Which actor played Culverton Smith in The Lying Detective?

Toby Jones played Culverton Smith in “The Lying Detective.” Smith is the episode’s wealthy philanthropist and hidden serial killer, making him one of Sherlock’s most disturbing modern adversaries.

The episode is the second story in Sherlock’s fourth series and first aired on 8 January 2017. Jones portrays Smith as a cheerful, media-friendly public figure whose charm and money help conceal his crimes. Sherlock suspects him after hearing that Smith plans to kill someone, but his drug use initially clouds the investigation.

The story is loosely based on Arthur Conan Doyle’s “The Adventure of the Dying Detective.” Its hospital setting and a confrontation involving a lethal illness update elements of that source for the BBC series. Smith’s character was also loosely inspired by disgraced entertainer Jimmy Savile.

Jones is a British actor known for roles in films and television including “The Painted Veil,” “The Hunger Games,” and “Detectorists.” “The Lying Detective” was directed by Nick Hurran and written by Steven Moffat.