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Ian McDiarmid ( /məkˈdɜrmɨd/; born 11 August 1944) is a Scottish theatre actor and director, who has also made sporadic appearances on film and television. McDiarmid has had a successful career in theatre; he has been cast in many plays, while occasionally directing others and although he has appeared mostly in theatrical productions, he has also accepted roles in films and television films. Worldwide, he is most famous for his role as Palpatine in the Star Wars live action film series (both the original and prequel trilogies). McDiarmid has appeared in 47 films since 1976. McDiarmid... MORE

Ian McDiarmid ( /məkˈdɜrmɨd/; born 11 August 1944) is a Scottish theatre actor and director, who has also made sporadic appearances on film and television. McDiarmid has had a successful career in theatre; he has been cast in many plays, while occasionally directing others and although he has appeared mostly in theatrical productions, he has also accepted roles in films and television films. Worldwide, he is most famous for his role as Palpatine in the Star Wars live action film series (both the original and prequel trilogies). McDiarmid has appeared in 47 films since 1976. McDiarmid was born in Carnoustie. He became a theatre aficionado when he was five years old, when his father took him to see an act by the name of Tommy Morgan in a theatre located in Dundee. In 2004 he stated, "It sort of fascinated me, and it also scared me. All those lights, all that make-up. I said to myself, 'I don't know what this is, but I want it.'" However, fearing his father's disapproval, McDiarmid attended the University of St Andrews, where he received an M.A. in psychology. Soon after, he decided to pursue a career in the theatre instead, and took acting training courses at the Royal Scottish LESS