Hilton McRae

Scottish actor

Hilton McRae (born 28 December 1949) is a Scottish actor, working in theatre, television and film.

McRae was part of the radical theatre group 7:84 before graduating from the University of Edinburgh, and by 1977 he had joined the Royal Shakespeare Company. He has concentrated mainly on avant garde and political theatre. His most mainstream American film role was as the rebel star pilot Arvel Crynyd (Green Leader) in Return of the Jedi; he was uncredited for his brief appearance. In the UK he had substantial roles in The French Lieutenant's Woman and Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan. He has performed in several musicals on the London stage, including Mamma Mia! and Miss Saigon, in which he played the part of The Engineer. He performed the role of Mr Stopnick in the UK premiere of Caroline, or Change at the National Theatre, which won the Best Musical Award from the London newspaper the Evening Standard. In 2008 he played the part of Scarecrow in the Southbank's production of The Wizard of Oz. In 2006, he acted in Rabbit, a play by Nina Raine which opened at the Old Red Lion Theatre in London, and then transferred to the Trafalgar Studios, Whitehall. McRae starred in the play The Kreutzer Sonata, based on Tolstoy's novella, which opened at the Gate Theatre in London in 2009 with McRae in the solo role. The play was revived for a second run in 2012. The production also later transferred to New York City. McRae's performance received acclaim both in the UK from many top publications, and in the U. S. from the New York Times.

McRae was born in Dundee. He is married to actress Lindsay Duncan, with whom he has a son, Cal McRae (born September 1991). A close friend and University of Edinburgh classmate of Ian Charleson, McRae contributed a chapter to the 1990 book, For Ian Charleson: A Tribute.

Year Title Role NotesMaidens' Trip 1977 Matthew Episode: "Charity"Life at Stake 1978 Bernard Lortie Episode: "James Cross Will Be Executed"Play for Today 1980 Singer / Ad Man / Robert 3 episodesAstronauts 1981 Episode: "One in Four Goes"If Winter Comes 1981 Karoli TV movieDead Ernest 1982 Mozart Episode #1.6Gaskin 1983 John Rossington TV movieNo Excuses 1983 Pimm / Phin 4 episodesNelly's Version 1983 Vagrant TV movieThe Kit Curran Radio Show 1984 Hooper Episode: "The Big Break"Screen Two 1985 Charlie Hendon Episode: "Poppyland"A. D. 1985 Azariah Episode: "Part 2"Roll Over Beethoven 1985 Griff Episode #1.8Max Headroom: 20 Minutes into the Future 1985 Breugel TV movieHannay 1988 Lord Drysdale Episode: "Act of Riot"Crossbow 1989 Mercenary Leader Episode: "The Lost City"The Justice Game 1989 1990 Gerry Cowan Main roleZorro 1993 Narcisco Episode: "The Reward"The Bill 1994; 1998 Clive Bellman / Prosecution Barrister 2 episodesShakespeare: The Animated Tales 1994 Hortensio / Peter Voice, Episode: "The Taming of the Shrew"Monarch of the Glen 2001 Murdo Episode: "Series 2 Episode 5"Holby City 2002; 2007 Alan Simpson / Rob Snow 6 episodesSerious & Organised 2003 John Sands Episode: "Greed"Silent Witness 2003 Supt. Colin Osbourne Episode: "Beyond Guilt"Midsomer Murders 2004 Mathew Spearman Episode: "Bad Tidings"Murder City 2004 Emerton Linex Episode: "Nothing Sacred"Frances Tuesday 2004 Feltham TV movieDoctors 2008 Dr. McCarthy 6 episodesThe Execution of Gary Glitter 2009 Gary Glitter TV movieLewis 2009 Mack Maguire Episode: "Counter Culture Blues"Zen 2011 Gianni / Massimo Colonna Episode: "Cabal"Injustice 2011 PMO Adam Christie 3 episodesNew Tricks 2012 Frank McNair Episode: "Glasgow UCOS"Playhouse Presents 2014 Mr. Adams (voice) Episode: "Foxtrot"Endeavour 2016 The Great Zambezi Episode: "Ride"Victoria 2019 Coombe Episode: "A Coburg Quartet"Chernobyl 2019 Milan Kadnikov Episode: "Vichnaya Pamyat"The Third Day 2020 Janny 3 episodesHalo 2022 Regret (voice) 3 episodes