James Frain is an English actor. His best known television roles include Thomas Cromwell in the Showtime/CBC historical drama The Tudors (2007–2009), Franklin Mott in the HBO drama True Blood (2010), Warwick the Kingmaker in the BBC drama serial The White Queen (2013), John Sumner in the Sky/Canal+ crime drama The Tunnel (2013), Ferdinand Chevalier in the BBC/Space sci-fi thriller Orphan Black (2015–2017), Theo Galavan/Azrael in Fox's Gotham (2015–2016), and Sarek in Star Trek: Discovery (2017–2019).
In film, he is best known for playing Daniel Barenboim and Álvaro de la Quadra in the biographical dramas Hilary and Jackie and Elizabeth, respectively (both 1998), Bassianus in the Shakespeare adaptation Titus (1999), and Gérard de Villefort in the historical drama The Count of Monte Cristo (2002).
Early life and education James Frain was born in Leeds, West Riding of Yorkshire, and brought up in Stansted Mountfitchet, near Bishop's Stortford, Essex, the eldest of eight children of a teacher mother and a stockbroker father.
He was educated at Newport Free Grammar School, studied Drama and Film at the University of East Anglia, and trained as an actor at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London.
Career Screen In 1993, while in his final year of drama school, Frain made his film debut in Shadowlands, after being spotted by the film director Richard Attenborough. In 1995, He starred as a Northern Irish terrorist in the Thaddeus O'Sullivan directed film, Nothing Personal.
In 2000, he was nominated for Canadian Screen Award for Best Supporting Actor at the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television's 20th Genie Awards in Toronto, for his performance as Gustave Sonnenschein in the István Szabó directed film Sunshine.
Frain has also appeared in a number of television series, including Soldier Soldier (1993); Armadillo (2001); 24 (2005); Invasion (2006); and The Closer (2006). He played Thomas Cromwell in Showtime's The Tudors; the villainous billionaire "Chess" in the NBC superhero/crime drama series The Cape; heroic Templar Sir Gregory in the Syfy original film Dark Relic (2010); and vampire Franklin Mott in the HBO drama True Blood. In season 2 of Grimm, Frain joined the cast as a mysterious recurring character named Eric Renard.
He appeared in the second season of Gotham as Azrael, and portrayed Sarek, the father of Spock, on Star Trek: Discovery, the second prequel TV series in the Star Trek franchise.
Stage Frain has been a regular on the stage in the United Kingdom, appearing with the Royal Shakespeare Company and Royal Court Theatre, as well as on the West End. He has also appeared on Broadway in New York. He was a recipient of the 2008 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Ensemble Performances along with the rest of the cast of The Homecoming (2007).
Personal life In 2004, Frain married director Marta Cunningham; they have two children. The couple announced their separation in February 2023.
Filmography Film YearTitleRoleNotes1993ShadowlandsPeter Whistler1995An Awfully Big AdventureJohn HarbourNothing PersonalKennyBruised FruitDanShort film1996Loch NessAdrian Foote1997Red MeatVictorRobinson CrusoeRobert1998What Rats Won't DoJackHilary and JackieDaniel BarenboimElizabethÁlvaro de la QuadraVigo: A Passion for Life Jean Vigo1999SunshineGustave SonnenscheinTitusBassianus2000Zero EightShort filmReindeer GamesNick CassidyThe Miracle MakerThomas (voice)Where the Heart IsForney Hull2002The Count of Monte CristoJ.F. Villefort2005Into the BlueReyes2006The Front LineEddie Gilroy2008Quid Pro QuoFather Dave2009Everybody's FineTom2010Tron: LegacyJarvis2011Water for ElephantsRosie's Caretaker2012TransitMarekBert and DickieJack Beresford2013All Things to All MenAttorney GeneralThe Lone RangerBarretAlpha AlertAndrews2014Born of WarSimon2015Olivia Martha IlseWilliam BaileyShort film2016The ArchitectMiles Moss2019Against the ClockDr. A2021 Escape Room: Tournament of ChampionsHenryExtended cut version
