Karl Johnson

Acting

Karl Johnson

Born March 1, 1948 · Wales, UK (age 78)

Karl Johnson is a Welsh actor, appearing on stage, film and television. His most notable role to date is the title role in Derek Jarman's 1993 film Wittgenstein and those of Cato the Younger in the television drama series Rome and of Twister Turrill in the BBC costume drama Lark Rise to Candleford.

Known For

Hot FuzzHot Fuzz · 2007
Hot Fuzz
7.62007
MovieCrimeAction
Former London constable Nicholas Angel finds it difficult to adapt to his new assignment in the sleepy British village of Sandford. Not only does he miss the excitement of the big city, but he also has a well-meaning oaf for a partner. However, when a series of grisly accidents rocks Sandford, Angel smells something rotten in the idyllic village.
The IllusionistThe Illusionist · 2006
The Illusionist
7.32006
MovieFantasyDrama
With his eye on a lovely aristocrat, a gifted illusionist named Eisenheim uses his powers to win her away from her betrothed, a crown prince. But Eisenheim's scheme creates tumult within the monarchy and ignites the suspicion of a dogged inspector.
The Death of StalinThe Death of Stalin · 2017
The Death of Stalin
7.02017
MovieComedyDrama
When dictator Joseph Stalin dies, his parasitic cronies square off in a frantic power struggle to become the next Soviet leader. As they bumble, brawl and back-stab their way to the top, the question remains — just who is running the government?
King LearKing Lear · 2018
King Lear
6.12018
MovieDramaTV Movie
An aging King invites disaster, when he abdicates to his corrupt, toadying daughters, and rejects his loving and honest one.
Good VibrationsGood Vibrations · 2012
Good Vibrations
6.82012
MovieMusicDrama
The story of music legend Terri Hooley, a key figure in Belfast's punk rock scene. Hooley founded the Good Vibrations store from which a record label sprung, representing bands such as The Undertones, Rudi and The Outcasts.
HeidiHeidi · 2005
Heidi
7.72005
MovieDramaFamily
Swiss girl Adelheid 'Heidi' is orphaned young. Aunt Detie brings her to grandpa Alp and his wife, who live isolated in the Alps since his murder charge. Heidi soon takes to the wild country, especially accompanying young goatherd Peter. Grandpa refuses to send her to school in the city, but aunt Detie returns and forces him to give in. She's sent to a posh lady in Frankfurt, where she'll be a companion for crippled daughter Clara after school hours.
The Edge of LoveThe Edge of Love · 2008
The Edge of Love
6.22008
MovieDramaHistory
When the Welsh poet Dylan Thomas and his flirtatious wife Caitlin sweep into war-torn London, the last thing they expect is to bump into Dylan's childhood sweetheart Vera. Despite her joy at seeing Dylan after so many years, Vera is swept off her feet by a dashing officer, William Killick, and finds herself torn between the open adoration of her new found beau and the wily charms of the exotic Welshman.
Dream HorseDream Horse · 2021
Dream Horse
7.02021
MovieComedyDrama
The inspiring true story of Dream Alliance, an unlikely race horse bred by small town bartender, Jan Vokes. With very little money and no experience, Jan convinces her neighbors to chip in their meager earnings to help raise Dream and compete with the racing elites. Their investment pays off as Dream rises through the ranks and becomes a beacon of hope in their struggling community.

