10 Best Rory McCann Movies & TV Shows

Summary Rory McCann's versatility shines in a wide range of roles, from brutal enforcer to emotional father figure.

McCann's unforgettable performances in Game of Thrones, Hot Fuzz, and The Legend of Vox Machina showcase his talent.

From voicing Megatron to playing Jurgen the Brutal, McCann brings depth and charisma to every character he portrays.

Rory McCann is a Scottish actor who has been performing for years, but it wasn't until his role in a genre-defining fantasy TV series that mainstream audiences began to take real notice of the actor. When Rory McCann appeared in the pilot of Game of Thrones as the Hound, book readers knew instantly he must be an actor of some talent to get such a significant role. They were immediately proven right by his performance, though if viewers had been lucky enough to catch one of McCann's earlier roles they would have known the breadth of his abilities.

Since he first began appearing in TV and movie productions in 1999 with the television film Coming Soon, McCann has proven himself to be an actor with significant range. It may surprise those who first saw him as the fearsome Sandor Clegane, but McCann is adept at comedy, heartfelt drama, goofy action, and slice-of-life everyman roles. At 6' 6", few camera tricks can make McCann look any less imposing, but with just a tilt of his eyebrows, he can go from grizzly to teddy bear. Consequently, his best roles cover a range of characters, each different from the next.

Related Game Of Thrones Cast - Where Are They Now? The Game of Thrones cast was one of the best ensembles in TV history, with many actors continuing to deliver impressive performances after its ending.

10 The Legend Of Vox Machina (2022-Present)

Rory McCann Voices Duke Vedmire (3 Episodes, 2022)

The Legend of Vox Machina Where to Watch *Availability in US stream

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buy Not available Not available Not available Based on the characters and storylines from the first Dungeons and Dragons campaign in the web series Critical Role, The Legend of Vox Machina chronicles the adventures of a group of heroes for hire named Vox Machina as they attempt to protect the fictional continent of Tal'Dorei from various threats to the safety of its people. Set in a fantasy world of elves, gnomes, vampires, and even dragons, the series stars the cast of Critical Role playing their characters from the original campaign, with DM Matthew Mercer guest starring in various small roles throughout the series. Cast Laura Bailey , marisha ray , Ashley Johnson , Taliesin Jaffe , Liam O'Brien , travis willingham , Matthew Mercer , Sam Riegel Release Date January 28, 2022 Seasons 2 Showrunner Brandon Auman

Rory McCann has a recurring role in The Legend of Vox Machina as Duke Vedmire, the Briarwood's goliath enforcer. The Legend of Vox Machina is based on the ongoing web series Critical Role, where voice actors play the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy tabletop RPG; specifically, based on the first campaign the show depicted. The series follows the Vox Machina team through seven adventures and, in season 1, they try to stop the necromancer Briarwood family from taking over the town of Whitestone.

Vedmire is a brutal and cruel overseer of the town, and he perishes when the people of Whitestone rise up against their oppressors and kill him. The Duke curses and shouts obscenities often in the series and McCann's gravelly voice perfectly portrays his anger and hatred toward those smaller and weaker than himself.

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Related Recasting Vox Machina In Live-Action: 10 Actors To Take Over The Critical Roles Some actors are easy to picture in a live-action adaptation of The Legend of Vox Machina, provided the animated show's stars don't return.

9 The Jury (2002-2011)

Rory McCann Plays Derek Hatch (5 Episodes, 2011)

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The Jury is a British TV series that first premiered in 2002, and then had its second season premiere years later in 2011. Each season follows the 12 men and women selected for jury duty, investigating their lives and how they go about trying the crime they've been picked to pass judgment on. Rory McCann appears in season 2 as Derek Hatch, or Juror #6. Derek told his employer he would be on holiday so that he could have time off during his jury service.

