Robb has starred in various British films and television shows, including films such as Swing Kids and Hellbound. He is well known for playing Germanicus in the famous 1976 BBC production of I, Claudius, and as Robin Grant, one of the principal characters in Thames Television's 1981 series The Flame Trees of Thika. He has also performed as a voice actor for several Star Wars video games, and had a recurring role in the fantasy television series Highlander: The Series. He has worked extensively on BBC radio drama, including as Charles in the original radio series of Up the Garden Path opposite Imelda Staunton as Captain Jack Aubrey in the BBC Radio 4 adaptations of the Patrick O'Brian "Aubrey" novels, and as Richard Hannay in several adaptations of the John Buchan novels, including Mr Standfast in 2007. He played Dr. Clarkson in the television drama series Downton Abbey.
Robb was born in London, to David Robb and Elsie Tilley. He grew up in Edinburgh and was educated at the Royal High School. He married actress and activist Briony McRoberts in 1978. Beginning in 2004, he and his wife ran every year in the Edinburgh Marathon to raise money for leukaemia research. McRoberts died by suicide on 17 July 2013 (age 56), after a long illness with anorexia.
Tv times christmas with the stars 2014 david robb
Theatre
Robb performed in two of Richard Norton-Taylor Tricycle Tribunal Plays: The Colour of Justice (the dramatised version of the Sir William Macpherson inquiry into the murder of Stephen Lawrence, his family's search for justice, and endemic racism in British police forces), and Half the Picture (a distillation of the Scott Inquiry into Arms-to-Iraq. It was the first play to be performed in the Palace of Westminster); both were directed by Nicolas Kent and performed at the Tricycle Theatre. The productions were broadcast by the BBC.
Filmography
Actor
2022
Grenfell: Scenes from the Inquiry (TV Mini Series)
2022
Downton Abbey: A New Era as
Dr Clarkson
2021
All Those Small Things as
David
2020
Beyond a Steel Sky (Video Game) as
Jimmy / Wellbring / Citizen Male (voice)
2018
Clique (TV Series) as
The Dean
- Episode #2.3 (2018) - The Dean
- Episode #2.1 (2018) - The Dean
2017
Total War: Warhammer II (Video Game) as
Heinrich Kemmler / Chaos Sorcerer / Light Wizard (voice)
2017
Against the Law (TV Movie) as
Lord Wolfenden
2016
Total War: Warhammer (Video Game)(voice)
2016
Sacrifice as
Richard Guthrie
2010
Downton Abbey (TV Series) as
Dr. Clarkson
- Christmas Special (2015) - Dr. Clarkson
- A Journey to the Highlands (2012) - Dr. Clarkson
2015
Wolf Hall (TV Mini Series) as
Sir Thomas Boleyn
- Crows (2015) - Sir Thomas Boleyn
- The Devil's Spit (2015) - Sir Thomas Boleyn
- Anna Regina (2015) - Sir Thomas Boleyn
- Entirely Beloved (2015) - Sir Thomas Boleyn
- Three Card Trick (2015) - Sir Thomas Boleyn
2014
Alien: Isolation (Video Game)(voice)
2013
Total War: Rome II (Video Game)(voice)
2011
Total War: Shogun 2 (Video Game)(voice)
2010
Garrow's Law (TV Series) as
Cooke
- Episode #2.3 (2010) - Cooke
2009
From Time to Time as
Lord Farrar
2009
The Young Victoria as
Whig Member
2009
M.I.High (TV Series) as
Brian Gainsborough
- Art Attacks (2009) - Brian Gainsborough
2008
Sharpe (TV Series) as
Major Tredinnick / Major Tredinnick
- Sharpe's Peril: Part 2 (2008) - Major Tredinnick
- Sharpe's Peril (2008) - Major Tredinnick
2008
Roman Mysteries (TV Series) as
Barbatus
- The Gladiators from Capua: Part II (2008) - Barbatus
- The Gladiators from Capua (2008) - Barbatus
2007
Lost Worlds (TV Series documentary) as
Narrator
- Building the Titanic (2007) - Narrator
- Kama Sutra (2007) - Narrator
2007
Elizabeth: The Golden Age as
Admiral Sir William Winter
2007
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Video Game) as
Sirius Black / Staring Portrait (voice)
2006
Rebus (TV Series) as
Daniel Raeburn
- The Black Book (2006) - Daniel Raeburn
2005
Double Take (TV Mini Series) as
Voice Over Equity Artist
- Best of (2005) - Voice Over Equity Artist (voice)
1990
Taggart (TV Series) as
James Mitchell / John Ferguson / Jack MacFarlane
- The Ties That Bind (2005) - John Ferguson
- Berserker Part Three (1998) - James Mitchell
- Berserker Part Two (1998) - James Mitchell
- Berserker Part One (1998) - James Mitchell