Movies

Hot FuzzHot Fuzz · 2007
Hot Fuzz
7.62007
MovieCrimeAction
Former London constable Nicholas Angel finds it difficult to adapt to his new assignment in the sleepy British village of Sandford. Not only does he miss the excitement of the big city, but he also has a well-meaning oaf for a partner. However, when a series of grisly accidents rocks Sandford, Angel smells something rotten in the idyllic village.
The IllusionistThe Illusionist · 2006
The Illusionist
7.32006
MovieFantasyDrama
With his eye on a lovely aristocrat, a gifted illusionist named Eisenheim uses his powers to win her away from her betrothed, a crown prince. But Eisenheim's scheme creates tumult within the monarchy and ignites the suspicion of a dogged inspector.
The Death of StalinThe Death of Stalin · 2017
The Death of Stalin
7.02017
MovieComedyDrama
When dictator Joseph Stalin dies, his parasitic cronies square off in a frantic power struggle to become the next Soviet leader. As they bumble, brawl and back-stab their way to the top, the question remains — just who is running the government?
King LearKing Lear · 2018
King Lear
6.12018
MovieDramaTV Movie
An aging King invites disaster, when he abdicates to his corrupt, toadying daughters, and rejects his loving and honest one.
Good VibrationsGood Vibrations · 2012
Good Vibrations
6.82012
MovieMusicDrama
The story of music legend Terri Hooley, a key figure in Belfast's punk rock scene. Hooley founded the Good Vibrations store from which a record label sprung, representing bands such as The Undertones, Rudi and The Outcasts.
HeidiHeidi · 2005
Heidi
7.72005
MovieDramaFamily
Swiss girl Adelheid 'Heidi' is orphaned young. Aunt Detie brings her to grandpa Alp and his wife, who live isolated in the Alps since his murder charge. Heidi soon takes to the wild country, especially accompanying young goatherd Peter. Grandpa refuses to send her to school in the city, but aunt Detie returns and forces him to give in. She's sent to a posh lady in Frankfurt, where she'll be a companion for crippled daughter Clara after school hours.
The Edge of LoveThe Edge of Love · 2008
The Edge of Love
6.22008
MovieDramaHistory
When the Welsh poet Dylan Thomas and his flirtatious wife Caitlin sweep into war-torn London, the last thing they expect is to bump into Dylan's childhood sweetheart Vera. Despite her joy at seeing Dylan after so many years, Vera is swept off her feet by a dashing officer, William Killick, and finds herself torn between the open adoration of her new found beau and the wily charms of the exotic Welshman.
Dream HorseDream Horse · 2021
Dream Horse
7.02021
MovieComedyDrama
The inspiring true story of Dream Alliance, an unlikely race horse bred by small town bartender, Jan Vokes. With very little money and no experience, Jan convinces her neighbors to chip in their meager earnings to help raise Dream and compete with the racing elites. Their investment pays off as Dream rises through the ranks and becomes a beacon of hope in their struggling community.
Mr. TurnerMr. Turner · 2014
Mr. Turner
6.52014
MovieHistoryDrama
Eccentric British painter J.M.W. Turner lives his last 25 years with gusto and secretly becomes involved with a seaside landlady, while his faithful housekeeper bears an unrequited love for him.
FrozenFrozen · 2005
Frozen
5.92005
MovieThriller
It's two years since the mysterious disappearance of Kath Swarbrick's older sister Annie, but Kath remains haunted by a need to know what happened. When police investigations wind down, Kath continues the search herself. She gets nowhere until she steals some CCTV footage of her sister on her final day. Visiting the spot where Annie was filmed, Kath becomes convinced she has found a portal to another reality and from this portal Kath is trying to say something.
Copying BeethovenCopying Beethoven · 2006
Copying Beethoven
6.52006
MovieDrama
A fictionalised exploration of Beethoven's life in his final days working on his Ninth Symphony. It is 1824. Beethoven is racing to finish his new symphony. However, it has been years since his last success and he is plagued by deafness, loneliness and personal trauma. A copyist is urgently needed to help the composer. A fictional character is introduced in the form of a young conservatory student and aspiring composer named Anna Holtz. The mercurial Beethoven is skeptical that a woman might become involved in his masterpiece but slowly comes to trust in Anna's assistance and in the end becomes quite fond of her. By the time the piece is performed, her presence in his life is an absolute necessity. Her deep understanding of his work is such that she even corrects mistakes he has made, while her passionate personality opens a door into his private world.