He even goes so far as to go to a tanning salon before he returns to make it look like he had a tropical vacation. The second season concerns the retrial of a man who was convicted five years earlier of murdering three women after new evidence has emerged. The Jury is primarily a drama, but Derek adds some levity to the proceedings, which are a welcome respite from the high stakes.

The Jury season 2 is not currently available to stream, rent, or buy digitally.

8 XXX: Return Of Xander Cage (2017)

Rory McCann Plays Tennyson Torch

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buy Not available Not available Not available xXx: Return of Xander Cage is the third film in the xXx series and brings back Vin Diesel as the original protagonist Xander Cage on a new high-stakes mission for the CIA. Having lived in isolation for some time, Xander is brought back into the field to face off with a dangerous man named Xiang to retrieve a powerful weapon called Pandora's Box. Now embroiled in an all-encompassing conspiracy that threatens to destabilize governments worldwide, Xander will take his thrill-seeking action to the next level to save the world. Director D.J. Caruso Release Date January 20, 2017 Cast Nina Dobrev , Donnie Yen , tony jaa , Toni Collette , Deepika Padukone , Vin Diesel Ruby Rose , Michael Bisping , Rory McCann , Samuel L. Jackson , Hermione Corfield Runtime 110minutes Budget $85 million

xXx: Return of Xander Cage is the third film in the xXx film series. The xXx field agent Xander Cage (Vin Diesel) is found to have faked his death in the previous movie and is now living in the Dominican Republic, enjoying retirement. However, after a covert terrorist team obtains a satellite-destroying weapon, Cage is obligated to return to xXx.

There he meets his new team, including his joyous and fun-loving getaway driver, Tennyson Torch (Rory McCann), who keeps track of how many vehicles he's destroyed: 200 at the end of the movie. Torch is emotional, funny, and always having a good time when he's behind the wheel of a car. He's also a talented driver and helps Cage and the team on more than one occasion.

At the end of the film, during a funeral for one of the team members, Torch is blubbering and singing heartily along with the gospel choir in a surprisingly moving scene that's a great reminder of how much happiness and heart McCann can inject into his roles.

7 Slow West (2015)

Rory McCann Plays John Ross

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buy Not available Not available Not available Slow West is a Western drama that follows Jay Cavendish, a young Scottish aristocrat, who travels to the American West in search of his lost love, Rose. Along the way, he meets Silas, a grizzled outlaw, and together they embark on a perilous journey that takes them through treacherous landscapes and dangerous encounters. Director John Maclean Release Date May 15, 2015 Cast Michael Fassbender , Kodi Smit-McPhee , Ben Mendelsohn , Caren Pistorius , Rory McCann Runtime 84 Minutes

Rory McCann's performance in Slow West came right in the middle of his run on Game of Thrones, so the director of the revisionist Western, John Maclean, most likely saw some connections between the Hound and John Ross and cast the character accordingly. John is a similar kind of man to those McCann has often played, a quiet but intimidating figure who wants to protect a young girl.

Slow West is a Western that does not rely heavily on action, however, so McCann does not do much fighting, but his presence alone scares enough people away. It's a slow-building film that follows Jay Cavendish (Kodi Smit-McPhee) as he searches the American West for his lost love, Rose Ross (Caren Pistorius).

Rose lives with her protective father who, while anxious and paranoid about their status as wanted criminals, is a caring man. McCann manages to slightly shift his usual portrayal of a gruff figure into something warmer and more fatherly, making John not just a repeat of the actor's similar characters.

6 Transformers: EarthSpark (2022-Present)

Rory McCann Voices Megatron (11 Episodes, 2022-2023)

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Rory McCann puts his recognizable voice to good use as the voice of the Transformers supervillain Megatron in the Paramount+ animated series Transformers: EarthSpark. The series is set 15 years after the space bridge to Cybertron is destroyed, ending the war between the Autobots and the Decepticons.

On Earth, a new race of Earth-born Transformers called "Terrans" are born, and they team up with the Autobots, the special ops organization G.H.O.S.T., and a repentant Megatron to hunt down the remaining Decepticons. This version of Megatron is much more sympathetic, and McCann's deep but sad voice is perfectly cast to portray the robotic but emotional former evil leader.

