Jim Carter

Actor · Born August 19, 1948 (78) · Harrogate, Yorkshire, England, UK

James Edward Carter (born August 19, 1948) is an English actor. He is best known for his role in Downton Abbey (2010–2015) playing Mr Carson, a role that has earned him four nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (2012–2015). He reprised his role in the feature film Downton Abbey (2019).

Biography from TMDB.

Born: August 19, 1948 (78)
From: Harrogate, Yorkshire, England, UK
Works as: Actor
Titles: 70 on MovieCove · 148 credits in all
Links: IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 14% in 30 days

What are Jim Carter's films like?

Across their 49 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Comedy10 titles60^th

Drama9 titles74^th

Adventure8 titles52^nd

Crime8 titles47^th

Action3 titles26^th

Biography3 titles73^rd

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight

Bonds

24%

Morality

20%

Self

16%

Society

16%

Power

13%

Survival

Ideas

Family bonds13 Justice7 Community8 Purpose8 Deception6 Survival5 Ambition6 Corruption5

What they feel like to watch

their average across 42 films

ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category

Earnest

Tone · Sincerity

ironicearnest

Ironic 3 · Wry 3 · Earnest 35

Serious

Tone · Weight

lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 21 · Serious 6 · Dark 15

Stylized

Tone · Style

naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 18 · Stylized 15 · Heightened 9

Charged

Feel · Intensity

gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 17 · Charged 14 · Intense 11

Steady

Feel · Swings

steadyswings

Steady 26 · Shifting 12 · Whiplash 4

Some laughs

Feel · Humor

noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 22 · Some laughs 12 · Funny 8

Even-paced

Demand · Pace

slowrelentless

Slow burn 18 · Even-paced 22 · Relentless 2

Engaged

Demand · Attention

casualfull focus

A split, not a type: Casual 19 · Engaged 16 · Full focus 7

Affecting

Demand · Emotional cost

easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 20 · Affecting 13 · Heavy 9

Resolved

Demand · Resolution

resolvedambiguous

Resolved 27 · Open-ended 11 · Ambiguous 4

Roles they play

19 analyzed roles

Usually the Threshold guardian: 5 of 19 analyzed roles.

Threshold guardian

5 of 19

Ally

4 of 19

Shadow

4 of 19

Herald

3 of 19

Mentor

2 of 19

Trickster

1 of 19

Show the 19 roles

Tricksteras Montego in Haunted Honeymoon (1986)
Allyas John Manly in Black Beauty (1994)
Heraldas Det Chief Supt Young in Open Fire (1994)
Threshold guardianas Harry in Brassed Off (1996)
Threshold guardianas Erskine in A Merry War (1997)
Shadowas Rookery in The Little Vampire (2000)
Threshold guardianas Mayor Waldo in Dinotopia (2002)
Shadowas Geoff in Heartlands (2002)
Shadowas The Watcher in House of 9 (2005)
Mentoras Victor in The Thief Lord (2006)
Heraldas Captain Brown in Cranford (2007)
Mentoras Harold Angus in Red Riding: The Year of Our Lord 1980 (2009)
Threshold guardianas Charles Carson in Downton Abbey (2010)
Shadowas Rookery in The Little Vampire 3D (2017)
Allyas Ted in Swimming with Men (2018)
Allyas Earl of Kent in King Lear (2018)
Allyas Vincent in The Good Liar (2019)
Threshold guardianas Mr Carson in Downton Abbey (2019)
Heraldas Narrator / Self - Narrator in Hidden Treasures of the National Trust (2023)

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense

Warm

Melancholic

Joyful

Hopeful

Other

How their films linger

Bittersweet17 Hopeful19 Feel-good16 Fun9 Thought-provoking10 Haunting9

How their films end · 8 with a twist

Happy15
Bittersweet20
Tragic5
Ambiguous8
Cyclical1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Jim Carter's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 57 of their 70 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (24).

