John Rhys-Davies
{{Short description|Welsh actor (born 1944)}}
{{for|the priest|John Rhys Davies (priest)}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name = John Rhys-Davies
| image = (John Rhys-Davies) 2018-02-11 15-35-40 ILCE-6500 DSC07150 (31235662177) (cropped).jpg
| alt =
| caption = Rhys-Davies in 2018
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1944|5|5}}
| birth_place = Salisbury, Wiltshire, England
| alma_mater = University of East Anglia
| occupation = Actor
| years_active = 1964–present
| spouse = {{marriage|Suzanne Wilkinson|1966|1985|end=separated}}
| partner = Lisa Manning (2004–present)
| children = 3
| signature = JohnRhysDavies.png
}}
John Rhys-Davies (born 5 May 1944) is a Welsh actor known for portraying Gimli in The Lord of the Rings trilogy and Sallah in the Indiana Jones franchise. He has received three Screen Actors Guild Award nominations, with one win, and a Primetime Emmy Award nomination.
Rhys-Davies is also known for his performances in the films Sahara (1983), The Living Daylights (1987), Glory Daze (1995), The Medallion (2003) and One Night with the King (2006). He is also known for his extensive voice work including Cats Don't Dance (1997), Sinbad: Beyond the Veil of Mists (2000), SpongeBob SquarePants (2000–2002), and TripTank (2015–2016).
Rhys-Davies also gained acclaim for his television roles as Macro in I, Claudius (1976), Vasco Rodrigues in Shōgun (1980), and Michael Malone in The Untouchables (1993). From 1995 to 1997, he portrayed Professor Maximillian Arturo in Sliders.
Early life
John Rhys-Davies was born in Salisbury on 5 May 1944,{{cite news |first=Kirstie |last=McCrum |title=Hollywood actor John Rhys-Davies: 'I'm very proud of being a Welshman' |work=Wales Online |date=23 November 2013 |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/film-tv/welsh-actor-john-rhys-davies-coming-6316261 |access-date=2025-03-05}} the son of Welsh parents. His mother, Phyllis Jones, was a nurse, while his father, Rhys Davies, was a mechanical engineer and colonial officer.{{cite web |url=http://www.ntz.info/gen/n02072.html |website=Ntz.info|title=John Rhys-Davis |access-date=27 May 2009}}
Due to his father's work as a colonial police officer, Rhys-Davies was raised in Tanganyika (today part of Tanzania) before his family moved to the Welsh town of Ammanford. While in Tanganyika, his family lived in places such as Dar es Salaam, Kongwa, Moshi, and Mwanza. Rhys-Davies was educated at independent Truro School in Cornwall and then at the University of East Anglia, where he was one of the first 105 students admitted and became a co-founder of its drama club. After a stint teaching at a secondary school in Watton, Norfolk, Rhys-Davies won a place at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London.
Career
File:John Rhys-Davies under autografsession.jpg
Rhys-Davies appeared sporadically on UK television in the early 1970s, including his role as the gangster "Laughing Spam Fritter" opposite Adam Faith in Budgie. Later, Rhys-Davies played Praetorian officer Naevius Sutorius Macro in I, Claudius. He then began to appear more frequently, and not just in the UK, with roles as a Portuguese navigator Rodrigues in the 1980 television miniseries Shōgun, based on the novel by James Clavell.
In 1989, Rhys-Davies played Marvel Comics character Kingpin in The Trial of the Incredible Hulk.{{Cite magazine |first=Ivan |last=Cohen |title=Revisiting the Awesomely Cheesy 1989 Hulk TV Movie Featuring Daredevil |magazine=Esquire |date=2015-04-11 |url=https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a34282/daredevil-incredible-hulk-1989-movie/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=2025-03-05}} He also starred in another Clavell adaption, Noble House, set in Hong Kong, where Rhys-Davies plays Ian Dunross' corporate enemy, Quillan Gornt.{{cite news |first=John |last=Corry |title='Noble House,' Four-Part Mini-Series" |work=The New York Times |department=Arts |page=50 |date=1988-02-20 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/02/20/arts/tv-noble-house-four-part-mini-series.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=2025-03-05}} He has since appeared in numerous television shows and miniseries, including Agent Michael Malone in the 1993 remake of the 1950s television series The Untouchables{{Cite news |first=Eirik |last=Knutzen |title=Untouchable Tom |work=Toronto Star |date=1993-07-24 |page=SW4 |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/436862575 |url-access=subscription |access-date=2025-03-05 |id={{ProQuest|436862575}} }} as well as a leading role in the television series Sliders as Professor Maximillian Arturo from 1995 to 1997.{{Cite news |first=Ray |last=Chatelin |title=Sliders is back after six months in limbo |work=The Province |date=1996-02-29 |page=B2 |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/267545850 |url-access=subscription |access-date=2025-03-05 |id={{ProQuest|267545850}} }}
File:John Rhys Davies Q&A, Galaxy Con Richmond 2023 - 53046118088.jpg
Rhys-Davies also appeared in Reilly, Ace of Spies in 1983, made several appearances in Star Trek: Voyager as a holodeck version of Leonardo da Vinci,{{Cite news |first=Ian |last=Spelling |title=John Rhys-Davies Slides Into 'Voyager' Guest Spot |work=Chicago Tribune |agency=The New York Times |date=2021-08-11 |orig-date=1997-05-08 |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1997/05/08/john-rhys-davies-slides-into-voyager-guest-spot/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=2025-03-05}} starred as an ally of James Bond in The Living Daylights, and appeared in the film One Night with the King. Rhys-Davies has played the character Porthos in two separate projects; a two-part episode of The Secret Adventures of Jules Verne, and the Hallmark Channel film La Femme Musketeer. He appears in the full-motion video cut scenes of computer games including Ripper (as Vigo Haman) (1996), Dune 2000 (as Noree Moneo) (1998), and the Wing Commander series (as James Taggart, doubling as the voice of Thrakhath nar Kiranka in the third game of the series).
