Peter Stephens (actor)
Peter Stephens | |
---|---|
Born | Peter Stephens 3 January 1920 |
Died | 17 September 1972 | (aged 52)
Occupation | Actor |
Peter Stephens (3 January 1920 – 17 September 1972[1]) was an English stage, film and television supporting actor, notable for his appearances in various BBC television shows throughout the 60s, most famously for his portrayal of the Bunteresque character Cyril in the Doctor Who serial The Celestial Toymaker. He was also the director of one film during his career.
Career
Stephens first appeared in films playing Major Lench in the 1956
In 1957, he switched to the BBC, playing Monte in No Shepherds Watched, the story of a bungling criminal family headed by Warren Mitchell, whose plans for a robbery are foiled by a café owner, played by Mitchell's future Till Death Us Do Part fictional wife, Dandy Nichols.[5]
His only film appearance that year was in the Columbia Pictures British black-and-white film, Kill Her Gently, directed by Charles Saunders but with no star names appearing in the main roles of a man, his wife, and his chance encounter with two known prison escapees, whom he then tries to employ to murder his spouse.[6]
He appeared in two TV series in 1958 – the 6-part "demob" saga from the BBC called Fair Game, and the popular police programme Dixon of Dock Green (playing Todd in "The Key of the Nick").[7]
Directing one film
Peter Stephens' only film as a director, Mustang!,
Returning to acting
He returned to Dixon of Dock Green once more in 1959, though playing an entirely different character, Chapman, in "Over and Out".[11] He also took the role of Mr Lirriper in "The Runaways", part of the Tales from Dickens presentations by Fredric March.[12]
His work in the early 1960s included regular appearances in some well-known productions for television, such as Maigret (1960), Danger Man (1961 and 1966) and the 1962 mini-series of Oliver Twist (featuring a very young Melvyn Hayes as the Artful Dodger) when Stephens played Mr Limbkins. He also played a councillor in Sir Francis Drake in 1962,[13] after which he took time out to appear on the stage.
On 6 August 1964, Stephens opened at the
1965 saw a brief return to the cinema for him, portraying Sir Giles Redman in the 30-minute "Scales of Justice" featurette The Hidden Face.[17] In television that year, he made appearances in single episodes of more anthology-style series, namely The Man in Room 17, Out of the Unknown, An Enemy of the State, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.[13]
Doctor Who and "Cyril"
Perhaps Stephens' best-remembered performances were in three episodes of
Stephens would portray a completely different character, Lolem, during episodes one and three of the 1967 serial The Underwater Menace while Patrick Troughton was playing the Doctor[20]
Final years
Stephens made further 1967 television appearances in Adam Adamant Lives!, Dr Finlay's Casebook (for the second time, but as a different character), and played Felix Delmer in one episode of the BBC drama Champion House.[21]
He continued his film career in 1967 by appearing in a 38-minute
In the
Stephens' only cinema appearance of 1969 was as the Abbott of St Mary's in the
After portraying Don Gutierre in the BBC's epic historical drama
1971 saw many television appearances from Stephens. The list included Doctor in the House, Brett, Z-Cars,[34] and portraying Beppo Bowles in Eyeless in Gaza.[35]
He made a major film in 1971 with
In late 1971 another film,
In the final year of his life, he secured a regular role as the chairman of the board of St. Swithin's Hospital in four episodes of
His last ever film was
Peter Stephens died on 17 September 1972; however, one further appearance occurred
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1956 | Private's Progress | Major Lench | Uncredited |
1957 | Kill Her Gently | Bank Manager | |
1960 | The Flesh and the Fiends | McBain | Uncredited |
1960-1966 | Danger Man | Casseius Jones/Frankie | 2 episodes |
1965 | Out of the Unknown | Stephenson | Episode: Time in Advance |
1966-1967 | Doctor Who | Kitchen boy/Knave of Hearts/ Cyril/Lolem | 5 episodes |
1969 | The Avengers
|
Mr. Bellchamber | Episode: Love All |
1970 | The Six Wives of Henry VIII
|
Gutierre Gómez de Fuensalida | Miniseries |
1971 | Say Hello to Yesterday | Businessman | Uncredited |
Twins of Evil | Member of the Brotherhood | Uncredited | |
1972 | The Canterbury Tales | Justinus | |
Go for a Take | Director | ||
1973 | Wolfshead: The Legend of Robin Hood | Abbot of St. Mary's | |
Arthur of the Britons | Amlodd | Episode: In Common Cause |
References
- IMDB.comwebsite. Retrieved on 23 February 2008.
- ^ Private's Progress (1956 film), as Major Lench: IMDB.com website. Retrieved on 23 February 2008.
- ^ The Count of Monte Cristo (1956 TV serial), one episode, as Hassan Ben Ali: IMDB.com website. Retrieved on 23 February 2008.
- ^ Skipper Next to God (1956 TV play), Television Playhouse: BFI.org.uk website. Retrieved on 23 February 2008.
- ^ No Shepherds Watched (1957 TV film), as Monte: BFI.org.uk website. Retrieved on 23 February 2008.
