What's After the Movie
Derek Jacobi
Sir Derek George Jacobi CBE (/ˈdʒækəbi/; born 22 October 1938) is an acclaimed English actor, known for his stage, film, and television roles. He started his professional acting career working alongside Laurence Olivier, being one of the founding members of the National Theatre. Jacobi has numerous stage credits to his name, including prominent Shakespearean roles in productions like Hamlet, Much Ado About Nothing, Twelfth Night, and King Lear. He won the Laurence Olivier Award for his performances in Cyrano de Bergerac in 1983 and Twelfth Night in 2009. Furthermore, he gained a Tony Award for his portrayal of Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing in 1985.
On television, Jacobi famously portrayed Claudius in the BBC series I, Claudius (1976) where he won the British Academy Television Award for Best Actor. His other significant television roles include the ITV drama series Cadfael (1994–1998), the HBO film The Gathering Storm (2002), the sitcom Vicious (2013-2016), BBC's Last Tango in Halifax (2012–2020), and the Netflix series The Crown in 2019. His notable filmography includes Othello (1965), The Day of the Jackal (1973), Henry V (1989), Dead Again (1991), Nanny McPhee (2005), Cinderella (2015), and Murder on the Orient Express (2017). He portrayed Senator Gracchus in Ridley Scott's Gladiator (2000) and has numerous awards including a BAFTA Award and Screen Actors Guild Awards.
Biography, Career & Filmography
Learn more about Derek Jacobi, including a detailed biography, career timeline, personal life insights, and complete filmography. Discover how Derek Jacobi rose to fame, their major roles, industry impact, and personal milestones in the world of film.
Given Name: Derek George Jacobi
Born: Leytonstone, Essex, England
Citizenship: United Kingdom
Birthday: October 22, 1938
Occupations: Actor
Years Active: 1959-present
Spouses: Richard Clifford
External Links and Streaming Options
Explore more about on trusted external platforms like Metacritic, TMDb, Wikipedia or IMDb. Find additional details, reviews, and related content to deepen your understanding.
Awards and Nominations Received by Derek Jacobi
Explore the awards, honors, and nominations Derek Jacobi has earned across their acting career. From prestigious wins to critical acclaim, see how their talent has been recognized by the film industry and major award bodies.
Movies Featuring Derek Jacobi
The Secret of NIMH
PET.E.R O'TOOLE: Along the Sky Road to Aqaba
Henry V
Tolkien
The Warrior Queen of Jhansi
Tomb Raider
Come Away
The Host
Stratton
The Human Factor
Two Men Went to War
Gladiator II
Verona's Romeo & Juliet
Juliet & Romeo
National Theatre Live: King Lear
-IC--nHPDo5mUbQ.jpg)
Through the Weeping Glass: On the Consolations of Life Everlasting (Limbos & Afterbreezes in the Mütter Museum)
The Halloween Kid
Last Will. & Testament
Joe Maddison’s War
Titanic: Blood and Steel
Muse of Fire
National Theatre Live: 50 Years on Stage
Dangerous Edge: A Life of Graham Greene
Grace of Monaco
Branagh Theatre Live: Romeo and Juliet
The Devil of Christmas
A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong
Nothing Is Truer than Truth
Horrible Histories: The Movie - Rotten Romans
Greatest Events of World War II in Colour
Revelation
The Gathering Storm
Revengers Tragedy
I, Claudius: A Television Epic
Jason and the Argonauts
Victoria Wood with All the Trimmings
Henry VIII
The Long Firm
Angelina Ballerina: The Show Must Go On
The Wyvern Mystery
Great Escape: The Untold Story
The Diaries of Vaslav Nijinsky
Strings
Bye Bye Blackbird
Airlock, or How to Say Goodbye in Space
The Riddle
Guantanamero
Discovering Hamlet
The Making of ‘Gosford Park’
The Civil War
Pinochet in Suburbia
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Inside the Third Reich
Enigma
Mist: The Tale of a Sheepdog Puppy
Hamlet
Little Dorrit
David Macaulay: Pyramid
The Congress
The Secret Garden
The Statue of Liberty
David Macaulay: Cathedral
Rhythm of Life
A Bird Flew In
The Lost Pirate Kingdom
The American Buffalo
David Macaulay: Roman City
The Odessa File
Richard II
Three Sisters
Animated Epics: Beowulf
Basil
Looking for Richard
Aladdin
A Bunch of Amateurs
Molokai: The Story of Father Damien
Breaking the Code
The Old Curiosity Shop
Achilles
The Martini Shot
Mysterious Castles of Clay
Morris: A Life with Bells On
Love Is the Devil: Study for a Portrait of Francis Bacon
I, Claudius
Othello
Tinsel Town
Career Timeline
Track the complete movie timeline of Derek Jacobi, including all film releases, career breakthroughs, and notable roles. Follow their journey from early performances to recent blockbusters and upcoming projects.
2019
Tolkien
Professor Wright
The Warrior Queen of Jhansi
Lord Palmerston
Horrible Histories: The Movie - Rotten Romans
Claudius
2013
Muse of Fire
Self
National Theatre Live: 50 Years on Stage
Claudius/Spooner
Dangerous Edge: A Life of Graham Greene
Narrator (voice)
2011
National Theatre Live: King Lear
King Lear
Through the Weeping Glass: On the Consolations of Life Everlasting (Limbos & Afterbreezes in the Mütter Museum)
Narrator (voice)
The Halloween Kid
Narrator
2007
Airlock, or How to Say Goodbye in Space
President
The Riddle
The Tramp / Charles Dickens
Guantanamero
Guido
The Old Curiosity Shop
Grandfather
2004
Two Men Went to War
Angelina Ballerina: The Show Must Go On
Mr. Operatski (voice)
Strings
Nezo (voice)
2002
The Gathering Storm
Stanley Baldwin
Revengers Tragedy
The Duke
I, Claudius: A Television Epic
Self
The Making of ‘Gosford Park’
Self
2001
Revelation
Librarian
Great Escape: The Untold Story
Narrator
The Diaries of Vaslav Nijinsky
Nijinsky (voice) (as Sir Derek Jacobi)
1998
Animated Epics: Beowulf
Narrator ( voice )
Basil
Father Frederick
Love Is the Devil: Study for a Portrait of Francis Bacon
Francis Bacon
What's After the Movie?
Not sure whether to stay after the credits? Find out!
Explore Our Movie Platform
New Movie Releases (2026)
Famous Movie Actors
Top Film Production Studios
Movie Plot Summaries & Endings
Major Movie Awards & Winners
Best Concert Films & Music Documentaries
Movie Collections and Curated Lists
© 2026 What's After the Movie. All rights reserved.