Murray McArthur (born 4 May 1966) is an English actor.

Early life McArthur was born and brought up in Devon. The son of a mushroom farmer, of Scottish parentage and red-haired, he often plays Scottish roles. He attended King's School, Ottery St Mary, received a BA (Joint Hons) degree in English and Drama at Loughborough University and went on to study acting at the Drama Studio London. He was a member of the Devon County Youth Theatre.

Career He has appeared in many stage-plays in British regional theatres and on London's West End (including the Royal National Theatre and Shakespeare's Globe). Much of his stage work has taken him overseas (Ahmanson Theatre, Los Angeles & Panasonic Globe Theatre, Tokyo). His performance as Joe Gargery in Great Expectations at the Gate Theatre, Dublin was described by Irish Independent critic Bruce Arnold: "Emphasis on the heart-warming relationship between Pip and Joe Gargery is a crucial part of the story, and the blacksmith, played by Murray McArthur in the best performance of the evening, achieves this".

Murray appeared as Hasten, the Viking who breaks the Doctor's sonic sunglasses, in episode The Girl Who DiedBBC Media Centre (30 March 2015). "Doctor Who reveals Maisie Williams as guest star", BBC. Retrieved 30 March 2015.Variety (30 March 2015). "Game of Thrones’ Actress Maisie Williams to Guest Star on ‘Doctor Who’", Variety. Retrieved 30 March 2015. of Doctor Who.

He also portrayed a Wildling chieftain in the fifth season episode Hardhome of the HBO series Game of Thrones. His character returned in the sixth season episode The Broken Man with the character name Dim Dalba. He speaks for the Wildlings of The Gift when asked by Jon Snow (character), Tormund Giantsbane, Sansa Stark and Davos Seaworth to join them in the battle against the forces of Ramsay Bolton.

Recently played Hákon Iron-Beard in Robert Eggers Viking revenge film The Northman, released in April 2022. Production on the film was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, resumed in August 2020 and finally completed in early December 2020.

In 2021 McArthur was cast as 'Dad' in the British psychological thriller Marooned Awakening. Principal photography took place in September 2021 on the island of Guernsey. The feature film premiered at the Beau Séjour Theatre on Guernsey on 3 September 2022 and will be released in the United States and Canada on streaming services on February 21, 2023.

Murray plays the part of Fabian, a homeless man who lives in the ruins of the original pilgrim meeting house, in Tim Burton's recently released Wednesday on Netflix, where Jenna Ortega's Wednesday Addams sets Thing on him. Later on he is killed by a monster and winds up in the Jericho Morgue where Wednesday notices his missing foot.

In 2026, Murray appeared as 'Patrick' in the British horror short A Hand to Hold, which was selected for the 41st Santa Barbara International Film Festival and the 2026 FrightFest in Glasgow.

Personal life Married to Geraldine with two children, Orla and Freya, he lives in South East London.

Filmography

Film Year Film Role Director Producer2001EndgameDet. Const. KennyGary WicksVarious Films Ltd2005Finding NeverlandStagehandMarc ForsterMiramaxKeeping MumVicar's Convention Master of CeremoniesNiall JohnsonSummit Entertainment2007The Last LegionTertiusDoug LeflerDino De Laurentiis Company2008Made of HonorDonaldPaul WeilandColumbia Pictures2009A Congregation of GhostsGeorge TredinnickMark CollicottWhitechapel Films2018A Midsummer Night's DreamSnug (A Midsummer Night's Dream)Sacha BennettParkhouse PicturesViking DestinyLokiDavid L.G. HughesFatal Black2019Virtual Viking - The AmbushSkaldErik GustavsonRidley Scott Associates2022The NorthmanHákon Iron-BeardRobert EggersNew RegencyMarooned AwakeningDadMusaab MustafaAcross the Channel Productions Ltd2023 Wonka Ship's CaptainPaul KingWarner Bros. Seize Them!Ur-NammuCurtis VowellEntertainment Film Distributors2025How to Train Your Dragon Hoark the Haggard Dean DeBlois Universal Pictures

