Unless I missed it, no commenter has noted Mr. McShane’s role on one of American TVs legendary series: Dallas. He played Linda Gray’s lover in one of those story arcs when she was estranged from Larry “JR” Hagman. I think he was killed off.
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I became aware of Mr. McShane's work, thanks to the well acted and fun Brit TV series "Love Joy". Later, I came a cross some of his earlier film roles. One of which I believe was the film titled "Battle of Britain". The TV series "Deadwood", in my opinion will live on as a classic Western drama, that will be a touchstone for future Western genre films and TV series. Not that it's important, but it seems that Mr. McShane is a year younger than myself, and approximately my height. That's where the similarities mostly end. He is a talented actor, that I would like to think. Will have many more productive years in his profession.
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Lovejoy was wonderful. Please, as someone else said, PBS, bring it back! Maybe I can find it on BritBox. Hopefully. Ian McShane is excellent in whatever he is in. Now, I've got to try to find "If its Tuesday, it must be Belgium". Ian is a great actor, but, he's also really sexy. Can't hurt.
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No one could play the racist, bigoted, and malevolent character of Al Swearengen like Ian McShane. He's a classic.
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I was hooked when I saw him in "Sexy Beast". Seeing his character's name from "Deadwood", I only now saw the word swear in his surname. Ha-ha Mr. Milch.
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Fell in love with him when he played Disraeli on PBS. Never been disappointed.
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My wife and I loved Ian McShane's "Lovejoy", but his subsequent films, overflowing with expletives, were the end.
“In a camp like this, one draws one's menials from a small and brackish pool.”
--- E.B. Farnum (William Sanderson), the hotel owner and Mayor of Deadwood.
One of the best takes ever on the Trump administration, and it came on Deadwood.
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This is going back quite a ways, but if you can find it, watch If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium. Ian McShane is hilarious in that as a tour guide taking a group of Americans through a bunch of different European countries.
"TAN. You take brown, and mix it with white. TAN". That scene with the shoemaker makes me fall down laughing!
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Don't forget the beautiful young Suzanne Pleshette and a troop of wonderful character actors (Norman Fell, Mildred Natwick, Peggy Cass, Reva Rose among others). Available on YouTube the last time I checked.
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Battle of Britain....and he was brilliant back then!
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I’m already nervous thinking about Hearst coming back. He has to be in the top ten of most hated villains. Will love to see Some sweet pay back from Swearengen and Bullock.
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Definitely chomping at the bit for Deadwood again. Especially since it appears it will have the original magic, what with most of the actors coming back, along with Milch.
I suppose you have to include Hearst to have a proper sequel and yes, what a villain. But today when I read this and was remembered it was McRaney coming back - one of THE most overbooked actors of this decade. Part of a group of character actors that pop up over & over & over .... way way too much.
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I love the polite and formal character of comments ie 'Mr' McShane! McShane has a wry, tongue- in-cheek humour which is on display here, especially in his comments on the US political scene. (He would be going crazy if back here in Britain right now.) One of my mates wrote several episodes of Lovejoy so I know him to be a genuinely nice fellow.
Best of all, the return of Deadwood! As someone who remembers The Alamo when it first came out (and in hindsight, what a confection of lies and deceit) Deadwood is far truer to the Old West in its brutal matchings of power, politics and violence. Perhaps it is also a parable on Trump's Whitehouse (or as McShane might put it Shxxxhouse!) - channeling the restrained but Shakespearean language of Big Al.
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I have been pining for the Deadwood reboot and never dreamed it would actually happen! Ian McShane as Al Swearengen is a total delight. Deadwood has always been one of my litmus tests for determining whether someone “gets it.” If you’re the kind of person who can’t understand the poetry of his language, then we probably won’t have much in common. This is a bit of an exaggeration, of course — but not much!
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I still love Lovejoy -- so witty and informative. His character inspired me to do a master's program in auction house studies in Europe!
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Dating myself here. But my best and delightful memory of Mr McShane is his performance in “If it’s Tuesday, it must be Belgium” with the incomparable Suzzane Pleshette (late). And of course, the supporting cast of characters in that movie!!!! Those who haven’t seen that movie check it out on YouTube.
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I've always enjoyed Mr. McShane and love watching him in whatever roles he's playing. He's just so darn good!
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"Open a can of peaches, Dan..."
No one has ever so convincingly passed a kidney stone.
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For those who missed "Sexy Beast," I highly recommend it - McShane is excellent as the intimidating mob boss Teddy Bass, and Ben Kingsley isn't too bad, either.
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@asg21
Sexy Beast... oh my lord. McShane was terrifying in that, he had this really cool coiled menace about him, and you could tell that Ray Winstone was more scared of him than of Kingsley. Incidentally, I saw an interview where Kingsley said he played his character in that film as a child saying "why won't you love me, why won't you love me'. The interviewer was silent a second and then said, completely deadpan, "Yeah, I didn't get that myself".
