James MacPherson (actor)
Encyclopedia
James MacPherson is a Scottish
actor
, best known for his role as Detective Michael Jardine
in the ITV
drama, Taggart
.
MacPherson was raised in South Lanarkshire
, Scotland. He left Hamilton Grammar School at 17 and got a job as a laboratory technician at Glasgow's Institute of Neurosciences at the Southern General Hospital
. Part of his job was to collect brain samples for experimentation. MacPherson worked in the lab for five years and met his future wife Jacqueline while there.
MacPherson went for an interview to be a police officer, but soon realised he didn't have the requisite personality for the job. It was then that his thoughts turned to acting. He joined an amateur dramatics group in Motherwell, before moving onto a repertory theatre in East Kilbride and a place in drama school.
It was after MacPherson landed the part in BBC Radio 4
's Citizens that his television career began to take off. While based in London, MacPherson auditioned for a part in the children's series Dramarama but was unsuccessful. Then in 1986, his agent told him about the part that had come up in Taggart, and, having regained his Glasgow accent (which had been diluted by working in London), he was offered the part.
) but when Neil Duncan left the show shortly after MacPherson joined, he felt sure his own time with the show would be short lived. In reality, he was already being lined up as Jim Taggart's permanent right-hand man. He became the central character following McManus' death in 1994. McManus was godfather to MacPherson's daughter Katie.
2002 saw MacPherson' last appearance as DCI Michael Jardine. MacPherson was forced to leave the show due to ill health. He had a collapsed lung and underwent life-saving surgery, which resulted in the lung being stapled to the inside of his chest. His health status prevented him from doing many of the activities that life as Jardine required. MacPherson's final episode, "Death Trap", aired on 14 January 2002.
Since Taggart, MacPherson has taken a back seat from television work, concentrating on the theatre. Much of his early work still saw him cast as a policeman. He appeared as Jardine in all but name in a TV documentary investigating claims that Scottish MPs were bribed during the build-up to the Acts of Union of 1707
which merged the English and Scottish Parliaments. He even guest-starred in several episodes of The Bill
as a former officer whose sister was rape
d by other policemen. He provided the voice for Ian Rankin
's Inspector Rebus
in the talking book series. It was even reported in a Scottish newspaper in 2003 that MacPherson wanted to become an astronomer.
In 2000, James appeared in a Channel 4 Schools History series The Scots Detective, playing DI Scott.
In July 2002, he set up an acting company, with fellow Scots actress Emma Currie, called Acting Up.
In October 2003, MacPherson formed a Rock & Roll band called The Cams with ex-Wet Wet Wet
drummer Tommy Cunningham
, and was seen singing with the band on BBC One Scotland's Children in Need
the following month.
Christmas of 2003 saw MacPherson appear as "Abananzar" in Aladdin at His Majesty's Theatre
in Aberdeen
.
In 2007, he starred in the stage version of Dial M for Murder
, along with Faye Tozer
of Steps.
In May 2010 MacPherson co-starred as Martin Schulse in the Tron Theatre
production of Address Unknown adapted
from the short story by Kathrine Kressmann Taylor.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, best known for his role as Detective Michael Jardine
Michael Jardine
Detective Chief Inspector Michael "Mike" Jardine was a long-running character in the television series Taggart. He served as Detective Sergeant after Peter Livingstone left the force from 1987 to 1994 when Jim Taggart died and he took over as Detective Chief Inspector...
in the ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
drama, Taggart
Taggart
Taggart is a Scottish detective television programme, created by Glenn Chandler, who has written many of the episodes, and made by STV Productions for the ITV network...
.
MacPherson was raised in South Lanarkshire
South Lanarkshire
South Lanarkshire is one of 32 unitary council areas of Scotland, covering the southern part of the former county of Lanarkshire. It borders the south-east of the city of Glasgow and contains many of Glasgow's suburbs, commuter towns and smaller villages....
, Scotland. He left Hamilton Grammar School at 17 and got a job as a laboratory technician at Glasgow's Institute of Neurosciences at the Southern General Hospital
Southern General Hospital
The Southern General Hospital is a large teaching hospital with an acute operational bed complement of approximately 900 beds. The Hospital is located in Linthouse in the south west of Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom and provides a comprehensive range of acute and related clinical...
. Part of his job was to collect brain samples for experimentation. MacPherson worked in the lab for five years and met his future wife Jacqueline while there.
MacPherson went for an interview to be a police officer, but soon realised he didn't have the requisite personality for the job. It was then that his thoughts turned to acting. He joined an amateur dramatics group in Motherwell, before moving onto a repertory theatre in East Kilbride and a place in drama school.
It was after MacPherson landed the part in BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
's Citizens that his television career began to take off. While based in London, MacPherson auditioned for a part in the children's series Dramarama but was unsuccessful. Then in 1986, his agent told him about the part that had come up in Taggart, and, having regained his Glasgow accent (which had been diluted by working in London), he was offered the part.
