Peter Copley
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- May 20, 1915
- Died
- Oct 7, 2008
- Place of birth
- Bushey, Hertfordshire, England, UK
- Also known as
- Peter Francis Gabain 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.Read more
Acting credits
Doctor Who
Dr. Warlock
Agatha Christie's Poirot
Burgoyne
The Bill
Casualty
Dan Woods / Hugh Phipps
Crown Court
Sir Peter Cutforth / His Honour Judge Edmonds
The Avengers
Henry Barker / Sparshott
The Saint
Don Morland
Z-Cars
The Wednesday Play
Gen. Friedrich Olbright / Roger Gibbs
BBC Play of the Month
The Home Inspector
Tales of the Unexpected
Man at Railway Station
No Hiding Place
Theatre 625
Seytfert, Counsel for the Prosecution / Hector McKellar
The Troubleshooters
Compton Forbes / David MacLaren
Maigret
Xavier Marton
Jonathan Creek
Eric
The Champions
Antrobus
The New Avengers
Prof. Waterlow
Lovejoy
Harold Richards
The Expert
Hillard
Survivors
Dr. Bronson
Justice
Wigmore
One Foot in the Grave
Leonard
Out of the Unknown
Charles Wilson / Hull / Mackinlay / Charles Wilson / Hull / Mackinlay
Callan
Cadfael
Abbot Heribert
Bless This House
J. G.
Doomwatch
Admiral Sir Richard Tranton
Department S
The Auctioneer
Sherlock Holmes
Fall of Eagles
Bethmann-Hollweg
The Colour of Magic
Greyhald Spold
Paul Temple
The Famous Five
Mr Finniston
Redcap
Colonel Matherson
The Last Detective
Colonel Colin Ingate
Arthur of the Britons
Manhunt
Martin
Half Hour Story
Mr. Fergus
Father Brown
Reverend John Walters
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Dr. Harrison
The Informer
Richard Edwards
Wives and Daughters
Robinson
The Chinese Detective
Bill Brand
Cedric Maddocks
Into the Labyrinth
Kubla Khan
Knock on Any Door
Cedric Pritchard
Anna Karenina
The Gold Robbers
AC Farr
Theatre Night
Gribsby
The Foundation
Dr. Richard Montagu
Armchair 30
Mr. Justice Hobbin
Three Piece Suite
General Moreau (segment "Entrance Fee")
Sky
The Long Chase
Morrison
Artists and Models
Savigny
King of the Ghetto
Vicar
The Prisoner of Zenda
Marshal Strakencz
You're Only Young Twice
The Dragon's Opponent
Dr. Gough
Imperial Palace
Emile Cousin
Never Say Die
Thorndyke
Dr. John Evelyn Thorndyke