Colin Mcfarlane

Colin Andrew Ignatius Peter McFarlane was born on September 15, 1961, in Clapton, London, England. His father, Sidney McFarlane, served in the RAF and was later appointed an MBE for his community service. His mother, Gwendolyn McFarlane, worked in the NHS. The family relocated several times before settling in Lincoln, England, where McFarlane spent his childhood. He attended The Perse School in Cambridge and later pursued a drama degree at Loughborough University, graduating in 1983. McFarlane is married to Kate McFarlane since 1993 and they have one child.

McFarlane’s career began in television in 1985 with a role in ITV’s “Dempsey and Makepeace.” He later featured in “Dutch Girls” alongside Colin Firth and had numerous guest appearances in British TV comedies like “The Fast Show” and “Black Books.” He is well-known for his recurring role as Commissioner Gillian B. Loeb in Christopher Nolan’s “Batman Begins” (2005) and “The Dark Knight” (2008). His voice acting resume includes significant roles such as JJ and Skip in “Bob the Builder” (2001–2003), the narrator for “The Cube” (2009–2021), and PC Malcolm Williams in “Fireman Sam” (2020–present). He has also contributed to numerous video games, including “Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars” (1996) and “Final Fantasy XVI” (2023).

Beyond his acting work, McFarlane is an advocate for men’s health awareness. He publicly disclosed his prostate cancer diagnosis in June 2023 to encourage others to get screened. In July 2025, he received an honorary degree from Loughborough University for his contributions to the arts and his advocacy for men’s health. He divides his time between his homes in Lincoln and North London and is a keen supporter of Lincoln City F.C.