- ^ Kill Her Gently (1957 film), as the Bank Manager: IMDB.com website. Retrieved on 23 February 2008.
- ^ TV appearances, 1958: IMDB.com website. Retrieved on 23 February 2008.
- ^ Mustang! (1959 film), director: TCM film database at their website. Retrieved on 23 February 2008.
- ^ Screenplay info, Mustang!: TCM film database at their website. Retrieved on 23 February 2008.
- ^ Production notes for Mustang!: TCM movie database at their website. Retrieved on 23 February 2008.
- ^ Dixon of Dock Green (1958 TV episode), playing Chapman in "Over and Out": IMDB.com website. Retrieved on 23 February 2008.
- ^ Tales from Dickens (1959 TV episode), Mr Lirriper in "The Runaways": BFI.org.uk website. Retrieved on 23 February 2008.
- ^ a b TV work in the 1960s: BFI.org.uk website. Retrieved on 23 February 2008.
- ^ Mr Whatnot (1964 stage play)[permanent dead link], London premiere, playing Herbert the Butler: Alan Ayckbourn's website. Retrieved on 23 February 2008.
- ^ Dr Finlay's Casebook (1964 TV series), playing Mr Dawson in "My Late Dear Husband": IMDB.com website. Retrieved on 23 February 2008.
- ^ Martin Chuzzlewit (1964 TV series), playing Mr Jinkins: BFI.org.uk website. Retrieved on 23 February 2008.
- ^ The Hidden Face (1965 'featurette') ("Scales of Justice") playing Sir Giles Redman: BFI.org.uk website. Retrieved on 23 February 2008.
- BBC.co.ukwebsite. Retrieved on 23 February 2008.
- '^ Cyril or Billy? The resemblance causes allegations of plagiarism against Doctor Whos producers, the BBC: IMDB.com website. Retrieved on 25 February 2008.
- ^ Doctor Who (1967 TV series), playing Lolem in The Underwater Menace: BBC.co.uk website. Retrieved on 23 February 2008.
- ^ TV appearances, 1967: IMDB.com website. Retrieved on 23 February 2008.
- ^ Money-Go-Round (1967 short film), as a tycoon: IMDB.com website. Retrieved on 23 February 2008.
- Allmovie.com website. Retrieved on 23 February 2008.
- ^ Herostratus, as Farson: Allmovie.com website. Retrieved on 23 February 2008.
- ^ "The Wednesday Play" (1968 TV anthology series), To See How Far It Is (trilogy, part three), as Captain Carruthers: The Wednesday Play section at the Startrader.co.uk website. Retrieved on 23 February 2008.
- ^ "ITV Playhouse (1968 TV anthology series), Rogues' Gallery: The Lives and Crimes of Jonathan Wild and Jack Sheppard (play), as Mr Morrow: BFI.org.uk website. Retrieved on 23 February 2008.
- ^ Wolfshead (1968 film), as the Abbott: BFI.org.uk website. Retrieved on 23 February 2008.
- ^ The Avengers (1969 TV series, "Love All" (episode), as Bellchamber: The Avengers Forever! website. Retrieved on 23 February 2008.
- ^ The Flaxton Boys (1969 TV series), "1854: The Tutor" (episode), as Quintin Blythe: IMDB.com website. Retrieved on 23 February 2008.
- When did You Start to Stop Seeing Things?" (episode), as Sir Timothy Grange: BFI.org.uk website. Retrieved on 23 February 2008.
- ^ Mr Digby Darling (1969 TV series), seven episodes, as Mr Bailey: EPGuides.com website. Retrieved on 23 February 2008.
- ^ The Six Wives of Henry VIII (1970 TV series), as Don Gutierre: IMDB.com website. Retrieved on 23 February 2008.
- ^ Say Hello to Yesterday (1970 film), playing a businessman: Allmovie.com website. Retrieved on 23 February 2008.
- ^ List of appearances in 1971: IMDB.com website. Retrieved on 23 February 2008.
- ^ Eyeless in Gaza (1971 TV series), as Beppo Bowles: BFI.org.uk website. Retrieved on 23 February 2008.
- ^ I Racconti di Canterbury (1971 Italian film), based on Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales, playing Justinus: BFI.org.uk website. Retrieved on 23 February 2008.
- ^ The Canterbury Tales (1969 TV series), episode 5, playing a friar: BFI.org.uk website. Retrieved on 23 February 2008.
- ^ Twins of Evil (1971 film), playing a member of the Brotherhood: IMDB.com website. Retrieved on 23 February 2008.
- ^ Doctor in Charge (1972 TV series), 4 episodes, as the chairman of the board: IMDB.com website. Retrieved on 23 February 2008.
- ^ Go for a Take (1972 film), portraying a film director: BFI.org.uk website. Retrieved on 23 February 2008.
- ^ Arthur of the Britons (1973 TV series), "In Common Cause" (episode), posthumous appearance as Amlodd: IMDB.com website. Retrieved on 23 February 2008.
External links
- Peter Stephens at IMDb