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Richard Rankin

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Richard Rankin
Richard Rankin in 2018
Born
Richard Harris

(1983-01-04) 4 January 1983 (age 41)
Glasgow, Scotland
Alma materLangside College
Occupation(s)Actor, comedian
Years active2006–present
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
RelativesColin Harris[1]

Richard Rankin (born Richard Harris on 4 January 1983) is a Scottish film, television and theatre actor. He is best known for the Scottish sketch show Burnistoun and as Roger Mackenzie Wakefield in the Starz drama Outlander.[2][3]

Early life

Rankin was born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1983 and spent part of his childhood in the West End of the city before moving to King's Park when he was ten, eventually attending Stonelaw High School.[4][5] One of four boys born to a father on the police force and a mother in the hotel industry, he originally planned a career in the sciences or Information Technology.[5]

Rankin initially attended Glasgow Caledonian University as an IT major, but changed course after a chance encounter at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel during a holiday in Los Angeles.[6] A local film producer told the then 22-year-old that he had the look of an actor, and upon his return to Glasgow, Rankin auditioned for Langside College with his brother Colin Harris.[5][6] Both graduated and went on to a career in acting, but when Rankin, who was then known by his birth name of Richard Harris, applied for his Equity card he began using his mother's maiden name (Rankin) to prevent confusion with Irish actor Richard Harris.[5][7]

Career

Television

Rankin began his professional career in 2006 by starring alongside Robert Florence in VideoGaiden, a Scottish video game show originally aired on BBC Two Scotland.[8][9] Between 2007 and 2010 he made appearances on episodic Scottish television programs Legit (2007) and The Old Guys (2009) for the BBC and Taggart (2010) for STV.[10][11][12] The Scottish sketch comedy series Burnistoun, which premiered in 2009 and ran for three series on BBC Two Scotland, featured Rankin in various roles.[2][13]

Two years later Rankin was cast as lovelorn Army Captain Thomas Gillan, alongside Kevin Doyle and Oona Chaplin, in the WWI based mini-series The Crimson Field .[14][15] The program aired on BBC One in April 2014, but only ran for one series.[16] He joined the cast of BBC One's crime drama series Silent Witness in January 2015, starring as Detective Inspector Luke Nelson in series eighteen's two-part story "Falling Angels".[17] The episode focused on a series of murders on the London Underground, the investigation of which brought up mysterious childhood memories of his father's murder.[18] Rankin went on to guest star in two episodes of NBC's conspiracy thriller American Odyssey as corporate hit man Haney, though the series was cancelled after season one.[19][20]

Richard Rankin (L) and Sophie Skelton (R) answer fan questions during a group panel at the Sasnak City Outlander convention on 18 November 2018.

Writer Kay Mellor tailored the role of Sean McGary for Rankin, changing the character from a Northerner to a Scot, in 2015's third series of her anthology drama The Syndicate.[21] The series followed a group of colleagues who win the lottery, with Rankin portraying the gamekeeper of struggling English manor Hazelwood.[22] That same year, BBC One's four part crime drama From Darkness saw Rankin portray Norrie Duncan, husband to Anne-Marie Duff's ex-Manchester cop Claire Church.[23]

December 2015 brought the announcement that Rankin had been cast as adult Roger Wakefield in Starz's time-traveling drama series Outlander, which is based upon Diana Gabaldon's best-selling book series.[24] Appearing first in the 2016 season two finale and then again in several episodes of season three, Rankin's character is the love interest of Brianna Randall Fraser.[25] He returned in season four, which premiered 4 November 2018, with an expanded and recurring role in the series.[26] Later in 2016, Rankin appeared as Detective Inspector Elliott Carne on the BBC's crime drama Thirteen.[22] The series centered on Ivy Moxam (Jodie Comer), a young girl kidnapped and held for thirteen years, as she attempted to reconnect with the life she once had.[27]

Rankin had roles in two BBC productions in 2017. First was the dramatic miniseries The Replacement, which revolved around Ellen (Morven Christie), who was dealing with maternity leave and the effects it was having on her career. Rankin played her psychiatrist husband in the three part series.[28] The second was a two episode stint as Father Hrothweard in BBC Two's historical drama The Last Kingdom, which was based upon Bernard Cornwell's series of novels entitled The Saxon Stories.[29][30]

