Born on April 30, 1980, in Balmaclellan, Scotland, he grew up in New Galloway. He studied at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, graduating in 2003. Gaining early experience in theater, he performed in productions like "Outlying Islands" and "Hamlet." He rose to international fame with his role as Jamie Fraser in the television series "Outlander," which began in 2014. Beyond acting, he co-founded the charitable organization My Peak Challenge and has ventured into producing and writing.