James Payton was born under the radiant glow of a full moon on a chilly, dark winter's night in the 20th century, at St. Paul's Hospital in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, to Nigel and Jennifer Payton. His early years were marked by an education in the local area, which was shaped by a diverse array of influences, including rogues, vagabonds, bounders, cads, and the cinema.
Payton's impressive acting career has spanned numerous years, with some of his most notable roles including Frank Longbottom in the 2007 film "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," USO Hitler in the 2011 Marvel blockbuster "Captain America: The First Avenger," Tony Blair in the 2021 film "Creation Stories," the Lawyer in Rian Johnson's 2022 mystery thriller "Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery," the Sanitation Inspector in Luc Besson's 2023 film "DogMan," and as himself in the 2024 documentary "Who is James Payton?"
In addition to these notable roles, Payton has also appeared in a range of other projects, including the 2022 Disney+ film "Wedding Season," the 2024 film "The Diplomat," the 2023 Netflix series "The Crown," and the 2025 AppleTV series "Silo."
Payton has cited a number of influential actors, including Peter Sellers, Alec Guinness, David Niven, and Noël Coward, as shaping his approach to his craft. Despite numerous attempts to dissuade him, Payton continues to work in the film, television, and commercial industries, and remains based in London, a city he knows he should leave.
