| Ian McDiarmid Quick Info | |
|---|---|
| Height | 5 ft 10 in |
| Weight | 70 kg |
| Date of Birth | August 11, 1944 |
| Zodiac Sign | Leo |
| Eye Color | Blue |
Ian McDiarmid is a successful Scottish actor and director. He is best known for his roles as Emperor Palpatine, Senator Palpatine, and Supreme Chancellor Palpatine in the Star Wars film series. He has also done numerous stage plays including several Shakespeare plays like Hamlet (1972), The Tempest (1974, 2000), The Merchant of Venice (1984), and King Lear (2005), Tom Stoppard‘s play Every Good Boy Deserves Favour (1978), and Brian Friel’s Faith Healer (2002).
Born Name
Ian McDiarmid
Nick Name
Ian
Sun Sign
Leo
Born Place
Carnoustie, Scotland, United Kingdom
Residence
- London, England, United Kingdom
- New York City, New York, United States
- Carnoustie, Scotland, United Kingdom
Nationality
Education
Ian McDiarmid has an M.A. degree in Clinical Psychology from Queen’s College, Dundee (now the University of Dundee). Later, he attended the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow and did acting training courses.
Occupation
Actor, Director
Manager
Ian McDiarmid is managed by Troika, Talent Agency, London, England, United Kingdom.
Build
Slim
Height
5 ft 10 in or 178 cm
Weight
70 kg or 154.5 lbs
Race / Ethnicity
White
Hair Color
Gray
Eye Color
Blue
Sexual Orientation
Straight
Distinctive Features
- Narrow jawline
- Wears thick-rimmed glasses
Religion
He is an atheist.
Ian McDiarmid Favorite Things
- Art Gallery – The Tate at St Ives
Source – The Guardian
Ian McDiarmid Facts
- He has served as Artistic Director of London’s Almeida Theatre in the past.
- He had played both the older disfigured role of Emperor Palpatine in Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983) and his younger version in the Star Wars prequels much later.
- It almost equally took 2 hours each to do his make-up as well as to remove it during the making of the Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005) film.
- He is known to be the first actor to both physically play a Sith Lord and provide the voice in the Star Wars films.
- He had shared a good friendly relationship with fellow Star Wars cast member Sebastian Shaw.
- The thing that got him interested in acting was meeting Scottish variety star Tommy Morgan at the Palace theatre in Dundee at the age of 5.
- According to him, the soundtrack to his life would be You Make Me Feel Brand New by the Stylistics.
- He feels most at home on the stage than on screen.
- He admires great theatrical innovators like Peter Stein, Patrice Chéreau, and Robert LePage, painter Neil Canning and choreographer Mark Morris.
- An art piece he would want to own is any triptych by Francis Bacon.
- He refrains from signing autographs and public appearances for money.
- His first role was that of a tramp for the animated version of Waltzing Matilda at a school play in Dundee.
Featured Image by Star Wars Theory / YouTube
