John McGlynn (born 8 September 1953) is a Scottish actor and musician. Born John Nicholson, he was educated at the Royal High School in Edinburgh, where he was active in the dramatic society.

John McGlynn
Born (1953-09-08) 8 September 1953 (age 71)
Scotland
NationalityScottish
Other namesJohn Nicholson
Occupation(s)Actor, singer, comedian, drummer, songwriter

McGlynn's roles include that of vet Calum Buchanan in the British television series All Creatures Great and Small between January 1988 and September 1989. He also featured as DI Tom Adams in the BBC crime thriller series Silent Witness in series 1, 1996, amongst many other TV film and theatre roles.

He played Balmoral Castle's head gillie in the 2006 film The Queen.

McGlynn's debut as a professional actor was in 1975 at the Young Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh, Scotland, in a new play, If Ye Died wi' a Face Like That, by Glaswegian writer William Grant. He was already working with the company as a drummer, contributing to the pre-recorded soundtrack for the above production. He remained with the company for the next two years, performing as an actor, drummer and singer in Cry Wolf, The Water Babies, A Midsummer Night's Dream and Under Milk Wood. He also worked as a singer/drummer/actor with the Scottish 7:84 Company in My Pal and Me and The Trembling Giant, both written by John McGrath. After 7:84 ceased operations, McGlynn was engaged by the Wildcat Stage Productions, which emerged from it, in His Master's Voice and The Complete History of Rock'n'Roll.

Theatre

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Year Title Role Theatre Director Notes
1979 The Lass wi' the Muckle Mou Willie Scott Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh Sandy Neilson play by Alexander Reid

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1979 A Sense of Freedom Prison Warder
1982 Living Apart Together Ritchie's band
1990 Midnight Breaks Breaks Drummer
1998 Les Misérables Carnot
1999 Wing Commander Richard Bellegarde
2001 The Emperor's New Clothes Gendarme
2002 Gangs of New York Bowery Boys Leader
2004 Wimbledon Bookmaker
2006 The Queen Balmoral Head Ghillie
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