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Ken Stott

Ken Stott

Actor · Born October 19, 1954 (72) · Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

BAFTA Award nominee

Kenneth "Ken" Campbell Stott is an acclaimed Scottish stage, television and film actor. Best known to international audiences for portraying the dwarf Balin in The Hobbit film trilogy (2012–2014), he has earned widespread recognition in the United Kingdom for his intense, morally ambiguous roles in television crime dramas and West End theatre productions.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
October 19, 1954 (72)
From
Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
Works as
Actor
Titles
35 on MovieCove · 61 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Up 9% in 30 days

What are Ken Stott's films like?

Across their 26 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Genres

Drama6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 74th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Adventure5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 87th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Crime4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 62nd percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Biography3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 62nd percentile
: browse their Biography movies
Comedy3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 67th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Self
27%
Bonds
27%
Morality
22%
Power
9%
Survival
8%
Society
6%
Ideas
2%
Romantic love7 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose7 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds6 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition5 titles, browse their movies with this themeGreed3 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 23 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 7 · Serious 7 · Dark 9

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 12 · Stylized 4 · Heightened 7

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 5 · Charged 12 · Intense 6

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

A split, not a type: Steady 9 · Shifting 14 · Whiplash 0

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 11 · Some laughs 11 · Funny 1

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 9 · Even-paced 12 · Relentless 2

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 9 · Engaged 13 · Full focus 1

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 18 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

13 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 4 of 13 analyzed roles.

Shadow
4 of 13
Hero
3 of 13
Ally
3 of 13
Threshold guardian
2 of 13
Mentor
1 of 13
Show the 13 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
14
Melancholic
14
Romantic
6
Dread
7
Hopeful
7
Other
25

How their films linger

Bittersweet11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy4
  • Bittersweet15
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous5

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Ken Stott's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 23 of their 35 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Prime Video (10).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Ken Stott's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

61 credits, 35 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • Crime(2021)

    Show 4 episodes · as DCS Bob Toal · as DCS Robert Toal

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all shows

  • The Dig(2021)

    as Charles Phillips

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Flour Power (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Show 10 episodes · Actor

  • Strike(2018)

    as The Boss (voice)

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • The Mercy(2018)

    as Stanley Best

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • 100 Streets(2016)

    as Terence

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Café Society(2016)

    as Marty Dorfman

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Scotland The Promised Land (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Show 3 episodes · as Narrator (Voice)

  • War & Peace(2016)

    Show 6 episodes · as Bazdeev

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • An Inspector Calls(2015)

    as Arthur Birling

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Man Up(2015)

    as Bert Patterson

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Fortitude (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Show 10 episodes · as Erling Munk

  • The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies(2014)

    as Balin

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug(2013)

    as Balin

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey(2012)

    as Balin

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • The Runaway (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Show 6 episodes · as Joey

  • One Day(2011)

    as Stephen Mayhew

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Toast(2010)

    as Dad

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Send In The Dogs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Show 12 episodes · Actor

  • The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian(2008)

    as Trüffeljäger

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Hancock & Joan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Tony Hancock

  • Charlie Wilson's War(2007)

    as Zvi

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Casanova(2005)

    as Dalfonso

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • The Girl in the Café(2005)

    as Chancellor

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • The Mighty Celt(2005)

    as Good Joe

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Uncle Adolf(2005)

    as Adolf Hitler

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • King Arthur(2004)

    as Marius Honorius

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Spivs(2004)

    as Jack

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Promoted to Glory (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Mike

  • The Key (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Actor

  • I'll Sleep When I'm Dead(2003)

    as Turner

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Messiah (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 9 episodes · as DCI Red Metcalfe

  • Rebus(2000)

    Show 10 episodes · as Inspector John Rebus

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • The Miracle Maker(1999)

    as Simon Peter (voice)

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Dockers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Tommy Walton

  • The Debt Collector (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Gary Keltie

  • Vicious Circle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Martin Cahill

  • Plunkett & Macleane(1999)

    as Thief Taker General Chance

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • The Vice(1999)

    Show 22 episodes · as DI Pat Chappel

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

  • The Boxer(1997)

    as Ike Weir

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Stone, Scissors, Paper (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Redfern

  • Fever Pitch(1997)

    as Ted, the Headmaster

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Saint-Ex(1996)

    as Prevot

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Rhodes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 8 episodes · as Barney Barnato

  • Silent Witness(1996)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • A Mug's Game (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 4 episodes · as McCaffrey

  • Franz Kafka's It's a Wonderful Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Woland the Knifeman

  • Shallow Grave(1994)

    as Detective Inspector McCall

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Takin' Over the Asylum (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 6 episodes · as Eddie

  • Being Human(1994)

    as Gasper Dias

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Bad Company (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Joe Hickey

  • Anna Lee: Headcase (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Bernie Schiller

  • All Good Things (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 6 episodes · as Lawrence Wilson

  • Your Cheatin' Heart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Actor

  • Your Cheatin' Heart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 6 episodes · as Fraser Boyle

  • For Queen & Country (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Civil Servant

  • The Singing Detective (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 2 episodes · as Uncle John

  • Screen Two (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Redfern

  • The Beggar's Opera (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Jeremy Twitcher

  • King Lear(1982)

    as Curan

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Secret Army(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Baroja

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 61 titles from 1977 to 2021; peak year 2015.

Biggest box office

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

$1B worldwide

Highest rated

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

Midcredits 95th

Most popular right now

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014)

Film career

19772021

Peak 2015 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 3 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting61 of 61: 61 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score67th

By decade

1970s1 · acting1980s5 · acting1990s21 · acting2000s16 · acting2010s16 · acting2020s2 · acting

Billing

usually 6th · top billed in 0% of 24 roles
889808

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

Awards

3 major nominations and no wins, 2001–2015.

  1. 2015
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Supporting Actor
  2. 2009
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Actor
  3. 2001
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Actor

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Ken Stott's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 67th percentile, the median of all 29; across their 23 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 61st percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

61stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 23

Approval · how many liked their films

68thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 23

Reach · how many have seen their films

90thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 23

Midcredits score across 35 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up15
  • 50th to 74th13
  • 25th to 49th5
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

20 of their 35 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved6
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser20
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed5

Most divisive · actor

Strike (2018)

95th percentile spread · 35% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

Midcredits 95th · 86% liked

Reviewers score the acting 74/100 in their films, across 22 reviewed titles; fans 83, detractors 48. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Ken Stott's work okay for kids?

Across up to 15 MovieCove titles with content scores, every category sits near the median of all films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore12 titles10–85 · median 53 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity15 titles8–55 · median 29 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity11 titles4–63 · median 30 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs11 titles31–60 · median 35 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense10 titles22–71 · median 38 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Ken Stott work with?

People who share at least 2 of Ken Stott's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Peter Jackson shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers