Peter Copley
Acting • Born 1915-05-20 – Died 2008-10-07
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.
Filmography
121 credits
Riot at the Rite
Movie • 2005
Patron
The July Plot
Movie • 1964
General Friedrich Olbright
Quatermass and the Pit
Movie • 1967
Howell
The Knack... and How to Get It
Movie • 1965
Picture Owner
Just My Luck
Movie • 1957
Mr. Gilbert Weaver
Androcles and the Lion
Movie • 1984
Caesar
The Sword and the Rose
Movie • 1953
Sir Edwin Caskoden
Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed
Movie • 1969
Principal
What Became of Jack and Jill?
Movie • 1972
Dickson
King and Country
Movie • 1964
Colonel
Golden Salamander
Movie • 1950
Aribi
The Smallest Show on Earth
Movie • 1957
Actor in The Mystery of Hell Valley (uncredited)
The Trial of Klaus Barbie
Movie • 1987
Frossard
Empire of the Sun
Movie • 1987
British Prisoner
King of the Ghetto
Movie • 1986
Vicar
Tell Me If It Hurts
Movie • 1934
Waiter
Don't Utter a Note
Movie • 1966
Vicar
Beyond Our Means
Movie • 1973
Dr. Charteris
A Dangerous Man: Lawrence After Arabia
Movie • 1992
Maitland
Stranger in the Family
Movie • 1965
Charles Wilson
Tower of London: The Innocent
Movie • 1969
Archbishop
Walk a Crooked Path
Movie • 1969
Mystery in the Mine
Movie • 1959
Saadia
Movie • 1953
Leader Mokhazenis
Farewell Again
Movie • 1937
Minor Role
Hennessy
Movie • 1975
Home Secretary
Oliver Twist
Movie • 2005
Dining Hall Master
Doctor Who: Pyramids of Mars
Movie • 1975
Dr. Warlock
The Card
Movie • 1952
P. Shillitoe (uncredited)
Shout at the Devil
Movie • 1976
Admiral Howe
Mosquito Squadron
Movie • 1969
Mr. Scott
Janice Beard 45 WPM
Movie • 1999
Sean's Father
The Man Without a Body
Movie • 1957
Leslie
Churchill and the Generals
Movie • 1979
Gen. Sir John Dill
Gawain and the Green Knight
Movie • 1973
Pilgrim
United Kingdom
Movie • 1981
Commissioner
Foreign Intrigue
Movie • 1956
Brown
The Shoes of the Fisherman
Movie • 1968
English Cardinal #1
The Third Secret
Movie • 1964
Dr Leo Whitset
The Black Panther
Movie • 1977
Little Lord Fauntleroy
Movie • 1980
Reverend Muldaur
Help!
Movie • 1965
Jeweller
The Hour of 13
Movie • 1952
Cummings
Jane Eyre
Movie • 1970
John
Rockets Galore
Movie • 1958
Scientist
Time Without Pity
Movie • 1957
Prison Chaplain
Victim
Movie • 1961
Paul Mandrake
The Film That Never Was
Movie • 1957
The Importance of Being Earnest
Movie • 1988
Gribsby
Peril for the Guy
Movie • 1956
Mr. Ritter
That's Your Funeral
Movie • 1972
1st Funeral Director
The Clue of the Missing Ape
Movie • 1953
His Excellency
Rabbit Pie Day
Movie • 1980
The Colonel
The Devil's Eggshell
Movie • 1966
The Home Secretary
All at Sea
Movie • 1969
Mr. Gordon
The Government Inspector
Movie • 1958
School Superintendent
The End Begins
Movie • 1957
Tom Jarrow
The Investigation
Movie • 1967
Counsel for the Prosecution
One Corpse Too Many
Movie • 1994
Abbot Heribert
The Sanctuary Sparrow
Movie • 1994
Abbot Heribert
The Leper of St. Giles
Movie • 1994
Abbot Heribert
Monk's Hood
Movie • 1994
Abbot Heribert
Witness for the Prosecution
Movie • 1982
Dr. Harrison
The Man Who Came to Die
Movie • 1965
Dr. Clarkeson
Immortality Inc
Movie • 1969
Hull
Taste of Evil
Movie • 1971
Mackinlay
Department S
TV • 1969
The Auctioneer
Doctor Who
TV • 1963
Dr. Warlock
Jonathan Creek
TV • 1997
Eric
The Bill
TV • 1984
Z-Cars
TV • 1962
Tales of the Unexpected
TV • 1979
Man at Railway Station
The Avengers
TV • 1961
Henry Barker
The Chinese Detective
TV • 1981
Survivors
TV • 1975
Dr. Bronson
Callan
TV • 1967
One Foot in the Grave
TV • 1990
Lovejoy
TV • 1986
Harold Richards
Doomwatch
TV • 1970
Admiral Sir Richard Tranton
Hallmark Hall of Fame
TV • 1951
Dr. Harrison
The Champions
TV • 1968
Antrobus
Sherlock Holmes
TV • 1954
Arthur of the Britons
TV • 1972
The Wednesday Play
TV • 1964
Gen. Friedrich Olbright
The New Avengers
TV • 1976
Prof. Waterlow
Agatha Christie's Poirot
TV • 1989
Burgoyne
No Hiding Place
TV • 1959
Sky
TV • 1975
Fall of Eagles
TV • 1974
Bethmann-Hollweg
The Expert
TV • 1968
Hillard
Never Say Die
TV • 1987
Thorndyke
TV • 1964
The Last Detective
TV • 2003
Colonel Colin Ingate
Maigret
TV • 1960
Xavier Marton
Anna Karenina
TV • 1977
You're Only Young Twice
TV • 1971
Father Brown
TV • 1974
Paul Temple
TV • 1969
The Saint
TV • 1962
Don Morland
The Colour of Magic
TV • 2008
Greyhald Spold
Crown Court
TV • 1972
Sir Peter Cutforth
Justice
TV • 1971
Wigmore
Casualty
TV • 1986
Dan Woods
The Gold Robbers
TV • 1969
Asst. Commissioner Farr
Casualty
TV • 1986
Hugh Phipps
Manhunt
TV • 1970
Martin
Bill Brand
TV • 1976
Cedric Maddocks
Cadfael
TV • 1994
Abbot Heribert
Crown Court
TV • 1972
His Honour Judge Edmonds
The Avengers
TV • 1961
Sparshott
The Prisoner of Zenda
TV • 1984
Marshal Strakencz
Theatre Night
TV • 1985
Gribsby
BBC Play of the Month
TV • 1965
The Home Inspector
The Informer
TV • 1966
Richard Edwards
Theatre 625
TV • 1964
Seytfert, Counsel for the Prosecution
Theatre 625
TV • 1964
Hector McKellar
The Long Chase
TV • 1972
Morrison
Out of the Unknown
TV • 1965
Charles Wilson
Out of the Unknown
TV • 1965
Hull
Out of the Unknown
TV • 1965
Mackinlay
Redcap
TV • 1964
Colonel Matherson