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Ian McDiarmid

Bio: Ian McDiarmid is a Scottish actor and director best known for portraying Emperor Palpatine in the Star Wars film series. He has received an Olivier Award for Best Actor and a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his performances

Born: Fri, Aug 11 1944

Birthplace: Carnoustie, Tayside, Scotland, UK

Ian McDiarmid is 80 years old

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Acting Roles

Crew Roles

Movies (Acting Roles)

Sorted by Release Date

Obi-Wan Kenobi: A Jedi's Return

Ian McDiarmid was 78 in Obi-Wan Kenobi: A Jedi's Return as 'Self - Emperor Palpatine'.

Movie Released: Wed, Sep 07 2022

The Skywalker Legacy

Ian McDiarmid was 75 in The Skywalker Legacy as 'Self'.

Movie Released: Wed, Mar 18 2020

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

Ian McDiarmid was 75 in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker as 'Emperor Palpatine'.

Movie Released: Wed, Dec 18 2019

The Lost City of Z

Ian McDiarmid was 72 in The Lost City of Z as 'Sir George Goldie'.

Movie Released: Wed, Mar 15 2017

Star Wars: Greatest Moments

Ian McDiarmid was 71 in Star Wars: Greatest Moments as 'Self'.

Movie Released: Sat, Dec 26 2015

Star Wars: Evolution of the Lightsaber Duel

Ian McDiarmid was 71 in Star Wars: Evolution of the Lightsaber Duel as 'Self'.

Movie Released: Tue, Dec 15 2015

Star Wars Rebels: The Siege of Lothal

Ian McDiarmid was 70 in Star Wars Rebels: The Siege of Lothal as 'Emperor Palpatine (voice)'.

Movie Released: Sat, Apr 18 2015

The Odds

Ian McDiarmid was 65 in The Odds

Movie Released: Tue, Oct 20 2009

Margaret

Ian McDiarmid was 64 in Margaret as 'Denis Thatcher'.

Movie Released: Thu, Mar 26 2009

Our Hidden Lives

Ian McDiarmid was 61 in Our Hidden Lives as 'B. Charles'.

Movie Released: Mon, Oct 03 2005

Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith

Ian McDiarmid was 60 in Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith as 'Chancellor Palpatine / Darth Sidious'.

Movie Released: Tue, May 17 2005

Star Wars: A Musical Journey

Ian McDiarmid was 60 in Star Wars: A Musical Journey as 'Host'.

Movie Released: Tue, May 03 2005

The Story of Star Wars

Ian McDiarmid was 60 in The Story of Star Wars as 'Palpatine/The Emperor (archive footage)'.

Movie Released: Wed, Aug 18 2004

Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones

Ian McDiarmid was 57 in Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones as 'Chancellor Palpatine'.

Movie Released: Wed, May 15 2002

The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Demons of Deception

Ian McDiarmid was 57 in The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Demons of Deception as 'Prof. Levi'.

Movie Released: Sun, Mar 10 2002

Crime and Punishment

Ian McDiarmid was 57 in Crime and Punishment as 'Porfiry'.

Movie Released: Tue, Feb 12 2002

The Beginning: Making Episode I

Ian McDiarmid was 57 in The Beginning: Making Episode I as 'Self'.

Movie Released: Tue, Oct 16 2001

Sleepy Hollow: Behind the Legend

Ian McDiarmid was 55 in Sleepy Hollow: Behind the Legend as 'Self'.

Movie Released: Tue, May 23 2000

Sleepy Hollow

Ian McDiarmid was 55 in Sleepy Hollow as 'Dr. Lancaster'.

Movie Released: Fri, Nov 19 1999

All the King's Men

Ian McDiarmid was 55 in All the King's Men as 'Rev. Pierrepoint Edwards'.

Movie Released: Sun, Nov 14 1999

Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace

Ian McDiarmid was 54 in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace as 'Senator Palpatine'.

Movie Released: Wed, May 19 1999

Great Expectations

Ian McDiarmid was 54 in Great Expectations as 'Jaggers'.

Movie Released: Mon, Apr 12 1999

Hillsborough

Ian McDiarmid was 52 in Hillsborough as 'Doctor Popper, Coroner'.

Movie Released: Wed, Sep 11 1996

Restoration

Ian McDiarmid was 51 in Restoration as 'Ambrose'.

Movie Released: Fri, Dec 29 1995

Annie: A Royal Adventure

Ian McDiarmid was 51 in Annie: A Royal Adventure as 'Dr. Eli Eon'.

Movie Released: Sat, Nov 18 1995

Heart of Darkness

Ian McDiarmid was 49 in Heart of Darkness as 'Doctor'.

Movie Released: Fri, Oct 01 1993

Chernobyl: The Final Warning

Ian McDiarmid was 46 in Chernobyl: The Final Warning as 'Dr. Vatisenko'.

Movie Released: Mon, Apr 22 1991

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

Ian McDiarmid was 44 in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels as 'Arthur'.

Movie Released: Wed, Dec 14 1988

Gorky Park

Ian McDiarmid was 39 in Gorky Park as 'Prof. Andreev'.

