# John Gordon Sinclair
**John Gordon Sinclair** (also credited as Gordon John Sinclair) is a Scottish actor and crime novelist, born in Glasgow in 1962, best known for playing the title role in Bill Forsyth's film *Gregory's Girl* (1981).[1](https://www.nationalgalleries.org/art-and-artists/68999/john-gordon-sinclair-b-1962-actor) He has had a four-decade career across film, television, and the West End stage, won a Laurence Olivier Award in 1995 for the musical *She Loves Me*, and has published crime fiction with Faber.[1](https://www.nationalgalleries.org/art-and-artists/68999/john-gordon-sinclair-b-1962-actor) • [2](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/fame-fortune/john-gordon-sinclair-greatest-luxury/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | Glasgow, 1962; IMDb gives the exact date as 1962[1](https://www.nationalgalleries.org/art-and-artists/68999/john-gordon-sinclair-b-1962-actor) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0329947/bio/) |
| Breakthrough | Gregory Underwood in *Gregory's Girl* (1981), cast by Bill Forsyth from Glasgow Youth Theatre[1](https://www.nationalgalleries.org/art-and-artists/68999/john-gordon-sinclair-b-1962-actor) |
| Stage honors | Laurence Olivier Award, 1995, for *She Loves Me* (1994)[1](https://www.nationalgalleries.org/art-and-artists/68999/john-gordon-sinclair-b-1962-actor) |
| Film honors | BAFTA recognition for *Gregory's Girl*: reported as a nomination by *The Scotsman* and as an award for Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles by the Daily Record[4](https://www.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/john-gordon-sinclair-on-fatherhood-crime-writing-1535486) • [5](https://web.archive.org/web/20160207042708/http:/www.scotlandnow.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/now-gregorys-girl-actor-john-7310878) |
| Writing | Debut crime novel *Seventy Times Seven*, followed by *Blood Whispers*, under a two-book deal with Faber[6](https://www.edbookfest.co.uk/writers/john-gordon-sinclair) |
| Recent screen work | Chief Constable in *Granite Harbour* Series 3 and Joe Blyth in *Death in Paradise*[7](https://www.unitedagents.co.uk/cv/16027/acting) |
| Family | Married to Shauna McKeon since 2004; two daughters; lives just south of London[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0329947/bio/) • [2](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/fame-fortune/john-gordon-sinclair-greatest-luxury/) |
## Early life and training
Sinclair was born in Glasgow in 1962 to an electrician father and a mother who worked as a dental receptionist.[1](https://www.nationalgalleries.org/art-and-artists/68999/john-gordon-sinclair-b-1962-actor) • [8](https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/20-questions-with-john-gordon-sinclair_20133/) He left school at 15 and followed his father's trade, working for four years as an apprentice electrician in Glasgow; his first wage packet was £28.50.[2](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/fame-fortune/john-gordon-sinclair-greatest-luxury/)
**The route into acting** ran through Glasgow Youth Theatre, which he joined at fifteen with Arts Council funding.[1](https://www.nationalgalleries.org/art-and-artists/68999/john-gordon-sinclair-b-1962-actor) • [2](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/fame-fortune/john-gordon-sinclair-greatest-luxury/) The film director Bill Forsyth, then working in documentaries, met members of the youth theater and cast Sinclair in his first film role, as Andy in *That Sinking Feeling* (1979); he was 16 when he made it.[2](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/fame-fortune/john-gordon-sinclair-greatest-luxury/) • [8](https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/20-questions-with-john-gordon-sinclair_20133/)
## Breakthrough: Gregory's Girl and the Forsyth years
Forsyth recruited several members of Glasgow Youth Theatre, including Sinclair, for *That Sinking Feeling* and then for *Gregory's Girl*, in which Sinclair, at 18, played the gangling lead Gregory Underwood.[9](https://www.scotsman.com/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/actor-john-gordon-sinclair-why-have-we-not-got-more-things-from-bill-forsyth-to-watch-3855942) • [8](https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/20-questions-with-john-gordon-sinclair_20133/) The film won Forsyth the BAFTA for best screenplay, and Sinclair himself received BAFTA recognition for the performance, reported variously as a nomination and as the award for Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles (see below).[9](https://www.scotsman.com/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/actor-john-gordon-sinclair-why-have-we-not-got-more-things-from-bill-forsyth-to-watch-3855942) • [4](https://www.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/john-gordon-sinclair-on-fatherhood-crime-writing-1535486) • [5](https://web.archive.org/web/20160207042708/http:/www.scotlandnow.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/now-gregorys-girl-actor-john-7310878)
