Peter Copley
Born
May 20, 1915 (age 93)
Died
October 7, 2008
Birthplace
Bushey, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Peter Copley

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.

Movies

Riot at the Rite
Riot at the Rite
2005 ★ 9.0
Patron
Oliver Twist
Oliver Twist
2005 ★ 6.7
Dining Hall Master
Janice Beard 45 WPM
Janice Beard 45 WPM
1999 ★ 4.8
Sean's Father
Monk's Hood
Monk's Hood
1994
Abbot Heribert
The Leper of St. Giles
The Leper of St. Giles
1994
Abbot Heribert
The Sanctuary Sparrow
The Sanctuary Sparrow
1994
Abbot Heribert
One Corpse Too Many
One Corpse Too Many
1994
Abbot Heribert
A Dangerous Man: Lawrence After Arabia
A Dangerous Man: Lawrence After Arabia
1992 ★ 6.4
Maitland
The Importance of Being Earnest
The Importance of Being Earnest
1988 ★ 4.7
Gribsby
Empire of the Sun
Empire of the Sun
1987 ★ 7.5
British Prisoner
The Trial of Klaus Barbie
The Trial of Klaus Barbie
1987
Frossard
King of the Ghetto
King of the Ghetto
1986 ★ 6.0
Vicar
Androcles and the Lion
Androcles and the Lion
1984
Caesar
Witness for the Prosecution
Witness for the Prosecution
1982 ★ 6.3
Dr. Harrison
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
1981
Commissioner
Little Lord Fauntleroy
Little Lord Fauntleroy
1980 ★ 7.4
Reverend Muldaur
Rabbit Pie Day
Rabbit Pie Day
1980
The Colonel
Churchill and the Generals
Churchill and the Generals
1979
Gen. Sir John Dill
The Black Panther
The Black Panther
1977 ★ 5.6
Shout at the Devil
Shout at the Devil
1976 ★ 6.0
Admiral Howe
Hennessy
Hennessy
1975 ★ 4.7
Home Secretary
Doctor Who: Pyramids of Mars
Doctor Who: Pyramids of Mars
1975 ★ 8.9
Dr. Warlock
Beyond Our Means
Beyond Our Means
1973
Dr. Charteris
Gawain and the Green Knight
Gawain and the Green Knight
1973 ★ 4.6
Pilgrim
That's Your Funeral
That's Your Funeral
1972 ★ 2.3
1st Funeral Director
What Became of Jack and Jill?
What Became of Jack and Jill?
1972 ★ 4.3
Dickson
Jane Eyre
Jane Eyre
1970 ★ 7.1
John
Walk a Crooked Path
Walk a Crooked Path
1969 ★ 2.7
Mosquito Squadron
Mosquito Squadron
1969 ★ 5.4
Mr. Scott
Tower of London: The Innocent
Tower of London: The Innocent
1969 ★ 6.0
Archbishop
Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed
Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed
1969 ★ 6.3
Principal
All at Sea
All at Sea
1969
Mr. Gordon
The Shoes of the Fisherman
The Shoes of the Fisherman
1968 ★ 6.7
English Cardinal #1
Quatermass and the Pit
Quatermass and the Pit
1967 ★ 6.6
Howell
The Investigation
The Investigation
1967
Counsel for the Prosecution
The Devil's Eggshell
The Devil's Eggshell
1966
The Home Secretary
Don't Utter a Note
Don't Utter a Note
1966
Vicar
Stranger in the Family
Stranger in the Family
1965
Charles Wilson
Help!
Help!
1965 ★ 6.8
Jeweller
The Knack... and How to Get It
The Knack... and How to Get It
1965 ★ 5.9
Picture Owner
The Man Who Came to Die
The Man Who Came to Die
1965
Dr. Clarkeson
The July Plot
The July Plot
1964
General Friedrich Olbright
King and Country
King and Country
1964 ★ 7.1
Colonel
The Third Secret
The Third Secret
1964 ★ 6.1
Dr Leo Whitset
Victim
Victim
1961 ★ 7.5
Paul Mandrake
Mystery in the Mine
Mystery in the Mine
1959
Rockets Galore
Rockets Galore
1958 ★ 6.0
Scientist
The Government Inspector
The Government Inspector
1958 ★ 6.0
School Superintendent
Just My Luck
Just My Luck
1957 ★ 6.0
Mr. Gilbert Weaver
The End Begins
The End Begins
1957
Tom Jarrow
The Man Without a Body
The Man Without a Body
1957 ★ 3.8
Leslie
The Smallest Show on Earth
The Smallest Show on Earth
1957 ★ 6.5
Actor in The Mystery of Hell Valley (uncredited)
Time Without Pity
Time Without Pity
1957 ★ 6.5
Prison Chaplain
The Film That Never Was
The Film That Never Was
1957
Foreign Intrigue
Foreign Intrigue
1956 ★ 5.7
Brown
Peril for the Guy
Peril for the Guy
1956 ★ 6.5
Mr. Ritter
Saadia
Saadia
1953 ★ 5.8
Leader Mokhazenis
The Clue of the Missing Ape
The Clue of the Missing Ape
1953 ★ 6.0
His Excellency
The Sword and the Rose
The Sword and the Rose
1953 ★ 6.3
Sir Edwin Caskoden
The Hour of 13
The Hour of 13
1952 ★ 5.7
Cummings
The Card
The Card
1952 ★ 6.9
P. Shillitoe (uncredited)
Golden Salamander
Golden Salamander
1950 ★ 5.9
Aribi
Farewell Again
Farewell Again
1937 ★ 5.0
Minor Role
Tell Me If It Hurts
Tell Me If It Hurts
1934
Waiter

