Did Outlander: Blood of My Blood's Issac Grant actor play a different character in the parent series? Details revealed

The late Scottish actor Brian McCardie's casting in Outlander: Blood of My Blood (as Issac Grant) subtly deepens his connection to the Outlander universe in a meaningful and poetic way. McCardie previously portrayed Sir Marcus MacRannoch in Outlander Season 1, a role whose younger version is now brought to life by Dom Fraser in the prequel series.

While McCardie's two characters are unrelated within the story’s timeline, the choice reflects Outlander’s recurring themes of lineage and time. Much like the show and its exploration of history repeating itself through generations, McCardie’s return symbolizes a creative echo across time.

While he plays Malcolm's father in Outlander: Blood of My Blood, he was a noble Highland laird who helped Claire rescue Jamie from Wentworth prison back in Outlander Season 1.

Brian McCardie's body of work extends to many TV shows and movies, including Line of Duty, Giri/Haji, Moscow Noir, Six Four and The Long Shadow.

More on this in our story.

Outlander: Blood of My Blood's Issac Grant actor played a different role in the parent series

Seasoned Outlander fans might remember how Sir Marcus MacRannoch helped Claire and Murtagh in Season 1 Episode Wentworth Prison to rescue Jamie from the brutal clutches of Black Jack Randall. While MacRannoch only has a brief appearance in the parent series, a younger version of the character was introduced in Outlander: Blood of My Blood.

In addition to this impressive world-building between the two series, MacRannoch also holds a special connection to the prequel as he was played by the late Brian McCardie, who played Issac Grant in the prequel.

While both shows are set in the same universe, actor Brian McCardie stands as an exception who played two different characters in the original and the prequel series, respectively. This was likely done because McCardie's run as MacRannoch in Outlander was very brief and not quite noticeable. The actor was given a more prominent role in Outlander: Blood of My Blood as Malcolm's father and the laird of Clan Grant.

After Brian McCardie's MacRannoch refuses to help Claire and Murtagh in Outlander Season 1, she promises to give him Ellen's pearls in return. MacRannoch is taken aback at the sight of the ornament and reveals that he gifted them to Ellen MacKenzie on her wedding day, a moment that was also featured in the Blood of My Blood finale.

Thanks to the prequel, we learn that MacRannoch was one of Ellen's suitors, who was even promised her hand in marriage by Dougal in a political move.

Outlander: Blood of My Blood Episode 4 was dedicated to Brian McCardie

Brian McCardie was given Issac Grant's role in Outlander: Blood of My Blood. However, this collaboration could not continue for long as McCardie suddenly passed away due to an aortic dissection on 28 April 2024, at the age of 59. He was only able to shoot for four to five episodes as Issac Grant.

Since Issac Grant was not a main character, he was not recast in respect for the late actor. Additionally, Outlander: Blood of My Blood featured an emotional dedication for Brian McCardie at the end of Episode 4:

“In loving memory of our beloved friend and colleague, Brian McCardie.”

His sudden death certainly left his family, friends and co-actors in grief and a permanent hole in the Outlander prequel. His character was also killed off-screen, and Malcolm Grant was made the new laird of Clan Grant.

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