fr, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/84/Paul_Eddington.jpg/1280px-Paul_Eddington.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Paul Eddington plaque (2020)](https://film.one/media/person/60127/gallery-5fc3b965b13e.jpg) Paul Eddington plaque (2020) — Megalit, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/13/Paul_Eddington_plaque.jpg/1280px-Paul_Eddington_plaque.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Paul Eddington](https://film.one/media/person/60127/gallery-40f8c857699c.jpg) Paul Eddington — Image via TMDB

---
© 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/paul-eddington