Viewers who wonder why the clean-cut star of the new CBS police drama “Golden Boy,” beginning Feb. 26, looks familiar might want to picture him instead in a flowing wig. And dead.
Theo James, a British actor, is probably best known on these shores as Kemal Pamuk, the dashing Turkish diplomat who died in Lady Mary Crawley’s bed in the first season of “Downton Abbey.” Though the role amounted to only a few minutes of screen time, its impact was outsize, setting off nearly two seasons’ worth of intrigue surrounding the “Downton” daughter’s soiled reputation.
Though it “feels like years ago” that he did the part, Mr. James said he lately gets recognized for it more than ever, at least in the United States. “It’s only recently that people have been going: ‘It’s massive! Mr. Pamuk!’ ” he said.
