Graham McTavish

Graham McTavish

Graham McTavish was born on January 4th, 1961 and is currently 65 years old. Graham McTavish was born in Glasgow, Scotland. McTavish attended Queen Mary University of London where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English literature.

Graham McTavish is an author and actor. He was The Saint of Killers in Preacher, Dwalin in The Hobbit trilogy, and Dougal MacKenzie and William Buccleigh Mackenzie in Outlander.

His family left Glasgow when Graham was a kid, and throughout his adult life, he’s lived in places like the United States, Canada, and England before he settled in New Zealand.

During school, Graham and a friend would write and perform comedy sketches, which led to his drama teacher asking him to step in and cover a role in The Rivals by Sheridan after the principal actor got ill.

Graham went on to attend Queen Mary University of London, earning his degree in English literature. This degree course let him perform in 3 Shakespeare plays a year during his time at school, and it led to Graham earning his Equity card after he performed in a play by Samuel Beckett.

Early in his career, he did theater work with the repertory theaters of London’s West End and at the Dundee Rep with colleagues that included Robert Robertson and Jimmy Logan. His first professional role, was in 1986, in an episode of Disney’s Return to Treasure Island.

Clanlands: Whisky, Warfare, and a Scottish Adventure Like No Other is a road trip with a difference. Graham and Sam Heughan explore Scotland, a land of poetry, raw beauty, feuding, history, warfare, and music.

From their faithful camper van to kayaks, boats, motorbikes, bicycles, join Graham and Sam (the stars of Outlander) while two Scotsmen explore Scotland.

These unlikely friends start their journey in the heart of Scotland at Glencoe and travel from there clear to Inverness and Culloden battlefield, where along the way they experience adventure and this cast of highland characters. In a story of finding themselves, friendship, and whisky, they learn the complexity, rich history, and culture of their own native country.

In The Clanlands Almanac: Seasonal Stories from Scotland, Graham and Sam turn tour guides yet again in order to bring listeners some more epic stories from Scotland.

From First Footing to Samhain, Fringe Festival follies to some whisky lore, they guide readers through one year of Scottish legends, traditions, contemporary and historical events, sharing some personal stories and tips as just these two chalk-and-cheese buddies can.

As entertaining as it is practical, this book is a light-hearted education in the history and culture of Scotland, and told through the eyes of two passionate Scotsmen. It’s the perfect escapist guide, and is intended as a starting point for Scottish discoveries of your very own.

Graham McTavish: Awards & Accolades

McTavish's book, Clanlands: Whisky, Warfare, and a Scottish Adventure Like No Other was nominated for the Goodreads Awards, Best Nonfiction, in 2020.

Graham McTavish: Lists & Other Mentions

• Clanlands: Whisky, Warfare, and a Scottish Adventure Like No Other was a New York Times: #1 Nonfiction Best Seller in 2020.

Graham McTavish: F.A.Q