Ian David McShane (born 29 September 1942) is an English actor. He is known for his television performances, particularly the title role in the BBC series Lovejoy (1986–1994), and as Al Swearengen on the HBO series Deadwood (2004–2006), for which he won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Television Series Drama in 2005. His film roles include Tai Lung in Kung Fu Panda (2008) and Blackbeard in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. Since 2017, he has starred as Mr. Wednesday in the Starz series American Gods.
McShane was born in Blackburn, Lancashire, to Irene (née Cowley; b. 1921) and Scottish footballer Harry McShane (1920–2012). His father was Scottish, and his mother, who was born in England, was of Irish and English descent. McShane grew up in Davyhulme, Manchester, and attended Stretford Grammar School. He studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and was still a student there when he appeared in his first film, The Wild and the Willing (1962). McShane was a member of the National Youth Theatre.