He starred in two further Forsyth films: *Local Hero* (1983) and *[Gregory's Two Girls](https://www.edgepedia.org/gregorys-two-girls)* (1999), the latter returning to the Gregory character eighteen years on.[1](https://www.nationalgalleries.org/art-and-artists/68999/john-gordon-sinclair-b-1962-actor)
## Film and television career
His screen work beyond the Forsyth films spans comedy, drama, and international productions. His agency CV lists [Ivar the Boneless](https://www.edgepedia.org/ivar-the-boneless) in [Terry Jones](https://www.edgepedia.org/terry-jones)'s *Erik the Viking* and a role in [Lindsay Anderson](https://www.edgepedia.org/lindsay-anderson)'s *Britannia Hospital*, as well as Gregory Underwood in both Forsyth films.[10](https://www.unitedagents.co.uk/client/john-gordon-sinclair/cv/acting/?token=66363d7a3bd0) On television he played a lead role in John Byrne's series *Your Cheatin' Heart* in 1990.[1](https://www.nationalgalleries.org/art-and-artists/68999/john-gordon-sinclair-b-1962-actor) Further television credits include *Mad About Alice*, *Nelson's Column*, *An Actor's Life for Me*, *Murder in Mind*, *Bergerac*, and *June* with Ian McKellen.[8](https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/20-questions-with-john-gordon-sinclair_20133/) • [7](https://www.unitedagents.co.uk/cv/16027/acting)
**Later film and television.** He played the Seal Commander in *[World War Z](https://www.edgepedia.org/world-war-z-film)* (2013, directed by Marc Forster for Paramount), Richard in *Nico 1988*, and Friederich Engels in Susanna Nicchiarelli's *Miss Marx*.[10](https://www.unitedagents.co.uk/client/john-gordon-sinclair/cv/acting/?token=66363d7a3bd0) In the 2020s his television credits include *Granite Harbour* Series 3, as Chief Constable, and *Death in Paradise*, as Joe Blyth.[7](https://www.unitedagents.co.uk/cv/16027/acting)
## Stage career
Theatre has been a substantial parallel career. His first West End appearance was in the 1994 musical *She Loves Me*, which won him the Laurence Olivier Award in 1995.[4](https://www.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/john-gordon-sinclair-on-fatherhood-crime-writing-1535486) • [1](https://www.nationalgalleries.org/art-and-artists/68999/john-gordon-sinclair-b-1962-actor) He has called playing Leo Bloom in *The Producers* at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane for a year his biggest career highlight; the production ran in 2005–6 and earned him a Whatsonstage.com Theatregoers' Choice Award nomination for Best Takeover in a Role.[8](https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/20-questions-with-john-gordon-sinclair_20133/) • [2](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/fame-fortune/john-gordon-sinclair-greatest-luxury/)
**Other stage roles** include Professor Marcus in *The Ladykillers* at the Vaudeville Theatre and Jeeves in *Jeeves and Wooster* / *Perfect Nonsense* at the [Duke of York](https://www.edgepedia.org/duke-of-york)'s Theatre, both directed by Sean Foley; Stephen Poliakoff's *Sweet Panic*; [Ben Elton](https://www.edgepedia.org/ben-elton)'s *Gasping*; the Peter Hall Company's *Filumena*; *Kafka's Dick* at the Piccadilly Theatre; and an Ayckbourn revival of *Absurd Person Singular* with [Jane Horrocks](https://www.edgepedia.org/jane-horrocks).[10](https://www.unitedagents.co.uk/client/john-gordon-sinclair/cv/acting/?token=66363d7a3bd0) • [8](https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/20-questions-with-john-gordon-sinclair_20133/)
## Writing and other work
In 2012 Sinclair began a second career as a crime writer.[2](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/fame-fortune/john-gordon-sinclair-greatest-luxury/) His [debut novel](https://www.edgepedia.org/debut-novel) *Seventy Times Seven* follows Danny, a contract killer seeking retribution for his brother's murder, and was published under a two-book deal with Faber, followed by the sequel *Blood Whispers*.[6](https://www.edbookfest.co.uk/writers/john-gordon-sinclair) Accounts differ on the debut's publication date: the Daily Record and the Telegraph place his writing start and first novel in 2012, while a Scotsman interview describes publication in September 2013.[5](https://web.archive.org/web/20160207042708/http:/www.scotlandnow.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/now-gregorys-girl-actor-john-7310878) • [2](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/fame-fortune/john-gordon-sinclair-greatest-luxury/) • [4](https://www.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/john-gordon-sinclair-on-fatherhood-crime-writing-1535486) By 2014 the BBC reported that he described himself as much more committed to writing than acting; *The Scotsman* described the second novel as "brutal and gritty and fast-paced".[11](https://www.bbc.com/news/av/entertainment-arts-27810947)
