He was born '''Sidney Edmond Jocelyn Ackland''' in North Kensington, London, and trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama. He has appeared extensively on television, notably as C. S. Lewis in ''Shadowlands'' (1985). He has often played South African characters, in films like ''Lethal Weapon 2'' (1989) and ''White Mischief'' (1987).
Ackland appears in the Pet Shop Boys' 1987 film ''It Couldn't Happen Here'', and in the video for their cover version of the song ''Always On My Mind'', which was taken from the film. Several years later, he claimed in an interview with the Radio Times that he appeared with the band purely as the result of losing a bet.
Joss and Rosemary Ackland
Ackland and his wife Rosemary were married for 51 years until her death from motor-neuron disease in 2002. Together they had seven children and, as of May 2006, 32 grandchildren. Rosemary was also an actress and Ackland wooed her when they appeared onstage together in Pitlochry. They were married on August 18 1951 when Ackland was 23 and she 22. The couple struggled initially as Ackland's acting career was in its infancy. They moved to Africa where Ackland had decided to try his luck as a tea planter, moving to Cape Town after 6 months when they decided it was too dangerous.Though they both obtained steady acting jobs in the South African capital, after two years they fell foul of apartheid laws and returned to England in 1957. Ackland's fortunes improved then and he joined the Old Vic, appearing alongside such luminaries as Paul Scofield and Tom Courtenay. However in 1963 their house in Barnes caught fire. Rosemary managed to save their brood of 5 children but broke her back jumping from the bedroom window to safety. She was told she'd lose the baby she was currently pregnant with and would never walk again. She managed to confound the doctors though and both gave birth and returned to walking, after 2 years in Stoke Mandeville Hospital. Ackland's career really took off with parts in ''The Sicilian'', ''Lethal Weapon 2'' and ''White Mischief'' and the couple began to enjoy prosperity. Despite his filming taking him to far-flung locations, Ackland said they never spent a night apart.
There was more misfortune in store for the couple though as their eldest son, Paul, died of a heroin overdose in 1982 aged 29. In 2000 Rosemary learned she had motor neurone disease. The last 2 years of her life saw the degenerative effects of this disease manifest themselves. However she maintained her humorous disposition and continued writing a diary, just as she had done for decades. Rosemary died on July 25 2002, in the years since her death Ackland has read and edited the diaries for forthcoming publication. He has also kept busy with work and features in ''Flawless'' with Demi Moore and an upcoming film based on Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels.
Filmography
As an actor
*''Above and Beyond'' (2006) (TV Mini Series) ... Winston Churchill*''Moscow Zero'' (2006) ... Tolstoy
*''These Foolish Things'' (2006) ... Albert
*''Midsomer Murders'' (2006) (TV Series) ... Sir Freddy Butler
*''Icon'' (2005) (TV) ... General Nikolayev
*''Asylum'' (2005/I) ... Jack Straffen
*''A Different Loyalty'' (2004) ... Randolph Cauffield
*''Henry VIII'' (2003) (TV) ... Henry VII
*''I'll Be There'' (2003) ... Vocals, The BeelzeeBOPS
*''Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness'' (2003) (voice) ... Pieter Van Eckhardt
*''K-19: The Widowmaker'' (2002) ... Marshal Zelentsov
*''The House on Turk Street'' (2002) ... Mr. Thomas Quarre
*''Othello'' (2001) (TV) ... James Brabant
*''Gioco di specchi'' (2000) (TV)
*''Passion of Mind'' (2000) ... Dr. Langer, the French Psychiatrist
*''The Mumbo Jumbo'' (2000) ... Mayor Smith
*''Lounge Act'' (2000) (voice)
*''Milk'' (1999/I) ... The Vicar
*'''' (1999) ... The Prussian
*''My Giant'' (1998) (uncredited) ... Monsignor Popescu
*''Heat of the Sun'' (1998) (TV Mini Series) ... Max van der Vuurst
*''Figlio di Sandokan, II'' (1998) (TV Mini Series)
*''Firelight'' (1997) ... Lord Clare