In 2004, Rhys-Davies narrated The Privileged Planet, a documentary that makes the case for intelligent design.{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002E34C0|title=The Privileged Planet: John Rhys-Davies, Lad Allen: Movies & TV|website=Amazon.com|date=29 September 2010 |access-date=30 June 2014}} He also provided narration in the MTV series Wildboyz around this time. In 2013, Rhys-Davies appeared in the family history programme Coming Home, in which he discovered information about his grandfather's life in the Carmarthenshire coal mines.{{cite web |author= |title=John Rhys-Davies {{!}} Coming Home {{!}} Series 8 Episode 1 of 4 |work=BBC |department=Programmes |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03kkf0w |access-date=2025-03-05}}
In 2014, Rhys-Davies joined the cast of the television show Métal Hurlant Chronicles to play Holgarth, an immortal alchemist.{{cite web |first=Pascal |last=Muscarnera |title=Exclu: de nouvelles photos de la saison 2 de "Metal Hurlant" [PHOTOS] |lang=fr |trans-title=Exclusive: New photos from season 2 of "Metal Hurlant" [PHOTOS] |work=AlloCiné |date=2013-09-18 |url=https://www.allocine.fr/article/fichearticle_gen_carticle=18627124.html |access-date=2025-03-05}} In October 2015, it was announced that he had a role in the single-player module Squadron 42, of the planned PC game franchise Star Citizen;{{cite magazine |first=Tom |last=Sykes |title=Star Citizen features Gary Oldman, Gillian Anderson, Mark Hamill |magazine=PC Gamer |date=10 October 2015 |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/star-citizen-features-gary-oldman-gillian-anderson-mark-hamill/ |access-date=30 November 2015}} the work consisted of full body motion capture, including facial expressions and his voice.{{cite web |title=Video Shows How Star Citizen intends to Use Motion Capture |url=http://www.loadthegame.com/2015/02/21/video-shows-star-citizen-intends-use-motion-capture/ |website=loadthegame.com |access-date=30 November 2015 |first=Kieran |last=Mackintosh}} In October 2024, with Squadron 42 in its 10th year of development, the developer suggested that it might be released in 2026.{{Cite AV media |title=CitizenCon 2954: Day One [Full Broadcast] |publisher=Cloud Imperium Games |date=2024-10-19 |format=YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3eHBhHsrm4 |access-date=2024-10-19}}
=''Indiana Jones movies''=
Rhys-Davies played Sallah in the 1981 film Raiders of the Lost Ark.[https://ottawacitizen.com/entertainment/local-arts/john-rhys-davis-on-his-fondness-for-gimli-and-his-fans "John Rhys-Davis on his fondness for Gimli, and his fans"] by Peter Robb at ottawacitizen.com He reprised the role of Sallah in two subsequent Indiana Jones films."Movie Review; Mr. Jones' Last Raid; Harrison Ford is back for a final round as the archaeologist-adventure hero in the messy but poignant 'Dial of Destiny.'" by Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times (30 June 2023) Retrieved from {{ProQuest|2831149233}}
=''The Lord of the Rings'' movies=
Rhys-Davies appeared as the dwarf Gimli in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. The cinematography of the films was aided in that Rhys-Davies is tall – {{convert|6|ft|1|in|abbr=on}}, compared to the actors playing hobbits at around {{convert|5|ft|6|in|abbr=on}}.{{cite web |url=http://www.mooviees.com/9421-John-Rhys-Davies/celebrity |website=Mooviees.com |access-date=27 May 2009 |title=John Rhys-Davies celebrity}} Therefore, although his character was supposed to be short, Rhys-Davies was properly in proportion compared to the hobbit actors. Had he been of more similar height, shots of the entire fellowship would have required three camera passes rather than two.Fellowship of the Rings Extended Edition DVD
Rhys-Davies is the only one of the nine Fellowship of the Ring actors who did not receive a tattoo of the word "nine" written in the Tengwar script; his stunt double, Brett Beattie, was offered the tattoo instead as Rhys-Davies was disinclined to get one himself and Beattie had spent so much time as his double that he almost received co-credit.{{Cite web|last=Grebey|first=James|date=16 June 2021|title=Lord of the Rings' uncredited Gimli double finally tells his tale|url=https://www.polygon.com/lord-of-the-rings/22535564/lotr-gimli-actor-double-brett-beattie-cast-fellowship-tattoo|access-date=23 January 2022|website=Polygon|language=en-US}}