Movie Released: Thu, Dec 15 1983

Return of the Jedi

Ian McDiarmid was 38 in Return of the Jedi as 'The Emperor'.

Movie Released: Wed, May 25 1983

Last Night Another Dissident...

Ian McDiarmid was 36 in Last Night Another Dissident... as 'Fedka'.

Movie Released: Wed, Jul 01 1981

Dragonslayer

Ian McDiarmid was 36 in Dragonslayer as 'Brother Jacopus'.

Movie Released: Fri, Jun 26 1981

Richard's Things

Ian McDiarmid was 36 in Richard's Things as 'Burglar'.

Movie Released: Fri, Dec 26 1980

Sir Henry at Rawlinson End

Ian McDiarmid was 36 in Sir Henry at Rawlinson End as 'Reg Smeeton'.

Movie Released: Fri, Nov 07 1980

The Awakening

Ian McDiarmid was 35 in The Awakening as 'Dr. Richter'.

Movie Released: Wed, Jul 09 1980

Macbeth

Ian McDiarmid was 34 in Macbeth as 'The Porter / Ross'.

Movie Released: Fri, Feb 02 1979

Amazing Stories

Ian McDiarmid was 31 in Amazing Stories as 'Blade'.

Movie Released: Sun, Feb 01 1976

The Likely Lads

Ian McDiarmid was 31 in The Likely Lads as 'Vicar'.

Movie Released: Sun, Feb 01 1976

TV Shows (Acting Roles)

Sorted by Release Date
Ages in TV shows are based off the first air date and may not be accurate. View individual episode details for accurate ages

Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi

Ian McDiarmid was 78+ in Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi as 'Darth Sidious (voice)'.

TV Show Released: First Air Date
Wed, Oct 26 2022

Obi-Wan Kenobi

Ian McDiarmid was 77+ in Obi-Wan Kenobi as 'Emperor Palpatine / Darth Sidious'.

TV Show Released: First Air Date
Thu, May 26 2022

Star Wars: The Bad Batch

Ian McDiarmid was 76+ in Star Wars: The Bad Batch as 'Darth Sidious / Emperor Palpatine (voice), Emperor Palpatine (voice)'.

TV Show Released: First Air Date
Tue, May 04 2021

Britannia

Ian McDiarmid was 73+ in Britannia as 'King Pellenor'.

TV Show Released: First Air Date
Thu, Jan 18 2018

Star Wars Rebels

Ian McDiarmid was 70+ in Star Wars Rebels as 'Emperor Palpatine, Emperor Palpatine (voice)'.

TV Show Released: First Air Date
Mon, Oct 13 2014

37 Days

Ian McDiarmid was 69+ in 37 Days as 'Sir Edward Grey'.

TV Show Released: First Air Date
Thu, Mar 06 2014

Utopia

Ian McDiarmid was 68+ in Utopia as 'Anton'.

TV Show Released: First Air Date
Tue, Jan 15 2013

Star Wars: The Clone Wars

Ian McDiarmid was 64+ in Star Wars: The Clone Wars as 'Darth Sidious (voice) (archive sound)'.

TV Show Released: First Air Date
Fri, Oct 03 2008

City of Vice

Ian McDiarmid was 63+ in City of Vice as 'Henry Fielding'.

TV Show Released: First Air Date
Mon, Jan 14 2008

Elizabeth I

Ian McDiarmid was 61+ in Elizabeth I as 'Lord Burghley'.

TV Show Released: First Air Date
Thu, Sep 29 2005

Charles II: The Power and The Passion

Ian McDiarmid was 59+ in Charles II: The Power and The Passion as 'Sir Edward Hyde'.

TV Show Released: First Air Date
Sun, Nov 16 2003

Spooks

Ian McDiarmid was 57+ in Spooks as 'Prof. Fred Roberts'.

TV Show Released: First Air Date
Mon, May 13 2002

Crime and Punishment

Ian McDiarmid was 57+ in Crime and Punishment as 'Porfiry'.

TV Show Released: First Air Date
Tue, Feb 12 2002

The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones

Ian McDiarmid was 57+ in The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones as 'Professor Jacques Levi'.

TV Show Released: First Air Date
Sun, Jan 13 2002

Cold Lazarus

Ian McDiarmid was 51+ in Cold Lazarus as 'Oliver Morse'.

TV Show Released: First Air Date
Sun, May 26 1996

Karaoke

Ian McDiarmid was 51+ in Karaoke as 'Oliver Morse'.

TV Show Released: First Air Date
Sun, Apr 28 1996

The Modern World: Ten Great Writers

Ian McDiarmid was 43+ in The Modern World: Ten Great Writers as 'Dostoevsky'.

TV Show Released: First Air Date
Sun, Jan 10 1988

Inspector Morse

Ian McDiarmid was 42+ in Inspector Morse as 'Hugo De Vries'.

TV Show Released: First Air Date
Tue, Jan 06 1987

The Nation's Health

Ian McDiarmid was 39+ in The Nation's Health as 'Dr Vernon Davis'.

TV Show Released: First Air Date
Thu, Oct 06 1983

The Professionals

Ian McDiarmid was 33+ in The Professionals as 'Mickey Hamilton'.

TV Show Released: First Air Date
Fri, Dec 30 1977