The Last VermeerThe Last Vermeer · 2019
The Last Vermeer
6.52019
MovieDramaHistory
A soldier and member of the Dutch resistance investigates stolen art in the wake of the Second World War, including a Vermeer sold to the Nazis by a flamboyant forger.
Close My EyesClose My Eyes · 1991
Close My Eyes
5.81991
MovieDramaRomance
After some years of tension, Richard begins a sexual relationship with his sister Natalie. Now married, the relationship proves dangerously obsessional.
National Theatre Live: The CrucibleNational Theatre Live: The Crucible · 2023
National Theatre Live: The Crucible
4.52023
MovieHistoryDrama
A witch hunt is beginning in Arthur Miller's captivating parable of power with Erin Doherty (The Crown) and Brendan Cowell (Yerma). Raised to be seen but not heard, a group of young women in Salem suddenly find their words have an almighty power. As a climate of fear, vendetta and accusation spreads through the community, no one is safe from trial. Lindsey Turner (Hamlet) directs this contemporary new staging, design by Tony award winner Es Devlin. Captured live from the Olivier stage of the national theater.
KaleidoscopeKaleidoscope · 2017
Kaleidoscope
5.62017
MovieThriller
A psychological thriller about the destructive relationship between a middle-aged man and his mother.
Four Last SongsFour Last Songs · 2007
Four Last Songs
5.42007
MovieComedyDrama
A comic drama set on a Mediterranean island, where a motley collection of characters is seeking musical redemption.
The TempestThe Tempest · 1979
The Tempest
5.81979
MovieDramaFantasy
Prospero, a potent magician, lives on a desolate isle with his virginal daughter, Miranda. He's in exile, banished from his duchy by his usurping brother and the King of Naples. Providence brings these enemies near; aided by his vassal the spirit Ariel, Prospero conjures a tempest to wreck the Italian ship. The king's son, thinking all others lost, becomes Prospero's prisoner, falling in love with Miranda and she with him. Prospero's brother and the king wander the island, as do a drunken cook and sailor, who conspire with Caliban, Prospero's beastly slave, to murder Prospero. Prospero wants reason to triumph, Ariel wants his freedom, Miranda a husband; the sailors want to dance.
The Deep Blue SeaThe Deep Blue Sea · 2011
The Deep Blue Sea
5.92011
MovieDramaRomance
The wife of a British Judge is caught in a self-destructive love affair with a Royal Air Force pilot.
Prick Up Your EarsPrick Up Your Ears · 1987
Prick Up Your Ears
6.71987
MovieDrama
When the young, attractive Joe Orton meets the older, more introverted Kenneth Halliwell at drama school, he befriends the kindred spirit and they start an affair. As Orton becomes more comfortable with his sexuality and starts to find success with his writing, Halliwell becomes increasingly alienated and jealous, ultimately tapping into a dangerous rage.
Only ConnectOnly Connect · 1979
Only Connect
1979
MovieDrama
When researching the UK labour movement at the turn of the twentieth century, Graham discovers the pioneering socialist and gay rights campaigner Edward Carpenter.
Is Anybody There?Is Anybody There? · 2009
Is Anybody There?
6.32009
MovieDrama
A young boy who lives in an old folks' home strikes up a friendship with a retired magician.
PeterlooPeterloo · 2018
Peterloo
6.82018
MovieHistoryDrama
An epic portrayal of the events surrounding the infamous 1819 Peterloo Massacre, where a peaceful pro-democracy rally at St Peter’s Field in Manchester turned into one of the bloodiest and most notorious episodes in British history. The massacre saw British government forces charge into a crowd of over 60,000 that had gathered to demand political reforms and protest against rising levels of poverty.
I Know You KnowI Know You Know · 2009
I Know You Know
5.82009
MovieThrillerDrama
Jamie, an 11-year-old boy, is fascinated by his father Charlie’s espionage work until the world of spies becomes all too real. Charlie lives in his own reality—an undercover agent, always on an important mission, always on the move. Life for Charlie is highly charged and on the edge. He is unpredictable, explosive, yet kind hearted and fiercely protective of his Jamie who hero-worships his father.
Love Is the Devil: Study for a Portrait of Francis BaconLove Is the Devil: Study for a Portrait of Francis Bacon · 1998
Love Is the Devil: Study for a Portrait of Francis Bacon
6.01998
MovieDrama
In the 1960s, British painter Francis Bacon surprises a burglar and invites him to share his bed. The burglar, a working class man named George Dyer, accepts. After the unique beginning to their love affair, the well-connected and volatile artist assimilates Dyer into his circle of eccentric friends, as Dyer's struggle with addiction strains their bond.

