
David Thewlis
Biography
David Wheeler (born March 20, 1963), better known as David Thewlis, is an English actor and filmmaker. He is known as a character actor and has appeared in a wide variety of genres in both film and television. He has received the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actor and nominations for two BAFTA Awards, Golden Globe Award, Primetime Emmy Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award.
Thewlis made his film debut in Little Dorrit (1987) and acted in the Mike Leigh films Life is Sweet (1990) and Naked (1993), winning the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actor for the latter. He then appeared in films such as Black Beauty (1994), Restoration (1995), James and the Giant Peach (1996), Dragonheart (1996), and Seven Years in Tibet (1997). He became more widely known to film audiences for his roles as Remus Lupin in the Harry Potter franchise (2004–2011) and Ares / Sir Patrick Morgan in Wonder Woman (2017). Other film roles include Kingdom of Heaven (2005), The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (2008), War Horse (2011), The Theory of Everything (2014), Anomalisa (2015), I'm Thinking of Ending Things (2020), and Enola Holmes 2 (2022).
Thewlis' most notable television roles include V. M. Varga in the third season of FX's Fargo (2017), the voice of the Shame Wizard in the Netflix animated sitcoms Big Mouth (2017–present) and Human Resources (2022–present), Christopher Edwards in the HBO miniseries Landscapers (2021), and John Dee in the Netflix drama series The Sandman (2022). His performance in Fargo earned him nominations for an Emmy, a Golden Globe, and a Critics' Choice Award.
Known For

