Peter Copley
Known for Acting · 119 credits
- Born
- 1915-05-20
- Died
- 2008-10-07
- Place of birth
- Bushey, Hertfordshire, England, UK
- Also known as
- Peter Francis Gabain 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
TV Shows (53)
Agatha Christie's Poirot
1989
as Burgoyne
Doctor Who
1963
as Dr. Warlock
Casualty
1986
as Dan Woods / Hugh Phipps
The Avengers
1961
as Henry Barker / Sparshott
Crown Court
1972
as Sir Peter Cutforth / His Honour Judge Edmonds
The Saint
1962
as Don Morland
Tales of the Unexpected
1979
as Man at Railway Station
BBC Play of the Month
1965
as The Home Inspector
The Bill
1984
Z-Cars
1962
The Champions
1968
as Antrobus
Theatre 625
1964
as Seytfert, Counsel for the Prosecution / Hector McKellar
The Wednesday Play
1964
as Gen. Friedrich Olbright
No Hiding Place
1959
Lovejoy
1986
as Harold Richards
Maigret
1960
as Xavier Marton
Jonathan Creek
1997
as Eric
The Expert
1968
as Hillard
The New Avengers
1976
as Prof. Waterlow
Justice
1971
as Wigmore
Out of the Unknown
1965
as Charles Wilson / Hull / Mackinlay
Cadfael
1994
as Abbot Heribert
Doomwatch
1970
as Admiral Sir Richard Tranton
Department S
1969
as The Auctioneer
Survivors
1975
as Dr. Bronson
Callan
1967
Fall of Eagles
1974
as Bethmann-Hollweg
The Troubleshooters
1965
as MacLaren
One Foot in the Grave
1990
Sherlock Holmes
1954
The Colour of Magic
2008
as Greyhald Spold
The Last Detective
2003
as Colonel Colin Ingate
Father Brown
1974
Hallmark Hall of Fame
1951
as Dr. Harrison
Wives and Daughters
1999
as Robinson
The Chinese Detective
1981
Redcap
1964
as Colonel Matherson
The Informer
1966
as Richard Edwards
Bill Brand
1976
as Cedric Maddocks
Manhunt
1970
as Martin
Arthur of the Britons
1972
Theatre Night
1985
as Gribsby
Paul Temple
1969
Anna Karenina
1977
The Gold Robbers
1969
as Asst. Commissioner Farr
The Long Chase
1972
as Morrison
The Prisoner of Zenda
1984
as Marshal Strakencz
Sky
1975
Artists and Models
1986
as Savigny
King of the Ghetto
1986
as Vicar
Never Say Die
1987
Thorndyke
1964
You're Only Young Twice
1971
Movies (66)
Empire of the Sun
1987
as British Prisoner
Oliver Twist
2005
as Dining Hall Master
Help!
1965
as Jeweller
Little Lord Fauntleroy
1980
as Reverend Muldaur
Quatermass and the Pit
1967
as Howell
The Shoes of the Fisherman
1968
as English Cardinal #1
Shout at the Devil
1976
as Admiral Howe
Witness for the Prosecution
1982
as Dr. Harrison
The Card
1952
as P. Shillitoe (uncredited)
Victim
1961
as Paul Mandrake
Mosquito Squadron
1969
as Mr. Scott
A Dangerous Man: Lawrence After Arabia
1992
as Maitland
Jane Eyre
1970
as John
Hennessy
1975
as Home Secretary
King and Country
1964
as Colonel
The Knack... and How to Get It
1965
as Picture Owner
Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed
1969
as Principal
The Black Panther
1977
Janice Beard 45 WPM
1999
as Sean's Father
The Sword and the Rose
1953
as Sir Edwin Caskoden
Riot at the Rite
2005
as Patron
Saadia
1953
as Leader Mokhazenis
The Importance of Being Earnest
1988
as Gribsby
Farewell Again
1937
as Minor Role
The Smallest Show on Earth
1957
as Actor in The Mystery of Hell Valley (uncredited)
The Third Secret
1964
as Dr Leo Whitset
Foreign Intrigue
1956
as Brown
King of the Ghetto
1986
as Vicar
Rockets Galore
1958
as Scientist
Androcles and the Lion
1984
as Caesar
Time Without Pity
1957
as Prison Chaplain
Just My Luck
1957
as Mr. Gilbert Weaver
The Hour of 13
1952
as Cummings
Stranger in the Family
1965
as Charles Wilson
Rabbit Pie Day
1980
as The Colonel
That's Your Funeral
1972
as 1st Funeral Director
Golden Salamander
1950
as Aribi
Churchill and the Generals
1979
as Gen. Sir John Dill
What Became of Jack and Jill?
1972
as Dickson
Doctor Who: Pyramids of Mars
1975
as Dr. Warlock
Gawain and the Green Knight
1973
as Pilgrim
The Trial of Klaus Barbie
1987
as Frossard
The Film That Never Was
1957
The Leper of St. Giles
1994
as Abbot Heribert
The Devil's Eggshell
1966
as The Home Secretary
Beyond Our Means
1973
as Dr. Charteris
The July Plot
1964
as General Friedrich Olbright
Don't Utter a Note
1966
as Vicar
United Kingdom
1981
as Commissioner
The Sanctuary Sparrow
1994
as Abbot Heribert
The Man Without a Body
1957
as Leslie
One Corpse Too Many
1994
as Abbot Heribert
The Government Inspector
1958
as School Superintendent
The End Begins
1957
as Tom Jarrow
Tower of London: The Innocent
1969
as Archbishop
Walk a Crooked Path
1969
Monk's Hood
1994
as Abbot Heribert
The Clue of the Missing Ape
1953
as His Excellency
The Man Who Came to Die
1965
as Dr. Clarkeson
Peril for the Guy
1956
as Mr. Ritter
Immortality Inc
1969
as Hull
Tell Me If It Hurts
1934
as Waiter
Taste of Evil
1971
as Mackinlay
Mystery in the Mine
1959
The Investigation
1967
as Counsel for the Prosecution
All at Sea
1969
as Mr. Gordon
About 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 appea… With 119 credits spanning from 1934 to 2008, Peter Copley has appeared in 66 films and 53 TV shows.
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Most Popular Peter Copley Movies
- Empire of the Sun (1987) — as British Prisoner
- Oliver Twist (2005) — as Dining Hall Master
- Help! (1965) — as Jeweller
- Little Lord Fauntleroy (1980) — as Reverend Muldaur
- Quatermass and the Pit (1967) — as Howell
Where to Watch Peter Copley Films
Most Peter Copley movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Peter Copley, check our movies catalogue and browse page.