*''Swept from the Sea'' (1997) ... Mr. Swaffer
*''D3: The Mighty Ducks'' (1996) ... Hans
*''Surviving Picasso'' (1996) ... Henri Matisse
*''To the Ends of Time'' (1996) (TV) ... King Francis
*''Deadly Voyage'' (1996) (TV) ... Captain
*''Hidden in Silence'' (1996) (TV) ... German factory manager
*''Testament: The Bible in Animation'' (1996) (TV Series) (voice) ... Noah
*''Daisies in December'' (1995) (TV) ... Gerald Carmody
*''A Kid in King Arthur's Court'' (1995) ... King Arthur
*''Mad Dogs and Englishmen'' (1995) ... Insp. Sam Stringer
*''Citizen X'' (1995) (TV) ... Bondarchuk
*''Jacob'' (1994) (TV) ... Isaac
*''Miracle on 34th Street'' (1994) (uncredited) ... Mr. Victor Landbergh
*''Giorgino'' (1994) ... Father Glaise
*''Citizen Locke'' (1994) (TV) ... Lord Ashley
*''Mother's Boys'' (1994) ... Lansing, Jude's Attorney
*''OcchioPinocchio'' (1994) ... Brando
*''The Princess and the Goblin'' (1993) (voice) ... King Papa
*''Voices in the Garden'' (1993) (TV) ... Sir Charles (Archie) Peverall
*''Nowhere to Run'' (1993) ... Franklin Hale
*''Shakespeare: The Animated Tales'' (1992) (TV Series) (voice) ... Julius Caesar
*''The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles'' (1992) (TV Series) ... The Prussian
*''The Mighty Ducks'' (1992) ... Hans
*''Shadowchaser'' (1992) ... Kinderman
*''Once Upon a Crime...'' (1992) ... Hercules Popodopoulos
*''The Bridge'' (1992) ... Smithson
*''The Sheltering Desert'' (1992) ... Col. Johnston
*''They Do It with Mirrors'' (1991) (TV) ... Lewis Serrocold
*''Ashenden'' (1991) (TV Mini Series) ... Cumming
*''A Woman Named Jackie'' (1991) (TV Mini Series) ... Aristoteles Onassis
*''Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey'' (1991) ... Chuck De Nomolos
*''The Object of Beauty'' (1991) ... Mr. Mercer
*''A Murder of Quality'' (1991) (TV) ... Terence Fielding
*''Incident at Victoria Falls'' (1991) (TV) ... King Edward
*''The Secret Life of Ian Fleming'' (1990) (TV) ... Gen. Gerhard Hellstein
*''The Hunt for Red October'' (1990) ... Ambassador Andrei Lysenko
*''Dimenticare Palermo'' (1990) ... Uomo di Potere
*''Jekyll & Hyde'' (1990) (TV) ... Dr. Charles Lanyon
*''Tre colonne in cronaca'' (1990) ... Gaetano Leporino
*''Lethal Weapon 2'' (1989) ... Arjen 'Aryan' Rudd
*''The Justice Game'' (1989) (TV) ... Sir James Crichton
*''A Quiet Conspiracy'' (1989) (TV Mini Series) ... Theo Carter
*''First and Last'' (1989) (TV) ... Alan Holly
*''To Kill a Priest'' (1988) ... Colonel
*''Codename: Kyril'' (1988) (TV) ... 'C'
*''The Man Who Lived at the Ritz'' (1988) (TV) ... Goering
*''It Couldn't Happen Here'' (1987) ... Priest/murderer
*''The Sicilian'' (1987) ... Don Masino Croce
*''Queenie'' (1987) (TV) ... Sir Burton Rumsey
*''A Killing on the Exchange'' (1987) (TV Mini Series) ... Sir Max Sillman
*''White Mischief'' (1987) ... Sir Jock Delves Broughton
*''When We Are Married'' (1987) (TV) ... Henry Ormonroyd
*''Lady Jane'' (1986) ... Sir John Bridges
*''The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes'' (1985) (TV Series) ... Jephro Rucastle
*''A Zed & Two Noughts'' (1985) ... Van Hoyten
*''Shadowlands'' (1985) (TV) ... C.S. Lewis
*''The Tragedy of Coriolanus'' (1984) (TV) ... Menenius
*''Shroud for a Nightingale'' (1984) (TV Mini Series) ... Stephen Courtney-Briggs, surgeon
*''Bekenntnisse des Hochstaplers Felix Krull'' (1982) (TV Mini Series) ... Mr. Twentyman
*''The Barretts of Wimpole Street'' (1982) (TV Mini Series) ... Edward Moulton-Barrett
*''Thicker Than Water'' (1981) (TV Mini Series) ... Joseph Lockwood
*''Dangerous Davies - The Last Detective'' (1981) ... Chief Insp. Yardbird
*''The Apple'' (1980) ... Hippie Leader/Mr. Topps
*''The Gentle Touch'' (TV Series) ... Ivor Stocker
*''Rough Cut'' (1980) ... Insp. Vanderveld
*''The Love Tapes'' (1980) (TV) (uncredited) ... Narrator
*''A Question of Guilt'' (1980) (TV Series) ... Samuel Kent
*''Tales of the Unexpected'' (1980) (TV Series) (1980, 1988) ... Malcolm Harper (1980), Colonel George Peregrine (1988)
*''Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy'' (TV Mini Series) (1979) ... Jerry Westerby
