James Nesbitt has supported families of the Disappeared in Northern Ireland since 2000. The Disappeared are 17 people abducted, murdered and secretly buried by republican paramilitaries during the Troubles. Four remain unrecovered: Joe Lynskey, Columba McVeigh, Robert Nairac and Seamus Maguire.

Nesbitt serves as a patron of Wave, a cross-community group aiding about 3,500 people yearly bereaved, injured or traumatised by the Troubles. His involvement started at a Wave fundraising event in 2000. Wave also assists relatives of Lisa Dorrian, who disappeared in 2005, and Gareth O'Connor, who disappeared in 2003. Those cases fall outside the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains remit, which covers victims up to the 1998 Belfast Agreement.

Nesbitt knew Michael McConville, aged 11 when his mother Jean was taken from west Belfast in 1972. He also knew Margaret McKinney, whose son Brian, a 22-year-old Housing Executive worker with the mind of a six-year-old, disappeared in 1978 with friend John McClory. Remains of Brian McKinney and John McClory were found in a double grave in a bog in County Monaghan in 1999 after information to the commission. The first item located was Brian's white Adidas shoes.

Nesbitt accompanied relatives to searches, including the one for Columba McVeigh in Bragan, County Monaghan. McVeigh has been missing since 1975. Margaret McKinney met Bill Clinton and moved him to tears with her story.

Wave chief executive Sandra Peake noted Nesbitt's extensive efforts, including donations, anniversary calls and taking victim Joe Griffin to meet Pelé. Griffin witnessed his brother Jim's murder by the UVF at age 11; Nesbitt portrayed him in a 2009 film.

Nesbitt took part in Wave campaigns, such as trips to Westminster with the Injured Group and pushes for a victims' pension. He hosts a day of reflection each summer and stated that 14 Disappeared have been located and returned to families. He urged anyone with information on the four unrecovered cases to contact the commission confidentially.