Hilton McRae (born 28 December 1949) is a Scottish actor, working in theatre, television and film.

Hilton McRae
McRae (centre) with friends and family at the closing night of Rabbit at the Old Red Lion Theatre in 2006
Born (1949-12-28) 28 December 1949 (age 74)
Dundee, Scotland
OccupationActor
Years active1977–present
SpouseLindsay Duncan
Children1

Career

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McRae was part of the radical theatre group 7:84 before graduating from the University of Edinburgh, and by 1977 he had joined the Royal Shakespeare Company. He has concentrated mainly on avant-garde and political theatre.

His most mainstream American film role was as the rebel star-pilot Arvel Crynyd (Green Leader) in Return of the Jedi; he was uncredited for his brief appearance. In the UK he had substantial roles in The French Lieutenant's Woman and Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan.

He has performed in several musicals on the London stage, including Mamma Mia! and Miss Saigon, in which he played the part of The Engineer. He performed the role of Mr Stopnick in the UK premiere of Caroline, or Change at the National Theatre, which won the Best Musical Award from the London newspaper the Evening Standard. In 2008 he played the part of Scarecrow in the Southbank's production of The Wizard of Oz.

In 2006, he acted in Rabbit, a play by Nina Raine which opened at the Old Red Lion Theatre in London, and then transferred to the Trafalgar Studios, Whitehall.

McRae starred in the play The Kreutzer Sonata, based on Tolstoy's novella, which opened at the Gate Theatre in London in 2009 with McRae in the solo role. The play was revived for a second run in 2012. The production also later transferred to New York City. McRae's performance received acclaim both in the UK from many top publications, and in the U.S. from the New York Times.[1]

Personal life

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McRae was born in Dundee. He is married to actress Lindsay Duncan, with whom he has a son, Cal McRae (born September 1991).[2]

A close friend and University of Edinburgh classmate of Ian Charleson, McRae contributed a chapter to the 1990 book, For Ian Charleson: A Tribute.[3]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1981 The French Lieutenant's Woman Sam
1983 Return of the Jedi Green Leader Uncredited
1984 Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes Willy
1989 King of the Wind Cook
1993 The Secret Rapture Norman
1995 Voices Gerald Duffy
1999 Mansfield Park Mr. Price
2011 The Power of Three Gordon
2012 National Theatre Live: Timon of Athens Apemantus
2014 Serena Doctor
2015 Far from the Madding Crowd Jacob Smallbury
2015 Macbeth Macdonwald
2016 Denial Judge John Trench
2017 The Sense of an Ending Alex Stuart
2017 Darkest Hour Arthur Greenwood
2018 A Private War Adam Watkins

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1977 Maidens' Trip Matthew Episode: "Charity"
1978 Life at Stake Bernard Lortie Episode: "James Cross Will Be Executed"
1980 Play for Today Singer / Ad-Man / Robert 3 episodes
1981 Astronauts Episode: "One in Four Goes"
1981 If Winter Comes Karoli TV movie
1982 Dead Ernest Mozart Episode #1.6
1983 Gaskin John Rossington TV movie
1983 No Excuses Pimm / Phin 4 episodes
1983 Nelly's Version Vagrant TV movie
1984 The Kit Curran Radio Show Hooper Episode: "The Big Break"
1985 Screen Two Charlie Hendon Episode: "Poppyland"
1985 A.D. Azariah Episode: "Part 2"
1985 Roll Over Beethoven Griff Episode #1.8
1985 Max Headroom: 20 Minutes into the Future Breugel TV movie
1988 Hannay Lord Drysdale Episode: "Act of Riot"
1989 Crossbow Mercenary Leader Episode: "The Lost City"
1989-1990 The Justice Game Gerry Cowan Main role
1993 Zorro Narcisco Episode: "The Reward"
1994; 1998 The Bill Clive Bellman / Prosecution Barrister 2 episodes
1994 Shakespeare: The Animated Tales Hortensio / Peter Voice, Episode: "The Taming of the Shrew"
2001 Monarch of the Glen Murdo Episode: "Series 2 Episode 5"
2002; 2007 Holby City Alan Simpson / Rob Snow 6 episodes
2003 Serious & Organised John Sands Episode: "Greed"
2003 Silent Witness Supt. Colin Osbourne Episode: "Beyond Guilt"
2004 Midsomer Murders Mathew Spearman Episode: "Bad Tidings"
2004 Murder City Emerton Linex Episode: "Nothing Sacred"
2004 Frances Tuesday Feltham TV movie
2008 Doctors Dr. McCarthy 6 episodes
2009 The Execution of Gary Glitter Gary Glitter TV movie
2009 Lewis Mack Maguire Episode: "Counter Culture Blues"
2011 Zen Gianni / Massimo Colonna Episode: "Cabal"
2011 Injustice PMO Adam Christie 3 episodes
2012 New Tricks Frank McNair Episode: "Glasgow UCOS"
2014 Playhouse Presents Mr. Adams (voice) Episode: "Foxtrot"
2016 Endeavour The Great Zambezi Episode: "Ride"
2019 Victoria Coombe Episode: "A Coburg Quartet"
2019 Chernobyl Milan Kadnikov Episode: "Vichnaya Pamyat"
2020 The Third Day Janny 3 episodes
2022 Halo Regret (voice) 3 episodes

References

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  1. ^ Brantley, Ben (25 March 2012). "'The Kreutzer Sonata,' Based on Tolstoy, at La MaMa". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
  2. ^ Lane, Harriet (23 April 2007). "Bad girl. Lindsay Duncan talks to Harriet Lane about her new play". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
  3. ^ McKellen, Ian; Bates, Alan; Hudson, Hugh; et al. For Ian Charleson: A Tribute. London: Constable and Company, 1990. pp. 13–20. ISBN 0-09-470250-0
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