Murray McArthur (born 4 May 1966) is an English actor.
Early life
McArthur was born and brought up in Devon.[1] The son of a mushroom farmer, of Scottish parentage and red-haired, he often plays Scottish roles. He attended King's School, Ottery St Mary, received a BA (Joint Hons) degree in English and Drama at Loughborough University and went on to study acting at the Drama Studio London. He was a member of the Devon County Youth Theatre.[2]
Career
He has appeared in many stage-plays in British regional theatres and on London's West End[3] (including the Royal National Theatre and Shakespeare's Globe). Much of his stage work has taken him overseas (Ahmanson Theatre,[4] Los Angeles & Panasonic Globe Theatre, Tokyo). His performance as Joe Gargery in Great Expectations at the Gate Theatre, Dublin was described by Irish Independent critic Bruce Arnold:[5] "Emphasis on the heart-warming relationship between Pip and Joe Gargery is a crucial part of the story, and the blacksmith, played by Murray McArthur in the best performance of the evening, achieves this".
Recently played Hákon Iron-Beard[13] in Robert Eggers Viking revenge film The Northman, released in April 2022.[14] Production on the film was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic,[15] resumed in August 2020[16] and finally completed in early December 2020.[17]
In 2021 McArthur was cast as 'Dad' in the British psychological thriller Marooned Awakening.[18] Principal photography took place in September 2021 on the island of Guernsey. The feature film premiered at the Beau Séjour Theatre[19] on Guernsey on 3 September 2022[20] and will be released in the United States and Canada on streaming services on February 21, 2023.[21]
Murray plays the part of Fabian, a homeless man who lives in the ruins of the original pilgrim meeting house, in Tim Burton's recently released Wednesday on Netflix,[22] where Jenna Ortega's Wednesday Addams sets Thing on him. Later on he is killed by a monster and winds up in the Jericho Morgue where Wednesday notices his missing foot.[23]
Personal life
Married to Geraldine with two children, Orla and Freya, he lives in South East London.[24]
