Robin Laing

Robin Laing is a Scottish actor born in Dundee in 1976, whose career has spanned theatre, television, and film across the United Kingdom and internationally. He made his Broadway appearance in 2002, performing in Medea.

Laing's introduction to performance came through youth theatre organizations in Scotland, including the Angus Children's Theatre and the Carnoustie Theatre Club. While still a school student, he secured his first professional engagement at Dundee Repertory Theatre, where he played Young Steerforth in a production of David Copperfield. Following his schooling, he pursued formal drama training in Dundee and at Fife College.

His first professional adult role came in 1996, when he was cast as Renton in the UK touring production of Trainspotting. During that tour he was called upon to cover the role for four performances in London's West End, an opportunity that brought him to the attention of writer John Byrne. Byrne invited Laing to screen-test for The Slab Boys, and Laing was subsequently cast as Phil McCann, with filming taking place in Glasgow later that year.

Laing gained significant international recognition through his portrayal of Edward Heffron in the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers in 2001, a role that led to a personal friendship with Heffron himself that endured until Heffron's death in 2013. Additional television credits include the role of Martin Ness in two episodes of Waking the Dead in 2004, a recurring part on Waterloo Road, and the role of DI Craig Donald on the Scottish soap opera River City, which he held from 2012 to 2017. He also appears as Major Donald MacDonald in seasons six and seven of Outlander.

His film work includes appearances in Filth in 2013 and Outlaw King in 2018. Laing is based in Scotland.