Series twenty of ITV's long-running crime drama Midsomer Murders, which premiered in the United States in 2018 prior to its release in the UK, featured Rankin in episode four as rugby star Danny Wickham.[31] In 2019 Rankin starred in series two of BBC One's drama Trust Me as neurologist Dr. Alex Kiernan.[32] The second series, which began filming in Glasgow, Scotland in September 2018, featured a complete recasting from series one, with Rankin joining Alfred Enoch, Ashley Jensen, and John Hannah in the medical thriller.[33]

Film

Rankin starred in his first film role with 2011's short Dead Ringer, directed by Carter Ferguson.[34] Conceived, written, and filmed in a forty-eight hour period, the film won several awards, including Best Director and Best Actor for Rankin, at the Glasgow 48 Hour Film Project.[35][36][37] He would go on to star in an ultra low-budget horror film, House of Him, which was released during the Glasgow Film Festival, in February 2014. The film had a budget of approximately £900 and starred many of his Burnistoun colleagues, including Kirsty Strain and Louise Stewart.[38][39] The next year Rankin was cast in John Well's film Burnt, alongside Bradley Cooper.[40] Returning to short films in 2016, Rankin starred as Vance in Chloë Wicks' The Wyrd, the story of a young couple in seventh century pagan England dealing with the introduction of Christianity.[41][42]

Theatre

In 2008, while still in school at Langside College, Rankin portrayed Bothwell in Liz Lochhead's play Mary Queen of Scots Got Her Head Chopped Off at the Citizen's Theatre in Glasgow, Scotland.[43][44][11] The next year he was cast, opposite his brother Colin Harris, in the dark comedy The Pillowman for XLC Productions.[45] The production, which originally ran in March 2009, was invited to return to the Citizen's Theatre for a second run in September of that year.[46] Early 2010 saw Rankin star as Donny in Martin McDonagh's Irish paramilitary play The Lieutenant of Inishmore.[47][48]

2012 would see Rankin cast in two stage productions. The first was David Harrower's short play Good With People, which was performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival's Traverse Theatre.[49][50] Second was the National Theatre of Scotland's production of Gregory Burke's military play Black Watch, which chronicled the experiences of members of Scotland's senior infantry regiment during the war in Iraq. The production was the first from National Theatre of Scotland to tour internationally, performing in locations such as Belfast, New York City, Washington D.C., and San Francisco.[51][52]

Radio

In early 2019, Rankin appeared as Jack in BBC Radio Scotland's four-part comedy Saddled, which revolved around the adventures of The Easy Rider Cycling Club's members.[53][54]

Other activities

In addition to his acting credits, Rankin is an avid photographer. In March 2019 he hosted a one-night solo photography exhibition, entitled "His Mind’s Eye", at the Littlefield Gallery NYC in Brooklyn, New York.[55][56][57]

Filmography

Television

Year Title Character Production Notes
2006 VideoGaiden Various BBC 2 episodes
2007 Legit Nelson BBC One Scotland Episode: "Danny, Champion of the World"
2009 The Old Guys Groom BBC Episode: "Marriage"
2010 Taggart Ged McShane STV Episode: "I.O.U"
2009-2012 Burnistoun Various BBC Two Scotland Series regular, 19 episodes
2014 The Crimson Field Captain Thomas Gillan BBC One Series regular, 6 episodes
2015 Silent Witness D.I. Luke Nelson BBC One Episode: "Falling Angels (Part 1 &2)"
American Odyssey Haney NBC 2 episodes
The Syndicate Sean McGary BBC One 6 episodes
From Darkness Norrie Duncan BBC One Series regular, 4 episodes
2016 Thirteen D.I. Elliott Carne BBC Three Series regular, 5 episodes
2016–Present Outlander Roger Wakefield (MacKenzie)[58] Starz Series regular, 26 episodes
2017 The Replacement Ian Rooney BBC Miniseries
The Last Kingdom Father Hrothweard BBC Two 2 episodes
2018 Midsomer Murders Danny Wickham ITV Episode: "The Lions of Causton"
2019 Trust Me Dr. Alex Kiernan[33] BBC One 4 episodes