His voice and radio work includes being the voice of PK in *Fraggle Rock*, playing Frank McClusky in John Byrne's *Your Cheatin' Heart*, and Dan Weir in the [BBC Radio 4](https://www.edgepedia.org/bbc-radio-4) adaptation of [Iain Banks](https://www.edgepedia.org/iain-banks)'s *Espedair Street*.[6](https://www.edbookfest.co.uk/writers/john-gordon-sinclair) He was also the Master of Ceremonies in [Mike Oldfield](https://www.edgepedia.org/mike-oldfield)'s performance of *Tubular Bells II* at Edinburgh Castle in 1992.[5](https://web.archive.org/web/20160207042708/http:/www.scotlandnow.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/now-gregorys-girl-actor-john-7310878)
## Awards and recognition
- **Laurence Olivier Award, 1995**, for his performance in *She Loves Me* (1994).[1](https://www.nationalgalleries.org/art-and-artists/68999/john-gordon-sinclair-b-1962-actor)
- **BAFTA recognition for *[Gregory's Girl](https://www.edgepedia.org/gregorys-girl)***: *The Scotsman* reports a BAFTA nomination for his first film, while the Daily Record states he holds a BAFTA Award for Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles; the two accounts differ.[4](https://www.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/john-gordon-sinclair-on-fatherhood-crime-writing-1535486) • [5](https://web.archive.org/web/20160207042708/http:/www.scotlandnow.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/now-gregorys-girl-actor-john-7310878)
- **Whatsonstage.com Theatregoers' Choice Award nomination** for Best Takeover in a Role, for *The Producers*.[8](https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/20-questions-with-john-gordon-sinclair_20133/)
His screen career spans from *That Sinking Feeling* in 1979 to television work in the 2020s, more than four decades.[2](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/fame-fortune/john-gordon-sinclair-greatest-luxury/) • [7](https://www.unitedagents.co.uk/cv/16027/acting)
## Personal life
He was born in Glasgow in 1962; IMDb gives the exact date as February 4, 1962.[1](https://www.nationalgalleries.org/art-and-artists/68999/john-gordon-sinclair-b-1962-actor) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0329947/bio/) IMDb records his marriage to Shauna McKeon since 2004 with two children, and a Telegraph interview, given when he was 55, describes him living just south of London with his wife Shauna and their two daughters.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0329947/bio/) • [2](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/fame-fortune/john-gordon-sinclair-greatest-luxury/)
## References
1. [John Gordon Sinclair, b. 1962. Actor, National Galleries of Scotland](https://www.nationalgalleries.org/art-and-artists/68999/john-gordon-sinclair-b-1962-actor)
2. [John Gordon Sinclair: 'My greatest luxury? My shed', The Telegraph](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/fame-fortune/john-gordon-sinclair-greatest-luxury/)
3. [John Gordon Sinclair – Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0329947/bio/)
4. [John Gordon Sinclair on fatherhood, crime writing, The Scotsman](https://www.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/john-gordon-sinclair-on-fatherhood-crime-writing-1535486)
5. [Where are they now? Gregory's Girl actor John Gordon Sinclair, Daily Record (archived)](https://web.archive.org/web/20160207042708/http:/www.scotlandnow.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/now-gregorys-girl-actor-john-7310878)
6. [John Gordon Sinclair, Edinburgh International Book Festival](https://www.edbookfest.co.uk/writers/john-gordon-sinclair)
7. [John Gordon Sinclair – Television CV, United Agents](https://www.unitedagents.co.uk/cv/16027/acting)
8. [20 Questions With… John Gordon Sinclair, WhatsOnStage](https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/20-questions-with-john-gordon-sinclair_20133/)
9. [Actor John Gordon Sinclair: 'Why have we not got more things from Bill Forsyth to watch?', The Scotsman](https://www.scotsman.com/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/actor-john-gordon-sinclair-why-have-we-not-got-more-things-from-bill-forsyth-to-watch-3855942)
10. [John Gordon Sinclair – Acting CV, United Agents](https://www.unitedagents.co.uk/client/john-gordon-sinclair/cv/acting/?token=66363d7a3bd0)
11. [Actor John Gordon Sinclair on his second novel, BBC News](https://www.bbc.com/news/av/entertainment-arts-27810947)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › Scottish actors › Surnames M to W*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license