'Outlander' actor Brian McCardie (59) dies: Reflecting on his legacy
Scottish actor Brian McCardie, known for his memorable roles in shows such as Line of Duty and Outlander, is no more. He was 59. McCardie's sister Sarah revealed on X/Twitter on Tuesday that the actor passed away "suddenly at home" on Sunday. She expressed, "A wonderful and passionate actor on stage and screen, Brian loved his work and touched many lives, and is gone much too soon." May he rest in peace.
Tributes poured in for the late actor on social media
The news of McCardie's death has led to an outpouring of tributes from admirers, colleagues, and friends. Louise Thornton—head of commissioning at BBC Scotland—hailed him as a "talented, versatile actor." Producer Paul Larkin remembered him as a "brilliant friend" and a "phenomenal actor." Fellow Scottish actor Simon Weir expressed his heartbreak at the news, stating, "Nobody made me laugh like you." Director Alec Bowman Clarke fondly recalled McCardie as "genuine, passionate, generous and funny."
Take a look at the post by Sarah here
McCardie's early life and blossoming acting career
Born in 1965 in North Lanarkshire, McCardie later moved from Motherwell to Carluke, located southeast of Glasgow. His fascination with acting began at an early age while studying at St Brendan's and St Athanasius Primary Schools. His love for theater blossomed during secondary school when he starred in a production of Godspell with a local drama group. Throughout his career, McCardie graced various TV shows including The Bill, Holby City, and Sky Atlantic series Domina.
Beginnings with a role in 'EastEnders'
McCardie embarked on his acting journey in 1989 with a role as Seb in an episode of EastEnders. Following this, he portrayed Bunny in the TV film Forget About Me in 1990. From 1990 to 1991, he graced the screen as PC Ronnie Barker in Waterfront Beat. His breakthrough came with the portrayal of Alasdair alongside Liam Neeson in the 1995 blockbuster Rob Roy.
McCardie's recent work in 'Line of Duty,' 'Time'
McCardie notably portrayed organized crime boss John Thomas "Tommy" Hunter in Line of Duty from 2012 to 2014. He made a notable appearance in the popular BBC prison drama Time in 2021 starring Sean Bean and Stephen Graham. Interestingly, apart from his thriving acting career, McCardie engaged audiences with readings of his original poetry at numerous venues across Ireland, capturing these performances on film for online distribution.
