Donald Sumpter

February 13, 1943 (age 83) Brixworth, Northamptonshire, England, UK
IMDb

Donald Sumpter (born 13 February 1943) is an English actor. He has appeared in film and television since the mid-1960s. One of his early television appearances was the 1968 Doctor Who serial The Wheel in Space with Patrick Troughton as the Doctor. He appeared in Doctor Who again in the 1972 serial The Sea Devils with Jon Pertwee. He also appeared in the Doctor Who spin-off The Sarah Jane Adventures. His early film work included a lead role as real life British criminal Donald Neilson in the 1977 film, The Black Panther. He also appeared in many television films and serials, including adaptations of Dickens' novels: Nicholas Nickleby in 2001, Great Expectations in 1999 and Bleak House in 1985. Also in 1985, he was remembered for the part of villain Ronnie Day in Big Deal. He played the part of suspected serial killer Alexander Bonaparte Cust in the (1992) Agatha Christie's Poirot episode, The ABC Murders. He has also appeared in episodes of Midsomer Murders, The Bill, Holby City, and A Touch of Frost. He also had a recurring role as Uncle Ginger in the Children's BBC series The Queen's Nose. He played Harold Chapple in Our Friends in the North, and portrayed the physicist Max Planck in Einstein and Eddington. He has also been seen as Kemp in the horror-drama series Being Human. In 2011 he portrayed Maester Luwin in the HBO series Game of Thrones. His film appearances include The Constant Gardener (2005), K-19: The Widowmaker (2002), Enigma (2001) and Ultramarines: The Movie (2010).

His titles like The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Eastern Promises, and In the Heart of the Sea - his biggest roles first.
Last updated: August 17, 2026