Also on these channels

Shout! TV9 titles, show their 9 titles on Shout! TV
Howdy4 titles, show their 4 titles on Howdy
Lionsgate+3 titles, show their 3 titles on Lionsgate+
PBS Documentaries2 titles, show their 2 titles on PBS Documentaries
UP Faith & Family2 titles, show their 2 titles on UP Faith & Family
Acorn TV1 title, show their title on Acorn TV
Cinemax1 title, show their title on Cinemax
Magnolia Selects1 title, show their title on Magnolia Selects
Midnight Pulp1 title, show their title on Midnight Pulp
Monsters and Nightmares1 title, show their title on Monsters and Nightmares
PBS Masterpiece1 title, show their title on PBS Masterpiece
Sony Pictures Core1 title, show their title on Sony Pictures Core
Sundance Now1 title, show their title on Sundance Now
Wonder Project1 title, show their title on Wonder Project

Subscription and free streaming for Jim Carter's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

148 credits, 70 with a MovieCove page; 9 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale(2025)
as Charles Carson
Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films
Wonka(2023)
as Abacus Crunch
Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films
The Sea Beast(2022)
as King (voice)
Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films
Downton Abbey: A New Era(2022)
as Charles Carson
Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films
The Good Liar(2019)
as Vincent
Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films
Downton Abbey(2019)
as Charles Carson
Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films
Inside the Ritz Hotel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)
Show 4 episodes · as Narrator
Swimming with Men(2018)
as Ted
Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films
King Lear(2018)
as Earl of Kent
Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films
Knightfall(2017)
Show 18 episodes · as Pope Boniface VIII
Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all shows
The Little Vampire 3D(2017)
as Rookery (voice)
Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films
Transformers: The Last Knight(2017)
as Cogman (voice)
Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films
Punk Strut: The Movie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)
as Skippy
NOVA: Bombing Hitler's Supergun(2016)
as Narrator (voice)
Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
One of a Kind (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)
as Narrator (voice)
Secrets of the Stonehenge Skeletons (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)
as Narrator (Voice)
My Week with Marilyn(2011)
as Barry
Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films
Dambusters: Building the Bouncing Bomb (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)
as Narrator (Voice)
Downton Abbey(2010)
Show 47 episodes · as Charles Carson
Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows
Alice in Wonderland(2010)
as The Executioner (voice)
Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films
Burlesque Fairytales (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)
as The Compere
Red Riding: The Year of Our Lord 1980(2009)
as Harold Angus
Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films
Red Riding: The Year of Our Lord 1983(2009)
as Harold Angus
Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films
Creation(2009)
as Parslow
Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films
Caught in a Trap (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)
as Brian Perkins
The Oxford Murders(2008)
as Inspector Petersen
Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films
The Golden Compass(2007)
as John Faa
Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films
Cranford(2007)
Show 7 episodes · as Captain Brown
Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows
Cassandra's Dream(2007)
as Garage Boss
Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films
Recovery (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)
as Mr. Lockwood
The Wind in the Willows(2006)
as Engine Driver
Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films
The Secret Life of Mrs. Beeton (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)
as Henry Dorling
Aberfan: The Untold Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)
as Lord Robens
The Thief Lord(2006)
as Victor
Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films
The Man Who Is Obsessed With The Number 12 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)
as Narrator
House of 9(2005)
as The Watcher
Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films
The Story of Alton Towers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)
as Narrator/The Earl
Out of Season(2004)
as Michael Philipps
Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films
Von Trapped (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)
as Larry Lavelle
Casablanca Driver (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)
as Joe Mateo, l'agent
Modigliani(2004)
as Achilles Hebuterne
Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films
London (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)
Show 3 episodes · as Henry Fielding
Ella Enchanted(2004)
as Nish
Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films
Wilde Stories: The Nightingale and the Rose (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)
as Red Rose (voice)
Cromwell: Warts and All (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)
as Oliver Cromwell
Pompeii: The Last Day (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)
as Polybius
Bright Young Things(2003)
as Chief Customs Officer
Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films
Trevor's World of Sport (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)
Show 1 episode · as Sir Frank Luckton
Strange (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)
Show 1 episode · as Inspector Stuart
Blue Murder(2003)
Show 1 episode · as Frank Evans
Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows
16 Years of Alcohol(2003)
as Director
Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films
Heartlands(2002)
as Geoff
Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films
Hornblower: Duty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)
as Etheridge
Dinotopia(2002)
Show 3 episodes · as Mayor Waldo
Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all shows
Discovering Dinotopia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)
as Mayor Waldo
Dinotopia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)
as Mayor Waldo
Jack and the Beanstalk: The Real Story(2001)
Show 2 episodes · as Odin - Member of the Great Council of Mac Slec
Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all shows
According to Beryl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)
as Samuel Johnson
Walking With Disc Jockeys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)
as Narrator
The Little Vampire(2000)
as Rookery
Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films
102 Dalmatians(2000)
as Detective Armstrong
Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films
Arabian Nights(2000)
Show 2 episodes · as Ja'Far
Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows
Tube Tales(1999)
as Ticket Inspector (Steal Away) · as Ticket Inspector (segment "Steal Away")
Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films
The Bass Player (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)
Actor
Trial by Fire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)
as Geoffrey Bailey
The Scarlet Pimpernel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)
Show 3 episodes · as General La Forge
Shakespeare in Love(1998)
as Ralph Bashford
Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films
Legionnaire(1998)
