Karl Thaning (born May 9, 1977) is a South African actor and former international swimmer[1] and water polo player.

Thaning attended Diocesan College in Cape Town then, the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California, graduating with a degree in theatre and film.

Other characters portrayed by him include O'Malley in Black Sails, Jared Taylor in SAF3 and First Mate Warren in Outlander.

[5][6] He has four Big West Conference Champion Titles from 1999 to 2000 in California, USA, and swam Mare Nostrum in 2004 and 2005 in Monte Carlo, Canet, and Barcelona.

In 2006, he placed 2nd in the 50 metre Freestyle at the Copenhagen Skins Invite in Denmark, and swam another World Cup leg in Berlin, Germany.