Rhys-Davies suffered severe reactions to the prosthetics used during filming, and his eyes sometimes swelled shut. When asked whether Rhys-Davies would consider returning to the role for the film version of The Hobbit, he said, "I have already completely ruled it out. There's a sentimental part of me that would love to be involved again. Really I am not sure my face can take that sort of punishment any more." Rhys-Davies added that this time around, "[t]hey've got a different set of problems{{nbsp}}... because you've got 13 dwarves, a whole band of them{{nbsp}}... You're trying to represent a whole race{{nbsp}}... You're trying to do for dwarves what The Lord of the Rings did for hobbits."{{cite magazine |url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/exclusive-rhys-davies-hobbit/ |date=30 October 2009 |title=Exclusive: Rhys-Davies On The Hobbit |last=O'Hara |first=Helen |magazine=Empire |access-date=28 September 2020}} He offered help as a dwarf advisor in 2011, but ruled out returning as Gimli in The Hobbit because of the punishing makeup required.{{cite web|url= https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/film/4860481/John-Rhys-Davies-offers-help-as-dwarf-adviser |title= John nRhys-Davies offers help as 'dwarf advisor' |publisher= Stuff/Fairfax |date=8 April 2011}}
=Voice work=
File:John Rhys-Davies (7979439918).jpg
In addition to voicing the Ent Treebeard in Lord of the Rings, Rhys-Davies has lent his distinctive voice to many video games and animated television series, including the role of Hades in Justice League, the original voice of Man Ray in SpongeBob SquarePants (until both roles were recast with Bob Joles), and numerous times in Gargoyles (1994–1996), as the character Macbeth. He also lent his vocal talents to the games Freelancer (as Richard Winston Tobias) and Lords of Everquest (both in 2003) and the game Quest for Glory IV: Shadows of Darkness, which was released with his narration on a CD-ROM version in 1995. Rhys-Davies also had a voice role on Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance as the character Jherek, and narrated a documentary called The Glory of Macedonia. Next Generation magazine gave its Dune 2000 review "an automatic one-star deduction for featuring John "Multimedia Whore" Rhys-Davies in the FMV."{{Cite magazine |editor-first=Chris |editor-last=Charla |title=Dune 2000 (PC) |magazine=Next Generation |issue=48 |date=December 1998 |department=Ratings |page=134 |url=https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_48/page/n135/mode/2up |access-date=2025-03-06 |url-access=limited |via=Internet Archive text collection}}
Rhys-Davies' voice can be heard on the 2009 documentary Reclaiming the Blade.{{cite press release |author= |title=John Rhys-Davies Signs on as Narrator |publisher=Galatia Films |website=reclaimingtheblade.com |date=2006-06-15 |url=http://www.reclaimingtheblade.com/main/?p=3 |access-date=2025-03-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015022803/http://www.reclaimingtheblade.com/main/?p=3 |archive-date=2013-10-15 |url-status=dead}} In the narration, he explores swords, historical European swordsmanship and fight choreography on film, a topic very familiar to Rhys-Davies from his experiences in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, where his character wielded an axe in many scenes.
In 2004, Rhys-Davies was the unknowing subject of an internet prank that spread false rumours in several mainstream media sources that he was scheduled to play the role of General Grievous in Star Wars Episode III.{{cite web |first=Alastair |last=Craig |title=John Rhys-Davies in Star Wars Episode III: A Grievous Media Hoax |url=http://www.thatchickensite.com/?p=1186 |website=thatchickensite.com |access-date=2025-03-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090806072302/http://www.thatchickensite.com/?p=1186 |archive-date=6 August 2009 |url-status=dead}}
Rhys-Davies is the narrator of The Truth & Life Dramatized audio New Testament Bible, a 22-hour, celebrity-voiced, fully dramatised audiobook version of the New Testament which uses the Revised Standard Version-Catholic Edition translation. In 2011, he presented KJB: The Book That Changed The World, which features Rhys-Davies reading diverse snippets from the King James Version.