as Lucien Galgani
Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films
Hornblower (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)
Show 1 episode · as Etheridge
Vigo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)
as Bonaventure (uncredited)
Bill's New Frock (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)
as Mr. Platworthy
A Merry War(1997)
as Erskine
Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films
Ain't Misbehavin' (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)
Show 3 episodes · as Maxie Morrell
The Chest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)
as Roland Blood
The Missing Postman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)
Show 2 episodes · as DS Lawrence Pitman
The Missing Postman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)
as DS Lawrence Pitman
Midsomer Murders(1997)
Show 1 episode · as Nathan Green
Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows
Bright Hair (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)
as Norman Devenish
Harpur and Iles(1996)
as Tenderness Mellick
Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
Brassed Off(1996)
as Harry
Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films
Dalziel and Pascoe(1996)
Show 1 episode · as Ted Lowry
Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows
Richard III(1995)
as Lord Hastings
Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films
It Might Be You (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)
as Wally 'Lottery' Whaley
The Grotesque (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)
as George Lecky
Mrs Hartley and the Growth Centre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)
as Inspector
Dangerfield (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)
Show 1 episode · as Stephen Millwood
The Madness of King George(1994)
as Fox
Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films
Midnight Movie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)
as Henry Harris
Julius Caesar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)
as Mark Antony
Open Fire(1994)
as DCS Young
Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein(1994)
as Executioner (uncredited)
Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films
Black Beauty(1994)
as John Manly
Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films
In The Cold Light Of Day (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)
as Father
Pie in the Sky(1994)
Show 1 episode · as Alec Bailey
Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all shows
Cracker(1993)
Show 3 episodes · as Kenneth Trant
Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows
The Advocate(1993)
as Mathieu
Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films
Resnick: Rough Treatment (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)
as Grabianski
Detectives on the Edge of a Nervous Breakdown (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)
as Commander
A Year in Provence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)
Show 1 episode · as Ted Hopkins
Stalin(1992)
as Sergo
Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films
Shakespeare: The Animated Tales (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)
Show 1 episode · as Mark Antony (voice)
A Dangerous Man: Lawrence After Arabia(1992)
as Meinertzhagen
Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films
Blame It on the Bellboy(1992)
as Rossi
Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films
Murder Most Horrid(1991)
Show 1 episode · as Frank Phillips · as General Alberto · as Roy Redfern
Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all shows
Hancock (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)
as Ray Galton
Soldier Soldier (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)
Show 1 episode · as Snr Supt Derek Tierney, RHKP
Incident in Judaea (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)
Actor
The Fool (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)
as Mr. Blackthorn
Crimestrike (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)
as The Detective
The Gravy Train (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)
Show 4 episodes · as Personip
The Witches(1990)
as Head Chef
Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films
A Sense of Guilt (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)
Show 7 episodes · as Richard Murray
Erik the Viking(1989)
as Jennifer the Viking (Another Rapist)
Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films
The Rainbow(1989)
as Mr. Harby
Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films
Here Is the News (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)
as News Editor
Precious Bane(1989)
as Sarn
Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films
The Tenth Man(1988)
as Pierre
Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films
Christabel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)
Show 2 episodes · as Bausch
Thompson (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)
Show 1 episode · Actor
The Raggedy Rawney (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)
as The Soldier
Soursweet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)
as Mr. Constantinides
The First Kangaroos (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)
as Arthur Hughes
Duck (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)
Actor
Star Trap (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)
as Dr. Wax
The American Way (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)
as Castro
A Month in the Country(1987)
as Ellerbeck
Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films
Harry's Kingdom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)
as Bill
The Singing Detective (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)
Show 5 episodes · as Mr Marlow
Lost Empires (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)
Show 7 episodes · as Inspector Crabb
Casualty(1986)
Show 1 episode · as Matthew Charlton
Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all shows
The Monocled Mutineer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)
Show 1 episode · Actor
Haunted Honeymoon(1986)
as Montego
Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films
The Mysteries (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)
Show 3 episodes · as Mak / Fourth Soldier
Rustlers' Rhapsody(1985)
as Blackie
Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films
Screen Two (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)
Show 1 episode · as Father · as Henry Harris
Hiawatha (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)
as Nawadaha - The Story Teller
December Flower (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)
as Dentist
A Private Function(1984)
as Inspector Noble
Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films
The Company of Wolves(1984)
as Second Husband (uncredited)
Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films
Top Secret!(1984)
as Déjà Vu
Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films
The Oresteia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)
as Agamemnon
Widows (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)
Show 2 episodes · as D.I. Frinton
Fox (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)
as Cliff Ryan
Fox (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)
Show 2 episodes · as Cliff Ryan
Minder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)
Show 2 episodes · as Tomkins
Not the Nine O'Clock News (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)
Show 1 episode · Actor
I, Claudius (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)
Show 1 episode · as Roman Senate Senator (uncredited)
Nova(1974)
Show 1 episode · as Narrator
Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

