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Ivan Kaye

Ivan Kaye

Actor · Born July 1, 1961 (65) · Northampton, Northamptonshire, England, UK

Ivan Kaye is internationally best known for his role as King Aelle in Vikings (2013-17). More recently, he has appeared as the goon leader Yankee in Gunpowder Milkshake (2021). Kaye has been interested in acting from early childhood. A remarkably versatile actor, he already had a successful stage career in London's West End in dramatic and musical theatre before starting his work in television and film in his early thirties. Since the beginning of the 1990s, he has been featured in over 50 roles in TV and film. Due to his enormous versatility, Ivan Kaye has been featured in a wide array of roles encompassing lead and main parts as well as antagonists, outright villains, and comical characters. Recent major productions and roles include: drug baron Polo Yakur in Assassination Games (2011), the Duke of Milan Ludovico Sforza in The Borgias (2011-2013), Joshua Collins (father of the main character played by Johnny Depp) in Dark Shadows (2012), Ivar the Boneless in Hammer of the Gods (2013), King Aelle of Northumbria in Vikings (2013-2017), pub landlord Mick Sturrock in The Coroner (2015-2016) and goon leader Yankee in Gunpowder Milkshake (2021). All of these productions have reached an international audience and have been dubbed in several languages. Kaye has also appeared in Layer Cake (2004) and is well-known in the UK as herdsman Bryan in BBC’s comedy series The Green Green Grass. From October 2017 to January 2018 he returned to theatre after almost twenty years, starring as Tom Kettle in the critically acclaimed multi-award-winning stage play The Ferryman at the Gielgud Theatre London. Kaye has also worked as a voice artist in several video games such as Star Wars The Old Republic, Stuntman, C-12 and more. As a founder and director of Comedy Ink Productions together with actor/writer Douglas McFerran, he has produced and acted as a lead in short comedic offerings such as the mini-series Brilliant! (2007), the short film Sherlock Holmes Confidential (2013) and his recent dark comedy short Acter (2020). Kaye has a reputation of being especially kind and appreciative towards his fans on social media and in person. He is a supporter of the Hounslow Urban Farm (where 'Green Green Grass' was partially filmed) and, with several other actors, the Justice for Andrew campaign, seeking justice for the murder of a young Liverpudlian. He has two grown-up daughters and lives in London.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
July 1, 1961 (65)
From
Northampton, Northamptonshire, England, UK
Works as
Actor
Titles
23 on MovieCove · 41 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 64 days to Oct 27Down 5% in 30 days

What are Ivan Kaye's films like?

Across their 10 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Power.

Genres

Comedy3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 33rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 27th percentile
: browse their Action movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
36%
Power
15%
Ideas
14%
Bonds
14%
Society
11%
Self
5%
Survival
5%
Betrayal3 titles, browse their movies with this themePower2 titles, browse their movies with this themeTruth2 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception2 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice2 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 7 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 2 · Serious 2 · Dark 3

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 2 · Stylized 3 · Heightened 2

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 0 · Charged 5 · Intense 2

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 2 · Shifting 4 · Whiplash 1

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 4 · Some laughs 0 · Funny 3

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 2 · Even-paced 4 · Relentless 1

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 2 · Engaged 5 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 5 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

3 analyzed roles

Usually the Threshold guardian: 2 of 3 analyzed roles.

Threshold guardian
2 of 3
Shadow
1 of 3

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
9
Dread
3
Absurd
2
Contemplative
2
Romantic
2
Other
10

How their films linger

Bittersweet6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy2
  • Bittersweet6
  • Ambiguous2

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Ivan Kaye's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 20 of their 23 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (10).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Ivan Kaye's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

41 credits, 23 with a MovieCove page.

  • Brian and Maggie(2025)

    Show 2 episodes · as Nigel Lawson

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all shows

  • Apocalypse Clown(2023)

    as The Great Alphonso

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Sister Boniface Mysteries(2022)

    Show 4 episodes · as Ted Button

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows

  • Wedding Season(2022)

    Show as Mr. Delaney

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all shows

  • The Dead Collectors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    as Peter

  • End of Term(2021)

    as Garth Stroman

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Gunpowder Milkshake(2021)

    as Yankee

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • The Dark Tower (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Mayor Hart Thorin

  • The King(2019)

    as Scrope

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • For Love or Money(2019)

    as Patrick

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Cliffs of Freedom(2019)

    as Ghazi Khalif

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • The Woman in White(2018)

    Show 1 episode · as Pesca

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows

  • The Coroner(2015)

    Show 20 episodes · as Mick Sturrock

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • Undercover (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Show 6 episodes · as Garabed

  • Vikings: Athelstan's Journal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Show 2 episodes · as King Aelle (archive footage)

  • Hammer of the Gods(2013)

    as Ivar

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Vikings(2013)

    Show 12 episodes · as King Aelle

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Tortoise in Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Sean

  • Dark Shadows(2012)

    as Joshua Collins

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Assassination Games(2011)

    as Polo Yakur

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Injustice(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as DS Harry Bowman

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all shows

  • The Borgias(2011)

    Show 3 episodes · as Duke Ludovico Sforza · as Ludovico Sforza

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • The Green Green Grass (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 32 episodes · Actor

  • Control(2004)

    as Norton

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Layer Cake(2004)

    as Freddie Hurst

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Photo Finish (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Herbie Harris

  • Inside the Mind of Paul Gascoigne (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Narrator

  • Dinotopia(2002)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all shows

  • Lenny Blue (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 2 episodes · as DI Ron Featherstone

  • A Dinner of Herbs(2000)

    Show 3 episodes · as Dan Bannaman

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all shows

  • Bad Girls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 2 episodes · as Charlie Atkins

  • Microsoap (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 26 episodes · as Roger

  • Solomon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Adonijah

  • Solomon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 2 episodes · as Adonijah

  • Faith in the Future (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 22 episodes · Actor

  • Bugs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Cold Comfort Farm(1995)

    as Reuben Starkadder

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Sam Saturday (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 6 episodes · as DI Sam Saturday

  • The Paradise Club (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Arthur Burns

  • Casualty(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Guy

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all shows

  • The Bill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 92nd percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 40 titles from 1984 to 2025; peak year 2012.

Biggest box office

Cold Comfort Farm (1995)

$5.7M worldwide

Highest rated

Cold Comfort Farm (1995)

Midcredits 86th

Most popular right now

The Coroner (2015)

Film career

19842025

Peak 2012 · steadily prominent in film for years. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

  • 1995Screen debut· Cold Comfort Farm
  • 2015Career best· The Coroner

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting40 of 40: 40 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score49th

By decade

1980s3 · acting1990s8 · acting2000s8 · acting2010s14 · acting2020s7 · acting

Billing

usually 10th · top billed in 0% of 9 roles

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.

How do Ivan Kaye's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 48th percentile, the median of all 12; across their 7 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 32nd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

32ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 7

Approval · how many liked their films

36thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 7

Reach · how many have seen their films

76thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 7

Midcredits score across 23 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up5
  • 50th to 74th5
  • 25th to 49th9
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

9 of their 23 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser9
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed8

Most divisive · actor

Cliffs of Freedom (2019)

84th percentile spread · 22% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Vikings (2013)

Midcredits 98th · 93% liked

Reviewers score the acting 62/100 in their films, across 7 reviewed titles; fans 77, detractors 33. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Ivan Kaye's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 3 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Sex & Nudity3 titlesmedian 57 · moderateMedian of all films: 32

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Ivan Kaye work with?

People who share at least 2 of Ivan Kaye's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; George Kane shares the most, 2.

Directors

Editors

Producers