TV Shows

Midsomer MurdersMidsomer Murders · 1997
Midsomer Murders
7.51997
SeriesCrimeDrama
The peacefulness of the Midsomer community is shattered by violent crimes, suspects are placed under suspicion, and it is up to a veteran DCI and his young sergeant to calmly and diligently eliminate the innocent and ruthlessly pursue the guilty.
Agatha Christie's PoirotAgatha Christie's Poirot · 1989
Agatha Christie's Poirot
8.21989
SeriesCrimeDrama
From England to Egypt, accompanied by his elegant and trustworthy sidekicks, the intelligent yet eccentrically-refined Belgian detective Hercule Poirot pits his wits against a collection of first class deceptions.
RainbowRainbow · 1972
Rainbow
6.81972
SeriesComedy
Children's puppet programme featuring music and stories. Join George, Bungle, Zippy, and all their friends at the Rainbow House, always an exciting place to be.
Night CourtNight Court · 1984
Night Court
7.31984
SeriesComedy
An eccentric fun-loving judge presides over an urban night court and all the silliness going on there.
MerlinMerlin · 2008
Merlin
7.82008
SeriesDrama
The unlikely friendship between Merlin, a young man gifted with extraordinary magical powers, and Prince Arthur, heir to the crown of Camelot.
Call the MidwifeCall the Midwife · 2012
Call the Midwife
7.52012
SeriesDrama
Drama following the lives of a group of midwives working in the poverty-stricken East End of London during the 1950s, based on the best-selling memoirs of Jennifer Worth.
The BillThe Bill · 1984
The Bill
6.81984
SeriesCrimeDrama
The daily lives of the men and women at Sun Hill Police Station as they fight crime on the streets of London. From bomb threats to armed robbery and drug raids to the routine demands of policing this ground-breaking series focuses as much on crime as it does on the personal lives of its characters.
HaloHalo · 2022
Halo
8.22022
SeriesSci-Fi & Fantasy
Depicting an epic 26th-century conflict between humanity and an alien threat known as the Covenant, the series weaves deeply drawn personal stories with action, adventure and a richly imagined vision of the future.
The Sooty ShowThe Sooty Show · 1955
The Sooty Show
6.41955
SeriesComedy
The Sooty Show is a British children's Puppet series which aired on the BBC from 1955 to 1967 and ITV from 1968 to 1992. It follows the adventures and comedic day to day life of puppets Sooty, Sweep and Soo with their owner Harry Corbett, and in later years, his son Matthew.
BBC Play of the MonthBBC Play of the Month · 1965
BBC Play of the Month
5.31965
SeriesDrama
A BBC television anthology series featuring productions of classic and contemporary stage plays usually broadcast on BBC1. Each production featured a different work, often using prominent British stage actors in the leading roles. The series was transmitted from October 1965 to September 1983.
New TricksNew Tricks · 2004
New Tricks
7.32004
SeriesDramaComedy
New Tricks is a British comedy-drama that follows the work of the fictional Unsolved Crime and Open Case Squad of the Metropolitan Police Service. Originally led by Detective Superintendent Sandra Pullman, it is made up of retired police officers who have been recruited to reinvestigate unsolved crimes.
BergeracBergerac · 1981
Bergerac
6.71981
SeriesDrama
Jim Bergerac is a detective sergeant in The Foreigners Office who likes to do things his own way. While dealing with his own personal demons Bergerac has a knack of finding trouble, and sometimes causing it.
Lark Rise to CandlefordLark Rise to Candleford · 2008
Lark Rise to Candleford
8.42008
SeriesDrama
Set in the small hamlet of Lark Rise and the wealthier neighbouring market town, Candleford, the series chronicles the daily lives of farm-workers, craftsmen and gentry at the end of the 19th Century. Lark Rise to Candleford is a love letter to a vanished corner of rural England and a heart-warming drama series teeming with wit, wisdom and romance.
