Rupert Vansittart (born Cranleigh, Surrey, England , 10 February1958) is an English character actor. He has appeared in a variety of roles in film, television and on stage, often playing comic or serio-comic characters.

Vansittart is known to fans of the Pride and Prejudice serial as the actor who portrayed Mr. Hurst, the brother-in-law of Charles and Caroline Bingley. He has also worked with Rowan Atkinson, having appeared as a guest star on Mr. Bean and The Thin Blue Line.

Vansittart has had a frequent recurring role as minor aristocrat Lord Ashfordly in Heartbeat since 1992, and appeared in the 2005 series of Doctor Who. He is one of three surviving original actors in Heartbeat.

In 2003 he appeared in the West End adaptation of Arsenic and Old Lace, also starring Michael Richards.

In 2008, He appeared in the BBC TV mini-series Spartacus as Consul Lentulus.

1999: opened the Summer Fete of the St. Lawrence CE School, Lechlade.