Career shape

Star power in the 99^th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 148 titles from 1974 to 2025; peak year 2018.

Biggest box office

Wonka (2023)

$635M worldwide

Highest rated

Downton Abbey (2010)

Midcredits 98^th

Film career

19742025

Peak 2018 · steadily prominent in film for years. Top draw in 5 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

1984Screen debut· Top Secret!
2010Career best· Downton Abbey

By role

only this rolewith another role

Acting148 of 148 · 64^th

By decade

1970s4 · acting1980s32 · acting1990s50 · acting2000s41 · acting2010s17 · acting2020s4 · acting

Billing

usually 8th · top billed in 0% of 49 roles

84899499040914

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Jim Carter's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 63^rd percentile, the median of all 56; across their 42 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 56^th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

56^thpercentile

Typical film, the median of 42

Approval · how many liked their films

61^stpercentile

Typical film, the median of 42

Reach · how many have seen their films

85^thpercentile

Typical film, the median of 42

Midcredits score across 70 titles, by percentile

75^th and up23
50^th to 74^th27
25^th to 49^th15
Below 25^th5

Shape of the crowd

39 of their 70 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

Universally Loved9
Universally Panned1
Cult Classic1
Crowd Pleaser39
Broadly Agreed3
Mixed17

Most divisive · actor

16 Years of Alcohol (2003)

65^th percentile spread · 21% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Downton Abbey (2010)

Midcredits 98^th · 93% liked

Reviewers score the acting 72/100 in their films, across 41 reviewed titles; fans 80, detractors 45. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Jim Carter's work okay for kids?

Across up to 20 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore runs lighter than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles

Violence & Gore13 titles7–69 · median 33 · mildlighter than most films

Sex & Nudity20 titles12–54 · median 30 · mildnear the median of all films

Profanity14 titles12–59 · median 28 · mildnear the median of all films

Alcohol & Drugs12 titles21–34 · median 29 · mildnear the median of all films

Frightening / Intense15 titles7–52 · median 33 · mildnear the median of all films

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.