Jeremy Irons
Known for: Acting
Jeremy John Irons (born 19 September 1948) is an English actor and activist. After receiving classical training at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, Irons began his acting career on stage in 1969 and has appeared in many West End theatre productions, including the Shakespeare plays The Winter's Tale, Macbeth, Much Ado About Nothing, The Taming of the Shrew and Richard II. In 1984, he made his Broadway debut in Tom Stoppard's The Real Thing, receiving the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play. Irons's break-out role came in the ITV series Brideshead Revisited (1981) and is frequently ranked among the greatest British television dramas as well as greatest literary adaptations. It would earn him a Golden Globe Award nomination. His first major film role came in the romantic drama The French Lieutenant's Woman (1981), for which he received a BAFTA nomination for Best Actor. After starring in dramas, such as Moonlighting (1982), Betrayal (1983), and The Mission (1986), he was praised for portraying twin gynaecologists in David Cronenberg's psychological thriller Dead Ringers (1988). Irons has won multiple awards, including the Academy Award for Best Actor, for his portrayal of the accused attempted murderer Claus von Bülow in Reversal of Fortune (1990). Irons had roles in Steven Soderbergh's mystery thriller Kafka (1991), the period drama The House of the Spirits (1993), the romantic drama M. Butterfly (1993), voiced Scar in Disney's The Lion King (1994), played Simon Gruber in the action film Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995), Humbert Humbert in Lolita (1997) and Aramis in The Man in the Iron Mask (1998). He starred in the action adventure Dungeons & Dragons (2000), played Antonio in The Merchant of Venice (2004), appeared in Being Julia (2004), the historical drama Kingdom of Heaven (2005), the fantasy-adventure Eragon (2006), the Western Appaloosa (2008), and the indie drama Margin Call (2011). In 2016, he appeared in Assassin's Creed and portrayed Alfred Pennyworth in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Justice League (2017), and Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021). On television, Irons appeared in the historical miniseries Elizabeth I, receiving a Golden Globe and an Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actor. From 2011 to 2013, he starred as Pope Alexander VI in the Showtime historical series The Borgias. In 2019, he appeared as Adrian Veidt / Ozymandias in HBO's Watchmen. He is one of the few actors who have achieved the "Triple Crown of Acting" in the US, winning an Oscar for film, an Emmy for television and a Tony Award for theatre. In October 2011, he was nominated the Goodwill Ambassador for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
Filmography
Series
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Dr. Cap Jackson
1999
Series
The Simpsons
Bar Rag (voice)
1989
Series
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self
1962
Series
Late Night with Seth Meyers
Self
2014
Series
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
Self
2005
Series
Saturday Night Live
Self - Host
1975
Series
The View
Self
1997
Series
American Playhouse
Ödön von Horváth
1982
Series
Great Performances
Self
1971
Series
Nature
Narrator
1982
Series
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Self - Guest
1993
Series
Tony Awards
Self - Host
1956
Film
The Beekeeper
Wallace Westwyld
2024
Series
BBC Play of the Month
Edward Voysey
1965
Series
The Morning Show
Martin Levy
2019
Series
Wetten, dass..?
Self
1981
Film
The Lion King
Scar (voice)
1994
Film '72
Self
1971
Film
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
Alfred
2016
Series
Brisant
Self
1994
Series
The Borgias
Rodrigo Borgia
2011
Film
Kingdom of Heaven
Tiberias
2005
Series
Performance
Odon Von Horvath
1991
Film
Zack Snyder's Justice League
Alfred
2021
Series
Who Do You Think You Are?
