Rupert Nicholas Vansittart (born 10 February 1958) is an English actor. He has appeared in a variety of roles in film, television, stage and radio, often playing comic characters. He is best known for his role as Lord Ashfordly in the ITV drama Heartbeat (1992–2009) and for playing Lord Yohn Royce in the HBO series Game of Thrones (2014–2019).

Early life and education Vansittart was raised in Cranleigh, Surrey, and is of partial Dutch ancestry. His last name translates as "from Sittard", the latter being the current spelling of Sittart, a city in Limburg, the southernmost province of the Netherlands. He trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama.

Career Vansittart started his acting career in an episode of Bulman in 1985. In 1992, he began playing his regular role as North Yorkshire aristocrat Lord Ashfordly in the police drama series Heartbeat, which he continued to play until 2009. He appeared in Remains of the Day (1993) as Sir Geoffrey Wren, a character based on the 1930s British fascist Oswald Mosley. He appeared in Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994) as George the Boor at the Boatman.Rupert Vansittart – Rotten Tomatoes He appeared in Braveheart (1995) as Lord Bottoms. He was also cast in the serial Pride and Prejudice (1995) as Mr Hurst, the brother-in-law of Charles and Caroline Bingley.

Vansittart appeared as a guest star in two episodes of Mr. Bean, as well as appearing in The Thin Blue Line and Johnny English Reborn (2011).

In 2002, Vansittart appeared in the Midsomer Murders episode "Market for Murder". He also portrayed General Asquith in the Doctor Who episodes "Aliens of London" and "World War Three". In 2003, he appeared in the West End adaptation of Arsenic and Old Lace. In 2006, Vansittart portrayed Thomas J. Dodd in the BBC three-part drama documentary Nuremberg: Nazis on Trial. In 2007, he appeared in another episode of Midsomer Murders, "The Axeman Cometh". He also appeared in the 2008 BBC serial Spartacus as Consul Lentulus.

In 2009, Vansittart was cast as Conservative MP Peter Morrison in Margaret, a television film about Margaret Thatcher's life, career, and downfall. Two years later, in The Iron Lady with Meryl Streep, he played Cabinet minister John Biffen. He has also played political characters on stage: in 2014 he was one of the main actors in the cast of Great Britain at the Royal National Theatre.

2009 also saw Vansittart's third appearance in Midsomer Murders, in the episode "The Dogleg Murders". In 2010, he appeared in Doctors as Anthony Chippington, a friend of Charlie's. He played Harrison Ashton Lard, the "posh girl's father", in How Not to Live Your Life. He provided additional voice-over for World's Craziest Fools. He appeared in the final two seasons of Foyle's War as Sir Alec Myerson, the title character's boss at MI5. Vansittart also appeared in the BBC Three comedy Bad Education, playing Mr. Humpage. In 2014, Vansittart started playing Lord Yohn Royce in the HBO series Game of Thrones, making recurring appearances in season 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8. In 2016, he appears in the BBC TV series Father Brown as Arthur Le Broc in episode 4.7 "The Missing Man". In January 2016, he played Peter Jennings in an episode of the BBC series Casualty.

Personal life Vansittart has been married to Emma Kate, daughter of the actors Moray Watson and Pamela Marmont, since 1987. They have two children. When Emma Watson was cast for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Emma Kate Watson changed her name to Emma Vansittart, adopting her husband's surname as her new stage name, to avoid being confused with the young actress.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1985 Plenty Client's Asst. 1986 Half Moon Street Alan Platts-Williams 1987 Eat the Rich Rupert 1988 Buster Fairclough 1993 The Remains of the Day Sir Geoffrey Wren 1994 Four Weddings and a Funeral George the Boor at The Boatman – Wedding One 1995 Braveheart Lord Bottoms Cutthroat Island Captain Perkins 1997 Diana & Me Chef 1998 Monk Dawson Fr Timothy 2000 Kevin & Perry Go Large Bank Manager 2008 The Bank Job Sir Leonard Plugge2011 Johnny English Reborn Derek The Iron Lady Cabinet Minister 2013 Austenland Mr. Wattlesbrook 2016 A United Kingdom Sir Ian Fraser 2017 The Children Act Sherwood Runcie 2020 Misbehaviour Lord Bly