TV Series

The Colour of Magic
The Colour of Magic
2008 ★ 6.7
Greyhald Spold
1 Episode
The Last Detective
The Last Detective
2003 ★ 7.7
Colonel Colin Ingate
1 Episode
Jonathan Creek
Jonathan Creek
1997 ★ 7.5
Eric
1 Episode
Cadfael
Cadfael
1994 ★ 7.4
Abbot Heribert
4 Episodes
One Foot in the Grave
One Foot in the Grave
1990 ★ 7.6
1 Episode
Agatha Christie's Poirot
Agatha Christie's Poirot
1989 ★ 8.2
Burgoyne
1 Episode
Never Say Die
Never Say Die
1987
6 Episodes
Casualty
Casualty
1986 ★ 6.1
Dan Woods
1 Episode
Lovejoy
Lovejoy
1986 ★ 7.3
Harold Richards
1 Episode
Theatre Night
Theatre Night
1985
Gribsby
1 Episode
The Prisoner of Zenda
The Prisoner of Zenda
1984 ★ 6.0
Marshal Strakencz
2 Episodes
The Bill
The Bill
1984 ★ 6.7
1 Episode
The Chinese Detective
The Chinese Detective
1981 ★ 7.2
1 Episode
Tales of the Unexpected
Tales of the Unexpected
1979 ★ 6.7
Man at Railway Station
1 Episode
Anna Karenina
Anna Karenina
1977 ★ 6.0
2 Episodes
The New Avengers
The New Avengers
1976 ★ 7.0
Prof. Waterlow
1 Episode
Bill Brand
Bill Brand
1976 ★ 6.3
Cedric Maddocks
5 Episodes
Survivors
Survivors
1975 ★ 8.0
Dr. Bronson
1 Episode
Sky
Sky
1975 ★ 5.5
1 Episode
The Venturers
The Venturers
1975
1 Episode
Father Brown
Father Brown
1974 ★ 6.6
1 Episode
Fall of Eagles
Fall of Eagles
1974 ★ 6.9
Bethmann-Hollweg
1 Episode
Arthur of the Britons
Arthur of the Britons
1972 ★ 7.3
1 Episode
Crown Court
Crown Court
1972 ★ 5.4
Sir Peter Cutforth
2 Episodes
The Regiment
The Regiment
1972 ★ 1.0
1 Episode
Justice
Justice
1971 ★ 6.0
Wigmore
1 Episode
You're Only Young Twice
You're Only Young Twice
1971
6 Episodes
Doomwatch
Doomwatch
1970 ★ 6.0
Admiral Sir Richard Tranton
1 Episode
Manhunt
Manhunt
1970 ★ 6.5
Martin
1 Episode
Paul Temple
Paul Temple
1969 ★ 7.0
1 Episode
Department S
Department S
1969 ★ 5.0
The Auctioneer
1 Episode
The Gold Robbers
The Gold Robbers
1969 ★ 6.7
Asst. Commissioner Farr
13 Episodes
The Champions
The Champions
1968 ★ 6.2
Antrobus
1 Episode
The Expert
The Expert
1968 ★ 10.0
Hillard
1 Episode
Callan
Callan
1967 ★ 7.0
1 Episode
The Informer
The Informer
1966
Richard Edwards
1 Episode
Softly, Softly
Softly, Softly
1966 ★ 5.0
1 Episode
BBC Play of the Month
BBC Play of the Month
1965 ★ 5.0
The Home Inspector
1 Episode
Redcap
Redcap
1964 ★ 6.0
1 Episode
The Wednesday Play
The Wednesday Play
1964 ★ 4.5
Gen. Friedrich Olbright
1 Episode
Thorndyke
Thorndyke
1964
7 Episodes
Theatre 625
Theatre 625
1964 ★ 7.2
Seytfert, Counsel for the Prosecution
1 Episode
Doctor Who
Doctor Who
1963 ★ 7.9
Dr. Warlock
2 Episodes
The Saint
The Saint
1962 ★ 7.4
Don Morland
1 Episode
Z-Cars
Z-Cars
1962 ★ 7.0
1 Episode
The Avengers
The Avengers
1961 ★ 7.7
Henry Barker
1 Episode
Maigret
Maigret
1960 ★ 7.2
Xavier Marton
1 Episode
No Hiding Place
No Hiding Place
1959 ★ 3.7
1 Episode
Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes
1954 ★ 7.1
2 Episodes
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Hallmark Hall of Fame
1951 ★ 8.6
Dr. Harrison
1 Episode