Taggart, career and personal life
Initially, the character of Jardine was to be a foil to DC Livingstone, assistant of DI Jim Taggart (Mark McManusMark McManus
Mark McManus was a Scottish actor best known for his portrayal of Detective Chief Inspector Jim Taggart in the long-running ITV television series Taggart for eleven years until his death.-Career:...
) but when Neil Duncan left the show shortly after MacPherson joined, he felt sure his own time with the show would be short lived. In reality, he was already being lined up as Jim Taggart's permanent right-hand man. He became the central character following McManus' death in 1994. McManus was godfather to MacPherson's daughter Katie.
2002 saw MacPherson' last appearance as DCI Michael Jardine. MacPherson was forced to leave the show due to ill health. He had a collapsed lung and underwent life-saving surgery, which resulted in the lung being stapled to the inside of his chest. His health status prevented him from doing many of the activities that life as Jardine required. MacPherson's final episode, "Death Trap", aired on 14 January 2002.
Since Taggart, MacPherson has taken a back seat from television work, concentrating on the theatre. Much of his early work still saw him cast as a policeman. He appeared as Jardine in all but name in a TV documentary investigating claims that Scottish MPs were bribed during the build-up to the Acts of Union of 1707
Acts of Union 1707
The Acts of Union were two Parliamentary Acts - the Union with Scotland Act passed in 1706 by the Parliament of England, and the Union with England Act passed in 1707 by the Parliament of Scotland - which put into effect the terms of the Treaty of Union that had been agreed on 22 July 1706,...
which merged the English and Scottish Parliaments. He even guest-starred in several episodes of The Bill
The Bill
The Bill is a police procedural television series that ran from October 1984 to August 2010. It focused on the lives and work of one shift of police officers, rather than on any particular aspect of police work...
as a former officer whose sister was rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
d by other policemen. He provided the voice for Ian Rankin
Ian Rankin
Ian Rankin, OBE, DL , is a Scottish crime writer. His best known books are the Inspector Rebus novels. He has also written several pieces of literary criticism.-Background:He attended Beath High School, Cowdenbeath...
's Inspector Rebus
Inspector Rebus
The Inspector Rebus books are a series of detective novels by the Scottish author Ian Rankin. The novels, centred on the title character Detective Inspector John Rebus, are mostly based in and around Edinburgh.-Content and style:...
in the talking book series. It was even reported in a Scottish newspaper in 2003 that MacPherson wanted to become an astronomer.
In 2000, James appeared in a Channel 4 Schools History series The Scots Detective, playing DI Scott.
In July 2002, he set up an acting company, with fellow Scots actress Emma Currie, called Acting Up.
In October 2003, MacPherson formed a Rock & Roll band called The Cams with ex-Wet Wet Wet
Wet Wet Wet
Wet Wet Wet are a Scottish pop rock band that formed in the 1980s. They scored a number of hits in the British charts and around the world. The band is composed of Marti Pellow , Tommy Cunningham , Graeme Clark and Neil Mitchell...
drummer Tommy Cunningham
Tommy Cunningham
Thomas "Tommy" Cunningham is a Scottish musician, best known as the drummer for Wet Wet Wet.Cunningham's father, Tom Sr., bought his son his first drum kit in 1977, "down the Social Club for £15"...
, and was seen singing with the band on BBC One Scotland's Children in Need
Children in Need
Children in Need is an annual British charity appeal organised by the BBC. Since 1980 it has raised over £500 million. The highlight of the Children in Need appeal is an annual telethon, held in November. A teddy bear named "Pudsey Bear" fronts the campaign, while Terry Wogan is a long...
the following month.
Christmas of 2003 saw MacPherson appear as "Abananzar" in Aladdin at His Majesty's Theatre
His Majesty's Theatre
His Majesty's Theatre in Aberdeen is the largest theatre in north-east Scotland, seating more than 1400. The theatre is sited on Rosemount Viaduct, opposite the city's Union Terrace Gardens. It was designed by Frank Matcham and opened in 1906...
in Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
.
In 2007, he starred in the stage version of Dial M for Murder
Dial M for Murder
Dial M for Murder is a 1954 American thriller film adapted from a successful stage play by Frederick Knott, directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Ray Milland, Grace Kelly, and Robert Cummings. The movie was released by the Warner Bros...
, along with Faye Tozer
Faye Tozer
Faye Louise Tozer is an English singer, songwriter and actress; famous for being a member of pop group Steps.-Music:Steps were a pop group that achieved a series of charted singles between 1997 and 2001...
of Steps.
In May 2010 MacPherson co-starred as Martin Schulse in the Tron Theatre
Tron Theatre
The Tron Theatre is located at the corner of Trongate and Chisholm Street, in the Merchant City area of Glasgow, Scotland.From its early years as a theatre club, the Tron has grown into a thriving multi-faceted venue...
production of Address Unknown adapted
from the short story by Kathrine Kressmann Taylor.