
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 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.
119 acting credits
Acting · 119

The Avengers
1961

Agatha Christie's Poirot
1989

Doctor Who
1963

Casualty
1986

The Saint
1962

Crown Court
1972

Tales of the Unexpected
1979

BBC Play of the Month
1965

Z-Cars
1962

The Bill
1984

Theatre 625
1964

The Wednesday Play
1964

No Hiding Place
1959

The Champions
1968

Maigret
1960

Lovejoy
1986

Jonathan Creek
1997

The Expert
1968

Justice
1971

The New Avengers
1976

Out of the Unknown
1965

Cadfael
1994

Doomwatch
1970

Department S
1969

Callan
1967

Survivors
1975

One Foot in the Grave
1990

Fall of Eagles
1974

The Troubleshooters
1965

The Colour of Magic
2008

The Last Detective
2003

Father Brown
1974

Sherlock Holmes
1954

Empire of the Sun
1987

Wives and Daughters
1999

Redcap
1964

Manhunt
1970

Hallmark Hall of Fame
1951

Paul Temple
1969

Arthur of the Britons
1972

Bill Brand
1976

The Informer
1966

The Chinese Detective
1981

Anna Karenina
1977

Oliver Twist
2005

Theatre Night
1985

The Gold Robbers
1969

Help!
1965

Little Lord Fauntleroy
1980

The Prisoner of Zenda
1984

Witness for the Prosecution
1982

Quatermass and the Pit
1967

Sky
1975

The Long Chase
1972

The Knack... and How to Get It
1965

The Shoes of the Fisherman
1968

Victim
1961

Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed
1969

Hennessy
1975

Mosquito Squadron
1969

Shout at the Devil
1976

King of the Ghetto
1986

The Importance of Being Earnest
1988

Artists and Models
1986

King and Country
1964

The Card
1952

Foreign Intrigue
1956

A Dangerous Man: Lawrence After Arabia
1992
Never Say Die
1987

Saadia
1953

Jane Eyre
1970

The Black Panther
1977

Riot at the Rite
2005

The Smallest Show on Earth
1957

Janice Beard 45 WPM
1999

The Third Secret
1964

Farewell Again
1937

The Sword and the Rose
1953

Rockets Galore
1958

King of the Ghetto
1986
You're Only Young Twice
1971

The Hour of 13
1952

Just My Luck
1957

Gawain and the Green Knight
1973

The Trial of Klaus Barbie
1987

Time Without Pity
1957

Stranger in the Family
1965

Churchill and the Generals
1979
Thorndyke
1964

Doctor Who: Pyramids of Mars
1975

That's Your Funeral
1972

Golden Salamander
1950

The July Plot
1964

What Became of Jack and Jill?
1972

Androcles and the Lion
1984
The Film That Never Was
1957

The Leper of St. Giles
1994
The Devil's Eggshell
1966

Rabbit Pie Day
1980

The Clue of the Missing Ape
1953

The Government Inspector
1958

Peril for the Guy
1956

United Kingdom
1981

The Man Without a Body
1957

Beyond Our Means
1973
Don't Utter a Note
1966
Walk a Crooked Path
1969
The End Begins
1957

The Sanctuary Sparrow
1994

One Corpse Too Many
1994

Monk's Hood
1994

Tower of London: The Innocent
1969

Tell Me If It Hurts
1934

Mystery in the Mine
1959

Taste of Evil
1971
The Investigation
1967

Immortality Inc
1969
The Man Who Came to Die
1965

All at Sea
1969