Peter Copley
Biography
Peter Copley (20 May 1915 – 7 October 2008) was an English television, film and stage actor. Copley was born in Bushey, Hertfordshire, son of the printmakers, John Copley and Ethel Gabain. After changing his mind about joining the Royal Navy, he studied at the Old Vic School and started out as a stage actor in 1932. He made his first film appearance in 1934, going on to play a wide variety of characters from the villainous to the meek and mild. In 1946, he appeared on stage in "Cyrano de Bergerac" at the New Theatre in London. In 1951 he appeared at the Duchess Theatre in London's West End in the comedy play The Happy Family by Michael Clayton Hutton. TV credits include: Thorndyke, Danger Man, The Saint, The Avengers, The Forsyte Saga, The Troubleshooters, The Champions, Department S, Doomwatch, Z-Cars, Fall of Eagles, Survivors, Bless Me, Father (episode "A Legend Comes to Stay"), Father Brown (episode "The Curse of the Golden Cross"), Doctor Who (in the serial "Pyramids of Mars"), Sutherland's Law, Tales of the Unexpected, Miss Marple (episode "Nemesis"), Lovejoy, The Bill, Cadfael, The Diamond Brothers: South by South East and One Foot in the Grave. Copley continued to act well into his nineties. A resident of Bristol, Copley was awarded an Honorary Degree of Master of Arts by the University of the West of England in 2001.
Known For
All Movies (66)
- Riot at the Rite2005 · as Patron
- Oliver Twist2005 · as Dining Hall Master
- Janice Beard 45 WPM1999 · as Sean's Father
- Monk's Hood1994 · as Abbot Heribert
- The Leper of St. Giles1994 · as Abbot Heribert
- The Sanctuary Sparrow1994 · as Abbot Heribert
- One Corpse Too Many1994 · as Abbot Heribert
- A Dangerous Man: Lawrence After Arabia1992 · as Maitland
- The Importance of Being Earnest1988 · as Gribsby
- Empire of the Sun1987 · as British Prisoner
- The Trial of Klaus Barbie1987 · as Frossard
- King of the Ghetto1986 · as Vicar
- Androcles and the Lion1984 · as Caesar
- Witness for the Prosecution1982 · as Dr. Harrison
- United Kingdom1981 · as Commissioner
- Little Lord Fauntleroy1980 · as Reverend Muldaur
- Rabbit Pie Day1980 · as The Colonel
- Churchill and the Generals1979 · as Gen. Sir John Dill
- The Black Panther1977
- Shout at the Devil1976 · as Admiral Howe
- Hennessy1975 · as Home Secretary
- Doctor Who: Pyramids of Mars1975 · as Dr. Warlock
- Beyond Our Means1973 · as Dr. Charteris
- Gawain and the Green Knight1973 · as Pilgrim
- That's Your Funeral1972 · as 1st Funeral Director
- What Became of Jack and Jill?1972 · as Dickson
- Taste of Evil1971 · as Mackinlay
- Jane Eyre1970 · as John
- Walk a Crooked Path1969
- Mosquito Squadron1969 · as Mr. Scott
- Tower of London: The Innocent1969 · as Archbishop
- Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed1969 · as Principal
- Immortality Inc1969 · as Hull
- All at Sea1969 · as Mr. Gordon
- The Shoes of the Fisherman1968 · as English Cardinal #1
- Quatermass and the Pit1967 · as Howell
- The Investigation1967 · as Counsel for the Prosecution
- The Devil's Eggshell1966 · as The Home Secretary
- Don't Utter a Note1966 · as Vicar
- Stranger in the Family1965 · as Charles Wilson
- Help!1965 · as Jeweller
- The Knack... and How to Get It1965 · as Picture Owner