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As Don Logan said in Sexy Beast - Yes, Yes, Yes!
A great article and interview with Mr. McShane and I am so looking forward to the "Deadwood" movie and the Shakespearean obscenities uttered by Al Swearengen!
One thing that I missed in the article/interview was a discussion of Mr. McShane's memorable. but brief appearance in "Game of Thrones". (OK, there have been many actors who have had memorable, but brief appearances in "Game of Thrones"!) The character that Mr. McShane played was a mix of Winston and Swearengen and it was in the same season that Jonathan Pryce appeared as the High Sparrow. I still remember how the writer who recapped the episodes of "Game of Thrones" referred to Mr. McShane's character--The High Swearengen!
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Ian McShane is a treasure. Thank you for this interview.
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Mr. McShane couldn't be more right when he said "America would know a socialist if they fell over him. They think it’s somebody who lives in a garret in Russia and has no telephone and no refrigerator. But that’s due to their lack of education."
Unfortunately, the middle American's who shudder at the mere mention of the word are unlikely to bother to look it up and find out it's not the horror they imagine.
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Love this guy--keep it coming!
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Great actor, good roles and spot on about the Christ getting murdered in this day and age.
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Our hearts were stolen by Ian in Lovejoy, way back! What a lovely show: the Detectorists before the Detectorists.
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McShane is the Odin and Wick and Swearengen and Hellboy that America deserves.
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Mr. McShane is a fine actor, and has played a lot of tough guy roles.
But after ready what he said about the state of America here, I really like him.
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My first McShane experience was when he played Disraeli on Masterpiece Theater. Hooked ever since!
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@Mary Absolutely! I have tried but not yet found a way to watch that wonderful portrayal again. Truly, a masterpiece!
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I will watch anything with Ian McShane. After binging on Deadwood, I heard Ian McShane was in a Broadway revival of Harold Pinter's "The Birthday Party". I think it was 2007. I bought a high priced orchestra ticket (first time ever for me), hopped on a red-eye from San Francisco, and caught his performance. A lot of money for a public school teacher, but worth every penny to see him and hear his voice live.
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Agreed! He was absolutely superb.
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@richardrjs
You stole my heart with that story about catching a red-eye from SF to NYC and purchasing a high priced orchestra ticket just to see Mr. McShane in a play.
I can see myself doing something similar back in the day. Not sure how my husband would feel about flying to NYC for "just a play", even if it did star Ian McShane.
Anyway, thanks for a grand story. Much appreciated.
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I saw that production and he was great. Macshane is a great actor. I once saw him in the lobby of a theater and I just stared at him. I couldn't speak. I mean, Al Swearengen was right in front of me!
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American Gods is worth watching because of the acting. McShane brings charm to roles, including the truly awful characters he has played. I'm not surprised by, and heartily endorse, his comments on tolerance. Well said.
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It took me 4 or 5 attempts at watching "Deadwood" until one night it suddenly clicked and I was hooked on Ian McShane, the storyline and ALL of the actors in the series. My gosh, every episode and every season became more intense, captivating and addictive. "Deadwood" is truly one of THEE best TV series - ever. I think it's right up there with "The Wire" and "Bosch" and definitely surpasses "The Sopranos".
Mr. McShane has such incredible depth and range in his acting abilities and he is so dang funny. I love to simply hear his voice. He is pure music to ones ears. I am not a fan of "American Gods" per se, but I watch it just to see Mr. McShane act.
Thank you for this wonderful article and for showcasing this incredible human being.
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@Marge Keller
I was with you until "Bosch" - maybe a guilty pleasure, but strictly for the hoopleheads.
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You might want to try again (Bosch)
PS - I just have never gotten this "guilty pleasure" thing. Why exactly ?
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@Bruth
Sorry you did not like "Bosch". I love the guy who plays him (who was also in "Deadwood"). But then it took me a bunch of tries before I became addicted to "Deadwood".
But thanks for your comment. Very much appreciated.
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Love the book, like the series. McShane is not my idea of Oden, but he's pretty darn good in it.
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Many moons ago Mr. McShane played a charming character named Lovejoy in a series of the same name - an offbeat, less than honest antiques dealer. The series was entertaining in a way that one doesn't find today. I'm happy to see that his career has done well.
Mary Mazzocco
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@mary mazzocco I remember Lovejoy as well. It was a light show with a serious message about the venality of some antiques dealers. Fun but made you really check the antique whatnot you were contemplating buying.
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@mary mazzocco
I loved Lovejoy. I wish he'd come back too.
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@mary mazzocco, is it me or does he share a resemblance to Gareth Thomas (Roj Blake) of Blake's 7?
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very well put wrap up. words worth living by.
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