Robin Laing (born 1976) is a Scottish actor, best known for his portrayal of Edward Heffron in the HBO series Band of Brothers (2001) and as DI Donald in River City (2012–17).
Born in Dundee,[1] Laing began acting at a young age, joining an Arbroath theatre company, the Angus Children's Theatre and then later the Carnoustie Theatre Club. While at school he landed his first professional role at Dundee Repertory Theatre, playing Young Steerforth in David Copperfield. After leaving school he studied Drama in Dundee and at Fife College.[2]
His first professional, adult role was playing Renton in the UK tour of Trainspotting in 1996. While on tour he was asked to cover the role in London's West End for four shows, during which time John Byrne saw him and asked Laing to screen-test for his upcoming film The Slab Boys. He was cast in the role of Phil McCann, and filming took place later that year in Glasgow.
Laing's participation in Band of Brothers led to a friendship with Heffron, lasting until Heffron's passing in 2013.[3] Laing played Martin Ness in 2004's "Shadowplay", part of Series 4 (episodes 11 and 12) of Waking the Dead.
He joined the cast of River City in 2012, and would appear regularly on it until 2017, and also appeared on Waterloo Road in a recurring role. He also appears as Major Donald MacDonald in seasons six and seven of Outlander. Other appearances include in the films Filth (2013) and Outlaw King (2018).[4]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | The Slab Boys | Phil McCann | |
| 2000 | Borstal Boy | Jock | |
| Beautiful Creatures | Garage Attendant | ||
| 2005 | Joyeux Noël | William | |
| 2013 | Filth | Rent Boy | |
| 2018 | Outlaw King | Bishop of St Andrews | |
| Only You | Private Doctor | ||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997-1999 | The Lakes | Joey | Main role, 14 episodes | |
| 1998 | Cadfael | Sulien Blount | 2 episodes | |
| 1998; 2008 | Taggart | Mark Jackson/Sgt. Sean Mackay | 2 episodes | |
| 2000 | Arthur Conan Doyle | Miniseries, 1 episode | ||
| 2001 | Band of Brothers | Pfc. Edward Heffron | Miniseries, 8 episodes | |
| 2004 | Waking the Dead | Martin Ness | 1 episode | |
| 2005 | Born and Bred | Albert Tooley | 1 episode | |
| 2006 | Murder City | Nathan Wallis | 1 episode | |
| 2010 | Garrow's Law | Westminster Clerk | 1 episode | |
| 2012-2017; 2022 | River City | DI Craig Donald | Main role, 62 episodes | |
| 2015 | Waterloo Road | Ronnie Fairchild | Recurring role, 5 episodes | |
| 2016 | One of Us | Constable Hartley | Miniseries, 1 episode | |
| 2016 | The Coroner | Eddie Landman | 1 episode | |
| 2017 | Casualty | Robert Kearns | 1 episode | |
| 2019 | Shetland | Gavin Laird | Recurring role, 5 episodes | |
| 2019 | The Victim | Andy Tait | Miniseries, 3 episodes | |
| 2021 | Vigil | Miller | Miniseries, 1 episodes | |
| 2021 | Guilt | Adrian | 2 episodes | |
| 2022 | Outlander | Donald MacDonald | Recurring role, 5 episodes | |
| 2023 | Stonehouse | Bank Manager | Miniseries, 1 episode | |
| 2023 | The Gold | Garth Chappell | 4 episodes |
| Date | Title | Role | Director | Station | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sex for Volunteers[6] | Douglas | BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play | |||
| Daniel and Mary[7] | Daniel | BBC Radio Scotland Drama | |||
| The Ca'd'oro Cafe[8] | Billy | BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play | |||
| La Princesse de Clèves[9] | Nemours | BBC Radio 3 Drama on 3 | |||
| The Vanishing[10] | Jean-Pierre Gallo Manager | BBC Radio 4 Saturday Play | |||
| One Hundred and Forty Characters: Songbirds[11] | Read by | BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Reading | |||
| Down and Out in Auchangaish[12] | Donnie | BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play | |||
| – | The Other One[13] | Dad | BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour Drama | ||
| Mary Stuart[14] | Leicester | BBC Radio 3 Drama on 3 | |||
| Albion Street[15] | Jamie | BBC Radio Scotland Drama | |||
| – | The Truth About Hawaii[16] | David | BBC Radio 4 15 Minute Drama | ||
| – | 4/4[17] | Archie | BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Drama | ||
| (After) Fear[18] | The Pianist | BBC Radio 3 Drama on 3 |