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Donald Sumpter

Donald Sumpter

Actor · Born February 13, 1943 (83) · Brixworth, Northamptonshire, England, UK

Donald Sumpter (born 13 February 1943) is an English actor. He has appeared in film and television since the mid-1960s. One of his early television appearances was the 1968 Doctor Who serial The Wheel in Space with Patrick Troughton as the Doctor. He appeared in Doctor Who again in the 1972 serial The Sea Devils with Jon Pertwee. He also appeared in the Doctor Who spin-off The Sarah Jane Adventures. His early film work included a lead role as real life British criminal Donald Neilson in the 1977 film, The Black Panther. He also appeared in many television films and serials, including adaptations of Dickens' novels: Nicholas Nickleby in 2001, Great Expectations in 1999 and Bleak House in 1985. Also in 1985, he was remembered for the part of villain Ronnie Day in Big Deal. He played the part of suspected serial killer Alexander Bonaparte Cust in the (1992) Agatha Christie's Poirot episode, The ABC Murders. He has also appeared in episodes of Midsomer Murders, The Bill, Holby City, and A Touch of Frost. He also had a recurring role as Uncle Ginger in the Children's BBC series The Queen's Nose. He played Harold Chapple in Our Friends in the North, and portrayed the physicist Max Planck in Einstein and Eddington. He has also been seen as Kemp in the horror-drama series Being Human. In 2011 he portrayed Maester Luwin in the HBO series Game of Thrones. His film appearances include The Constant Gardener (2005), K-19: The Widowmaker (2002), Enigma (2001) and Ultramarines: The Movie (2010).

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
February 13, 1943 (83)
From
Brixworth, Northamptonshire, England, UK
Works as
Actor
Titles
65 on MovieCove · 127 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 157 days to Oct 28Up 9% in 30 days

What are Donald Sumpter's films like?

Across their 15 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Survival.

Genres

Drama4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 63rd percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 81st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 81st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime 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
31%
Survival
22%
Self
14%
Bonds
14%
Ideas
11%
Power
6%
Society
2%
Family bonds4 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeViolence3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival3 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice4 titles, browse their movies with this themeTruth3 titles, browse their movies with this themeDuty3 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 11 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 1 · Serious 3 · Dark 7

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 6 · Stylized 2 · Heightened 3

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

Gentle 2 · Charged 2 · Intense 7

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

Steady 7 · Shifting 4 · Whiplash 0

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 9 · Some laughs 1 · Funny 1

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

Slow burn 3 · Even-paced 8 · Relentless 0

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

A split, not a type: Casual 1 · Engaged 4 · Full focus 6

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 2 · Affecting 4 · Heavy 5

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 8 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

2 analyzed roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
13
Dread
6
Melancholic
9
Contemplative
5
Cold
2
Other
9

How their films linger

Bittersweet10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy1
  • Bittersweet11
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous1

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 Donald Sumpter's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 54 of their 65 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Donald Sumpter'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

127 credits, 65 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • The Phoenician Scheme(2025)

    as Chairman

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Limonov: The Ballad of Eddie(2024)

    as Eddie's Father

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Entitled (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Show 8 episodes · as Quincy

  • The Cleaner(2021)

    Show 1 episode · as Sir James

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows

  • Exposed: The Church's Darkest Secret (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Show 2 episodes · as Bishop Peter Ball

  • Chernobyl(2019)

    Show 2 episodes · as Zharkov

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • Les Misérables(2018)

    Show 3 episodes · as Mabeuf

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • The Man Who Invented Christmas(2017)

    as Haddock / Ghost of Marley

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • In the Heart of the Sea(2015)

    as Paul Macy

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Jekyll and Hyde(2015)

    Show 10 episodes · as Garson

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows

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

    as Paddy Ashdown

  • 12 Monkeys(2015)

    Show 2 episodes · as Seer

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • One Child(2014)

    Show 4 episodes · as Jim Arthurton

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows

  • Bypass (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Grandfather

  • New Worlds(2014)

