8.5
TV
Acting
Donald Sumpter
- Born
- (age 83)
- Birthplace
- Brixworth, Northamptonshire, England, UK
- Credits
- 130 titles
Biography
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).
Signature work
Known For
8.5
TV
8.5
TV
Peaky Blinders
8.7
TV
Chernobyl
7.4
Movie
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
8.3
TV
Black Mirror
6.8
Movie
In the Heart of the Sea
7.3
Movie
Eastern Promises
7.6
TV
Doctor Who
7.0
Movie
The Constant Gardener
6.6
Movie
K-19: The Widowmaker
7.4
TV
12 Monkeys
7.8
TV
Merlin
6.5
Movie
The Phoenician Scheme
6.9
Movie
The Man Who Invented Christmas
5.9
Movie
London Boulevard
7.9
TV
Doctor Who
8.2
TV
Agatha Christie's Poirot
7.8
TV
Jesus of Nazareth
Acting credits 130
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | The Phoenician Scheme Film | Chairman |
| 2024 | Limonov: The Ballad Film | Eddie's Father |
| 2023 | Entitled TV | Quincy (8 ep) |
| 2021 | The Cleaner TV | Sir James (1 ep) |
| 2020 | Exposed: The Church's Darkest Secret TV | Bishop Peter Ball (2 ep) |
| 2019 | Chernobyl TV | Zharkov (2 ep) |
| 2018 | Les Misérables TV | Mabeuf (3 ep) |
| 2017 | The Man Who Invented Christmas Film | Haddock / Ghost of Marley |
| 2015 | In the Heart of the Sea Film | Paul Macy |
| 2015 | Jekyll and Hyde TV | Garson (10 ep) |
| 2015 | Coalition Film | Paddy Ashdown |
| 2015 | 12 Monkeys TV | Seer (2 ep) |
| 2014 | One Child TV | Jim Arthurton (4 ep) |
| 2014 | Bypass Film | Grandfather |
| 2014 | New Worlds TV | Sidney (2 ep) |
| 2014 | Quirke TV | Josh Crawford (1 ep) |
| 2013 | Atlantis TV | Tiresius (1 ep) |
| 2013 | Peaky Blinders TV | Arthur Bigge (2 ep) |
| 2013 | The Mill TV | Samuel Greg (4 ep) |
| 2013 | Endeavour TV | Emil Valdemar (1 ep) |
| 2012 | The Secret of Crickley Hall TV | Gordon Pyke (2 ep) |
| 2011 | The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Film | Detective Inspector Gustaf Morell |
| 2011 | Black Mirror TV | Julian Hereford (1 ep) |
| 2011 | The Murder at Road Hill House Film | Peter Edlin QC |
| 2011 | Game of Thrones TV | Maester Luwin (14 ep) |
| 2011 | Way of the Morris Film | Voice of Creation |
| 2010 | Ultramarines: A Warhammer 40,000 Movie Film | Pythol (voice) |
| 2010 | London Boulevard Film | Pentonville Governor |
| 2010 | Among Us Film | Man on bench |
| 2009 | Into the Storm Film | Lord Halifax |
| 2009 | Being Human TV | Kemp (9 ep) |
| 2008 | Einstein and Eddington Film | Max Planck |
| 2008 | Merlin TV | The Fisher King (1 ep) |
| 2008 | Tess of the D'Urbervilles TV | Parson Tringham (3 ep) |
| 2008 | Hello Sailor! Film | |
| 2008 | Heist Film | King Edward |
| 2007 | Heroes and Villains TV | (6 ep) |
| 2007 | The Sarah Jane Adventures TV | Erasmus Darkening (2 ep) |
| 2007 | Eastern Promises Film | Yuri |
| 2007 | Fallen Angel TV | Simon Martlesham (3 ep) |
| 2006 | Dracula Film | Alfred Singleton |
| 2006 | The Chatterley Affair Film | Mr. Gerald Gardiner |
| 2006 | Eleventh Hour TV | (1 ep) |
| 2006 | Anatomy of a Global Thriller: Behind the Scenes of The Constant Gardener Film | Self |
| 2005 | The Constant Gardener Film | Tim Donohue |
| 2005 | Doctor Who TV | The President (1 ep) |
| 2004 | The Eagle: A Crime Odyssey TV | Indenrigsminister Nacuk (2 ep) |
| 2004 | The Long Bank Holiday Film | Alfie Clemens |
| 2004 | New Tricks TV | Bobby 'Tar' Mcadam (1 ep) |
| 2003 | Seven Wonders of the Industrial World TV | Farrington (1 ep) |
| 2003 | The Last Detective TV | (1 ep) |
| 2003 | Serious & Organised TV | Jimmy Fisk (1 ep) |
| 2002 | Rose and Maloney TV | Ronnie Johnson (1 ep) |
| 2002 | Ultimate Force TV | (1 ep) |
| 2002 | K-19: The Widowmaker Film | Dr. Savran |
| 2002 | Spooks TV | Stephen Kirby (1 ep) |
| 2001 | The Point Men Film | Benni Baum |
| 2001 | The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby Film | Mr. Brooker |
| 2001 | The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby TV | Mr. Brooker (2 ep) |
| 2001 | In Deep TV | Keith Sullivan (2 ep) |