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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The Leper of St. Giles | Abbot Heribert | 1994-06-12 |
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The Sanctuary Sparrow | Abbot Heribert | 1994-06-05 |
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Monk's Hood | Abbot Heribert | 1994-06-19 |
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One Corpse Too Many | Abbot Heribert | 1994-05-29 |
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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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Empire of the Sun | British Prisoner | 1987-12-09 |
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The Trial of Klaus Barbie | Frossard | 1987-07-15 |
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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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Witness for the Prosecution | Dr. Harrison | 1982-12-04 |
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United Kingdom | Commissioner | 1981-12-08 |
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Rabbit Pie Day | The Colonel | 1980-11-10 |
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Little Lord Fauntleroy | Reverend Muldaur | 1980-12-01 |
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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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Gawain and the Green Knight | Pilgrim | 1973-06-01 |
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Beyond Our Means | Dr. Charteris | 1973-09-18 |
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What Became of Jack and Jill? | Dickson | 1972-06-16 |
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That's Your Funeral | 1st Funeral Director | 1972-12-01 |
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Jane Eyre | John | 1970-12-01 |
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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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Mosquito Squadron | Mr. Scott | 1969-08-22 |
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Walk a Crooked Path | 1969-08-31 | |
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Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed | Principal | 1969-05-22 |
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The Shoes of the Fisherman | English Cardinal #1 | 1968-11-14 |
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Quatermass and the Pit | Howell | 1967-11-09 |
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The Investigation | Counsel for the Prosecution | 1967-03-07 |
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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 Man Who Came to Die | Dr. Clarkeson | 1965-04-18 |
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The Knack... and How to Get It | Picture Owner | 1965-06-03 |
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The Third Secret | Dr Leo Whitset | 1964-02-02 |
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The July Plot | General Friedrich Olbright | 1964-12-09 |
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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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The Government Inspector | School Superintendent | 1958-02-09 |
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Rockets Galore | Scientist | 1958-10-19 |
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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 End Begins | Tom Jarrow | 1957-05-17 |
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The Man Without a Body | Leslie | 1957-05-01 |
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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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Peril for the Guy | Mr. Ritter | 1956-01-01 |
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Foreign Intrigue | Brown | 1956-06-28 |
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The Sword and the Rose | Sir Edwin Caskoden | 1953-07-23 |
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The Clue of the Missing Ape | His Excellency | 1953-11-01 |
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Saadia | Leader Mokhazenis | 1953-12-01 |
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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 |