Self
2004
Series
The Oscars
Self
1953
Film
Justice League
Alfred
2017
Series
Watchmen
Adrian Veidt / Ozymandias
2019
Film
The Flash
Alfred Pennyworth
2023
Series
Churchill's People
Samuel Ross
1974
Series
The Count of Monte Cristo
Abbé Faria
2025
Film
Lolita
Humbert Humbert
1997
Series
HBO First Look
1992
Series
The Hollow Crown
Henry IV
2012
Daytime Live
1987
Series
StarTalk with Neil deGrasse Tyson
Self
2015
Film
Die Hard: With a Vengeance
Simon
1995
Film
Red Sparrow
Vladimir Korchnoi
2018
Series
BBC2 Play of the Week
Otto Beck
1977
Series
The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes
Nephew
1971
Series
The Civil War
Various (voice)
1990
Film
The Beekeeper 2
Wallace Westwyld
2027
Series
Prohibition
Reader (voice)
2011
Series
The Colour of Magic
Patrician
2008
Film
The Man in the Iron Mask
Aramis
1998
Film
House of Gucci
Rodolfo Gucci
2021
Series
The Pallisers
Frank Tregear
1974
Series
Brideshead Revisited
Charles Ryder
1981
Film
Casanova
Pucci
2005
Film
Margin Call
John Tuld
2011
Film
The Man Who Knew Infinity
G. H. Hardy
2016
Series
The Pentaverate
Jeremy Irons
2022
Film
The Time Machine
Über-Morlock
2002
Film
Once Upon a Studio
Scar (voice)
2023
Film
Assassin's Creed
Alan Rikkin
2016
Series
Mara: Rebirth
Narrator (voice)
2025
Series
Comic Relief
1988
Film
Eragon
Brom
2006
Film
Beautiful Creatures
Macon Ravenwood
2013
Film
Damage
Dr. Stephen Fleming
1992
Series
Elizabeth I
Earl of Leicester / Lord Dudley
2005
Film
Faeries
The Shapeshifter (voice)
1999
Film
Race
Avery Brundage
2016
Highlander
Series
Longitude
Rupert Gould
2000
Film
The Mission
Father Gabriel
1986
Film
Game of Lions
Narrator (voice)
2013
Film
Stealing Beauty
Alex Parrish
1996
Film
Their Finest
Secretary of War
2017
Film
Munich - The Edge of War
Neville Chamberlain
2021
Series
Working Shakespeare
Host
2003
Film
The Pink Panther 2
Avellaneda
2009
Film
Inland Empire
Kingsley Stewart
2006
Film
The House of the Spirits
Esteban Trueba
1993
Film
The Lion King at the Hollywood Bowl
Self
2025
Series
Racing Legends
Self
2012
Film
Appaloosa
Randall Bragg
2008
Film
Dead Ringers
Beverly Mantle / Elliot Mantle
1988
Film
The Words
The Old Man
2012
Film
Moonlighting
Nowak
1982
Film
The French Lieutenant's Woman
Charles Henry Smithson / Mike
1981
Film
High-Rise
Anthony Royal
2015
Film
Last Call
F. Scott Fitzgerald
2002
Film
M. Butterfly
René Gallimard
1993
Encore
Nigel
Film
Birds Like Us
Mi (voice)
2017
Film
Endless Corridor
Narrator
2014
Film
Palestine 36
High Commissioner Wauchope
2025
Film
The Merchant of Venice
Antonio
2004
Film
Dungeons & Dragons
Profion
2000
Film
Last Movies
Self - Narrator
2026
Film
Check the Gate: Putting Beckett on Film
Self - Reader / Self - Listener ("Ohio Impromptu")
2003
Series
Love for Lydia
Alex Sanderson
1977
Film
Trashed
Himself
2012
Film
The Chronoscope
Narrator
2009
Film
Gallipoli
Narrator
2005
Film
Lynch 2
Self
2007
Film
Blast 'Em
Self (uncredited)
1992
Film
Night Train to Lisbon
Raimund
2013
Rabbit Ears - The Steadfast Tin Soldier
Narrator (voice)
1986
Series
E! True Hollywood Story
1996
Film
Fiat Croma
Lead
2005
Film
Love, Weddings & Other Disasters
Lawrence Philips
2020
Series
Metropolis
2015
Film
The Wind Gods: 33rd America's Cup
Narrator (voice)
2013
Film
Danny the Champion of the World
William Smith
1989
Film
Ohio Impromptu
Reader / Listener
2002
Film
Looney Tunes 50th Anniversary
Self
1986
Series
Liv Ullmann: A Road Less Travelled
Self
2023
Film
Jade Eyed Leopard
Narrator (voice)
2020
Film
Reversal of Fortune
Claus von Bülow
1990
Film
Rihana
Julian Miles
Film
The Color of Magic - Die Reise des Zauberers Teil 2
Patrician
2008
Series
Shakespeare Uncovered
Himself
2012
Film
The Crystal Planet
Governor Mordokan (voice)
2026
Series
Notorious Woman
Franz Liszt
1974
Film
Chinese Box
John
1997
Film
The Color of Magic - Die Reise des Zauberers Teil 1
Patrician
2008
Film
Georgia O'Keeffe
Alfred Stieglitz
2009
Film
Waking Sleeping Beauty
Self (archive footage)
2010
Film
Correspondence
Ed Phoerum
2016
RSC Meets USA: Working Shakespeare
Self (Host)
Film
Muse of Fire
Self
2013
Film
Kafka
Kafka
1991
Film
The Making of the Lion King
Self
1994
Film
Swann in Love
Charles Swann
1984
Film
Earthquake On Everest
Narrator (voice)
2015
Film
Dracula's Hidden Kingdom
Self - Narrator
2026
Film
Eye of the Leopard
Narrator
2006
Film
Relentless Enemies: Lions and Buffalo
Narrator (voice)
2006
Film
Ultimate Enemies: Elephants and Lions
Narrator (voice)
2003
Film
The Merchant of Venice
Himself
2005
Film
Napoleon: In the Name of Art
2021
Film
I Wish For You
Grandfather
2016
Film
Being Julia
Michael Gosselyn
2004
Film
Living With Big Cats: Revealed
Narrator
2022
Film
Bill Moyers: Amazing Grace
John Newton (voice)
1990
Film
Eden at the End of the World
Narrator
2008
Film
Architects of Ancient Arabia
Narrator
2021
Film
Waterland
Tom Crick
1992
Film
Eye of the Leopard: Revealed
Narrator (voice)
2022
Film
The Majestic Plastic Bag
Narrator
2010
Film
J.M.W. Turner: A National Gallery of Art Film Presentation
Narrator
2007
Film
'Still Life' at the Penguin Cafe
Narrator
1991
Film
The Short Life of Anne Frank
Narrator (English version)
2001
Film
Ultimate Enemies: Revealed
Narrator (voice)
2022
Series
History of the Emirates
Narrator
2019
Film
Sesame Street | All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever!