    Show 2 episodes · as Sidney

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all shows

  • Quirke(2013)

    Show 1 episode · as Josh Crawford

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows

  • Atlantis(2013)

    Show 1 episode · as Tiresius

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all shows

  • Peaky Blinders(2013)

    Show 2 episodes · as Arthur Bigge

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • The Mill(2013)

    Show 4 episodes · as Samuel Greg

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Endeavour(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Emil Valdemar

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • The Secret of Crickley Hall(2012)

    Show 2 episodes · as Gordon Pyke

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all shows

  • The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo(2011)

    as Detective Inspector Gustaf Morell

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Black Mirror(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Julian Hereford

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • The Murder at Road Hill House (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Peter Edlin QC

  • Game of Thrones(2011)

    Show 14 episodes · as Maester Luwin

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • Way of the Morris (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Voice of Creation

  • Ultramarines: A Warhammer 40,000 Movie(2010)

    as Pythol (voice)

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • London Boulevard(2010)

    as Pentonville Governor

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Among Us (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Man on bench

  • Into the Storm(2009)

    as Lord Halifax

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Being Human(2008)

    Show 9 episodes · as Kemp

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Einstein and Eddington(2008)

    as Max Planck

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Merlin(2008)

    Show 1 episode · as The Fisher King

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Tess of the D'Urbervilles(2008)

    Show 3 episodes · as Parson Tringham

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Hello Sailor! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Actor

  • Heist (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as King Edward

  • Heroes and Villains (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Show 6 episodes · Actor

  • The Sarah Jane Adventures(2007)

    Show 2 episodes · as Erasmus Darkening

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all shows

  • Eastern Promises(2007)

    as Yuri

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Fallen Angel(2007)

    Show 3 episodes · as Simon Martlesham

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all shows

  • Dracula(2006)

    as Alfred Singleton

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • The Chatterley Affair(2006)

    as Mr. Gerald Gardiner

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Eleventh Hour(2006)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all shows

  • The Constant Gardener(2005)

    as Tim Donohue

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Doctor Who(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as The President

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Ørnen(2004)

    Show 2 episodes · as Indenrigsminister Nacuk

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • The Long Bank Holiday (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Alfie Clemens

  • New Tricks(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Bobby 'Tar' Mcadam

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Seven Wonders of the Industrial World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Farrington

  • The Last Detective(2003)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all shows

  • Serious & Organised (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Jimmy Fisk

  • Rose and Maloney(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Ronnie Johnson

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Ultimate Force(2002)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • K-19: The Widowmaker(2002)

    as Dr. Savran

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • MI-5(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Stephen Kirby

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • The Point Men(2001)

    as Benni Baum

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby(2001)

    as Mr. Brooker

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 2 episodes · as Mr. Brooker

  • In Deep (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 2 episodes · as Keith Sullivan

  • Enigma(2001)

    as Leveret

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Great Expectations(1999)

    as Compeyson

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Great Expectations (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 2 episodes · as Compeyson

  • Bombay Blue (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 6 episodes · as Supt. John Mayberry

  • Midsomer Murders(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Tim Settingfield

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Tangier Cop (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Ahmed Yaasin

  • Our Friends in the North (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 4 episodes · as Commander Harold Chapple

  • Richard III(1995)

    as Brackenbury

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • The Queen's Nose (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 16 episodes · as Uncle Ginger

  • Crocodile Shoes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 3 episodes · Actor

  • Being Human(1994)

    as Salgado

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Grushko (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Kartashov

  • A Touch of Frost(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Maynard

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Between the Lines (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Bad Ronald (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Michael, le père

  • Aimée (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Frank

  • Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead(1990)

    as Claudius

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Drop the Dead Donkey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Chief (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as CS Derek Gillman

  • Poirot(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Cust

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • The Ruth Rendell Mysteries(1987)

    Show 3 episodes · as Edward Peveril

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all shows

  • Time Trouble (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Makov

  • Bleak House (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 2 episodes · as 'Nemo'