Television Year Title Role Notes 1985 Bulman Jack 1 episode 1986 The Comic Strip Presents... Jeremy 1 episode 1988; 1989 Wish Me Luck Guard in Factory / German Soldier at Station 2 episodes 1989 The Saint: The Brazilian Connection Wyatt Television film 1990; 1991 The Piglet Files Zemskov / KGB Officer 2 episodes 1992–2009 Heartbeat Lord Ashfordly Main role, 75 episodes 1993 Love Hurts Richard Hollis 1 episode 1993 Chef! Diner 1 episode 1993 Frank Stubbs Promotes Businessman 1 episode 1994; 1995 Mr. Bean Police Officer / Guardsman 2 episodes 1995 Pride and Prejudice Mr Hurst Miniseries, 4 episodes 1995 The Thin Blue Line Commander Crow 1 episode 1996 Wilderness Jeremy Miniseries, 2 episodes 1997 Supply & Demand Police Personnel Television film 1997 Noah's Ark Mark Villiers 1 episode 1997 A Dance to the Music of Time Soper Miniseries, 1 episode 1997 Painted Lady Henry Fellows Television film 1998 Berkeley Square Lord Percy Wilton Miniseries, 2 episodes 1998 Frenchman's Creek Lord Godolphin TV Movie 1998 Vanity Fair Smith Miniseries, 1 episode 1998; 2014 Birds of a Feather Counsel / Wayne 2 episodes 1999 CI5: The New Professionals Chairman 1 episode 2000 The Bill Solicitor 1 episode 2000 Harry Enfield's Brand Spanking New Show Various 2 episodes 2000 Black Books Rich Guy 1 episode 2000 Take a Girl Like You Headmaster 2 episodes 2000; 2001 My Family Mr. Davis / Mr. Quince 2 episodes 2001 Sword of Honour Commander-in-Chief Television film 2001 Sam's Game Robert 1 episode 2001 Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) Brian Babbacombe 1 episode 2001 The Way We Live Now Sir Damask Monogram Miniseries, 1 episode 2002 The Falklands Play Sir Robert Armstrong Television film 2002; 2007; 2009 Midsomer Murders Alistair Kingslake / Desmond Harcourt / Selwyn Proctor 3 episodes 2003–2004 My Dad's the Prime Minister Chancellor Recurring role, 8 episodes 2004 The Brief Prettyman Miniseries, 1 episode 2004 Roman Road Farmer Television film 2005 Twisted Tales Dr. Mantle 1 episode 2005 Doctor Who General Asquith Episodes: "Aliens of London"/"World War Three" 2005 Wallis & Edward Chief Whip Television film 2006 Nuremberg: Nazis on Trial Thomas J. Dodd Miniseries, 2 episodes 2007 Hustle Jonathan Mortimer-Howe 1 episode 2007 Sensitive Skin Interview Guest 1 episode, uncredited 2008 Heroes and Villains Lentulus 1 episode 2009 Margaret Peter Morrison Television film 2010 How Not to Live Your Life Harrison 1 episode 2010 Any Human Heart The Earl Miniseries, 2 episodes 2010; 2012; 2014 Doctors Benedict 'Bennie' Harley / Mr. Graham Fitch / Anthony Chippington 3 episodes 2011 Comedy Showcase Headmaster 1 episode 2011 Holy Flying Circus Bernard Barnard QC Television film 2012 The Royal Bodyguard Roderick Finch Miniseries, 1 episode 2012 Bad Education Mr. Humpage 1 episode 2013–2015 Foyle's War Sir Alec Meyerson Recurring role, 5 episodes 2014 The Midnight Beast Headmaster 1 episode 2014 Death in Paradise Colin Campbell 1 episode 2014–2019 Game of Thrones Yohn Royce Recurring role, 13 episodes 2015 Chewing Gum Big Boss 1 episode 2015 Versailles Throckmorton 2 episodes 2016 Father Brown Arthur Le Broc 1 episode 2016; 2021 Casualty Peter Jennings/Kenneth Stair 2 episodes 2016 Plebs Tarquin 1 episode 2016 Tutankhamun Flinders Petrie Miniseries, 1 episode 2017 King Charles III Sir Matthew Television film 2017 Outlander Lord William Dunsany 1 episode 2017–2022 Doc Martin Professor Langan 2 episodes 2019–2022 Gentleman Jack Charles Lawton Recurring role, 6 episodes 2019 Four Weddings and a Funeral George Miniseries, 2 episodes 2019 The Crown Cecil Harmsworth King 1 episode 2020 Spy City Ian Stuart-Hay Miniseries, 4 episodes 2021–2023 The Nevers Lord Broughton Recurring role, 5 episodes 2022 Bridgerton Mr. Brookes 1 episode 2022 Andor Chief Hyne 2 episodes 2022 The Larkins Dean 1 episode 2023–present The Diplomat Hoope 3 episodes 2023 The Chelsea Detective Patrick Blythe 1 episode 2023 Sister Boniface Mysteries Sir Swinton Usher 1 episode 2024 Belgravia: The Next Chapter Lord Netherbury Miniseries, 4 episodes 2025 Amadeus Rosenberg Miniseries2026Ann DroidJeffery4 episodes

Video games Year Title Voice role Notes2019Dance of Death: Du Lac & FeyJohn Waldron

Audio Year Title Role Notes 2008Doctor Who: The Eighth Doctor AdventuresSepulchre / Judge Jeffreys / Bellman / Kletch / Blackout Killer / Archdruid1 episode

Theatre The Revengers' Comedies (1989) Taking Steps (1990) The Revengers' Comedies (1991) A Westwood Diary (1996) Arsenic and Old Lace (2003) This House (2013) Great Britain (2014)

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