Film

Year Title Character Notes
2011 Dead Ringer Richie Short film/Independent
2014 The House of Him Him
2015 Burnt Reece Waiter
2016 The Wyrd Vance Screened at Norwich Film Festival[41]

Theatre

Year Title Role Director Theatre
2008 Mary Queen of Scots Got Her Head Chopped Off Bothwell[43][11][44] David Lee Michael Citizens Theatre
2009 The Pillowman Tupolski[45][46] David Lee-Michael Citizens Theatre
2010 The Lieutenant of Inishmore Donny[47][48] David Lee-Michael & David Winter Citizens Theatre
2012 Black Watch Granty[51][52] John Tiffany[59] National Theatre of Scotland
Good With People Evan[49][50] George Perrin Traverse Theatre

Radio

Year Title Character Production Director
2019 Saddled Jack BBC Radio Scotland Gus Beattie (Producer)

Awards and Nominations

Year Award Category Nominated work Result
2011 Glasgow 48 Hour Film Project Best Actor Dead Ringer[34][37] Won
2017 Satellite Awards Best Ensemble (Television) Outlander[60] Won

References

  1. ^ Placencio, Ingrid. "Colin Harris Actor/Writer & Producer". Colin Harris. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  2. ^ a b Guide, British Comedy. "Excalibur - Burnistoun - British Comedy Guide". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  3. ^ "'Outlander': 3 shows to help with your new Richard Rankin obsession". EW.com. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  4. ^ "Stonelaw's class of 1994-2000 all set to return to Rutherglen for a big school reunion". Daily Record / Rutherglen Reformer. 22 January 2016. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  5. ^ a b c d "Outlander star Richard Rankin on playing Roger Wakefield, his Glasgow childhood and swapping IT for acting". The Herald. 2 September 2017. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  6. ^ a b English, Paul (27 March 2014). "The Crimson Field star Richard Rankin: I went from big budget production to filming in a pal's mum's house in Balornock". Daily Record.
  7. ^ "Colin has a ball as Scots soccer ace in Clough film". Evening Times. 26 February 2009. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  8. ^ "'Outlander' Season 2 casting update: Richard Rankin to play Roger Wakefield". International Business Times AU. 15 December 2015. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  9. ^ Virtue, Graeme (3 March 2016). "VideoGaiden – the return of video gaming's greatest TV show". the Guardian. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  10. ^ "Profile: Richard Rankin | Wonderland Magazine". Wonderland. 22 July 2015. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  11. ^ a b c "Chicago Shakespeare Theater: Black Watch". www.chicagoshakes.com. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  12. ^ "Outlander casts its grown-up Roger". Digital Spy. 14 December 2015. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  13. ^ "Burnistoun - S3 - Episode 3". Radio Times. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  14. ^ "The Crimson Field's Richard Rankin on Thomas and Kitty's romance and hopes for a second series". Radio Times. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  15. ^ "Professor helps recreate 1915 field hospital for BBC drama The Crimson Field". Manchester University.
  16. ^ "The Crimson Field - BBC One".
  17. ^ "Silent Witness - S18 - Episode 3: Falling Angels - Part One". Radio Times. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  18. ^ "Silent Witness - S18 - Episode 4: Falling Angels - Part Two". Radio Times. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
  19. ^ TV.com. "American Odyssey". TV.com. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  20. ^ Wagmeister, Elizabeth (1 July 2015). "NBC Cancels 'American Odyssey' After One Season". Variety. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  21. ^ "The Syndicate returns for series 3". Digital Spy. 1 June 2015. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  22. ^ a b "'Outlander': 3 shows to help with your new Richard Rankin obsession". EW.com. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  23. ^ "Richard Rankin: From Darkness is fresh crime drama". Digital Spy. 4 October 2015. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  24. ^ "'Outlander' Season 2 Finds its Roger Wakefield in Scottish Actor Richard Rankin". Variety. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
  25. ^ Cohn, Paulette. "Outlander's New Star Richard Rankin on Working with Sophie Skelton and What He Has Learned". Parade. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  26. ^ Moeslein, Anna. "Everything We Know About 'Outlander' Season 4 So Far". Glamour. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  27. ^ "Missing girl's return throws family into turmoil in BBC America's riveting series". Boston Herald. 23 June 2016. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
