Introduction
Peter Copley (20 May 1915 – 7 October 2008) was an English television, film and stage actor.
Biography
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 in 1932 started out as a stage actor. 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.
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, Lovejoy, The Bill, Cadfael and One Foot in the Grave.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Character |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | The Elusive Pimpernel | Tailor (uncredited) |
| Golden Salamander | Aribi | |
| 1952 | The Promoter | Shillitoe |
| The Hour of 13 | Cummings | |
| 1953 | The Clue of the Missing Ape | (uncredited) |
| The Sword and the Rose | Sir Edwin Caskoden | |
| Saadia | Leader Mokhazenis | |
| 1956 | Foreign Intrigue | Brown |
| Peril for the Guy | Ritter | |
| 1957 | Just My Luck | Gilbert Weaver |
| Time Without Pity | Prison Chaplain | |
| The Man Without a Body | Leslie | |
| 1959 | The Mystery in the Mine | Tom Abbott |
| 1960 | Follow That Horse! | Garrod |
| 1961 | Victim | Paul Mandrake |
| 1964 | King & Country | Colonel |
| The Third Secret | Dr. Leo Whitset | |
| 1965 | The Knack …and How to Get It | Picture Owner |
| Help! | Jeweller | |
| 1967 | Quatermass and the Pit | Howell |
| 1968 | The Shoes of the Fisherman | English Cardinal |
| 1969 | Mosquito Squadron | Mr. Scott |
| Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed | Principal | |
| Walk a Crooked Path | Dr. Oberon | |
| 1970 | All at Sea | Mr. Gordon |
| 1970 | Jane Eyre | John |
| 1972 | What Became of Jack and Jill? | Dickson |
| 1972 | That's Your Funeral | 1st Funeral Director |
| 1973 | Gawain and the Green Knight | Pilgrim |
| 1975 | Doctor Who: Pyramids of Mars | Doctor Warlock |
| 1976 | Shout at the Devil | Admiral Howe |
| 1980 | Little Lord Fauntleroy | Rev. Muldaur |
| 1982 | Witness for the Prosecution | Dr. Harrison |
| 1987 | Empire of the Sun | British Prisoner |
| 1991 | A Dangerous Man: Lawrence After Arabia | Maitland |
| 1994 | Second Best | Percy |
| Cadfael | Abbot (later Brother) Heribert | |
| 2005 | Oliver Twist | Dining Hall Master |