Ian McShane's Real Name: Ian McShane

Quick answer: The actor is known professionally as Ian McShane. Encyclopedia.com and TV Insider independently date his birth to September 29, 1942, in Blackburn, Lancashire, England. TV Guide lists the birth name Ian David McShane, which the Encyclopedia.com and TV Insider entries do not use, so that longer form is recorded below rather than used in the title (Encyclopedia.com; TV Insider).

Real name and early life

He is known professionally as Ian McShane. Encyclopedia.com dates his birth to September 29, 1942, in Blackburn, Lancashire, England, and says his father, Harry, was a professional soccer player, and his mother was Irene, maiden name Cowley. TV Insider independently dates the birth to September 29, 1942, and names Blackburn, Lancashire, England, UK. TV Guide independently lists the birth name Ian David McShane and the birthplace Blackburn, England, United Kingdom, and says he studied acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

Career highlights

Encyclopedia.com lists early television work including You Can't Win (BBC, 1966), the title role in Lovejoy (BBC, 1986–94), and Al Swearengen on Deadwood (HBO, 2004–2006), and records a Golden Globe Award for best actor in a television drama series, along with a 2004 Television Critics Association award for individual achievement in drama. TV Insider, quoting McShane, calls the Deadwood role "the best role I ever had." TV Guide independently notes a 2004 TCA Award for individual achievement in drama for Deadwood. TV Insider independently identifies the Deadwood saloon-owner role as the part that made him widely known, but dates the series to HBO, 2003–06, a start year that differs from Encyclopedia.com's 2004; both listings are recorded here. Encyclopedia.com also lists earlier films including If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium (1969), Battle of Britain (1969), Villain (1971), and Sexy Beast (2000). TV Insider also lists later credits including American Gods (2017) and John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017).

Name notes for searchers

People looking up Ian McShane or Ian David McShane are looking for the same Blackburn-born actor, later known for Deadwood and Lovejoy. The longer form is recorded from TV Guide but is not used in the title.