  • Screen Two (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Frank

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

    Show 3 episodes · Actor

  • Big Deal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Ronnie Day

  • Taggart(1983)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

  • Curse of the Pink Panther(1983)

    as Dave

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • No Excuses (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 4 episodes · as Trev

  • The Brack Report (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 10 episodes · as Paul Brack

  • Bergerac(1981)

    Show 1 episode · as Roscoe

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • The Rose Medallion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 3 episodes · as Harry

  • Antony & Cleopatra(1981)

    as Pompeius

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • The Tom Machine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Tom

  • Minder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · as Sudbury

  • Shoestring (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · as Stanley Reeves

  • Meetings with Remarkable Men(1979)

    as Pogossian

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • A Light That Shines (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Brother Martin Jerome

  • Les Miserables(1978)

    as Agent

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • The Black Panther(1977)

    as Donald Neilson

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Catchpenny Twist (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Spalding

  • The Children of the New Forest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Ned Corbould

  • BBC2 Play of the Week (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Brother Martin Jerome

  • Target (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Heslop

  • Jesus of Nazareth(1977)

    Show 4 episodes · as Aram

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Hardcore (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Mark

  • Quiller (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as Brenman

  • The Saliva Milkshake (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Johnny

  • Stardust (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as TV Concert Producer

  • Mr. Axelford's Angel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as David

  • Centre Play (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Johnny

  • The Breaking of Colonel Keyser (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Dellow

  • Doctor Who: The Sea Devils (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Commander Ridgeway

  • Bleak Moments (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Norman's Friend

  • Justice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Villiers

  • Sunday Bloody Sunday(1971)

    as Party Guest

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • I Am a Groupie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Steve

  • The Adventures of Don Quick (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 1 episode · as Gezool

  • Play for Today (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Walking Stick(1970)

    as Max

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Mad Jack (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Actor

  • ITV Saturday Night Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Leary

  • Night After Night After Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Pete Laver

  • The Lost Continent(1968)

    as Sparks, the Radioman

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Doctor Who: The Wheel in Space (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Enrico Casali

  • The Window Cleaner (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as David

  • Mickey Dunne (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Pat Newman

  • Doctor Who(1963)

    Show 6 episodes · as Commander Ridgeway · as Enrico Casali

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

Career shape

Star power in the 97th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 127 titles from 1963 to 2025; peak year 2010.

Biggest box office

The Constant Gardener (2005)

$82M worldwide

Highest rated

Eastern Promises (2007)

Midcredits 96th

Most popular right now

K-19: The Widowmaker (2002)

Film career

19632025

Peak 2010 · fewer prominent film roles lately. 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.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting127 of 127: 127 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score77th

By decade

1960s7 · acting1970s27 · acting1980s15 · acting1990s18 · acting2000s31 · acting2010s24 · acting2020s5 · acting

Billing

usually 10th · top billed in 0% of 22 roles
689308

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; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Donald Sumpter's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 73rd percentile, the median of all 29; across their 11 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 66th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

66thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Approval · how many liked their films

68thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Reach · how many have seen their films

87thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Midcredits score across 65 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up35
  • 50th to 74th12
  • 25th to 49th13
  • Below 25th5

Shape of the crowd

31 of their 65 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved17
  • Universally Panned1
  • Crowd Pleaser31
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed14

Most divisive · actor

Dracula (2006)

61st percentile spread · 34% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Game of Thrones (2011)

Midcredits 99th · 93% liked

Reviewers score the acting 71/100 in their films, across 11 reviewed titles; fans 79, detractors 41. 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 Donald Sumpter's work okay for kids?

Across up to 8 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore5 titles37–84 · median 61 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity8 titles18–66 · median 47 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity6 titles24–73 · median 53 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs5 titles24–56 · median 27 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense5 titles40–78 · median 66 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Donald Sumpter work with?

People who share at least 2 of Donald Sumpter's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Tom Stoppard shares the most, 2.

Writers

Actors

Cinematographers

Producers