- Love Knot (1990) - Jack MacFarlane
2005
Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction (Video Game) as
Journalist / News Correspondent 3 (voice)
2004
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II - The Sith Lords (Video Game) as
Colonel Tobin / C7-E3 / Gambler / ... (voice)
2004
The Courtroom (TV Series) as
Humphrey Pegg
- These Foolish Things (2004) - Humphrey Pegg
2004
Star Wars: Battlefront (Video Game) as
Imperial Officer (voice)
2000
The Bill (TV Series) as
DCI Bill Wicklow / Alan White
- Second Strike: Part 2 (2004) - DCI Bill Wicklow
- Second Strike: Part 1 (2004) - DCI Bill Wicklow
- Zero Tolerance (2000) - Alan White
2004
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Video Game) as
Sirius Black (voice)
2004
The Life and Death of Peter Sellers as
Dr. Lyle Wexler
2004
Doctors (TV Series) as
Keith Scott
- Turning Back the Clock (2004) - Keith Scott
2004
Proof (TV Series) as
Klaus Neuman
- Episode #1.4 (2004) - Klaus Neuman
- Episode #1.3 (2004) - Klaus Neuman
- Episode #1.2 (2004) - Klaus Neuman
- Episode #1.1 (2004) - Klaus Neuman
2003
Monarch of the Glen (TV Series) as
Charles MacDonald
- Episode #5.9 (2003) - Charles MacDonald
2003
Secret Weapons Over Normandy (Video Game) as
Rork (voice)
2003
Seven Wonders of the Industrial World (TV Series documentary) as
John Rennie
- The Bell Rock Lighthouse (2003) - John Rennie
1995
Casualty (TV Series) as
Henry Reeve-Jones
- Collision Course (2003) - Henry Reeve-Jones
- That Way Lies Ruin (1996) - Henry Reeve-Jones
- Asking for Miracles (1996) - Henry Reeve-Jones
- For Your Own Good (1996) - Henry Reeve-Jones
- We Shall Overcome (1996) - Henry Reeve-Jones
- Castles in the Air (1995) - Henry Reeve-Jones
- Lost Boys (1995) - Henry Reeve-Jones
- Shame the Devil (1995) - Henry Reeve-Jones
- All's Fair (1995) - Henry Reeve-Jones
2003
Footballers' Wives (TV Series) as
Mr. Owen
- Just Can't Give Up (2003) - Mr. Owen
2002
Heartbeat (TV Series) as
Guy Foxton
- No Man's Land (2002) - Guy Foxton
2001
EastEnders (TV Series) as
Mr. Reynolds
- Episode #1.2143 (2001) - Mr. Reynolds
- Episode #1.2142 (2001) - Mr. Reynolds
- Episode #1.2141 (2001) - Mr. Reynolds
- Episode #1.2140 (2001) - Mr. Reynolds
2000
Headless (TV Series) as
Mike Loomis
2000
The World Is Not Enough (Video Game) as
Renard (voice)
2000
Brotherly Love (TV Series) as
Dr. Dalrymple
- Sex and Drugs and Rock 'n' Roll (2000) - Dr. Dalrymple
2000
Midsomer Murders (TV Series) as
Charles MacKillop
- Beyond the Grave (2000) - Charles MacKillop
1999
In the Company of Strangers (TV Mini Series) as
Fergus
- Episode #1.3 (1999) - Fergus
- Episode #1.2 (1999) - Fergus
- Episode #1.1 (1999) - Fergus
1999
Treasure Island as
Doctor Livesey
1998
Verdict (TV Series) as
Hugh Murray Q.C.
- Neighbours from Hell (1998) - Hugh Murray Q.C.
1997
The House of Angelo as
Lord Vanbrugh
1997
The Princess Stallion (TV Movie) as
Ian Stewart
1997
Behind the Lines as
Dr. McIntyre
1997
The Broker's Man (TV Series) as
Major Frank Russell
- Siege: Part 2 (1997) - Major Frank Russell
- Siege: Part 1 (1997) - Major Frank Russell
1996
Famous Fred (Short) as
Ginger (voice)
1996
The Crow Road (TV Mini Series) as
Fergus Urvill
- Rory (1996) - Fergus Urvill
- Fergus (1996) - Fergus Urvill
- Kenneth (1996) - Fergus Urvill
- Prentice (1996) - Fergus Urvill
1996
Screen Two (TV Series) as
Michael Heseltine / Alan Barrett
- Half the Picture (1996) - Michael Heseltine / Alan Barrett
1995
Highlander (TV Series) as
Kalas
- Finale: Part 2 (1995) - Kalas
- Finale: Part 1 (1995) - Kalas
- Methos (1995) - Kalas
- Star-Crossed (1995) - Kalas
- Song of the Executioner (1995) - Kalas
1994
Shakespeare: The Animated Tales (TV Series) as
Brutus
- Julius Caesar (1994) - Brutus (voice)
1994
Takin' Over the Asylum (TV Mini Series) as
Dr Cairns
- You Always Hurt the One You Love (1994) - Dr Cairns
1994
Hellbound as
King Richard
1992
Strathblair (TV Series) as
Andrew Menzies
- Day of Judgement (1992) - Andrew Menzies
- Past and Present (1992) - Andrew Menzies
- Coming to Terms (1992) - Andrew Menzies
- Into the Forest (1992) - Andrew Menzies
- Visitations (1992) - Andrew Menzies
- Crimes and Misdemeanours (1992) - Andrew Menzies
- Partings (1992) - Andrew Menzies
- Sheep Don't Safely Graze (1992) - Andrew Menzies