You see the god of the sea appear in Percy Jackson and the Olympians and his face clicks. You know you’ve seen him before, commanding a pirate ship or piloting a spaceship or maybe even fighting James Bond. That powerful presence belongs to Toby Stephens, the seasoned British actor behind Poseidon. While his screen time in the Disney+ series is limited, his performance as Percy’s divine father leaves a strong impression. For many viewers, seeing him sparks a fun game of recognition, tracing a career filled with iconic roles in major franchises. From the golden age of piracy to the far reaches of space, Stephens has been a familiar face on screen for decades.
From Bond Villain to Pirate King: A Career of Major Roles
Toby Stephens is no newcomer to epic stories. For a generation of fans, one of his most famous parts is Gustav Graves, the main villain in the 2002 James Bond film Die Another Day. Playing opposite Pierce Brosnan’s 007, Stephens portrayed a charismatic and wealthy diamond magnate with a deadly secret. At 33, he earned a place in franchise history as the youngest actor to play a primary Bond villain. His performance set a standard for charming yet lethal antagonists.
Following this blockbuster role, Stephens took the helm of one of television’s most acclaimed adventure series. From 2014 to 2017, he starred as Captain James Flint in the Starz series Black Sails, a gritty prequel to Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island. As the fierce and intelligent pirate captain, Stephens delivered a performance that earned him a dedicated fanbase. He portrayed a complex leader who was both ruthless and strategic, driven by a deep personal loss and a grand ambition to build a pirate republic. The role showcased his ability to carry a series with intense dramatic weight.
“It wasn’t some mistake. It was a real connection between these two people. They were very much in love with each other, but there was an impossibility that they could be together. This son that they’ve created is this connection between them.” — Toby Stephens on the relationship between Poseidon and Sally Jackson.
Immediately after his time as a pirate king, Stephens ventured into science fiction. From 2018 to 2021, he played John Robinson, the father of a space-colonist family, in Netflix’s remake of Lost in Space. This role showed a different side of his acting range: a protective, resourceful, and often vulnerable parent struggling to keep his family alive on a dangerous alien planet. For many younger viewers and families, this is the role that makes him instantly recognizable.
Stepping Into the Role of a God
Casting a figure as significant as Poseidon, the father of the series’ hero, was a crucial decision for Percy Jackson and the Olympians. The production chose Toby Stephens for the part, announcing his casting alongside the late Lance Reddick, who was set to play Zeus. The choice connected an actor known for authoritative and commanding roles with the powerful god of the seas, earthquakes, and storms.
In the series, Poseidon’s relationship with Percy’s mother, Sally Jackson, is remembered as a genuine but impossible love. Stephens himself highlighted this depth, noting the real connection between the characters and how Percy himself is the lasting result of that bond. This informs his portrayal—a god who is distant by necessity but not without care for his mortal son.
His performance, though seen in only a few key scenes in Season 1, carries the gravitas of a deity who is one of the mighty “Big Three” on Mount Olympus. He returns in the ongoing Season 2, which premiered on December 10, 2025. The new season delves deeper into Poseidon’s extended family with a major twist: the introduction of Tyson, a young Cyclops who is also revealed to be a son of Poseidon, making him Percy’s half-brother. This revelation adds new layers to Percy’s understanding of his father and his own family.
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A Lasting Legacy On and Off Screen
Toby Stephens comes from a distinguished acting family. He is the son of two celebrated British actors: the late Dame Maggie Smith, famous for her roles in Harry Potter and Downton Abbey, and Sir Robert Stephens. This legacy undoubtedly shaped his path, but he has built a formidable career entirely on his own merits.
His filmography is remarkably diverse. He starred as Mr. Rochester in a beloved 2006 BBC adaptation of Jane Eyre. He played a British Army officer in the Bollywood film Mangal Pandey: The Rising. He has also frequently performed on stage, taking on classic Shakespearean roles like Coriolanus and Hamlet early in his career. This extensive experience in classical theatre contributes to the authoritative presence he brings to roles like Poseidon.
For fans enjoying Percy Jackson and the Olympians, the discovery of Toby Stephens’ past roles is part of the fun. Whether you remember him from the icy lair of a Bond villain, the deck of a pirate ship, or the cockpit of a spaceship, his journey to the throne room of Atlantis feels like a natural destination for an actor of his caliber. With Season 2 now streaming weekly on Disney+, viewers can see more of his portrayal as the drama of Percy’s divine family continues to unfold.