Rhys-Davies' voice work also includes voice-over work with Breathe Bible.[http://breathebible.com/voices/john-rhys-davies/ John Rhys-Davies, Narrator] BreatheBible.com Retrieved 19 September 2017. In 2016, he provided spoken words for Voices of Fire, the sixth album by a cappella power metal band van Canto.{{cite web|title=Van Canto: Audio Samples Of Entire 'Voices Of Fire' Album|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/van-canto-audio-samples-of-entire-voices-of-fire-album/|website=Blabbermouth.net|access-date=7 April 2016|date=8 March 2016}}
A resident of the Isle of Man since 1988, John Rhys-Davies provides the introductory voice-over to the Island's Castle Rushen, one of the best-preserved medieval fortresses in the British Isles. In 2018, he lent his voice to the Isle of Man's tourism commercial.
Rhys-Davies voice was recorded for some of the callouts in the 1993 Williams SuperPin Indiana Jones: The Pinball Adventure.{{Cite web |title=Indiana Jones: The Pinball Adventure |website=ipdb.org |date=August 1993 |url=https://www.ipdb.org/machine.cgi?id=1267 |access-date=2025-03-06}}
In the 2023 video game The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria, Rhys-Davies reprises the role of Gimli and narrates the opening scene.{{Cite AV media |title=The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria™ - Opening Cinematic |publisher=North Beach Games |date=17 October 2023 |medium=YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uu_zXGrzCTo |access-date=2025-03-06}}{{Cite news |first=Victoria |last=Kennedy |title=Gimli actor to reprise role for The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria |work=Eurogamer |date=17 October 2023 |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/gimli-actor-to-reprise-role-for-the-lord-of-the-rings-return-to-moria |access-date=2025-03-06}}{{Cite web |first=Ben |last=Sledge |title=Return To Moria's Old Man Gimli Is The Best Kind Of Fan Service |website=TheGamer |date=24 October 2023 |url=https://www.thegamer.com/return-to-moria-old-man-gimli-is-the-best-kind-of-fan-service/ |access-date=2025-03-06}}
Personal life
=Relationships=
File:John Rhys-Davies byVetulani.JPG
Rhys-Davies married Suzanne Wilkinson in December 1966, and they had two sons together. Although they legally separated in 1985, they remained married until her death from Alzheimer's disease in 2010. They remained friends, and Rhys-Davies took care of Wilkinson in her final years.{{cite news |first=Rachel |last=Mainwaring |title=John Rhys-Davies tells of his family's Alzheimer's agony |website=Walesonline |date=2013-03-29 |orig-date=21 June 2009 |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/showbiz/john-rhys-davies-tells-familys-alzheimers-2101366 |access-date=2025-03-06}}
In 2004, Rhys-Davies began dating Lisa Manning. They have a daughter together, and split their time between homes in the New Zealand region of Waikato{{Cite magazine |first=Nathalie |last=Brown |title=Lord of the Rings star John Rhys-Davies says New Zealand show Fresh Eggs is a hoot |magazine=NZ Life & Leisure |date=March 2019 |url=https://ourwayoflife.co.nz/lord-of-the-rings-star-john-rhys-davies-says-new-zealand-show-fresh-eggs-is-a-hoot/ |access-date=2025-03-06}} and on the Isle of Man.{{Cite news |author= |title=Lord of the Rings star launches Manx EU referendum petition |work=BBC News |date=2016-01-29 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-isle-of-man-35429021 |access-date=2025-03-06}}
=Religious views=
While Rhys-Davies identifies as irreligious, he holds Christianity in high regard and has stated that "Christian civilisation has made the world a better place than it ever was."
In February 2020, Rhys-Davies stated, "All the things that we value, the right of free speech, the right of the individual conscience, these evolved in first and second century Roman Christendom, where the individual Christian said, 'I have a right to believe, what I believe and not what the Emperor tells me.' From that our whole idea of democracy and the equality that we have has developed. We owe Christianity the greatest debt of thanks that a generation can ever have, and to slight it and to dismiss it as being irrelevant is the detritus of rather ill-read minds, I think."{{cite web|url=https://www.christianpost.com/news/hollywood-actor-john-rhys-davies-says-christianitys-not-irrelevant-has-made-the-world-better.html|title=Hollywood actor John Rhys-Davies says Christianity's not irrelevant, has made the world better|first=Jeannie|last=Law|publisher=Christian Post|date=4 February 2020|access-date=13 February 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.christianheadlines.com/contributors/lori-arnold/lord-of-the-rings-star-says-the-world-owes-christianity-the-greatest-debt-of-thanks.html|title=Lord of the Rings Star Says the World Owes Christianity 'the Greatest Debt of Thanks'|first=Lori|last=Arnold|website=ChristianHeadlines.com|date=13 February 2020|access-date=13 February 2020}}
=Political views=
Rhys-Davies is not a member of any political party. He was a radical leftist as a university student in the 1960s, but changed his views after heckling Margaret Thatcher, who he said "shot down the first two hecklers in such brilliant fashion that [he] decided [he] ought for once to shut up and listen".
In 2004, Rhys-Davies said in an interview with World magazine: "There is a demographic catastrophe happening in Europe that nobody wants to talk about, that we daren't bring up because we are so cagey about not offending people racially. And rightly we should be. But there is a cultural thing as well. By 2020, 50% of the children in Holland under the age of 18 will be of Muslim descent."{{cite news|first=Lucy|last=Ballinger|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/welsh-star-in-race-row-2453957|title=Welsh star in race row|access-date=27 May 2009|publisher=Wales on Sunday|date=18 January 2004|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130521003641/http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/welsh-star-in-race-row-2453957|archive-date=21 May 2013}} In an interview with the conservative journal National Review, he said that he is opposed to Islamic extremism because he believes that it violates the Western values of equality, democracy, tolerance, and the abolition of slavery.{{cite news |url=http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/209781/no-sean-penn/andrew-leigh |title=No Sean Penn |access-date=27 May 2009 |work=National Review |first=Andrew |last=Leigh |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121005133505/http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/209781/no-sean-penn/andrew-leigh |archive-date=5 October 2012}}
Rhys-Davies was vocal in his support for Brexit.
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year ! Film ! Role ! Notes |
| 1973
| Rugby Player | |
| 1974
| data-sort-value="Black Windmill, The" | The Black Windmill | Fake Military Policeman | Uncredited |
| 1979
| data-sort-value="Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square, A" | A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square | Solicitor | |
| 1981
| Sallah | |
| rowspan="3" | 1982
| Mustapha | |
| Victor/Victoria
| Andre Cassell | |
| data-sort-value="Island of Adventure, The" | The Island of Adventure
| Smith | |
| 1983
| Sahara | Rasoul | |
| 1984
| Baron Fortinbras | |
| 1985
| Dogati | |
| 1986
| "Corky" Taylor | |
| 1987
| data-sort-value="Living Daylights, The" | The Living Daylights | |
| rowspan=2|1988
| Waxwork | Werewolf | |
| Young Toscanini
| Claudio Rossi | |
| rowspan=2 | 1989
| Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade | Sallah | |
| Rising Storm
| Donwaldo | |
| rowspan=2 | 1992
| data-sort-value="Lost World, The" | The Lost World | rowspan=2 | Professor Challenger | |
| Return to the Lost World
| |
| rowspan=5 | 1993
| data-sort-value="Double 0 Kid, The" | The Double 0 Kid | Rudolph "Rudi" von Keseenbaum |
| Sunset Grill
| Stockton | |
| Cyborg Cop
| Kessel | Direct-to-video |
| data-sort-value="Seventh Coin, The" | The Seventh Coin
| Captain Galil | |
| data-sort-value="Unnamable II: The Statement of Randolph Carter, The" | The Unnamable II: The Statement of Randolph Carter
| Professor Warren | |
| rowspan=2 | 1994
| data-sort-value="High Crusade, The" | The High Crusade | Brother Parvus | |
| Robot in the Family
| Eli Taki / Rashmud / Sashri | |
| 1995
| Luther | |
| rowspan=2 | 1996
| data-sort-value="Great White Hype, The" | The Great White Hype | Johnny Windsor | |
| Aladdin and the King of Thieves
| Cassim | Voice; direct-to-video{{cite web |title=John Rhys Davies (visual voices guide) |url=http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/John-Rhys-Davies/ |access-date=1 October 2023 |publisher=Behind The Voice Actors}} A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information. |
| rowspan=3 | 1997
| Woolie the Mammoth |
| Bloodsport III
| Jacques Duvalier | Direct-to-video |
| data-sort-value="Protector, The" | The Protector
| Rasheed | |
| 1998
| Father Claver | |
| rowspan=2 | 2000
| Sinbad: Beyond the Veil of Mists | King Akron / Baraka | Voice |
| Delta Force One: The Lost Patrol
| Ivan | |
| rowspan=2 | 2001