McCann had big shoes to fill for the role, coming after Fred Tatasciore, Hugo Weaving, and Frank Welker, but he carved out a memorable and unique performance. This is a Megatron who has had to live with his sins, a characterization McCann knows well.

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5 The Book Group (2002-2003)

Rory McCann Plays Kenny McLeod (12 Episodes, 2002-2003)

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In the Channel 4 series, The Book Group, American Clare Pettengill (Anne Dudek) moves to Glasgow, Scotland, and starts a book club, hoping to meet the cultured class of the city. What she ends up with is a collection of eclectic people from all sorts of backgrounds: a post-grad student, a man who has a history of abusing drugs, the discontented wives of local football players, and an easy-going man who aspires to be a writer, along with a few more who become an unlikely group of friends.

The writer is Kenny McLeod (Rory McCann), a happy and sweet man who uses a wheelchair but never lets that or anything else stop him from pursuing the things he enjoys. His first appearance involves him asking his friends to carry him up the many steps to Clare's apartment for the first club meeting. Kind and humorous, Kenny is a better writer than he is a speaker, but he learns to come out of his shell with the group. McCann is unexpectedly sweet as the character, and viewers can't help but root for him.

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4 Jumanji: The Next Level (2019)

Rory McCann Plays Jurgen The Brutal

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buy Not available Not available Not available Jumanji: The Next Level is the third installment in the adventure franchise spawned by the Robin Williams-led 1995 classic. Following the events of Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, the sequel features Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart, and Karen Gillan reprising their roles as the four playable characters in the video game version of the board game, which has changed its rules once again. Director Jake Kasdan Release Date December 13, 2019 Cast Dwayne Johnson , Kevin Hart , Karen Gillan , Jack Black , Danny DeVito , Danny Glover , Awkwafina , Sal Longobardo , Rhys Darby , Darin Ferraro , Dania Ramirez Runtime 123 Minutes Budget $125 Million

For the most part, Rory McCann plays supporting characters, but Jumanji: The Next Level puts him in a more central role as the main antagonist of the film, Jurgen the Brutal. The third movie in the Jumanji franchise, Jumanji: The Next Level takes place a few months after the first film, with the original group of friends now apart at different colleges. Spencer (Alex Wolff), sad that his friends have moved on in their lives, goes back into "Jumanji", forcing his friends to go after him.

This time around, to beat the game, the heroes need to claim the Falcon Jewel from a violent warlord, Jurgen. McCann is perfectly cast against Jack Black, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, Danny Devito, Donald Glover, and Dwayne Johnson. Each one of these actors is instantly recognizable, and their rival needs to be the same.

As soon as McCann appears on-screen, it feels like he's always been a part of the series, just the latest downloadable character for the "Jumanji" game. Also, few actors can take a punch to the face from the Rock and remain standing.

3 Hot Fuzz (2007)

Rory McCann Plays Michael "Lurch" Armstrong

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buy Not available Not available Not available The second film in Edgar Wright's Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy, Hot Fuzz stars Simon Pegg and Nick Frost as two policemen who investigate a seemingly idyllic community in the English countryside. After London hotshot policeman Nicholas Angel is transferred to the sleepy town of Sandford, he finds himself partnered with bumbling local officer Danny Butterman (Nick Frost). However, the pair soon discover that Sandford is not all it appears to be, uncovering shocking secrets that will shake the town to its very core. Director Edgar Wright Release Date February 14, 2007 Cast Simon Pegg , Martin Freeman , Bill Nighy , Robert Popper , Joe Cornish , Chris Waitt Runtime 121 minutes Budget $16 million

Fans of the Three Flavours Cornetto Trilogy by Edgar Wright starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost will have been well-acquainted with Rory McCann before Game of Thrones. That's because of his appearance as one of the best villains in the trilogy, Lurch in Hot Fuzz. Hot Fuzz, the story of a London police officer forced to transfer to the sleepy town of Sandford, features hilarious dialogue, brilliant characters, and an intricate and fantastic plot that rewards repeat viewings.