Watched: 0/48
Weighted avg: 6.62 /10
  • 1
    1
    2011December 2011 by David Fincher
    Minor role as Detective Inspector Gustaf Morell
    Minor role as Detective Inspector Gustaf Morell
    7.01 Good++
  • 2
    2
    2007September 2007 by David Cronenberg
    Supporting as Yuri
    Supporting as Yuri
    6.96 Good+
  • 3
    3
    2015December 2015 by Ron Howard
    Minor role as Paul Macy
    Minor role as Paul Macy
    6.34 Good-
  • 4
    4
    2005August 2005 by Fernando Meirelles
    Supporting as Tim Donohue
    Supporting as Tim Donohue
    6.55 Good-
  • 5
    5
    2002July 2002 by Kathryn Bigelow
    Supporting as Dr. Savran
    Supporting as Dr. Savran
    6.14 Good--
  • 6
    6
    2017October 2017 by Bharat Nalluri
    Supporting as Haddock / Ghost of Marley
    Supporting as Haddock / Ghost of Marley
    6.35 Good-
  • 7
    7
    2010November 2010 by William Monahan
    Minor role as Pentonville Governor
    Minor role as Pentonville Governor
    5.42 Okay-
  • 8
    8
    1991February 1991 by Tom Stoppard
    Supporting as Claudius
    Supporting as Claudius
    6.41 Good-
  • 9
    9
    2001January 2001 by Michael Apted
    Supporting as Leveret
    Supporting as Leveret
    5.85 Okay+
  • 10
    10
    2010December 2010 by Martyn Pick
    Supporting as Pythol (voice)
    Supporting as Pythol (voice)
    5.47 Okay
  • 11
    11
    2008November 2008 by Philip Martin
    Minor role as Max Planck
    Minor role as Max Planck
    6.30 Good--
  • 12
    12
    1995December 1995 by Richard Loncraine
    Minor role as Brackenbury
    Minor role as Brackenbury
    6.28 Good--
  • 13
    13
    2009May 2009 by Thaddeus O'Sullivan
    Minor role as Lord Halifax
    Minor role as Lord Halifax
    5.97 Okay++
  • 14
    14
    2024September 2024 by Kirill Serebrennikov
    Minor role as Eddie's Father
    Minor role as Eddie's Father
    5.96 Okay++
  • 15
    15
    1977December 1977 by Ian Merrick
    Lead role as Donald Neilson
    Lead role as Donald Neilson
    5.80 Okay+
  • 16
    16
    2015 by Charlie Higson
    Supporting as Garson
    Supporting as Garson
    5.64 Okay
  • 17
    17
    2011April 2011 by James Hawes
    Supporting as Peter Edlin QC
    Supporting as Peter Edlin QC
    5.83 Okay+
  • 18
    18
    1968June 1968 by Michael Carreras
    Minor role as Sparks, the Radioman
    Minor role as Sparks, the Radioman
    5.51 Okay
  • 19
    19
    2006December 2006 by Bill Eagles
    Minor role as Alfred Singleton
    Minor role as Alfred Singleton
    5.53 Okay
  • 20
    20
    1971November 1971 by Mike Leigh
    Supporting as Norman's Friend
    Supporting as Norman's Friend
    5.83 Okay+
  • 21
    21
    2001September 2001 by John Glen
    Supporting as Benni Baum
    Supporting as Benni Baum
    5.15 Okay--
  • 22
    22
    1970December 1970 by Derek Ford
    Starring as Steve
    Starring as Steve
    5.39 Okay-
  • 23
    23
    2014September 2014 by Duane Hopkins
    Starring as Grandfather
    Starring as Grandfather
    Needs more reviews
  • 24
    24
    1977March 1977 by James Kenelm Clarke
    Starring as Mark
    Starring as Mark
    Needs more reviews
  • 25
    25
    1999April 1999 by Julian Jarrold
    Minor role as Compeyson
    Minor role as Compeyson
    5.98 Okay++
  • 26
    26
    1974October 1974 by Michael Apted
    Minor role as TV Concert Producer
    Minor role as TV Concert Producer
    5.64 Okay
  • 27
    27
    2001April 2001 by Stephen Whittaker
    Minor role as Mr. Brooker
    Minor role as Mr. Brooker
    6.36 Good-
  • 28
    28
    1979August 1979 by Peter Brook
    Minor role as Pogossian
    Minor role as Pogossian
    6.07 Okay++
  • 29
    29
    1969January 1969 by Lindsay Shonteff
    Supporting as Pete Laver
    Supporting as Pete Laver
    Needs more reviews
  • 30
    30
    2015March 2015 by Alex Holmes
    Supporting as Paddy Ashdown
    Supporting as Paddy Ashdown
    Needs more reviews
  • 31
    31
    1997January 1997 by Stephen Whittaker
    Lead role as Ahmed Yaasin
    Lead role as Ahmed Yaasin
    Needs more reviews
  • 32
    32
    2020
    Lead role as Bishop Peter Ball
    Lead role as Bishop Peter Ball
    Needs more reviews
  • 33
    33
    1982 by Christopher Penfold
    Lead role as Paul Brack
    Lead role as Paul Brack
    Needs more reviews
  • 34
    34
    2006March 2006 by James Hawes
    Minor role as Mr. Gerald Gardiner
    Minor role as Mr. Gerald Gardiner
    Needs more reviews
  • 35
    35
    1991April 1991 by Pedr James
    Starring as Frank
    Starring as Frank
    Needs more reviews
  • 36
    36
    2023–2024 by Matt Morgan
    Starring as Quincy
    Starring as Quincy
    Needs more reviews
  • 37
    37
    1970April 1970 by Eric Till
    Minor role as Max
    Minor role as Max
    Needs more reviews
  • 38
    38
    2010March 2010 by Johan Brisinger
    Starring as Man on bench
    Starring as Man on bench
    Needs more reviews
  • 39
    39
    2008January 2008 by Justin Hardy
    Starring as King Edward
    Starring as King Edward
    Needs more reviews
  • 40
    40
    2014 by Guy Hibbert
    Supporting as Jim Arthurton
    Supporting as Jim Arthurton
    Needs more reviews
  • 41
    41
    2007–2008
    Minor role
    Minor role
    Needs more reviews
  • 42
    42
    1974June 1974 by John Frankau
    Supporting as David
    Supporting as David
    Needs more reviews
  • 43
    43
    1997
    Starring as Supt. John Mayberry
    Starring as Supt. John Mayberry
    Needs more reviews
  • 44
    44
    1981 by John Foster
    Starring as Harry
    Starring as Harry
    Needs more reviews
  • 45
    45
    2007
    Minor role as Simon Martlesham
    Minor role as Simon Martlesham
    Needs more reviews
  • 46
    46
    1981May 1981 by Jonathan Miller
    Minor role as Pompeius
    Minor role as Pompeius
    Needs more reviews
  • 47
    47
    Airing since 1977
    Supporting as Ned Corbould
    Supporting as Ned Corbould
    Needs more reviews
  • 48
    48
    2001
    Minor role as Mr. Brooker
    Minor role as Mr. Brooker
    Needs more reviews
Co-starring with:
James D'Arcy 4 titles
Brett Gelman 1 title
David Calder 1 title
David Prowse 1 title
George MacKay 1 title
Dan Stevens 2 titles
Charles Dance 3 titles
Katie Leung 1 title
Emilia Fox 1 title