Nigel Hawthorne

April 5, 1929 - December 26, 2001 Hertfordshire, England, UK

Sir Nigel Barnard Hawthorne (April 5, 1929 – December 26, 2001) was an English actor, perhaps best remembered for his role as Sir Humphrey Appleby, the Permanent Secretary in the 1980s sitcom Yes Minister and the Cabinet Secretary in its sequel, Yes, Prime Minister. For this role he would win four Bafta Awards during the 1980s in the 'Best Light Entertainment Performance' Category. In the 1990s He would win two more Bafta Awards, one as Best TV Actor for 'The Fragile Heart' and one as Best Film Actor for 'The Madness of King George'. His role in the latter also garnered him his sole Oscar Nomination.

His titles like Tarzan, Demolition Man, and Amistad - his biggest roles first.
Last updated: August 19, 2026

Watched: 0/53

Weighted avg: 6.59 /10

1

1

Tarzan

1999June 1999 by Chris Buck

Supporting as Professor Archimedes Q. Porter (voice)

Supporting as Professor Archimedes Q. Porter (voice)

7.03 Good++
2

2

Demolition Man

1993October 1993 by Marco Brambilla

Supporting as Dr. Raymond Cocteau

Supporting as Dr. Raymond Cocteau

6.36 Good-
3

3

Amistad

1997December 1997 by Steven Spielberg

Starring as Martin Van Buren

Starring as Martin Van Buren

6.57 Good
4

4

The Black Cauldron

1985July 1985 by Ted Berman

Supporting as Fflewddur Fflam (voice)

Supporting as Fflewddur Fflam (voice)

5.94 Okay++
5

5

The Madness of King George

1994December 1994 by Nicholas Hytner

Lead role as George III

Lead role as George III

6.32 Good--
6

6

Firefox

1982June 1982 by Clint Eastwood

Supporting as Pyotr Baranovich

Supporting as Pyotr Baranovich

5.64 Okay
7

7

Watership Down

1978October 1978 by Martin Rosen

Minor role as Captain Campion (voice)

Minor role as Captain Campion (voice)

6.76 Good
8

8

The Object of My Affection

1998April 1998 by Nicholas Hytner

Supporting as Rodney Fraser

Supporting as Rodney Fraser

5.38 Okay-
9

9

The Plague Dogs

1982October 1982 by Martin Rosen

Supporting as Dr. Boycott (voice)

Supporting as Dr. Boycott (voice)

7.27 Excellent--
10

10

Madeline

1998July 1998 by Daisy von Scherler Mayer

Starring as Lord Covington

Starring as Lord Covington

5.78 Okay+
11

11

Call Me Claus

2001December 2001 by Peter Werner

Starring as Nick

Starring as Nick

5.39 Okay-
12

12

Yes Minister

1980–1982 by Jonathan Lynn

Starring as Sir Humphrey Appleby

Starring as Sir Humphrey Appleby

7.30 Excellent--
13

13

Yes, Prime Minister

1986–1988 by Antony Jay

Starring as Sir Humphrey Appleby

Starring as Sir Humphrey Appleby

7.24 Excellent--
14

14

Richard III

1995December 1995 by Richard Loncraine

Minor role as The Duke of Clarence

Minor role as The Duke of Clarence

6.28 Good--
15

15

Twelfth Night

1996October 1996 by Trevor Nunn

Starring as Malvolio

Starring as Malvolio

6.39 Good-
16

16

The Winslow Boy

1999March 1999 by David Mamet

Starring as Arthur Winslow

Starring as Arthur Winslow

6.23 Good--
17

17

Freddie As F.R.O.7.

1992August 1992 by Jon Acevski

Starring as Brigadier G (voice)

Starring as Brigadier G (voice)