Lurch is a lumbering, dimwitted employee at Skinner's (Timothy Dalton) supermarket, and with only one repeated line, "Narp", he cements himself as a classic character of the series. McCann is bald, with an overbite, and does whatever Skinner tells him, including getting into a brawl with Nicholas Angel (Pegg), giving McCann a chance to show off his talent for stunts and physical action.

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2 Knuckles (2024)

Rory McCann Plays The Buyer (3 Episodes, 2024)

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buy Not available Not available Not available Knuckles is a spin-off of the Sonic the Hedgehog movie franchise created for Paramount+. Idris Elba reprises his role as Knuckles the Echidna in the action-adventure series, and the show will follow him on a new adventure as he meets new allies and faces new foes. Cast Idris Elba , Adam Pally , Jaimi Barbakoff , Alice Wren Tregonning , Tony Coughlan , Colleen O'Shaughnessey , Daniel Singh , Alfredo Tavares Release Date April 26, 2024 Seasons 1 Showrunner John Whittington

The Sonic the Hedgehog franchise has come a long way from the first movie and Sonic's design woes. With two blockbuster films, another on the way, and a 2024 miniseries starring Knuckles, Sonic has quickly become one of the more successful video game adaptation franchises. Rory McCann plays "The Buyer" in the six-episode miniseries from Paramount+. "The Buyer" is a former lackey of Dr. Robotnik's (Jim Carrey), who is seeking to take Knuckles' (Idris Elba) power for himself.

It's a major role for McCann and in a giant franchise series no less. With henchmen of his own for once, McCann proves he can play a powerful and charismatic leader as well as he can a lackey. Sporting a bushy, wild beard and glaring eyes, McCann slots perfectly into the goofy and antic tone of the universe, fitting in well alongside villains like Robotnik and heroes like Knuckles.

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1 Game Of Thrones (2011–2019)

Rory McCann Plays Sandor "The Hound" Clegane (39 Episodes, 2011-2019)

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buy Not available Not available Not available Created by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, Game of Thrones is a TV series based on the book “A Song of Ice of Fire” by George R. R. Martin. It tells the story of the ongoing battle between the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros - as they fight for control of the coveted Iron Throne. Friction between the houses leads to full-scale war. All while a very ancient evil awakens in the far north. Amidst the war, a neglected military order of misfits, the Night's Watch, led by House Stark's Jon Snow, is the first to encounter icy horrors that threaten all realms of men. The series premiered on HBO in the United States on April 17, 2011, and quickly became one of the biggest event series in the "Golden Age" of TV. Winner of 38 Primetime Emmy Awards, Game of Thrones has attracted record viewership on HBO and has a broad, active, international fan base. Cast Emilia Clarke , Lena Headey , Richard Madden , Michelle Fairley , Kit Harington , Maisie Williams , Alfie Allen , Peter Dinklage Release Date April 11, 2011 Seasons 8 Showrunner David Benioff , D.B. Weiss

Game of Thrones features an ensemble of characters, all conniving for power, safety, love, duty, and more. Sandor Clegane, or "The Hound", has one simple goal: revenge against the brother who burnt off half his face. That simple motivation turns into one of the best character arcs in the award-winning series and McCann has the gravitas to pull it off and turn the "worst s**t in the Seven Kingdoms" into a hero who even Arya has to thank.

It's the role that made McCann's career and any episode where The Hound appears is bound to be a good one. His physical acting was some of the best in the show, credibly cutting men in half and beating zombies to death. His sense of humor made even his more brutal scenes enjoyable.

However, Rory McCann's greatest skill was showcasing the quiet sadness that underpinned all of Clegane's actions. It's a look in his eyes and a shadow on his face that makes the character deeper than he ever could have been written.