*''Saint Jack'' (1979) ... Yardley
*''A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square'' (1979) (uncredited) ... Prison Warden
*''The Sweeney'' (1978) (TV Series) ... Alan Ember
*''Disneyland'' (1978) (TV Series) (uncredited) ... Seaman on Yacht
*''Return of the Saint'' (1978) (TV Series) ... Gunther
*''Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe?'' (1978) ... Cantrell
*''The Greek Tycoon'' (1978) (uncredited)
*''Silver Bears'' (1977) ... Henry Foreman
*''Enemy at the Door'' (1978) (TV Series) ... Major General Laidlaw
*''Watership Down'' (1978) (voice) ... Black Rabbit
*''The Strange Case of the End of Civilization as We Know It'' (1977) ... President
*''The Crezz'' (1977) (TV Series) ... Charles Bronte
*''You Talk Too Much'' (1976) (TV)
*''Operation Daybreak'' (1975) ... Janák
*''Royal Flash'' (1975) as Sapten
*''One of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing'' (1975) ... B.J. Spence
*''Great Expectations'' (1974) (TV) ... Joe Gargery
*''The Little Prince'' (1974) as The King
*''S*P*Y*S'' (1974) ... Martinson
*''The Black Windmill'' (1974) ... Chief Supt. Wray
*''The Protectors'' (1974) (TV Series) ... Arthur Gordon
*''The Three Musketeers'' (1973) ... D'Artagnan's Father
*''England Made Me'' (1973) ... Haller
*''Hitler: The Last Ten Days'' (1973) (TV Series) ... Gen. Burgdorf
*''The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes'' (1973) (TV Series) ... Grubber
*''Penny Gold'' (1973)
*'''' (1972) (TV)
*'''' (1972) (TV)
*''Six Faces'' (1972) (TV Series) ... Harry Mellor
*''The Happiness Cage'' (1972) ... Dr. Frederick
*''Shirley's World'' (1972) (TV Series) ... Inspector Vaughan
*''The Persuaders!'' (1972) (TV Series) ... Felix Meadowes
*''Thirty-Minute Theatre'' (1971) (TV Series) (1971, 1972)
*''Villain'' (1971) ... Edgar Lewis
*''Mr. Forbush and the Penguins'' (1972) ... The Leader
*''Play for Today'' (1970) (TV Series) (1970, 1972, 1973) ... Albert
*''Crescendo'' (1970) ... Carter
*''The House That Dripped Blood'' (1970) ... Neville Rogers
*''Canterbury Tales'' (1969) (TV Series)
*''Before the Party'' (1969) (TV) ... Harold Bannon
*''The Gold Robbers'' (1969) (TV Series) ... Derek Hartford
*''The Avengers'' (1969) (TV Series) ... Brig. Hansing
*''Z Cars'' (1967) (TV Series) (1967-1968) ... Det. Insp. Todd
*''A Place of One's Own'' (1968) (TV)
*''Mystery and Imagination'' (1966) (TV Series) (1966, 1968) ... Herr Scavenius
*''The Troubleshooters'' (1966) (TV Series) (1966-1968) ... Mr. Gibbon (1966), Sam Jardine (1966-1967), Considine (1968), Lewis (1968)
*''The Wednesday Play'' (1965) (TV Series) (1965, 1967) ... Tom Gorbet (1965), Cornelius (1967)
*''The Further Adventures of the Three Musketeers'' (1967) (TV Series) ... d'Artagnan
*''Room 13'' (1966) (TV) ... Herr Scavenius
*''On the March to the Sea (1966) (TV)
*''The Widower'' (1966) (TV) ... Bernard Jeantet
*''Lord Raingo'' (1966) (TV) ... Tom Hogarth
*''Rasputin: the Mad Monk'' (1966) ... The Bishop
*''David Copperfield'' (1966) (TV Series) ... Mr. Peggotty
*''Focus'' (1966) (TV)
*''Play of the Months'' (1966) (TV Series) (1966, 1970)
*''Angus Slowly Sinking?]]'' (1965) (TV)
*''Sherlock Holmes'' (1965) (TV Series) ... Hon. Philip Green
*''Detective'' (1964) (TV Series) ... Jasper Garnette
*''The Indian Tales of Rudyard Kipling'' (1963) (TV Series) ... Editor of English Language Newspaper in India
*''In Search of the Castaways'' (1962) (uncredited) ... Seaman on yacht
*''Next to No Time'' (1959) (uncredited) ... Turkish Bath Attendant
*''Sen noci svatojanske (1959) (voice) ... Quince
*''Destination Downing Street'' (1957) (TV Series) ... Immelmann
*''Ghost Ship'' (1952) ... Ron, 2nd Fisherman
*''Seven Days to Noon'' (1950) (uncredited) ... Station policeman
As himself
*''Bad Lads Army'' (2004) (TV Series)*''The Adventure of English'' (2002) (TV Mini Series)
*''Painting Faces'' (2001)
*''The Story of the SAS'' (1999)
*''Mozart 1991'' (1992)
*''This is Your Life'' (1976) (TV Series)
*''The Ascent of Man'' (1973) (TV Mini Series) (voice)
External link
Biography courtesy of the brilliant Wikipedia!