Self (archive footage)
1994
Film
Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There
Self
2003
Film
The Fourth Angel
Jack Elgin
2001
Series
Inside the Actors Studio
Self
1994
Film
What is dyslexia?
The Inventor
2026
Film
Franco Zeffirelli: Rebel Conformist
Self
2022
Film
Eternal Enemies: Revealed
Narrator (voice)
2022
Film
Relentless Enemies: Revealed
Narrator (voice)
2022
Film
The Power of the Powerless
2009
Film
Night of 100 Stars II
Self
1985
Another Way Home
Narrator
2012
Film
And Now... Ladies and Gentlemen...
Valentin Valentin
2002
Film
Seeds of Freedom
Narator
2012
Film
The Way of the Cheetah
Narrator (voice)
2022
Film
The Making of Dead Ringers
Self - Actor
1988
Film
Earth and the American Dream
Reader (voice)
1992
Film
DC Films Presents Dawn of the Justice League
2016
Film
A Chorus of Disapproval
Guy Jones
1989
Film
Better Start Running
Garrison
2018
Film
Broadway: The Next Generation
Self
Film
Longitude
Rupert Gould
2000
Film
Sesame Street: Sing Yourself Silly!
Self (archive footage)
1990
Film
The Statue of Liberty
Self (voice)
1985
Film
Nijinsky
Mikhail Fokine
1980
The Secret Policeman's Ball: The Ball in the Hall
Self
2006
Series
Kingdom of David: The Saga of the Israelites
Readings (Voice)
2003
Film
The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies
Self
1995
Film
The Cello
Francesco
2023
Film
Harold Pinter: A Celebration
Self
2010
Film
Callas Forever
Larry Kelly
2002
Film
An Actor Prepares
Atticus
2018
Film
The Prado Museum: A Collection of Wonders
Self - Host / Narrator (voice)
2019
Film
The Captain's Doll
Captain Alexander Hepburn
1983
Film
Tom Hanks: The Nomad
Self (archive footage)
2023
Film
The Last Lions
Narrator
2011
Film
Heart of the Festival
Self (archive footage)
2002
Film
Sesame Street: Put Down the Duckie
Self
1988
Film
Making The Flash: Worlds Collide
Self - 'Alfred'
2023
Film
The Genius of George Boole
Narrator (voice)
2015
Film
The Path to Redemption
Self
2006
Film
The Sunflower Superjam 2012
Self
2013
Film
Marina Cicogna - La vita e tutto il resto
Self
2021
Film
The Hittites: A Civilization that Changed the World
Narrator
2003
Film
Betrayal
Jerry
1983
Film
The Beggar's Opera
Prisoner
1991
Film
From Time to Time
H.G. Wells
1992
Film
The Wild Duck
Harold
1984
Film
This Ordinary Thing
Self (voice)
2025
Film
The Immortals: The Wonder of the Museo Egizio
2024
Film
The Making of "Dungeons and Dragons"
Self
2001
Film
A Night to Die For
Self
1995
Film
Armin Mueller-Stahl - Ein Gaukler in Hollywood
Self
2021
Film
Alec Guinness: A Class Act
self
2024
Film
Prisoners of Our Own History: The First Four Films of Roland Joffé
Self (archive footage)
2022
Film
Quintessentially Irish
Self
2024
Film
Tales from Hollywood
Odon Von Horvath
1992
Film
Danny and the Dirty Dog: The Making of 'Roald Dahl's Danny the Champion of the World'
Narrator
1989
Film
Langrishe, Go Down
Otto Beck
1978
Film
Australia
Edouard Pierson
1989
The Dream
1989
Film
Revisiting Brideshead
Self
2005
Film
The Sultan and the Saint
Narrator
2016
The Well of Saint Nobody
William
Film
1984
Television Voice
2008
Film
The Voysey Inheritance
Edward Voysey
2014
A Magnificent Death from a Shattered Hand
Film
Codice Carla
Self
2023
Film
Mathilde
Col. De Petris
2006
Film
Magic in the air, Bantry House Music
Festival audience member
2008
Film
The Lolita Story
Himself
1998
Water People: The Story of Us
The Ocean (voice)
Goodbye Granadaland
Self
2013
Emotional Uncertainties
Self
2015