Film
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Peylak
2025

TV
Fargo
V.M. Vargas
2014

TV
The Sandman
John Dee
2022

TV
Big Mouth
Shame Wizard (voice)
2017

TV
Big Mouth
2017

TV
Screen Two
Franz
1985

TV
Prime Suspect
James Jackson
1991

Film
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Remus Lupin
2009

Film
Wonder Woman
Sir Patrick / Ares
2017

Film
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Remus Lupin
2004

Film
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Remus Lupin
2007

Film
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
Remus Lupin
2011

Film
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
Remus Lupin
2010

Film
Kingdom of Heaven
Hospitaler
2005

TV
Sherlock & Daughter
Sherlock Holmes
2025

TV
Only Fools and Horses
Stew
1981

Film
Zack Snyder's Justice League
Ares
2021

TV
Human Resources
Memory Bank Manager (voice)
2022

TV
Human Resources
Lionel St. Swithens (voice)
2022

TV
The Artful Dodger
Norbert Fagin
2023
Filmography
2026TVDirty Businessas Ash Smith2025FilmAvatar: Fire and Ashas Peylak2025FilmThe Thing with Feathersas Crow (voice)2025TVSherlock & Daughteras Sherlock Holmes2024TVKAOSas Hades2023TVThe Artful Dodgeras Norbert Fagin2022FilmThe Amazing Mauriceas Boss Man / Rat King (voice)2022FilmEnola Holmes 2as Grail2022TVThe Sandmanas John Dee2022TVHuman Resourcesas Memory Bank Manager (voice)2021TVLandscapersas Christopher Edwards2021FilmRare Beastsas Vic2021FilmZack Snyder's Justice Leagueas Ares2020FilmI'm Thinking of Ending Thingsas Father2020FilmEternal Beautyas Mike2020FilmGuest of Honouras Jim2020TVBarkskinsas Claude Trepagny2019TVThe Feedas Lawrence Hatfield2018FilmBeyond Boundaries: The Harvey Weinstein Scandalas Self (archive footage)2018FilmThe Mercyas Rodney Hallworth2017FilmJustice Leagueas Ares2017FilmHarry Potter: A History Of Magicas Himself2017TVBig Mouthas Shame Wizard (voice)2017FilmWonder Womanas Sir Patrick / Ares2016FilmNone of Them Are You: Crafting Anomalisaas Self2015FilmAnomalisaas Michael Stone (voice)2015FilmRegressionas Professor Kenneth Raines2015FilmMacbethas Duncan2015FilmAn Inspector Callsas Inspector Goole - The Inspector2015FilmLegendas Leslie Payne2015FilmQueen & Countryas Sargeant Major Bradley2014FilmThe Theory of Everythingas Dennis Sciama2014FilmStonehearst Asylumas Mickey Finn2014TVFargoas V.M. Vargas2014FilmSunday Roastas Dick Puck2013FilmSeparate We Come, Separate We Goas Norman2013FilmThe Fifth Estateas Nick Davies2013FilmThe Zero Theoremas Joby2013FilmRED 2as The Frog2012FilmFinal Cut: Ladies and Gentlemenas (archive footage)2011FilmWar Horseas Lyons2011FilmThe Ladyas Michael Aris2011FilmAnonymousas William Cecil2011FilmHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2as Remus Lupin2011FilmThe Organ Grinder's Monkeyas Pablo (voice)2011FilmHow to Get a Head in Sculptureas Self2010FilmHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1as Remus Lupin2010FilmLondon Boulevardas Jordan2010FilmMr. Niceas Jim McCann2010FilmAthenaas Chuck2009FilmHarry Potter and the Half-Blood Princeas Remus Lupin2009FilmVeronika Decides to Dieas Dr. Blake2008FilmThe Boy in the Striped Pyjamasas Father2007FilmThe Inner Life of Martin Frostas Martin Frost2007FilmHarry Potter and the Order of the Phoenixas Remus Lupin2006FilmThe Omenas Keith Jennings2006TVThe Streetas Joe Jennerson / Harry Jennerson2006FilmBasic Instinct 2as Roy Washburn2006FilmAll the Invisible Childrenas Jonathan (segment "Jonathan")2005FilmThe New Worldas Wingfield2005FilmKingdom of Heavenas Hospitaler2004FilmThe Magic Touch of Harry Potteras Self2004FilmHarry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkabanas Remus Lupin2003FilmLittle Wolf's Book of Badnessas Mr. Twister (voice)2003FilmTimelineas Robert Doniger2003FilmCheekyas Harry Sankey2002FilmD.I.Y. Hardas Man2002TVDinotopiaas Cyrus Crabb2002FilmDiscovering Dinotopiaas Cyrus2002FilmDinotopiaas Cyrus Crabb2002FilmHamilton Mattressas Hamilton Mattress (voice)2001FilmGoodbye Charlie Brightas Charlie's Dad2000FilmEndgameas Clov2000FilmGangster No. 1as Freddie Mays2000FilmThe Miracle Makeras Judas Iscariot (voice)2000FilmWhatever Happened to Harold Smith?as Nesbit1999FilmLove Storyas Dealer1998FilmDivorcing Jackas Dan Starkey1998FilmThe Big Lebowskias Knox Harrington1998FilmBesiegedas Jason Kinsky1997FilmSeven Years in Tibetas Peter Aufschnaiter1997FilmAmerican Perfektas Santini1997FilmThe Making of 'DragonHeart'as Self1996FilmThe Island of Dr. Moreauas Douglas1996FilmDragonHeartas King Einon1996FilmJames and the Giant Peachas Earthworm (voice)1995FilmRestorationas John Pearce1995FilmTotal Eclipseas Paul Verlaine1994TVDandelion Deadas Oswald Martin1994FilmDreamtown: A Brief Anatomy of Blackpoolas Self1994FilmBlack Beautyas Jerry Barker1993FilmNakedas Johnny1993TVFrank Stubbs Promotesas Mike Bence1993FilmThe Trialas Franz1992FilmDamageas Detective1992FilmBlack and Blueas Crematorium Attendant1992FilmSwords at Teatimeas Mike1991FilmAfraid of the Darkas Locksmith / Tom Miller1991FilmJourney to Knockas Terry1991FilmFilipina Dreamgirlsas Tim Shanks1991FilmSkulduggeryas Tony1991TVPrime Suspectas James Jackson1990FilmLife Is Sweetas Nicola's Lover1990TVOranges Are Not the Only Fruitas Doctor1989FilmResurrectedas Kevin Deakin1989TVA Bit of a Do1988FilmVroomas Ringe1988FilmDeep Red Instant Love1987FilmLittle Dorritas George Braddle1987FilmThe Short & Curliesas Clive1987FilmRoadas Joey1987TVValentine Parkas Max1986TVThe Singing Detectiveas Soldier1985FilmRadio Picturesas JIM 'Grams'1985TVScreen Twoas Franz1981TVOnly Fools and Horsesas Stew—FilmLittlemouth