Television YearTitleRoleNotes1993Soldier SoldierLt. Giles ChapmanEpisode: "Disintegration"Prime Suspect 3Jason BaldwinMiniseries1995Devil's AdvocateDoctor VestiTV movieThe BuccaneersJulius FolyatMiniseries1996Rasputin: Dark Servant of DestinyPrince Felix YusupovTV movieTales from the CryptElliotEpisode: "Report from the Grave"StrangersDirkEpisode: "Ceremony"1997The Mill on the FlossPhilip WakemTV movieMacbeth on the EstateMacbethTV movie2000Arabian NightsSchahzenan/Harun al-RashidMiniseries2001ArmadilloLorimer BlackMiniseries2001The ViceGordon EllisEpisode: "Trade"2002Path to WarRichard N. GoodwinTV movieThe ProjectHarveyTV movie2003LeonardoCesare BorgiaMiniseries2004SpartacusDavidMiniseriesPilot SeasonJeremy PilodesMiniseries200524Paul Raines10 episodesStrong MedicineArt Gallery PainterEpisode: "Clinical Risk"EmpireMarcus Junius BrutusMiniseriesMediumCalleyEpisode: "Light Sleeper"ThresholdReverend LavoryEpisode: "Revelations"2006InvasionEli SzuraRecurringThe CloserPaul AndrewsEpisode: "Critical Missing"2007NumbersAllister McClairEpisode: "The Janus List"2007–2009The TudorsThomas CromwellMain role; 24 episodes2008Law & Order: Criminal IntentDean HolidayEpisode: "Vanishing Act"2008–2009FringeSalman Kohl2 episodes2009In Plain SightPhillip Ashmore/Phillip AndrewsEpisode: "Once a Ponzi Time"Grey's AnatomyTom CrowleyEpisode: "I Always Feel Like Somebody's Watchin' Me"Lie to MeLance McClellanEpisode: "Grievous Bodily Harm"Law & Order: Special Victims UnitMartin GoldEpisode: "Users"CalifornicationPaul RiderEpisode: "Mia Culpa"2009–2010FlashForwardDr. Gordon Myhill2 episodes2010CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationJeffrey HughesEpisode: "Sin City Blue"Dark RelicSir GregoryTV movieMiami MedicalBrianEpisode: "Man on the Road"LeverageJohn Douglas KellerEpisode: "The King George Job"True BloodFranklin Mott8 episodesCSI: MiamiRichard EllisonEpisode: "Sudden Death"2011The CapePeter Fleming/ChessMain castBurn NoticeJames ForteEpisode: "Eye for an Eye"2012The MentalistTerry MurphyEpisode: "At First Blush"2012–2013GrimmEric Renard8 episodes2013The White QueenWarwick the KingmakerMiniseriesSleepy HollowRutelidgeEpisode: "The Sin Eater"The TunnelJohn SumnerMain role; 4 episodes2014RecklessStanford AshbyEpisode: "When the Smoke Clears"IntrudersRichard ShepherdMain cast2015Agent CarterLeet Brannis2 episodesTrue DetectiveKevin BurrisMain role; 7 episodes2015–2016GothamTheo Galavan/AzraelMain role; 16 episodes 2015–2017Orphan Black Ferdinand Chevalier8 episodes2017Hawaii Five-0Sebastian WakeEpisode: "Kama' oma' o ka 'aina huli hana"2017–2019Star Trek: DiscoverySarekRecurring role2019The Twilight ZoneAgent AllendaleEpisode: "Point of Origin"ElementaryOdin Reichenbach7 episodes2020What We Do in the ShadowsBlack PeterEpisode: "Witches"2021ShowtrialSir Damian Campbell Mini-Series2023Quantum LeapGideon Rydge
Video games YearTitleRole2010Tron: EvolutionZuse2021Call of Duty: VanguardMajor Henry Hamms
Theatre Year Play Role Venue Notes 1991 All for Love Myris Almeida Theatre, London 1992 The Rules of the Game Giorgo Almeida Theatre, London 1993 She Stoops to Conquer George Hastings Queen's Theatre, London with Peter Hall Company 1995 Zenobia Wahballat Young Vic, London with Royal Shakespeare Company 2000 Other People Mark Royal Court Theatre, London 2001 King Lear Edmund Almeida Theatre, London 2007 The Homecoming Teddy Cort Theatre, New York City 2019 The King's Speech Lionel Logue Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Chicago
References
External links
Hamilton Hodell Profile