# Michael Shaeffer

Michael Shaeffer is an English television and stage actor. He is especially known for his role as "Longcross" in the BBC political-thriller television series Bodyguard (2018).
He has also appeared in the television series Black Mirror (2013), The ABC Murders (2018) and The Salisbury Poisonings (2020), as well as the 2000 film adaptation of Jesus Christ Superstar.
He has also played smaller roles in television shows, including Game of Thrones and Chernobyl, and films such as Kingdom of Heaven and Rogue One.

## Early life and education

Michael Shaeffer was born in Brockley, London, England. He trained at the Rose Bruford College of Speech and Drama.

## Career

Shaeffer played Annas in the 2000 Great Performances film adaptation of Jesus Christ Superstar.
In 2013, he appeared in the Black Mirror episode "The Waldo Moment" as the character Roy.
Shaeffer portrayed General Corssin in the 2016 Star Wars film Rogue One.
In 2018 Shaeffer played MI5 agent Richard Longcross in the BBC political-thriller television series Bodyguard. In the same year, he played Sergeant Yelland in the BBC mystery thriller The ABC Murders.
In 2019, Shaeffer played a small role in the critically acclaimed HBO historical drama Chernobyl, where he portrayed a KGB officer. In 2020, he played Stephen Kemp in the BBC fact-based drama The Salisbury Poisonings.
In Summer 2023, Shaeffer was cast as Edward Daffarn in Grenfell, author and playwright Gillian Slovo's verbatim theatre project with the community and survivors about the Grenfell fire disaster, staged at the National Theatre's Dorfman Theatre.

## Filmography

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2000 | Great Performances | Annas | In Jesus Christ Superstar |
| 2002 | The Sandwich | Nick | Short Film |
| 2005 | Kingdom of Heaven | Young Sergeant | |
| 2009 | M.I. High | Butch | Episode: Dark Star |
| 2011 | Silent Witness | Jason Bodle | Episode: A Guilty Mind: Part 1 & 2 |
| 2012 | Broken | Desk Sergeant | |
| 2012 | Game of Thrones | Stark Soldier | Episode: Valar Morghulis |
| 2012 | Anna Karenina | Doorkeeper | |
| 2012 | Mrs Biggs | Police Inspector | Episode: #1.1 |
| 2012 | Parade's End | RSM | Episode: #1.2 |
| 2013 | Black Mirror | Roy | Episode: The Waldo Moment |
| 2013 | Trance | Security Guard #1 | |
| 2013 | Luther | Gordon Murray | Episode: #3.3 |
| 2015 | Foyle's War | Jack Davey | Episode: Trespass |
| 2015 | The Vote | Gerry Henderson | TV movie |
| 2015 | London Road | Simon Newton | |
| 2015 | New Tricks | DCI Martin Ackroyd | Episode: Last Man Standing |
| 2015 | The Girl in the Dress | Vicar | |
| 2015 | Fire | Ranger (Mark) | |
| 2016 | Grantchester | Eric Whitaker | Episode: #2.3 |
| 2016 | Rogue One | General Corssin | |
| 2017 | Taboo | Doctor Powell | Episode: #1.1 |
| 2017 | SS-GB | David | Episode: #1.5 |
| 2017 | Vera | Ian Holland | Episode: Broken Promise |
| 2017 | Rellik | Steven Mills | |
| 2018 | Bodyguard | Longcross | |
| 2018 | The ABC Murders | Sergeant Yelland | |
| 2019 | Chernobyl | Blond Man | |
| 2020 | The Salisbury Poisonings | Stephen Kemp | |
| 2020 | The Liberator | Pop Bullock | TV miniseries |
| 2022 | SAS: Rogue Heroes | Neil Ritchie | |
| 2023 | Bodies | Hayden Harker | TV limited series |
| 2024 | Kraven the Hunter | Andre | |

## Theatre

| Year | Title | Role | Writer | Director | Venue |
| 2014 | The Beautiful Game | Thomas | Andrew Lloyd Webber and Ben Elton | Robert Carsen | Cambridge Theatre, London |
| 2014 | Mr Burns | Sam, Mr.Burns | Anne Washburn | Robert Icke | Almeida Theatre, London |
| 2014 | Little Revolution | Tony | Alecky Blythe | Joe Hill-Gibbins | Almeida Theatre, London |
| 2015 | How to Hold Your Breath | Jarron | Zinnie Harris | Vicky Featherstone | Royal Court Theatre, London |
| 2017 | Girl From The North Country | Reverend Marlowe | Conor McPherson | Lucy Hind | The Old Vic, London |
| 2017 | All About My Mother | Lola | Pedro Almodovar | Samuel Adamson | The Old Vic, London |
| 2019 | A Very Expensive Poison | Andrei Lugovoi/Dr Gent/Gorbachev | Lucy Prebble | John Crowley | The Old Vic, London |
| 2023 | Grenfell: In the Words of Survivors | Edward Daffarn | Gillian Slovo | Phyllida Lloyd and Anthony Simpson-Pike | Dorfman Theatre |