1915-05-20 Bushey, Hertfordshire, England, UK
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.
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Riot at the Rite | Patron | 2005-10-18 |
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Oliver Twist | Dining Hall Master | 2005-09-23 |
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Janice Beard 45 WPM | Sean's Father | 1999-10-29 |
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A Dangerous Man: Lawrence After Arabia | Maitland | 1992-04-18 |
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The Importance of Being Earnest | Gribsby | 1988-05-29 |
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The Trial of Klaus Barbie | Frossard | 1987-07-15 |
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Empire of the Sun | British Prisoner | 1987-12-09 |
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King of the Ghetto | Vicar | 1986-05-01 |
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Androcles and the Lion | Caesar | 1984-06-12 |
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United Kingdom | Commissioner | 1981-12-08 |
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Little Lord Fauntleroy | Reverend Muldaur | 1980-12-01 |
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Rabbit Pie Day | The Colonel | 1980-11-10 |
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Churchill and the Generals | Gen. Sir John Dill | 1979-09-23 |
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The Black Panther | 1977-12-26 | |
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Shout at the Devil | Admiral Howe | 1976-04-12 |
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Hennessy | Home Secretary | 1975-12-31 |
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Doctor Who: Pyramids of Mars | Dr. Warlock | 1975-11-15 |
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Beyond Our Means | Dr. Charteris | 1973-09-18 |
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Gawain and the Green Knight | Pilgrim | 1973-06-01 |
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That's Your Funeral | 1st Funeral Director | 1972-12-01 |
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What Became of Jack and Jill? | Dickson | 1972-06-16 |
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Jane Eyre | John | 1970-12-01 |
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Walk a Crooked Path | 1969-08-31 | |
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Mosquito Squadron | Mr. Scott | 1969-08-22 |
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Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed | Principal | 1969-05-22 |
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All at Sea | Mr. Gordon | 1969-01-01 |
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Tower of London: The Innocent | Archbishop | 1969-07-31 |
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The Shoes of the Fisherman | English Cardinal #1 | 1968-11-14 |
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The Investigation | Counsel for the Prosecution | 1967-03-07 |
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Quatermass and the Pit | Howell | 1967-11-09 |
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Don't Utter a Note | Vicar | 1966-04-09 |
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The Devil's Eggshell | The Home Secretary | 1966-06-28 |
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Stranger in the Family | Charles Wilson | 1965-10-18 |
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Help! | Jeweller | 1965-07-29 |
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The Knack... and How to Get It | Picture Owner | 1965-06-03 |
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The July Plot | General Friedrich Olbright | 1964-12-09 |
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The Third Secret | Dr Leo Whitset | 1964-02-02 |
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King and Country | Colonel | 1964-09-05 |
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Victim | Paul Mandrake | 1961-08-01 |
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Mystery in the Mine | 1959-09-01 | |
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Rockets Galore | Scientist | 1958-10-19 |
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The Government Inspector | School Superintendent | 1958-02-09 |
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Just My Luck | Mr. Gilbert Weaver | 1957-11-14 |
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Time Without Pity | Prison Chaplain | 1957-03-21 |
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The Film That Never Was | 1957-01-02 | |
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The End Begins | Tom Jarrow | 1957-05-17 |
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The Smallest Show on Earth | Actor in The Mystery of Hell Valley (uncredited) | 1957-04-09 |
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The Man Without a Body | Leslie | 1957-05-01 |
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Peril for the Guy | Mr. Ritter | 1956-01-01 |
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Foreign Intrigue | Brown | 1956-06-28 |
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Saadia | Leader Mokhazenis | 1953-12-01 |
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The Clue of the Missing Ape | His Excellency | 1953-11-01 |
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The Sword and the Rose | Sir Edwin Caskoden | 1953-07-23 |
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The Card | P. Shillitoe (uncredited) | 1952-02-25 |
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The Hour of 13 | Cummings | 1952-11-21 |
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Golden Salamander | Aribi | 1950-02-01 |
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Farewell Again | Minor Role | 1937-01-05 |
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Tell Me If It Hurts | Waiter | 1934-12-31 |
