Jack Davenport
An English actor whose crisp diction and understated wit have made him a versatile and reliably excellent presence in cult TV, blockbuster films, and prestige drama.
Born 1973 (age 53)·English actor·Birthday: March 1·Generation X
Biography
With the bearing of a man who was born in a Savile Row suit, Jack Davenport brings an intelligent, often sardonic energy to every role. The son of actors, he found early success in the UK as the ambitious Miles in the groundbreaking legal drama 'This Life'. He then perfected the art of the exasperated, commitment-phobic modern boyfriend in the sitcom 'Coupling'. Hollywood called for a different kind of stiffness: the upright, principled, and ultimately tragic Commodore James Norrington in the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' trilogy, a role that showcased his ability to find sympathy within rigidity. Davenport has since navigated both sides of the Atlantic with ease, lending his authoritative voice and presence to series like 'FlashForward', 'Smash', and Apple's 'The Morning Show'. He is an actor who specializes in competence, whether playing a spy in 'Kingsman' or a surgeon in 'Breathless', always delivering performances of sharp, measured clarity.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Jack was born in 1973, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jack Was Born
The biggest hits of 1973
#1 Movie
The Exorcist
Best Picture
The Sting
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Jack's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1973Born
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1978Started school
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1986Became a teenager
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1989Could drive
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1991Could vote
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1994Turned 21
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2003Turned 30
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2013Turned 40
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 50
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 53 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played the pivotal role of Commodore James Norrington across all three films of the original 'Pirates of the Caribbean' trilogy.
- Starred as Steve Taylor in the influential and critically acclaimed BBC drama series 'This Life'.
- Portrayed the lead role of surgeon Otto Powell in the ITV period medical drama series 'Breathless'.
Did You Know?
His mother, Maria Aitken, is a distinguished actress and director, and his father, Nigel Davenport, was also a noted actor.
He provided the narration for the entire UK broadcast of the 2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony.
He is married to actress Michelle Gomez, known for her role as Missy on 'Doctor Who'.
“I'm not a snob, I just have standards.”
