Theodore Peter James Kinnaird Taptiklis, better known by his stage name Theo James, is an American television and movie actor. He made his movie debut with the 2010 comedy-drama
You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger, while he made his television debut in the same year with the two-part miniseries A Passionate Woman. However, he is best remembered for his portrayal of Jed Harper in the supernatural drama Bedlam.
Early Life
James was born to Jane, a National Health Service employee, and Philip Taptiklis, a business consultant, on 16th of December, 1984 in Oxford, England. Youngest of the five siblings, James did his schooling at the Aylesbury Grammar School, after which he pursued his degree in philosophy from the University of Nottingham. He then went on to train in theatre at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.
Television Career
James made his television debut in 2010 with the two-part miniseries A Passionate Woman and was cast alongside Billie Piper and Joe Armstrong. He appeared in an episode or two of series like Downton Abbey, Case Sensitive, and Room at the Top. However, his most prominent television performance is that in the supernatural drama series Bedlam, where he portrays the role of Jed Harper. Playing the role of Walter William Clark, Jr., James was seen in the crime drama series Golden Boy. However, the makers cancelled the series after its first season despite receiving positive reviews.
Movie Career
Having made his movie debut the same year as his television debut, James was seen in the comedy-drama
You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger alongside
Antonio Banderas,
Josh Brolin,
Anthony Hopkins,
Gemma Jones, and
Freida Pinto. Following his debut, he was seen in the 2013 coming-of-age comedy film The Inbetweeners Movie. Playing the role of David, James was seen in the 2012 action horror film
Underworld 4: Awakening alongside
Kate Beckinsale,
Michael Ealy, and
India Eisley. Next, he was cast in the science fiction action movie
Divergent along with
Shailene Woodley,
Ashley Judd, and
Jai Courtney. Reprising the role of David, he was seen in The
Divergent Series: Insurgent, which, despite opening to mainly negative reviews, went on to become a commercial success. The following year, he was seen reprising his role, yet again, for The Divergent Series’ third installment
The Divergent Series: Allegiant, which was an average grosser but failed to become as successful as Insurgent. In 2016, the actor reprised his role David and appeared in
Underworld: Blood Wars. Some of his other projects include Matthew Cullen’s thriller
London Fields alongside
Amber Heard,
Jim Sturgess,
Johnny Depp, and
Cara Delevingne, and the political thriller Backstabbing for Beginners alongside
Ben Kingsley.