| Never Say Never Mind: The Swedish Bikini Team | Hakim | |
| data-sort-value="Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The" | The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
| Gimli / Gloin | |
| rowspan=2 | 2002
| Scorcher | Dr. Matthew Sallin | |
| data-sort-value="Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, The" | The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
| Gimli / Treebeard (voice) | |
| rowspan=5 | 2003
| Coronado | President Hugo Luis Ramos | |
| Endangered Species
| Lieutenant Wyznowski | |
| data-sort-value="Jungle Book 2, The" | The Jungle Book 2
| Village Leader |
| data-sort-value="Medallion, The" | The Medallion
| Commander Hammerstock-Smythe | |
| data-sort-value="Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, The" | The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
| Gimli / Treebeard (voice) | |
| rowspan=3 | 2004
| data-sort-value="Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, The" | The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement | Viscount Mabrey | |
| data-sort-value="Lost Angel, The" | The Lost Angel
| Father Kevin | |
| data-sort-value="Privileged Planet, The" | The Privileged Planet
| The Narrator | Voice; documentary |
| rowspan=2 | 2005
| data-sort-value="Game of Their Lives, The" | The Game of Their Lives | |
| data-sort-value="King Maker, The" | The King Maker
| Phillippe | |
| rowspan=3 | 2006
| Thorton |
| One Night with the King
| Mordecai | |
| data-sort-value="Legend of Sasquatch, The" | The Legend of Sasquatch
| Ranger Steve |
| rowspan=3 | 2007
| Merick | |
| data-sort-value="Ferryman, The" | The Ferryman
| The Greek | |
| Catching Kringle
| Voice |
| rowspan=2 | 2009
| The Narrator | Voice; documentary |
| 31 North 62 East
| John Hammond | |
| 2010 |
| rowspan="3" | 2011
| KJB: The Book That Changed the World | Himself / Presenter | Direct-to-video |
| Sophie and Sheba
| Alistair Winston | |
| Treasure Hunters
| Nathan Pickett | |
| 2012
| Escape | Malcolm Andrews | Direct-to-video |
| rowspan="4" |2013
| Eusi | |
| 100 Degrees Below Zero
| Ralph Dillard | Direct-to-video |
| Scooby-Doo! Adventures: The Mystery Map
| Pirate Gnarlybeard |
| Prisoners of the Sun
| Professor Hayden Masterton | |
| rowspan=4 | 2014
| Colonel Carlo Dillard | rowspan=2|Direct-to-video |
| Saul: The Journey to Damascus
| Caiphas |
| data-sort-value="Prophet, The" | The Prophet
| Yousef |
| Time Lapse{{cite web |title=Review: 'Time Lapse' an unsettling trip to the future |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-time-lapse-movie-review-20150515-story.html |website=Los Angeles Times |access-date=23 April 2023 |date=14 May 2015}}
| Mr. Bezzerides | |
| 2015
| Beyond the Mask[http://beyondthemaskmovie.com Beyond the Mask – Official Website], January 2015. | Charles Kemp | |
| 2016
| data-sort-value="Apostle Peter: Redemption, The" | The Apostle Peter: Redemption | |
| 2017
| "Pinky" Steuben | |
| rowspan=2 | 2018
| Shemira | Myer | |
| Aquaman
| Brine King | rowspan="2" | Voice |
| rowspan=4 | 2019
| data-sort-value="Pilgrim's Progress, The" | The Pilgrim's Progress | Evangelist |
| Valley of the Gods
| Dr. Herrmann | |
| Santa Fake
| Joe O'Brian | |
| Mosley
| Warnie |
| rowspan=7 | 2020
| Karl Bouchard | Filmed in 1983 |
| Tainted
| Vladimir | |
| Shadowtown
| Einar | |
| I Am Patrick: The Patron Saint of Ireland
| Old Patrick | Documentary |
| G-Loc
| Henry | |
| Moments in Spacetime
| Mason | |
| Silent Night: A Song for the World
| General Haig | |
| rowspan=1 | 2021
| Prick'd | Archie | |
| rowspan=1 | 2022
| Kingslayer | William Marshal | |
| rowspan=3 | 2023
| Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny | Sallah | |
| Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom
| Brine King | Voice |
| Little Brown Bird
| Dad |
| TBA
| data-sort-value="Way of the Wind, The" | The Way of the Wind | Uriah | Post-production |
= Television =
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! Notes |
