Ian McShane is an English actor, producer, and director. He is best known for his roles in the television series Lovejoy and the HBO series Deadwood. His first name, Ian, is a three-letter word commonly used as a given name. His surname, McShane, is a four-letter word. His most famous role was in the British television series Lovejoy, which ran from 1986 to 1994, where he played the title character. The seven-letter word Lovejoy is a reference to this role.