- Born
- Height5′ 9″ (1.75 m)
- Born under a Full Moon to Nigel & Jennifer Payton during a cold, dark winter in the 20th Century at St Paul's Hospital, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, James Payton was educated in the local area by rogues, vagabonds, bounders, cads, & the cinema. He is perhaps best known for his performances as Frank Longbottom in 'Harry Potter & The Order of the Phoenix' (2007) & 'The Battle For The Ministry' at Universal Epic Universe Florida (2025), USO Hitler in Marvel's 'Captain America: The First Avenger' (2011), Carl Bradbury in 'Wednesday' (2025), Tony Blair in the Nick Moran directed film of Alan McGee's life, 'Creation Stories' (2021), the Sanitation Inspector in Luc Besson's 'DogMan' (2023) and as himself in Oliver Guy-Watkins award winning documentary, 'Who is James Payton?' (2024).
Further credits include Rian Johnson's 'Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery' (2022), 'Wedding Season' (2022) for Disney+, 'The Diplomat' (2024), 'The Crown' (2023) for Netflix, & 'Silo' (2025) for AppleTV.
He cites Peter Sellers, Alec Guinness, David Niven and Noël Coward as influences. James continues to work in Film, Television and Commercials despite numerous attempts to stop him. He still lives in London, even though he should know better.
- IMDb mini biography by: Nigel Jasper
- SpouseZoë Kemp(April 30, 2011 - present)
- James successfully auditioned for a different part in Captain America: The First Avenger. After a 1940s shave and haircut, it was pointed out that James bore a certain resemblance to an, at the time, uncast character. That of Hitler. James was subsequently recast in that role.
- During the production of Robin Hood (2010), Ridley Scott decided he need an actor to play King Richard's (Danny Huston) death Physician. Elizabeth West, the film's script supervisor suggested James as a last minute solution.
- He was shown (in a picture of the original members of the titular group) as Neville Longbottom's father, Frank, in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)_. Frank's wife, Alice, was portrayed by Lisa Wood (in what may be the actress's only screen role).
- Was the first actor to portray the character of Frank Longbottom in the Harry Potter series.
- He played Adolf Hitler in both Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) and The Monuments Men (2014).
- I got into movies so I could attempt to make the audience feel how I feel when I watch movies.
- My father wasn't an actor and neither is my mother, but I'm given to understand that my grandmother dabbled... which is probably why we don't know who my grandfather was.
- Sometimes people, rather surprisingly, ask if I have any advice about being an actor. For me the answer is very simple. Don't be a dickhead.
- The good thing about being washed up is that you're far less likely to drown.
- I live to amuse and I amuse to live.
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