Jeremy Swift

Jeremy Swift (born June 27, 1960, in Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham) is an English screen and stage actor celebrated for his deft character work and warm comic timing. Trained at the Guildford School of Acting (1978–1981), he built his craft in theatre, spending much of the 1980s with inventive companies such as Deborah Warner’s Kick Theatre and the performance-art collective The People Show, while also turning up in a run of TV commercials.

In the 1990s, Swift’s profile grew through major stage work, including a National Theatre production of What the Butler Saw directed by Phyllida Lloyd, where he performed alongside David Tennant and Richard Wilson. That theatre grounding fed naturally into a varied screen career, from period drama to contemporary comedy.

On film, he is known for roles in titles such as Amazing Grace (as Richard the Butler), Fred Claus (as Bob Elf), and Oliver Twist (as Mr. Bumble), as well as voice work like 10 Lives (Happy). He has also appeared in series and franchises including Downton Abbey, The Durrells, and Ted Lasso, earning a 2021 Primetime Emmy nomination for his portrayal of Leslie Higgins. More recently, he continues to expand his credits with projects like Descendants: The Rise of Red (Principal Merlin) and The Art Of Love (Ben Parker).