  28. ^ "Meet the cast of The Replacement". Radio Times. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  29. ^ Hughes, Sarah (16 March 2017). "The Last Kingdom recap: series two, episode one – back to wild wild Wessex". the Guardian. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  30. ^ "The Last Kingdom series 3 confirmed – historical drama to air exclusively on Netflix". Radio Times. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  31. ^ Clarke, Stewart (16 January 2018). "BritBox Scoops Up All 20 Seasons of 'Midsomer Murders'". Variety. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  32. ^ White, Peter (17 September 2018). "'How To Get Away With Murder' Star Alfred Enoch To Replace Jodie Whittaker In BBC Drama 'Trust Me'". Deadline. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  33. ^ a b "BBC's Trust Me replaces Jodie Whittaker with new lead". Digital Spy. 17 September 2018. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  34. ^ a b "Chicago Shakespeare Theater: Black Watch". www.chicagoshakes.com. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
  35. ^ "48 HOUR FILM PROJECT | How we won big (twice) ... | fightdirector". fightdirector. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  36. ^ "Crime". FilmFreeway. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  37. ^ a b "Richard Rankin | TV Guide". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
  38. ^ McConnachie, Garry (5 November 2014). "Movie review: The House of Him". dailyrecord. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  39. ^ "The House of Him". The List. 24 February 2014. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  40. ^ Petski, Denise (14 December 2015). "'Outlander' Casts Richard Rankin As Roger Wakefield". Deadline. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  41. ^ a b "2017 – The Wyrd". www.norwichfilmfestival.co.uk. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  42. ^ TheVideoWhisperer (12 October 2016), Behind the Scenes on The Wyrd with Richard Rankin, retrieved 25 July 2018
  43. ^ a b ""Mary Queen of Scots Got Her Head Chopped Off" - February 2008". www.viewfromthestalls.co.uk. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  44. ^ a b "Richard Rankin as Granty".
  45. ^ a b ""The Pillowman" - March 2009". www.viewfromthestalls.co.uk. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  46. ^ a b "The Pillowman returns by special invitation Media Release | Press | Citizens Theatre". Citizens Theatre. 10 September 2009. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  47. ^ a b ""The Lieutenant of Inishmore" - February 2010". www.viewfromthestalls.co.uk. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  48. ^ a b "The Lieutenant of Inishmore | Citizens Theatre". Citizens Theatre. 23 February 2010. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  49. ^ a b "The Letter of Last Resort /Good With People, Traverse Theatre,". The Independent. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  50. ^ a b Gardner, Lyn (15 August 2012). "The Letter of Last Resort/Good With People – Edinburgh festival review". the Guardian. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  51. ^ a b Barraclough, Leo (7 August 2015). "International Star You Should Know: Richard Rankin". Variety. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  52. ^ a b "Richard Rankin | Chicago Theater Beat". chicagotheaterbeat.com. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  53. ^ "BBC Radio Scotland - Saddled, On Your Bike". BBC. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  54. ^ Guide, British Comedy. "Saddled episode guide". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  55. ^ Desk, BWW News. "Art Exhibition By OUTLANDER's Richard Rankin Opens March 27 For One-Day Only". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 11 March 2019. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  56. ^ Hallemann, Caroline (28 March 2019). "Outlander's Richard Rankin Just Revealed His Secret Talent". Town & Country. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  57. ^ Napoli, Jessica (26 March 2019). "'Outlander' star Richard Rankin teases upcoming fifth season, talks his new photography exhibit". Fox News. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  58. ^ Prudom, Laura (14 December 2015). "'Outlander' Season 2 Finds its Roger Wakefield in Scottish Actor Richard Rankin".
  59. ^ "'Black Watch's' experiment in war poetry is a play in athleticism". Washington Post. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  60. ^ ACADEMY, INTERNATIONAL PRESS. "Nominations for the 21st Annual International Press Academy Satellite™ Awards". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
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