5.45 Okay
18

18

Murder in Mind

1997August 1997 by Andrew Morahan

Lead role as Dr. Ellis

Lead role as Dr. Ellis

5.78 Okay+
19

19

The Hiding Place

1975May 1975 by James F. Collier

Supporting as Pastor De Ruiter

Supporting as Pastor De Ruiter

6.21 Good--
20

20

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

1982February 1982 by Michael Tuchner

Supporting as Magistrate at Esmeralda's trial

Supporting as Magistrate at Esmeralda's trial

5.68 Okay+
21

21

Inside

1996August 1996 by Arthur Penn

Lead role as Colonel

Lead role as Colonel

5.70 Okay+
22

22

Higher Love

2001May 2001 by John Huddles

Starring as Uncle Cullen

Starring as Uncle Cullen

6.00 Okay++
23

23

The Big Brass Ring

1999April 1999 by George Hickenlooper

Starring as Kim Mennaker

Starring as Kim Mennaker

5.58 Okay
24

24

Dead on Time

1983January 1983 by Lyndall Hobbs

Starring as Doctor

Starring as Doctor

6.05 Okay++
25

25

A Tale of Two Cities

1980December 1980 by Jim Goddard

Supporting as Mr. CJ Stryver

Supporting as Mr. CJ Stryver

5.90 Okay++
26

26

Memoirs of a Survivor

1981September 1981 by David Gladwell

Supporting as Victorian Father

Supporting as Victorian Father

5.46 Okay
27

27

Sweeney 2

1978March 1978 by Tom Clegg

Supporting as Det. Chief Insp. Dilke

Supporting as Det. Chief Insp. Dilke

5.95 Okay++
28

28

The Knowledge

1979January 1979 by Bob Brooks

Starring as Mr Burgess

Starring as Mr Burgess

6.01 Okay++
29

29

Carve Her Name with Pride

1958February 1958 by Lewis Gilbert

Minor role as Park Soldier (uncredited)

Minor role as Park Soldier (uncredited)

5.84 Okay+
30

30

Turtle Diary

1985December 1985 by John Irvin

Minor role as Publisher

Minor role as Publisher

5.96 Okay++
31

31

Mapp & Lucia

1985–1986 by Gerald Savory

Starring as Georgie Pillson

Starring as Georgie Pillson

Needs more reviews
32

32

S*P*Y*S

1974September 1974 by Irvin Kershner

Minor role as Croft

Minor role as Croft

5.70 Okay+
33

33

RARG

1988March 1988 by Tony Collingwood

Lead role as Storyteller

Lead role as Storyteller

Needs more reviews
34

34

Forbidden Territory: Stanley's Search for Livingstone

1997December 1997 by Simon Langton

Starring as David Livingstone

Starring as David Livingstone

Needs more reviews
35

35

Victoria & Albert

2001August 2001 by John Erman

Minor role as Lord William Lamb

Minor role as Lord William Lamb

6.26 Good--
36

36

A Woman Called Golda

1982April 1982 by Alan Gibson

Minor role as King Abdullah

Minor role as King Abdullah

6.25 Good--
37

37

Warrior Queen

1978

Lead role as Catus Decianus

Lead role as Catus Decianus

Needs more reviews
38

38

Atatürk: Founder of Modern Turkey

1999January 1999 by Tarquin Olivier

Starring as Sir Percy Lorraine, British Ambassador

Starring as Sir Percy Lorraine, British Ambassador

Needs more reviews
39

39

King of the Wind

1990May 1990 by Peter Duffell

Supporting as Achmet

Supporting as Achmet

Needs more reviews
40

40

The Barchester Chronicles

1982 by Alan Plater

Supporting as Dr Grantly

Supporting as Dr Grantly

Needs more reviews
41

41

The Trials of Oz

1991November 1991 by Sheree Folkson

Supporting as Brian Leary

Supporting as Brian Leary

Needs more reviews
42

42

A Handful of Time

1989October 1989 by Martin Asphaug

Minor role as Ted Walker

Minor role as Ted Walker

Needs more reviews
43

43

Russia's War: Blood Upon the Snow

1996–1998

Lead role as Narrator

Lead role as Narrator

Needs more reviews
44

44

A Reasonable Man

1999August 1999 by Gavin Hood

Starring as Judge Wendon

Starring as Judge Wendon

Needs more reviews
45

45

The Chain

1984November 1984 by Jack Gold

Minor role as Mr Thorn

Minor role as Mr Thorn

Needs more reviews
46

46

The Sailor's Return

1978November 1978 by Jack Gold

Supporting as Mr Fosse

Supporting as Mr Fosse

Needs more reviews
47

47

The House

1984September 1984 by Mike Figgis

Starring as General Fagg

Starring as General Fagg

Needs more reviews
48

48

The Fragile Heart

1996

Lead role as Dr. Edgar Pascoe

Lead role as Dr. Edgar Pascoe

Needs more reviews
49

49

Jenny's War

1985

Supporting as Colonel

Supporting as Colonel

Needs more reviews
50

50

Marie Curie

1977

Supporting as Pierre Curie

Supporting as Pierre Curie

Needs more reviews
51

51

The Tempest

1980February 1980 by John Gorrie

Supporting as Stephano

Supporting as Stephano

Needs more reviews
52

52

Pope John Paul II

1984April 1984 by Herbert Wise

Minor role as Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski

Minor role as Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski

Needs more reviews
53

53

Victoria & Albert

2001 by John Goldsmith

Starring as Viscount Melbourne

Starring as Viscount Melbourne

Needs more reviews