Kevin McKidd

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Kevin McKidd

McKidd at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival
Born 9 August 1973 (1973-08-09) (age 38)
Elgin, Moray, Scotland
Occupation Actor
Years active 1996–present
Spouse Jane Parker (1999 - present) 2 children

Kevin McKidd (born 9 August 1973) is a Scottish television and film actor and director. Before playing the role of Owen Hunt in Grey's Anatomy, McKidd starred as Lucius Vorenus in the historical drama series Rome, Tommy in Danny Boyle's Trainspotting, and provided the voice of Captain John "Soap" Mactavish in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and the sequel Modern Warfare 3.

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[edit] Early life

McKidd was born and brought up in Elgin, in the north of Scotland. His father was a plumber and his mother, Kathleen, a secretary.[1][2] He attended Seafield Primary School and Elgin Academy, and was a member of the local amateur dramatic group, Moray Youth Theatre. Planning to study engineering, he attended the University of Edinburgh, but dropped out and instead enrolled at Queen Margaret College in Edinburgh to study drama. He also joined Edinburgh University's student theatre company, Bedlam Theatre where he performed as a member of the improvised comedy troupe The Improverts.

[edit] Career

After playing Tommy in Trainspotting, McKidd was cast as Father Deegan in the 1996 Christmas episode of 'Father Ted.' Subsequent roles include Malky Johnson in Small Faces.[3] In 2004, he played James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell, the third husband of Mary, Queen of Scots, in the BBC mini-series Gunpowder, Treason & Plot.

In 1999 he was part of an ensemble cast in Mike Leigh's Topsy Turvy, based on the writing and rehearsal for Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado. The actors researched their historical characters and used this knowledge during extensive rehearsals to help develop dialog for scenes blocked out by Leigh. McKidd, like the rest of the cast, did his own singing in the Gilbert & Sullivan operettas portrayed in the film.

In 2001 he played Elliot in a British film by Caleb Lindsay called Understanding Jane. He appeared in Ridley Scott's Kingdom of Heaven, the 2002 film adaptation of Nicholas Nickleby. In Neil Marshall's horror film, Dog Soldiers, he appeared as Pte Lawrence Cooper. In the 2005 BBC drama, The Virgin Queen, he played Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk.

In 1998, McKidd was in the four-part BBC2 series Looking After Jo Jo, playing the role of Basil. He was also one of the main stars of the joint HBO/BBC series Rome, where his portrayal of the soldier/politician Lucius Vorenus received critical acclaim.[4] The role gained him recognition in the US.[3]

Additional work includes his role in the Silence of the Lambs prequel Hannibal Rising (2007). In late 2007, McKidd began his role as the lead character in the American Fantasy television series Journeyman on NBC.[5] The show suffered from low ratings and only thirteen episodes were produced.

His role in Rome led to McKidd's casting in the medical drama series Grey's Anatomy as Dr. Owen Hunt.[3] He made his directorial debut in the series' seventh season,[3] directing the episode "Don't Deceive Me (Please Don't Go)". McKidd commented of the debut, "It's something I've really wanted to do for a long time. Shonda Rhimes and the producers all supported me and gave me the chance, and when you think it costs around $5million to make an episode, that's a lot to hang on an actor who really hasn't had any experience."[3] He won the award for "Best Performance in a Drama Series Multi-Episode Storyline" at the 14th Prism Awards for his work in "Grey's Anatomy".

McKidd has done voice work and voiced the character of Jezz Torrent, flame haired lead singer of the fictional Scottish hard rock band Love Fist in the video games "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City". He is also credited with playing a voice-over for the character John "Soap" MacTavish in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.[6] McKidd was in talks in 2008 to portay Conner Macleod in a big screen remake of the 1986 fantasy movie Highlander though no word on casting has come out.

[edit] Speyside Sessions

McKidd instigated a Scottish Folk music album that was recorded in 2011/12 at Hogmanay in his home town of Elgin. Many of the contributors to this 'collective' album are old school friends of McKidd's. The album is to be released in the summer of 2012 in aid of charity.

Many of the tracks on the album are reported to be folk songs that were handed down through the generations, as well as traditional Scottish Songs by Robert Burns. The Scottish poet who wrote 'Auld Lang Syne'

According to accounts from McKidd's twittering, this seems to be one of his most personal projects to date.[7]

[edit] Personal life

McKidd married Jane Parker in 1999 and has two children, Joseph and Iona; the family resides in Los Angeles during filming of Grey's Anatomy,[citation needed] but try to go back to Scotland or the UK at least twice a year.[3]

Playing a doctor has led the actor to support the P3 Project, a friend's charity focusing on African paediatric care.[3]

[edit] Filmography

Kevin McKidd, 29 August 2010

[edit] Television

[edit] Director

[edit] Voice work

[edit] References

  1. ^ Hayes, Lorién (1 October 2000). "Kevin McKidd". The Guardian (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2000/oct/01/comment. Retrieved 7 May 2010. 
  2. ^ Scheindlin, Dahlia (20 June 2011). "Cast members from 3 US TV series wrap up tour". The Jerusalem Post. http://www.jpost.com/ArtsAndCulture/Entertainment/Article.aspx?id=225707. Retrieved 2 November 2011. 
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Mciver, Brian (19 April 2011). "Scots actor Kevin McKidd can't wait to head home from the L.A. sunshine". The Daily Record. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/showbiz/celebrity-interviews/2011/04/19/scots-actor-kevin-mckidd-can-t-wait-to-head-home-from-the-l-a-sunshine-86908-23071630/. Retrieved 2 November 2011. 
  4. ^ Brian Lowry (11 January 2007). "Rome". Variety Magazine. http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117932433.html?categoryid=32&cs=1. Retrieved 26 March 2009. 
  5. ^ NBC gives 'Journeyman' the green light Digital Spy, 11 May 2007
  6. ^ McIver, Ian (11 November 2009). "Kevin McKidd: Being a super soldier in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 finally gave me chance to use my real accent". Daily Record. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/showbiz/celebrity-interviews/2009/11/11/kevin-mckidd-being-in-call-of-duty-modern-warfare-2-finally-gave-me-chance-to-use-my-real-accent-86908-21813077/. Retrieved 29 December 2009. 
  7. ^ http://www.facebook.com/pages/Speyside-Sessions/190701721034153

[edit] External links

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