- The Man Who Came to Die1965 · as Dr. Clarkeson
- The July Plot1964 · as General Friedrich Olbright
- King and Country1964 · as Colonel
- The Third Secret1964 · as Dr Leo Whitset
- Victim1961 · as Paul Mandrake
- Mystery in the Mine1959
- Rockets Galore1958 · as Scientist
- The Government Inspector1958 · as School Superintendent
- Just My Luck1957 · as Mr. Gilbert Weaver
- The End Begins1957 · as Tom Jarrow
- The Man Without a Body1957 · as Leslie
- The Smallest Show on Earth1957 · as Actor in The Mystery of Hell Valley (uncredited)
- Time Without Pity1957 · as Prison Chaplain
- The Film That Never Was1957
- Foreign Intrigue1956 · as Brown
- Peril for the Guy1956 · as Mr. Ritter
- Saadia1953 · as Leader Mokhazenis
- The Clue of the Missing Ape1953 · as His Excellency
- The Sword and the Rose1953 · as Sir Edwin Caskoden
- The Hour of 131952 · as Cummings
- The Card1952 · as P. Shillitoe (uncredited)
- Golden Salamander1950 · as Aribi
- Farewell Again1937 · as Minor Role
- Tell Me If It Hurts1934 · as Waiter
All TV Shows (62)
- The Colour of Magic2008 · as Greyhald Spold
- The Last Detective2003 · as Colonel Colin Ingate
- Wives and Daughters1999 · as Robinson
- Jonathan Creek1997 · as Eric
- Cadfael1994 · as Abbot Heribert
- One Foot in the Grave1990
- Agatha Christie's Poirot1989 · as Burgoyne
- Never Say Die1987
- Casualty1986 · as Dan Woods
- Casualty1986 · as Hugh Phipps
- King of the Ghetto1986 · as Vicar
- Artists and Models1986 · as Savigny
- Lovejoy1986 · as Harold Richards
- Theatre Night1985 · as Gribsby
- The Prisoner of Zenda1984 · as Marshal Strakencz
- The Bill1984
- The Chinese Detective1981
- Tales of the Unexpected1979 · as Man at Railway Station
- Anna Karenina1977
- The New Avengers1976 · as Prof. Waterlow
- Bill Brand1976 · as Cedric Maddocks
- Survivors1975 · as Dr. Bronson
- Sky1975
- Father Brown1974 · as Reverend John Walters
- Fall of Eagles1974 · as Bethmann-Hollweg
- Armchair 301973 · as Mr. Justice Hobbin
- Arthur of the Britons1972
- Crown Court1972 · as Sir Peter Cutforth
- Crown Court1972 · as His Honour Judge Edmonds
- The Long Chase1972 · as Morrison
- Justice1971 · as Wigmore
- You're Only Young Twice1971
- Doomwatch1970 · as Admiral Sir Richard Tranton
- Manhunt1970 · as Martin
- Paul Temple1969
- Department S1969 · as The Auctioneer
- The Gold Robbers1969 · as AC Farr
- The Champions1968 · as Antrobus
- The Expert1968 · as Hillard
- Callan1967
- Half Hour Story1967 · as Mr. Fergus
- The Informer1966 · as Richard Edwards
- BBC Play of the Month1965 · as The Home Inspector
- Out of the Unknown1965 · as Charles Wilson
- Out of the Unknown1965 · as Hull
- Out of the Unknown1965 · as Mackinlay
- The Troubleshooters1965 · as MacLaren
- Redcap1964 · as Colonel Matherson
- The Wednesday Play1964 · as Gen. Friedrich Olbright
- The Wednesday Play1964 · as Roger Gibbs
- Thorndyke1964 · as Dr. John Evelyn Thorndyke
- Theatre 6251964 · as Seytfert, Counsel for the Prosecution
- Theatre 6251964 · as Hector McKellar
- Doctor Who1963 · as Dr. Warlock
- The Saint1962 · as Don Morland
- Z-Cars1962
- The Avengers1961 · as Henry Barker
- The Avengers1961 · as Sparshott
- Maigret1960 · as Xavier Marton
- No Hiding Place1959
- Sherlock Holmes1954
- Hallmark Hall of Fame1951 · as Dr. Harrison