All About Ewan McGregor’s Brother, Colin McGregor

Ewan McGregor may have played brothers with Ethan Hawke in the original Apple TV+ movie Raymond and Raybut in real life, he is the younger brother of former fighter pilot Colin McGregor.

Born in 1969 in Perth, Scotland, to Jim and Carol McGregor, who both worked as teachers, Ewan and Colin grew up in the nearby Scottish town of Crieff.

While Ewan knew early on that he wanted to act, Colin was drawn to flying. As children, they both attended air shows together, which inspired Colin to become a fighter pilot.

As a Red Arrows fighter pilot, notably the only type of fighter pilot to have individual call signs, Colin’s call sign, “Obi-2”, was inspired by his brother’s iconic role as Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars franchise.

Colin retired in 2007 and spent his retirement years cycling around Europe with his wife Sarah, as well as traveling with his two children, Jamie and Kathryn.

So who is Ewan McGregor’s brother? Here’s everything you need to know about Colin McGregor and his relationship with the actor.

He is a former fighter pilot

Pilot Colin McGregor in a Tornado jet during a photocall at RAF Wittering, Cambridgeshire.

PA images / Alamy

Colin was a fighter pilot in the Royal Air Force for 20 years before retiring in 2007. As an RAF pilot he often flew the Tornado GR4.

Both Ewan and Colin grew up going to air shows with their dad, who also loved planes.

In a joint interview, Ewan reflected on his first air show, saying: “I remember that feeling. The excitement of being there and the smell of the plane.”

Ewan then asked his brother what it was like to fly a Spitfire plane, both recalled seeing it at air shows as children.

“It was definitely the most emotional I’ve ever been on a plane,” Colin said. “You just grow up with that craft in your mind, it’s so iconic … and then you’re actually allowed to fly it yourself.”

He appeared on screen with Ewan

Ewan McGregor and Colin McGregor after taking to the skies over Scotland in an RAF Tornado.

David Cheskin – PA Images/PA Images/Getty

Although Colin is not an actor, he has shared the screen with his actor brother many times.

In April 2018, Ewan and Colin hosted a BBC documentary RAF at 100 with Ewan and Colin McGregor, Royal Air Force centenary celebrations.

In the film, the brothers show planes from the First World War to the present day, test them and talk to former Royal Air Force pilots who have served in different wars over the years.

AND RAF at 100 was not the first joint documentary project of the McGregor brothers.

In 2011, Ewan and Colin introduced themselves Battle of Britain, a documentary looking back at the Battle of Britain on its 70th anniversary, and after Boy bombers in 2012, another Royal Air Force documentary focusing on the introduction of Bomber Command.

Most of their ventures together have focused on Colin’s history as an RAF pilot, but in 2017 Ewan took the lead on a project in which they both appeared when Colin made a cameo appearance in T2 Trainspotting, sequel to the 1996 comedy in which Ewan starred.

“T2 Trainspotting where yours truly plays the ‘man on the tram’ and some other guy who vaguely resembles Renton,” Colin joked on Instagram, posting a screenshot of his cameo.

He is the father of two children

Colin and his wife Sarah McGregor are the parents of two children: Jamie and Kathryn.

Jamie is a creative person who has dabbled in music production and sound engineering, as well as filmmaking. He publishes clips of his beats on his Instagram profile.

Colin showed his support for his son’s music making, sharing the EP he released in 2019 on Instagram and writing “My boy”, directing followers to find the link on Jamie’s Instagram page.

Likewise, Jamie’s uncle Ewan supported his film endeavors. In 2017, he invited Colin and Jamie to the film set Train spotting sequel, which he was filming at the time.

“Uncle Ewan gave me some advice, but he’s more used to being in front of the camera than behind it,” said Jamie, talking about the experience for Scotland The Sunday Post.

Colin is also the proud uncle of brother Ewan’s five children: Clara, Esther, Jamyan, Anouk and Laurie.

He is an Ironman competitor

As someone who likes an active lifestyle, Colin also likes to participate in different triathlons.

In August 2023, he competed in his first Ironman competition in Copenhagen.

“Ironman Copenhagen finished! Six months of training paid off,” he wrote on Instagram. “An amazing experience, but one that I will not repeat! A fantastic city with incredible support,” he added, tagging his wife and children to thank them for their support.

Sarah participated in several triathlons together with him, creating healthy competition.

“Still Top Dog in the McGregor family! Turriff Sprint Triathlon…done!” he wrote alongside a photo of him and Sarah posing with their medals after the race.

His wife is not the only one he beats in triathlon. In July 2022, he shared a photo of himself after the Nairn Sprint Triathlon, writing that he came 10th overall in his age category.

He is an avid cyclist

Colin is a keen cyclist who loves to cycle on the trails and document his journeys. Sarah often joins him on his bike rides, and sometimes the whole family rides together.

His cycling adventures don’t stop even when he’s on vacation. Colin and Sarah were delighted to be able to enjoy the “autumn views” along the Mediterranean coast on a trip they embarked on in October 2022.

Similarly, Ewan is an avid motorcyclist whose own travels have been documented, including a three-month trip he embarked on in December 2019 from Patagonia, Argentina to California on Long way up, a documentary that debuted on Apple TV+ in 2020.

He supports charity with his exercise

Colin McGregor at the ‘Not Another Burns’ Night’ charity event on March 3, 2008 in London, England.

Dave M. Bennett/Getty

Although Colin loves cycling for the sake of cycling, he also does it for good causes, such as the My Name’s Doddie Foundation, which funds research to find a cure for motor neurone disease.

In May 2023, Colin, Sarah, Jamie and Kathryn ran the Edinburgh Marathon to raise funds for the Epilepsy Society in honor of Colin’s late friend and college roommate Addy Ganguli, who died of complications from epilepsy in 2022.

“Addy was one of my closest friends here at Kingston University and I lived in the same apartment as Addy,” Jamie shared in a marathon fundraising post.

“His last hours of life were in my room producing music, which we loved,” he added.

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Source: HIS Education