AtlantisAtlantis · 2013
Atlantis
6.42013
SeriesSci-Fi & Fantasy
A fantasy drama set in a world of legendary heroes and mythical creatures. Far from home and desperate for answers, Jason washes up on the shores of an ancient land. A mysterious place; a world of bull leaping, of snake haired goddesses and of palaces so vast it was said they were built by giants - this is the city of Atlantis. Aided by his two new friends, Pythagoras and Hercules, Jason embarks on a voyage of discovery, and salvation, which sees him brush shoulders with Medusa, come face to face with the Minotaur and even do battle with the dead.
ScreenPlayScreenPlay · 1986
ScreenPlay
6.01986
SeriesDrama
Screenplay was a drama anthology television series, broadcast on BBC between 1986 and 1993. Numerous episodes were produced including one named "Boswell and Johnson's Tour of the Western Islands" starring Robbie Coltrane as English writer Samuel Johnson who in the autumn of 1773, visits the Hebrides off the north-west coast of Scotland. That episode was directed by John Byrne and co-starred John Sessions and Celia Imrie.
LovesickLovesick · 2014
Lovesick
7.22014
SeriesComedy
After finding out he has an STI, Dylan must get back in touch with every girl he has ever had sex with to let them know the bad news.
SuspicionSuspicion · 2022
Suspicion
6.72022
SeriesDramaCrime
Four ordinary Brits are accused of kidnapping the son of a prominent U.S. media mogul. They embark on a desperate race against time to prove their innocence, but will anyone believe them—and are they telling the truth?
ShoestringShoestring · 1979
Shoestring
7.71979
SeriesCrimeDrama
Shoestring is a BBC detective drana set in Bristol and starring Trevor Eve as private detective Eddie Shoestring, who operatee his own show on Radio West, the local radio station. The programme ran between 30 September 1979 and 21 December 1980, in two series with 21 hour-long episodes. Eve opted not to return after two series, as he wanted to diversify into theatre, so the production team changed the setting to Jersey and created Bergerac, also following a detective returning to work after a bad period in his life.
Born and BredBorn and Bred · 2002
Born and Bred
9.02002
SeriesDrama
In the 1950s at the fictional Lancashire village of Ormston, a father and son, both doctors, navigate the challenges of running a cottage hospital under the newly established National Health Service.
David CopperfieldDavid Copperfield · 1999
David Copperfield
7.11999
SeriesDrama
A young man journeys from a difficult childhood to maturity, exploring social injustice, personal development, and the complexities of human relationships.
The Play on OneThe Play on One · 1988
The Play on One
6.01988
SeriesDrama
A series of television plays, some original, some based on pre-existing plays or novels.
Vanity FairVanity Fair · 1998
Vanity Fair
7.61998
SeriesDrama
In early 19th-century England, ambitious and ruthless orphan Rebecca Sharp advances from the position of governess to the heights of British society.
TrueloveTruelove · 2024
Truelove
6.42024
SeriesDrama
A group of old friends reunited at a funeral make a drunken pact. Rather than let each other suffer a slow and painful decline they would engineer a dignified death. But what starts out as a fanciful idea soon morphs into shocking reality.
MumMum · 2016
Mum
7.32016
SeriesComedy
A comedy about a mother at a milestone in her life. We follow her and her family through a year of new beginnings as she rebuilds her life following the death of her husband. Mum is joined by her supportive life-long friend Michael. Through a year of new beginnings she rebuilds her life surrounded by her family: son Jason and his girlfriend Kelly; her brother Derek and his new partner, Pauline; and her in-laws.