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IMDbPro

Ian McElhinney

  • Actor
  • Director
  • Soundtrack
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Ian McElhinney in Game of Thrones (2011)
Veteran character Ian McElhinney has been playing figures of authority since the early 1980s, like cops, clergies, Ser Barristan Selmy on "Game of Thrones," and, more recently, Val-El on "Krypton." "No Small Parts" takes a look at his long acting career.
Play video3:11
"No Small Parts" IMDb Exclusive: "Krypton" Star Ian McElhinney
11 Videos
34 Photos
Ian McElhinney is a Northern Irish actor and director best known for his roles as General Dodonna in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Val-El in Krypton, and as Ser Barristan Selmy in the HBO series, Game of Thrones.

Over a career spanning more than thirty years, McElhinney has accumulated a number of credits for film and television including roles in Hornblower, Cold Feet, Queer as Folk, and The Tudors.

Announced in 2010, McElhinney was confirmed in the role of Ser Barristan Selmy in the long running series, Game of Thrones. As a knight who had served in the Kingsguard for almost forty years, the character was one of the more honorable men in the seven kingdoms. Having read the books, McElhinney mentions that he was pleased with how show runners had used the character, however was disappointed with how and when he met his demise. Appearing in the first, third, fourth and fifth seasons of the show, his character served as a key instigator, until meeting his gruesome death at the hand of the Sons of the Harpy. After 25 episodes, his sudden exit marked the farewell to a kind and noble presence in the series.

In recent appearances, Ian McElhinney has portrayed General Dodonna in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, a role that was initially donned by Alex McCrindle. McElhinney is set to appear as Val-El in the upcoming Superman prequel Krypton, airing 2018.
BornAugust 19, 1948
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornAugust 19, 1948
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 3 nominations total

    Photos34

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    + 30
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    Known for

    Hamlet (1996)
    Hamlet
    7.7
    • Barnardo
    • 1996
    Game of Thrones (2011)
    Game of Thrones
    9.2
    TV Series
    • Barristan Selmy
    James Earl Jones, Forest Whitaker, Wen Jiang, Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Ben Mendelsohn, Daniel Naprous, Alan Tudyk, Donnie Yen, Spencer Wilding, and Riz Ahmed in Rogue One: A Star Wars story (2016)
    Rogue One: A Star Wars story
    7.8
    • General Dodonna
    • 2016
    La cité de l'ombre (2008)
    La cité de l'ombre
    6.4
    • Builder
    • 2008

    Credits

    Edit
    IMDbPro

    Actor



    • Untitled 70mm Project
      • In Production
    • Mutant Year Zero
      • (voice)
      • In Production



    • Paddy Considine and Christina Hendricks in Small Town, Big Story (2025)
      Small Town, Big Story
      6.1
      TV Series
      • Reverend Patterson
      • 2025
    • The Split (2018)
      The Split
      7.9
      TV Series
      • Ronnie
      • Prof Ronnie
      • 2020–2024
    • Say Nothing (2024)
      Say Nothing
      8.2
      TV Mini Series
      • Father Reid
      • 2024
    • Darren Boyd, Stephen Merchant, Clare Perkins, Eleanor Tomlinson, Jessica Gunning, and Rhianne Barreto in The Outlaws (2021)
      The Outlaws
      7.7
      TV Series
      • John Halloran Snr.
      • John Snr
      • 2021–2024
    • Leah Purcell in High Country (2024)
      High Country
      7.0
      TV Series
      • Sam Dyson
      • 2024
    • Ils étaient un seul homme (2023)
      Ils étaient un seul homme
      7.0
      • Elderly Joe Rantz
      • 2023
    • Pierce Brosnan in The Last Rifleman (2023)
      The Last Rifleman
      6.6
      • Tom Malcolmson
      • 2023
    • Bel Powley in A Small Light (2023)
      A Small Light
      8.4
      TV Mini Series
      • Johannes Kleiman
      • 2023
    • Unforgotten: Le Passé déterré (2015)
      Unforgotten: Le Passé déterré
      8.4
      TV Series
      • Lord Tony Hume
      • 2023
    • Olwen Fouéré in The Ulysses Project (2022)
      The Ulysses Project
      • Mr. Deasy
      • Barrister JJ Molloy
      • 2022
    • Nicola Coughlan, Louisa Harland, and Saoirse-Monica Jackson in Derry Girls (2018)
      Derry Girls
      8.5
      TV Series
      • Joe McCool
      • 2018–2022
    • Uma Thurman, Elyes Gabel, Gerran Howell, Kunal Nayyar, Georgina Campbell, Tom Rhys Harries, and Elizabeth Henstridge in Suspicion (2022)
      Suspicion
      6.2
      TV Series
      • Grandad
      • 2022
    • James Nesbitt in Bloodlands (2021)
      Bloodlands
      6.7
      TV Series
      • Adam Corry
      • 2021
    • Salvation Calling
      Short
      • Seamus
      • 2020
    • Emmett J Scanlan, Emilie Reid, and Paul Mescal in The Deceived (2020)
      The Deceived
      5.9
      TV Mini Series
      • Hugh Callaghan
      • 2020

    Director



    • On Eagles Wing (2005)
      On Eagles Wing
      8.1
      TV Movie
      • stage director
      • 2005

    Soundtrack



    • Le tumulte des sentiments (2010)
      Le tumulte des sentiments
      5.9
      TV Movie
      • performer: "Silent Night" (uncredited)
      • 2010
    • Steven Duffy, Joe McFadden, and Iain Robertson in Small Faces (1995)
      Small Faces
      6.8
      • performer: "Cod Liver Oil and Orange Juice", "When I Leave Old Glasgow Behind"
      • 1995

    Videos11

    Krypton Teaser
    Trailer 0:31
    Krypton Teaser
    Trailer #1
    Trailer 1:07
    Trailer #1
    Trailer #1
    Trailer 1:07
    Trailer #1
    Official Tease
    Trailer 0:21
    Official Tease
    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:57
    Official Trailer
    City of Ember: Theatrical Trailer
    Trailer 1:47
    City of Ember: Theatrical Trailer
    Zoo
    Trailer 2:00
    Zoo

    Personal details

    Edit
    • Official sites
      • Cameo
      • X
    • Alternative name
      • Ian Mcelhinney
    • Height
      • 1.81 m
    • Born
      • August 19, 1948
      • Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
    • Spouse
      • Marie Jones19?? - present
    • Other works
      He directed Marie Jones' play, "Stones in His Pockets", at the Duke of York's Theatre in London, England with Kieran Creggan and Kieran Lagan in the cast.

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Was nominated for Broadway's 2001 Tony Award as Best Director (Play) for "Stones in His Pockets."
    • Trademark
        Raspy toned voice.

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