Chris Rankin

Chris Rankin
Born
New Zealand
Alma materUniversity of Lincoln
Occupations
  • Actor
  • director
  • producer
Years active2001–present
Known forPercy Weasley in Harry Potter franchise

Chris Rankin is a New Zealand–born British actor, director, and producer who is best known for playing Percy Weasley in the Harry Potter film franchise.

Early life

Rankin was adopted.[1] Rankin lived in Rothesay Bay until he was six, attending Kristin School in Albany. He and his parents subsequently moved to Norfolk in the United Kingdom, where he attended Thomas Bullock Primary School, Northgate High School, and Dereham Sixth Form College.[2][3][4]

He completed his studies at the University of Lincoln in 2011.[5][6]

Career

Rankin began acting at the age of eleven. At Northgate High School he appeared in school productions of Bugsy Malone and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.[7][8] His professional acting career began when he got the role of Percy Weasley in Harry Potter in September 2000.[9] He re-appeared in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 and Part 2, after his character's absence from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and only a brief non-speaking role in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.[10]

After starring in the Harry Potter films, Rankin worked in kitchens and in a bar.[11][12] In 2002 he worked as an usher at UCI Cinemas.[13]

Rankin co-founded Painted Horse Theatre Company with Jim Rymer in 2004.[14] On stage, Rankin has played a variety of roles in pantomimes across the country, as well as Edgar Linton in Wuthering Heights,[15] Eilert Loevborg in Hedda Gabler,[16] and Young Syrian in Salomé.[17]

Rankin has also been in the TV mini-series The Rotters' Club[18] and Channel 5's Victoria Cross Heroes in which he played Evelyn Wood.[19] Rankin also worked as a production coordinator on Atlantis and Downton Abbey.[12]

In 2009, Rankin starred in and produced a YouTube video titled "LifeHack", directed by TomSka, in which he played a vigilante hacker who accesses people's personal photos to find a missing woman.[20] He also appeared as Mycroft Holmes in the Hillywood Show's Sherlock parody in 2016.[21]

Film, television and stage

Year Title Role Notes
2001 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone Percy Weasley
2002 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Percy Weasley
2002-2003 Jack and The Beanstalk Jack
2003 A Taste of Honey Geoff
2004 Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs
2004 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Percy Weasley
2005 The Rotters' Club  
2006 Explode, Chapter Two: Into the Fold Chris Haines
2007 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Percy Weasley
2010 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 Percy Weasley Uncredited cameo appearance
2011 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 Percy Weasley
2011 Total Wipeout Himself / Contestant Series 5: Celebrity Special 2
2013 The Stone[22] Pre-production
2015 The Bastard Executioner Assistant production coordinator
2018 The Wizard of Oz Scarecrow
2024 Dick Wittington Alderman Fitzwarren[23]

References

  1. ^ Rankin, Chris (3 March 2018). "Adoption". Chris Rankin. Archived from the original on 26 June 2018. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  2. ^ Nicholson, Abigail (6 April 2020). "Harry Potter star gives Norfolk students special message". Eastern Daily Press. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  3. ^ "Harry Potter star joins Dereham Sixth Form College protest". BBC News. 27 February 2016. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
  4. ^ Chapman, Thomas (24 December 2021). "Harry Potter at 20: How film series cast a spell on Norfolk star's life". Eastern Daily Press. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
  5. ^ "Harry Potter star to quit acting". BBC. 1 August 2008. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  6. ^ Dewrance, Peter (2 September 2011). "Chris Rankin, class of 2011". Lincoln School of Film & Media Network. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  7. ^ Baldwin, Louisa (7 April 2020). "6 Harry Potter stars who have lived in Norfolk". Eastern Daily Press. Archived from the original on 5 July 2023. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  8. ^ Rankin, Chris (27 January 2018). "Category Is". Chris Rankin. Archived from the original on 1 October 2020. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  9. ^ Barber, Martin (15 November 2002). "'It is odd.' - Life as Percy Weasley". BBC. Archived from the original on 26 November 2002.
  10. ^ Barber, Martin (17 July 2007). "Harry Potter: Percy's back". BBC. Archived from the original on 1 September 2007. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  11. ^ Criss, Doug (4 September 2018). "Actors and fans defend 'Cosby Show' actor after articles job-shame him for working at Trader Joe's". CNN.
  12. ^ a b "Chris Rankin got bar job after Harry Potter fame". 8days. 31 December 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
  13. ^ "Percy Weasley works in Norwich cinema". BBC News. 31 October 2002. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  14. ^ "Chris Rankin - Biography". IMDb. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
  15. ^ Anelli, Melissa (27 April 2006). "Chris Rankin Talks About OotP, Percy and Wuthering Heights". The Leaky Cauldron. Archived from the original on 26 September 2015. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  16. ^ McGrath, Mary Kate (2 April 2017). "The Percy Weasley Actor Has Come A Long Way Since 'HP'". Archived from the original on 25 November 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  17. ^ Anelli, Melissa (5 March 2005). "Off to See the Wizard, a Chris Rankin Interview". The Leaky Cauldron. Archived from the original on 17 March 2018. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  18. ^ "New direction for Potter's Percy Weasley". BBC. 29 October 2004. Archived from the original on 10 December 2004. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  19. ^ "Harry Potter actor a 'real coup' for 2019 Scarborough Sci-Fi". The Scarborough News. 11 December 2018. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  20. ^ "LifeHack". YouTube. 24 April 2009. Archived from the original on 12 December 2021.
  21. ^ Grant, Stacey (24 August 2016). "Here's How The Hillywood Show Used Macklemore for the Perfect Sherlock Parody". MTV.com. Archived from the original on 25 August 2016. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
  22. ^ Barton, Steve (12 January 2010). "San Diego Comic-Con 2012: Random Weirdness from The Asylum to Star Wars to Dexter". Dread Central. Retrieved 13 January 2010.
  23. ^ "Meet the cast of Corn Exchange Newbury's Dick Whittington: Chris Rankin". Corn Exchange Newbury. 7 November 2025. Retrieved 10 February 2025.
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