
Bill Paterson
ActingAbout Bill Paterson
William Tulloch Paterson (born 3 June 1945) is a Scottish actor. Throughout his career he has appeared regularly in radio drama and provided the narration for a large number of documentaries. Paterson has appeared in films and television series including Comfort and Joy (1984), Traffik (1989), Auf Wiedersehen, Pet (1986), Truly, Madly, Deeply (1990), The Witches (1990), Wives and Daughters (1999), Sea of Souls (2004–2007), Amazing Grace (2006), Miss Potter (2006), Little Dorrit (2008), Doctor Who (2010), Outlander (2014), Fleabag (2016–2019), Inside No. 9 (2018), Good Omens (2019), Brassic (2020) and House of the Dragon (2022). He is a recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Scottish BAFTAs. William Tulloch Paterson was born in Glasgow on 3 June 1945. Paterson was raised in Dennistoun by his father, a plumber, and his mother, a hairdresser. He states that his interest in acting began with a school trip to the Citizens Theatre in the Gorbals in 1961. However, after school he chose to initially pursue a career based on an interest in architecture and spent three years as a quantity surveyor's apprentice before deciding to attend the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama
Career Statistics & Market Influence
Analyzing the cinematic journey of Bill Paterson reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 50 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.
Genre Dominance: Drama
The majority of Bill Paterson's filmography leans towards the Drama genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.
The "Box Office" Signature
With a 70% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Bill Paterson remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in The Day Mountbatten Died, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.
Best Bill Paterson Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Bill Paterson's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Bill Paterson.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | A Bear Named Wojtek | Zoo Director (voice) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2021 | The Colour Room | Gordon Forsythe | Average | Similar → |
| 2020 | Rebecca | Dr. Baker | Average | Similar → |
| 2020 | Marionette | Dr. Mandelbaum | Average | Similar → |
| 2020 | Love Sarah | Felix | Average | Similar → |
| 2019 | The Day Mountbatten Died | Narrator (voice) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2018 | Happy New Year, Colin Burstead | Gordon Burstead | Average | Similar → |
| 2018 | Wonderdate | Kolodon | Average | Similar → |
| 2017 | The Man Who Invented Christmas | Mr. Grimsby | Hit | Similar → |
| 2016 | Churchill's Secret | Lord Moran | Average | Similar → |
| 2015 | The Vote | Simon Featherstone | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2011 | The Man who Crossed Hitler | Kurt Ohnesorge | Hit | Similar → |
| 2009 | Creation | Dr. Gully | Average | Similar → |
| 2009 | Spanish Flu: The Forgotten Fallen | Dr James Niven | Hit | Similar → |
| 2009 | Into the Storm | Clement Attlee | Average | Similar → |
| 2009 | 1929: The Great Crash | Narrator | Hit | Similar → |
| 2008 | Gone Fishing | Old Bill | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2008 | How to Lose Friends & Alienate People | Richard Young | Average | Similar → |
| 2008 | The Madness and Misadventures of Munchausen | Self - 'Henry Salt' | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2007 | Sherlock Holmes and the Baker Street Irregulars | Dr Watson | Hit | Similar → |
| 2006 | Miss Potter | Rupert Potter | Hit | Similar → |
| 2006 | Amazing Grace | Lord Dundas | Hit | Similar → |
| 2006 | A War on Science | Narrator (voice) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2006 | Fascism in Colour | Narrator (voice) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2003 | Bright Young Things | Sir James Brown | Average | Similar → |
| 2002 | Home Road Movies | Father | Average | Similar → |
| 2002 | The Entity | - | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2001 | Othello | Sinclair Carver | Hit | Similar → |
| 2001 | The Whistle-Blower | D.I. Neil Sleightholme | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1999 | Sunshine | Minister of Justice | Hit | Similar → |
| 1998 | Hilary and Jackie | Cello Teacher | Hit | Similar → |
| 1998 | The Animal Train | Walrus | Hit | Similar → |
| 1996 | Chaplin's Goliath | Narrator (voice) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1995 | Richard III | Sir Richard Ratcliffe | Hit | Similar → |
| 1994 | Hard Times | Stephen Blackpool | Hit | Similar → |
| 1992 | In Dreams | Dr Gold | Hit | Similar → |
| 1992 | Chaplin | Stage Manager | Hit | Similar → |
| 1991 | Truly Madly Deeply | Sandy | Hit | Similar → |
| 1990 | Yellowbacks | Alex McPherson | Hit | Similar → |
| 1990 | The Witches | Mr Jenkins | Hit | Similar → |
| 1989 | Bearskin: An Urban Fairytale | Jordan | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1989 | The Return of the Musketeers | Charles I | Average | Similar → |
| 1988 | The Adventures of Baron Munchausen | Henry Salt | Hit | Similar → |
| 1987 | Friendship's Death | Sullivan | Hit | Similar → |
| 1987 | Coming Up Roses | Mr. Valentine | Hit | Similar → |
| 1986 | Defence of the Realm | Jack Macleod | Average | Similar → |
| 1984 | The Killing Fields | Dr. MacEntire | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1984 | A Private Function | Wormold | Average | Similar → |
| 1984 | Comfort and Joy | Alan | Hit | Similar → |
| 1974 | Clydescope | Model Boat Show Commentator (voice) (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
Bill Paterson - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Bill Paterson?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Bill Paterson is "The Day Mountbatten Died" with a rating of 10.0/10.
How many movies has Bill Paterson acted in?
Bill Paterson has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Bill Paterson?
Other notable films include "The Vote", "A Bear Named Wojtek", and "A War on Science".