|---|
| rowspan=2|1974
| Zodiac | Aikman | Episode: "Death of a Crab" |
| Fall of Eagles
| Episode: "The Secret War" |
| rowspan=2|1975
| data-sort-value="Sweeney, The" | The Sweeney | Ron Brett | Episode: "Poppy" |
| data-sort-value="Naked Civil Servant, The" | The Naked Civil Servant
| Barndoor |
| rowspan=2 |1976
| 2 episodes |
| Warship
| CPO Cook Mantell | Episode: "Heart of Oak" |
| rowspan=2 | 1977
| 1990 | Ivor Griffith | Episode: "Health Farm" |
| Just William
| Authority | Episode: "William and the Wonderful Present" |
| rowspan=2 | 1978
| Z-Cars | Terry Larkin | Episode: "Fat Freddie B.A." |
| data-sort-value="Nativity, The" | The Nativity
| Nestor | Television film |
| 1979
| data-sort-value="Danedyke Mystery, The" | The Danedyke Mystery | Ronnie "Armchair" Newbound | 6 episodes |
| 1979–1980
| 2 episodes |
| 1980
| Shōgun | Vasco Rodrigues | rowspan=2|Miniseries |
| 1981
| Silas |
| rowspan=3 | 1982
| CHiPs | Nakura | Episode: "Force Seven" |
| Ivanhoe
| Front-de-Boeuf | Television film |
| data-sort-value="Quest, The" | The Quest
| Sir Edward | 9 episodes (4 unaired) |
| rowspan=2|1983
| Tanyatos | Episode: "An Affair with a Married Woman" |
| Sadat
| Miniseries |
| rowspan=3 | 1984 |
| Scarecrow and Mrs. King
| Lord Bromfield | Episode: "Affair at Bromfield Hall" |
| Kim
| Babu | Television film |
| rowspan=2 | 1987
| Seymour | Television drama |
| data-sort-value="Little Match Girl, The" | The Little Match Girl
| Police Chief Murphy | Television film |
| 1987, 1992
| Edward Tremayne / Phillip Graff | 2 episodes |
| rowspan=3 | 1988
| Quillan Gornt | rowspan="2" | Miniseries |
| War and Remembrance
| Sammy Mutterperl |
| Goddess of Love
| Zeus | Television film |
| 1988–1994
| Harry Mordecai / Harry Waverly / Lancaster | 3 episodes |
| rowspan=2 | 1989
| data-sort-value="Trial of the Incredible Hulk, The" | The Trial of the Incredible Hulk | Television film |
| Great Expectations
| rowspan="2" | Miniseries |
| rowspan=3 | 1991
| data-sort-value="Mystery of the Black Jungle, The" | The Mystery of the Black Jungle | O'Connor |
| Tales from the Crypt
| Duval | Episode: "Dead Wait" |
| data-sort-value="Strauss Dynasty, The" | The Strauss Dynasty
| Gribov | Miniseries |
| rowspan=4 | 1992
| Waclaw Jozek / Baron |
| Archaeology: Voyages of the Vikings
| The Narrator | Voice; documentary series |
| Ring of the Musketeers
| Maurice Treville | Television film |
| data-sort-value="Making of Aladdin: A Whole New World, The" | The Making of Aladdin: A Whole New World
| Host | Documentary |
| 1992–1993
| data-sort-value="Legend of Prince Valiant, The" | The Legend of Prince Valiant | King Hugo / King Donovan | Voice; 8 episodes |
| 1993
| Tympannini |
| 1993–1994
| data-sort-value="Untouchables, The" | The Untouchables | Agent Michael Malone | 15 episodes |
| rowspan=2|1994
| Captain Shmuda | Television film |
| data-sort-value="Flintstones Christmas Carol, A" | A Flintstones Christmas Carol
| Charles Brickens |
| rowspan=2 | 1995
| Thor | Voice; 2 episodes |
| Archaeology: Florida's Lost Empire
| Host | Documentary series |
| 1995–1996
| Macbeth / Arthur Morwood-Smythe / Findleach |
| 1995–1997
| Sliders | Professor Maximillian Arturo | 40 episodes |
| rowspan=4 | 1996
| data-sort-value="Incredible Hulk, The" | The Incredible Hulk | Thor |
| Boo to You Too! Winnie the Pooh
| The Narrator | Voice; television special |
| Marquis de Sade
| Inspector Marais | Television film |
| Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm
| Asgarth | Episode: "Overthrown" |
| rowspan=3 | 1997
| Professor Beasthead |
| You Wish
| "Madman" Mustapha | 3 episodes |
| Star Trek: Voyager
| 2 episodes |
| 1999
| Au Pair | Nigel Kent | rowspan="2" | Television film |
| 2000 |
| 2000–2002
| Man Ray |
| rowspan=4 | 2002
| Hades |
| data-sort-value="Zeta Project, The" | The Zeta Project
| Edgar Mandragora |
| Sabretooth
| Anthony Bricklin | Television film |
| Fillmore!
