He also appeared in his nephew Jonathan Nolan’s CBS series, “Person of Interest.”

John Nolan, Batman Begins actor and uncle of Christopher Nolan, dies at 87

He also appeared in his nephew Jonathan Nolan's CBS series, "Person of Interest."

By Wesley Stenzel

Wesley Stenzel

Wesley Stenzel is a news writer at **. He began writing for EW in 2022.

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on April 11, 2026 2:16 p.m. ET

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John Nolan in 2015. Credit:

Mireya Acierto/FilmMagic

John Nolan, the English actor who appeared in films like *Batman Begins*, has died.

The performer died at age 87, the *Stratford-upon-Avon Herald* reported on Saturday.

Representatives for Nolan did not immediately respond to *'*s request for more information.

Nolan was best known for his collaborations with his nephews Christopher Nolan and Jonathan Nolan. He portrayed Wayne Enterprises board member Douglas Fredericks in 2005's *Batman Begins* and 2012's *The Dark Knight Rises*, both of which were helmed by Christopher and the latter of which was co-written by Jonathan.

Christopher Nolan remembered his uncle in a statement shared with EW. "My uncle John was the first artist I knew, and he taught me more than anyone about the search for truth in acting and the joys of creative achievement," the *Oppenheimer* filmmaker said. "I miss him terribly but take great comfort in my memories of John, particularly those of working together."

John Nolan in 'Batman Begins'.

Warner Bros. Pictures

On the small screen, John Nolan appeared in 27 episodes of CBS' *Person of Interest*, which Jonathan created and executive-produced. He portrayed John Greer, a former MI6 operative intent on destroying the central Machine, on the series.

He also played a police officer in Christopher's 1998 feature directorial debut, *Following*, and a blind man in his 2017 Oscar-winning war epic, *Dunkirk*.

Born in Kent, England, in 1938, Nolan studied at the Drama Centre in London. Immediately after finishing his studies, he began performing as Romeo in the Richmond Theatre's production of *Romeo and Juliet*. A prolific thespian, he also acted with the Royal Court Company and the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Nolan played the title role in the 1970 miniseries adaptation of George Eliot's 1876 novel, *Daniel Deronda*, and appeared on the second season of the sci-fi show *Doomwatch* that same year. Perhaps his best-known project on British television was 1973's *Shabby Tiger*, in which he played Nick Faunt in all seven episodes.

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In 1978, Nolan headlined the supernatural horror movie *Terror*. The following year, he appeared in the romance film *The World Is Full of Married Men*. As he continued to focus on theater, Nolan did not appear in another film until *Following*.

The actor met actress Kim Hartman while starring in another production of *Romeo and Juliet*. The two performers married in 1975 and welcomed two children together, Tom and Miranda. Hartman also appeared in *Dunkirk* as a stewardess.

John Nolan on the CBS series 'Person of Interest'.

John Paul Filo/CBS via Getty

Nolan's final screen role came in a 2024 episode of HBO's *Dune: Prophecy*, in which he played the Speaker of the High Council.

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Hartman described her husband as "a free spirit who always knew what he wanted and acted on his own terms; the only truly original thinker I think I ever knew. Articulate, intelligent, and with an anarchic wit, he was always willing to see both sides of an argument," per the *Herald*.

Nolan is survived by his wife and two children, Dylan and Kara.

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