David Quilter
Acting • Born 1942-06-11
Biography
David Quilter is an English actor who has made numerous appearances in British television plays and series since the mid-1960s. He was born in Northwood, London, and attended Bryanston School, Dorset. "My first inkling that it was possible to be a professional actor was when a boy at school got a scholarship to RADA," remembered Quilter. "I never did any acting at school, which I slightly regret, but seeing him actually go off and train to be an actor, it made me realise that it was what I wanted to do." Quilter trained at Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in South Kensington and then joined weekly rep at Chesterfield in 1963. "We did seven plays in eight weeks," he recalled. "I then joined the RSC in 1964 to play very small parts in the complete history cycle." Quilter's grandfather, Lawrence Beesley, was a survivor of the sinking of RMS Titanic and wrote an account of his experience called The Loss of the SS Titanic. Quilter made three 15-minute films based on Beesley's story, and in 2012 gave a reading of Beesley's account at the Aldeburgh Lighthouse Station for the 100th anniversary of the sinking. His television appearances include; Softly, Softly: Taskforce (1967), Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em (1973), Get Some In! (1975–78), The Bill (1990–97), Grange Hill (2000) as Mr Arnold, Silent Witness (2001–03) and Doctor Who (2008). He also appeared in the film The Battle of Britain (1969) as a pilot, All Creatures Great and Small (1988), Goldeneye (1989), Charles and Diana: Unhappily Ever After (1992) as the Duke of Edinburgh, and Jinnah (1998).
Filmography
57 credits
The Deadly Affair
Movie • 1967
Nobleman (in Edward II)
The Lost World
Movie • 2001
Businessman 1
Paying Guests (Part 2)
Movie • 1986
The Rev. Banks
Paying Guests (Part 1)
Movie • 1986
The Rev. Banks
Bomber Harris
Movie • 1989
Principal Medical Officer
The Man Who Had Power Over Women
Movie • 1970
Floor Manager
White Mischief
Movie • 1987
Poppy
Wilt
Movie • 1989
Boffin
Blue Money
Movie • 1985
Rick Skinner
True Blue
Movie • 1996
Cambridge Coach
Heartland
Movie • 1989
Minister
No Defence
Movie • 1980
John Helps
Charles and Diana: Unhappily Ever After
Movie • 1992
Prince Philip
Last Love
Movie • 1983
Peter Fox
The Sinking of the HMS Victoria
Movie • 1977
Captain Richard
Battle of Britain
Movie • 1969
'A' Station Pilot (uncredited)
Richard Wilson - Both Feet In the Army
Movie • 2013
(archive footage)
Innes Lloyd: The Producer
Movie • 2025
Innes Lloyd (voice)
The Secret Life of Ian Fleming
Movie • 1990
Chute
Follow the Yellow Brick Road
Movie • 1991
Jack Black
Bergerac
TV • 1981
Fairfax
The Bill
TV • 1984
Blake's 7
TV • 1978
The Tracer
Silent Witness
TV • 1996
Messiah
TV • 2001
Brian Herd
The Expert
TV • 1968
Shaw
Agatha Christie's Partners in Crime
TV • 1983
Union Castle
TV • 1982
Doctor Who
TV • 2005
Greeves
Agatha Christie's Poirot
TV • 1989
Mr. Shaw
A Dorothy L. Sayers Mystery
TV • 1987
Chief Inspector Parker
Together
TV • 1980
RSPCA Inspector
War and Peace
TV • 2016
Tikhon
Manhunt
TV • 1970
German Officer
Secret Army
TV • 1977
Prosecuting Officer
All Creatures Great and Small
TV • 1978
Andrew Bruce
Bread
TV • 1986
Mr. Masefield
Utopia
TV • 2013
Danny Gorsand
The Avengers
TV • 1961
Wilson
Murder in Mind
TV • 2001
Reverend Robert Fraser
Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years
TV • 1981
Wing-Commander Torr Anderson
Shine on Harvey Moon
TV • 1982
Victor
Space Precinct
TV • 1994
Sergeant Thorald Fredo
Space Precinct
TV • 1994
Kalamandro
Space Precinct
TV • 1994
Sandoff
Space Precinct
TV • 1994
Vinny Artak
BBC2 Play of the Week
TV • 1977
Captain Richard
BBC2 Play of the Week
TV • 1977
John Forbes
Buccaneer
TV • 1980
Harper
The Chief
TV • 1990
Tresilian
Mr. Palfrey of Westminster
TV • 1984
John McNair
Rumpole of the Bailey
TV • 1975
Captain Orde
Brass
TV • 1983
Commanding Officer
The Long Chase
TV • 1972
Police Observer
Clochemerle
TV • 1972
Bernard Samothrace
Crossbow
TV • 1987
Morgan's Boy
TV • 1984
Tom Duncan