Television Year Series Episode Role Director Producer1994EastEndersEpisode 950P.C. BainesJo JohnsonBBCStanley's Dragon TV movieSoldierGerry PoulsonGranada Television1995The Famous FiveFive Fall into AdventureRed TowerMichael KerriganTyne Tees Television & Zenith North1996Tales from the CryptEscape George HeathcotePeter MacDonald (director)HBOBlack Hearts in Battersea TV seriesBoatswain MorganDavid BellBBC1997AquilaThe Eagle Has LandedPolicemanDavid BellBBC1998Human BombTV movieKesslerAnthony PageGriffin1999TaggartBloodlinesAlan BuchananAlan MacmillanSTV Productions2000Heartbeat The Fool on the HillCharlie OsbornePaul WalkerYorkshire TelevisionBurnside Exposed: Parts 1 & 2DC McVeaghBruce MacDonaldThames Television2002Falling ApartTV movieGarethBrian Hill (director)Century Films2006The Complete Guide to ParentingEpisode #1.1Mr. FranklinMandie FletcherTalkback ThamesDoctorsA Very Important DateAl BurgessFred AidroosBBCFriends and CrocodilesTV movieSoup Man 1Stephen PoliakoffBBCFoyle's WarThe French DropPrivate KnoxGavin MillarITV2007Murphy's Law Episode #5.2Terry WestgateColm McCarthy (director)Tiger Aspect ProductionsThe Bill Assault on Sun HillSgt. Michael BrindleyDarcia MartinTalkback Thames2008John Adams Unite or DieThe MagistrateTom HooperHBOLark Rise to Candleford Episode #1.2Bailiff GriggsCharles Palmer (director)BBCSummerhill TV movieFire Officer SibtonJon EastTiger Aspect Productions2009Casualty PalimpsestRoy HydeAlan GrintBBC2015Doctor WhoThe Girl Who DiedHastenEdward BazalgetteBBCGame of ThronesHardhomeDim DalbaMiguel SapochnikHBO2016Barbarians RisingRevengeEgusSimon GeorgeHistory ChannelGame of ThronesThe Broken ManDim DalbaMark MylodHBO2017OutlanderAll Debts PaidDuncan KerrBrendan MaherStarz2018DoctorsA Safe PlaceBarney RutgerPaul GibsonBBCWatership Down (miniseries)Episodes 2-4FarmerNoam MurroBBC & Netflix 2019Pitching InEpisodes 2-3Sir HenryNoreen KershawBBC Cymru Wales & LA Productions2022WednesdayFriend or Woe & Woe What a NightFabianTim BurtonMGM & Netflix2023 The ChangeEpisode 6BrianAl CampbellChannel 4

Stage Year Play Role Director Producer1993On The PisteChris BaxterNeil SissonsHull Truck Theatre1994A Midsummer Night's DreamLysanderPhilip JosephNational Theatre Studios1995Great ExpectationsBentley DrummleJohn DurninNorthcott TheatreAbigail's PartyTonyTim CarrollNorthcott Theatre1996The Grapes of Wrath (play)Noah JoadJohn DurninNorthcott TheatreA Doll's HouseAnthony PageThelma Holt & Playhouse Theatre1997An Enemy of the PeopleEngstrandSir Trevor NunnOlivier Theatre, Royal National Theatre & Ahmanson TheatrePeter PanGreat Big Little PantherJohn Caird (director)Olivier Theatre, Royal National Theatre2002King LearBarry KyleShakespeare's Globe & Panasonic Globe Theatre2008Great ExpectationsJoe GargeryAlan StanfordGate Theatre

References

Variety (30 March 2015). "Game of Thrones’ Actress Maisie Williams to Guest Star on ‘Doctor Who’", Variety. Retrieved 30 March 2015. Radio Times (12 October 2015). "Doctor Who Series 9 Episode 5 The Girl Who Died", Radio Times. Retrieved 12 October 2015. BBC Media Centre (30 March 2015). "Doctor Who reveals Maisie Williams as guest star", BBC. Retrieved 30 March 2015.

External links

Murray McArthur – 42pm Client