| Lenny |
| 2003
| Miniseries |
| rowspan=3|2004
| King Fastrad | rowspan=3|Television film |
| 12 Days of Terror
| Captain |
| La Femme Musketeer
| Porthos |
| rowspan=2|2005
| Professor Jonah Lampley | Miniseries |
| Chupacabra: Dark Seas
| Captain Randolph | Television film |
| 2006
| Super Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go! | Captain Proteus |
| rowspan=3 | 2008
| Murdoch | rowspan="3" | Television film |
| Fire and Ice: The Dragon Chronicles
| Sangimel |
| Kiss Me Deadly
| Yale Ericson |
| rowspan=3 | 2009
| The Narrator | Voice; 4 episodes |
| Anacondas: Trail of Blood
| Murdoch | Television film |
| Kröd Mändoon and the Flaming Sword of Fire
| Grimshank | 3 episodes |
| rowspan=3 | 2010
| Horace | Episode: "Vengeance" |
| Three Wise Women
| Archangel Green | rowspan="3" | Television film |
| Medium Raw: Night of the Wolf
| Elliot Carbon |
| 2011
| Senator Jackson Crenshaw |
| rowspan=2 | 2012
| Psych | Museum Curator | Episode: "Indiana Shawn and the Temple of the Kinda Crappy, Rusty Old Dagger" |
| Missing Christmas
| The Narrator / Santa Claus |
| rowspan=2 | 2014
| The Narrator | Tabernacle Choir Christmas concert special (filmed in 2013) |
| Once Upon a Time
| Grand Pabbie | Voice; 3 episodes |
| rowspan="2" | 2015
| Annas | Television film |
| data-sort-value="Adventures of Puss in Boots, The" | The Adventures of Puss in Boots
| Goodsword |
| 2015–2016
| TripTank | Various characters |
| rowspan="3" | 2016
| data-sort-value="Shannara Chronicles, The" | The Shannara Chronicles | Eventine Elessedil | 7 episodes |
| Winter Thaw
| Martin Avdeitch | Television film |
| data-sort-value="Lion Guard, The" | The Lion Guard
| King Sokwe |
| 2018
| data-sort-value="Dickens Christmas" | A Dickens Christmas | The Narrator | Tabernacle Choir Christmas concert special |
| 2019
| Fresh Eggs | 6 episodes |
| 2020
| Galahad |
| 2022
| Garth Davies-Gruffudd | Episode: "How They Threw Rocks" |
=Video games=
| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes |
| rowspan=2 | 1994
| Quest for Glory: Shadows of Darkness | Narrator | rowspan=3 | Voice actor |
| Wing Commander III: Heart of the Tiger |
| rowspan=2 | 1996
| Wing Commander IV: The Price of Freedom | James Taggart |
| Ripper
| Vigo Haman | rowspan=2 | Actor |
| 1998
| Noree Moneo |
| 2001
| Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance | Jherek | rowspan="4" | Voice actor |
| 2002
| data-sort-value="Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, The" | The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers |
| rowspan=2 | 2003
| data-sort-value="Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, The" | The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King | Gimli / Treebeard |
| Freelancer
| Richard Winston Tobias |
| 2004
| data-sort-value="Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth, The" | The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth | rowspan="2" | Gimli / Treebeard | rowspan="2" | Archive audio |
| 2006
| data-sort-value="Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II, The" | The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II |
| 2009
| Risen | Don Esteban | Voice actor |
| 2012
| rowspan="3" |Gimli | rowspan="2" |Archive audio |
| 2015 |
| 2023
| The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria | Voice actor |
Audio work
Audiobooks
- Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989 Buena Vista Records)
- Rescued (2006)
- Affabel: Window of Eternity (2007 John Bevere, 2009 Bethany House)
- Sir Malcolm and the Missing Prince (2009)
- The Extraordinary Adventures of G. A. Henty: In the Reign of Terror (2016)
- The Trials of Saint Patrick (2017)
Podcasts
- Batman Unburied (2022, as Hugo Strange)
- Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum (2024, as guest star)
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year ! Association ! Category ! Project ! Result | ||||
| 1980 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie | Shōgun | {{nom}} |
| rowspan=2|2001 | Screen Actors Guild Award | Outstanding Cast in a Motion Picture | rowspan=2| The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring | {{nom}} |
| Phoenix Film Critics Society Award | Best Cast | {{won}} | ||
| rowspan=2|2002 | Screen Actors Guild Award | Outstanding by a Cast in a Motion Picture | rowspan=2|The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers | {{nom}} |
| Phoenix Film Critics Society Award | Best Cast | {{won}} | ||
| rowspan=4|2003 | Broadcast Film Critics Association | Best Cast | rowspan=4|The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King | {{won}} |
| National Board of Review | Best Cast | {{won}} | ||
| Screen Actors Guild Award | Outstanding Cast in a Motion Picture | {{won}} | ||
| Phoenix Film Critics Society Award | Best Cast | {{nom}} |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
{{Wikiquote}}
- {{IMDb name}}
{{Portalbar|Wales|Cornwall}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rhys-Davis, John}}
Category:20th-century Welsh male actors
Category:21st-century Welsh male actors
Category:Actors from Breckland District
Category:Alumni of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
Category:Alumni of the University of East Anglia
Category:Male actors from Carmarthenshire
Category:Male actors from Salisbury
Category:Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Screen Actors Guild Award winners
Category:People educated at Truro School
Category:People from Ammanford
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Category:Welsh male film actors
Category:Welsh male stage actors
Category:Welsh male television actors
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