James Nicholas Callis (born 4 June 1971) is an English actor. He is known for playing Dr. Gaius Baltar in the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica miniseries and television series, Bridget Jones' best friend Tom in the Bridget Jones film series and Claude Whelan in the Apple TV spy series Slow Horses. He appeared in the television series Eureka and 12 Monkeys on Syfy as Dr. Trevor Grant and Athan Cole "The Witness", respectively. Since 2017, he has voiced the character Alucard in the Netflix series Castlevania and Castlevania: Nocturne, based on the video game series of the same name. In 2022, he appeared in season 2 of Star Trek: Picard as Jean-Luc's father in childhood flashbacks.

Early life Callis was born in Hampstead and brought up in London, where he attended St. Martin's Prep School in Northwood and then Harrow School in north-west London. His parents owned a bed-and-breakfast. He is of Jewish descent, and his ancestors originate from Russia, Poland, and Ukraine. Callis attended the University of York, graduating in 1993 with a BA in English and Related Literature. He was a member of Derwent College, for which he was an enthusiastic rugby player. At university he was also a keen student actor, director and writer. He was a key member of the University of York Gilbert and Sullivan society and appeared in productions put on by friends at Cambridge University, including a production of Harold Pinter's The Dumb Waiter.

Career

Callis went on to attend the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, from which he graduated in 1996. In the same year, he was awarded the Jack Tinker Award (Theatre Record Critic of the Year) for Most Promising Newcomer for his performance in Old Wicked Songs, a two-hander by Jon Marans, in which he starred alongside Bob Hoskins.

Callis has appeared in various West End productions and television series as well as on radio. He has also been involved in writing and directing. His directorial debut was Beginner's Luck, a co-production of his and writer/director Nick Cohen's Late Night Pictures and Angel Eye Film & TV, starring Julie Delpy, Steven Berkoff and Fenella Fielding. Beginner's Luck was critically panned, but ran for almost three weeks on one print (all the low-budget film could afford) in one cinema in central London, then went on a tour of student cinemas around the UK.

Callis finished filming his first role in a cinema film, Bridget Jones's Diary, alongside Renée Zellweger and Hugh Grant, in the summer of 2000 and between a few further film and TV roles went back on stage in the Soho Theatre in December 2002.

In 2003, Callis played the role of Dr. Gaius Baltar in the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica miniseries and continued the role in the regular series that followed. In 2006, Callis won the Best Supporting Actor Saturn Award and an AFI award for his performance as Baltar.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes1997Weekend BirdMikeShort film1999SuretyBenShort film;Also director and producer2001Bridget Jones's DiaryTomBeginner's LuckMark FeinmanAlso co-director, co-producer and writer2004Bridget Jones: The Edge of ReasonTomDead CoolJosh2006One Night with the KingHaman, the Agagite2010Reuniting the RubinsDanny RubinsMeet Pursuit DelangePursuitShort film2013AustenlandColonel AndrewsBelieveMan in Mac 2016The HollowVaughn KillingerBridget Jones's BabyTom2017House by the LakeScott2025Bridget Jones: Mad About the BoyTom

Television Year Title Role Notes1996Murder Most HorridMarkEpisode: "Confess"Soldier SoldierMaj Tim Forrester9 episodes1997A Dance to the Music of TimeGwinnettEpisode: "Post War"1998Heat of the SunAsst. Supt. Clive LanyardEpisode: "Private Lives"The Ruth Rendell MysteriesGuy CurranEpisodes: "Going Wrong: Part 1", "Going Wrong: Part 2" and "Going Wrong: Part 3"1999Sex, Chips & Rock n' RollThe WolfMiniseriesThe Scarlet PimpernelHenriEpisode: "Valentin Gautier"2000Arabian NightsPrince AhmedMiniseriesJason and the ArgonautsAspyrtesMiniseries2001As IfSebastianEpisode: "Nicki's POV"Victoria & AlbertErnest of Saxe-Coburg-GothaTelevision film2002Relic HunterRaoulEpisode: "Faux Fox"2003Helen of TroyMenelausMiniseriesBattlestar GalacticaDr. Gaius BaltarMiniseriesBlue DoveDominic PascoMiniseries2004–2010Battlestar GalacticaDr. Gaius BaltarMain role; 73 episodes2007Battlestar Galactica: RazorDr. Gaius BaltarTelevision film2008Late Show with David LettermanGaius Baltar / Top Ten PresenterUncredited2009Merlin and the Book of BeastsMerlinTelevision filmNumb3rsMason DuryeaEpisode: "Angels and Devils"2010FlashForwardGabriel McDowEpisodes: "The Garden of Forking Paths", "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road", "Course Correction" and "The Negotiation"2010–2012EurekaDr. Trevor Grant10 episodes2011MerlinJulius BordenEpisode: "Aithusa"17th PrecinctJeff BossonTV pilot2012PortlandiaHimselfEpisode: "One Moore Episode"Midsomer MurdersToby & Julian DeQuettevilleEpisode: "The Dark Rider"DCI BanksOwen PierceEpisodes: "Innocent Graves – Part 1" and "Innocent Graves – Part 2"2013ArrowThe DodgerEpisode: "Dodger"Key & PeeleShakespeareEpisode #3.82013–2014CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationJohn MerchistonEpisodes: "Skin in the Game", "The Devil and D.B. Russell" and "Boston Brakes"2014MatadorLucien Sayer6 episodes2014–2016The MusketeersEmile BonnaireEpisodes: "Commodities" and "The Queen's Diamonds"2015A.D. The Bible ContinuesHerod AntipasMiniseriesGallipoliEllis Ashmead-BartlettMiniseriesRick and MortyPat Gueterman (voice)Episode: "The Wedding Squanchers"2017–2021CastlevaniaAlucard (voice)27 episodes2017–201812 MonkeysAthan Cole / The Witness5 episodes2017Once Upon a DateEd HollandTelevision film2019Kevin Hart's Guide to Black HistoryPresident Lincoln / Confederate CaptainTelevision film2019–2022Blood & TreasureSimon Hardwick / Karim FaroukMain cast2020MacGyverThe MerchantEpisodes: "Soccer + Desi + Merchant + Titan" and "Psy-Op + Cell + Merchant + Birds"2022Star Trek: PicardMaurice PicardEpisodes: "Monsters" and "Hide And Seek"2022-presentSlow HorsesClaude Whelan12 episodes2023–presentCastlevania: NocturneAlucard (voice)9 episodes

Radio Year Title Role Notes 1997 Daisy Miller Winterbourne 1997 HMS Ulysses Kid Carpenter Radio 4 Saturday Playhouse

Web Year Title Role Notes 2014 Caper Doc English Through Geek and Sundry

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