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Thorley Walters
Actor

Thorley Walters

12 May 1913Born
6 Jul 1991Died
78Age at death
125Credits

Biography

Thorley Swinstead Walters (12 May 1913 – 6 July 1991) was an English character actor.

He is probably best remembered for his comedy film roles such as in Two-Way Stretch and Carlton-Browne of the FO. He also appeared in the acclaimed TV drama Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy.

Walters played Sherlock Holmes sidekick Doctor Watson in four unrelated films: Sherlock Holmes and the Deadly Necklace (1962), The Best House in London (1969), The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother (1975), and Silver Blaze (1977).

He featured in three of the St Trinian's movies, starting as an army major in Blue Murder at St Trinian's.

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He later appeared as Butters, assistant to Education Ministry senior civil servant Culpepper-Brown (Eric Barker) in The Pure Hell of St Trinian's and played the part of Culpepper-Brown in The Wildcats of St Trinian's.

In the 1960s he also appeared in several Hammer horror films, including The Phantom of the Opera (1962), Dracula, Prince of Darkness (1966), Frankenstein Created Woman (1967) and Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed (1969).

In the DVD commentary to The Man Who Haunted Himself, Roger Moore mentioned that co-star Walters lived in Dolphin Square, the prestigious apartment block in Pimlico, London in which some scenes of the film were shot.

Thorley and Richard Hope-Hawkins visited the ailing Terry-Thomas in Barnes, London in 1989. Walters had starred with Terry in the Boulting Brother's film Carlton-Browne of the F.O., and was shocked at his appearance (he was ill with Parkinson's Disease). That visit resulted in the "Terry-Thomas Gala" held in the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in the same year which raised funds to help Terry live the rest of his life in comfort. Hope-Hawkins was with Walters and actress Siobhan Redmond, when he died in a London nursing home. Actor Ian Bannen gave the main address at his funeral held at Golders Green.

Description above from the Wikipedia article Thorley Walters, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Known for

Filmography

The 80 most recent of 125 credits.

  1. 2025Mrs. Weekley's LoverFilm: Baron Von Richthofen
  2. 1991A Murder of QualityFilm: Bishop Harry
  3. 1990He's Asking For MeFilm: Uncle Harold
  4. 1988Onassis: The Richest Man in the WorldFilm: Winston Churchill
  5. 1988The Dunroamin' RisingFilm: Mr Finister
  6. 1988The Play on OneSeries: Mr Finister (1 episode)
  7. 1987Hammer: The Studio That Dripped BloodFilm: Ludwig (archive footage)
  8. 1986David CopperfieldSeries: Richard 'Mr Dick' Babley (5 episodes)
  9. 1986Paradise PostponedSeries (14 episodes)
  10. 1985BulmanSeries: Bill Dugdale (1 episode)
  11. 1985In the Secret StateFilm: Johnny Davenport
  12. 1985Screen TwoSeries: Uncle Harold (1 episode)
  13. 1984The Little Drummer GirlFilm: Ned Quilley
  14. 1983The Sign of FourFilm: Major John Sholto
  15. 1982Spider's WebFilm: Hugo Birch
  16. 1982Soft TargetsFilm: Old Wedding Guest
  17. 1980A Cup O' Tea An' A Slice O' Cake - Worzel Gummidge Christmas SpecialFilm: Colonel Bloodstock
  18. 1980The Wildcats of St Trinian'sFilm: Hugo Culpepper Brown
  19. 1980CribbSeries: CI Jowett (1 episode)
  20. 1980A Question of GuiltSeries: Sir Charles Russell (5 episodes)
  21. 1979Henry VFilm: Charles the Sixth, King of France
  22. 1979MinderSeries: Magistrate (1 episode)
  23. 1979Tinker Tailor Soldier SpySeries: Tufty Thessinger (1 episode)
  24. 1979Tales of the UnexpectedSeries: Harry Gold (1 episode)
  25. 1979Malice AforethoughtSeries: Sir Francis Lee-Bannerton (1 episode)
  26. 1979Worzel GummidgeSeries: Colonel Bloodstock (3 episodes)
  27. 1978Will ShakespeareSeries: Mr Justice Fleminge (1 episode)
  28. 1978StrangersSeries: Bill Dugdale (8 episodes)
  29. 1977Treasure IslandSeries (4 episodes)
  30. 1977The People That Time ForgotFilm: Norfolk
  31. 1977The Sunday DramaSeries: Dr John Watson (1 episode)
  32. 1977RafflesSeries: Lord Lochmaben (1 episode)
  33. 1977Silver BlazeFilm: Dr. Watson
  34. 1976James and the Giant PeachFilm: Grasshopper
  35. 1976Beasts: The DummyFilm: Sir Ramsey
  36. 1976BeastsSeries: Sir Ramsey (1 episode)
  37. 1976The Duchess of Duke StreetSeries: Bulstrode (1 episode)
  38. 1975The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter BrotherFilm: Dr. Watson
  39. 1975Chips with EverythingFilm: Wing Commander
  40. 1975GoodbyeFilm: Chalcott-Bentinck
  41. 1975The Apple CartFilm: Home Secretary
  42. 1974Jennie: Lady Randolph ChurchillSeries (4 episodes)
  43. 1974Village HallSeries: Carruthers (1 episode)
  44. 1974MasqueradeSeries: Bunny (1 episode)
  45. 1974Soft Beds, Hard BattlesFilm: General Erhardt
  46. 1973Ring Once for DeathFilm: Dr. Ledworth
  47. 1973Orson Welles' Great MysteriesSeries: Beecham (1 episode)
  48. 1973ThrillerSeries: Dr. Ledworth (1 episode)
  49. 1972The EdwardiansSeries: Edward, Prince of Wales, King Edward VII (1 episode)
  50. 1972Crown CourtSeries
  51. 1972Young WinstonFilm: Major Finn
  52. 1972Vampire CircusFilm: Burgermeister
  53. 1972The Lotus EatersSeries: Maj. Edward Woolley (4 episodes)
  54. 1972Late Night TheatreSeries: Arthur (1 episode)
  55. 1971The Persuaders!Series: John Hatton (1 episode)
  56. 1971Cousin BetteSeries: Baron Hector Hulot (5 episodes)
  57. 1971Mr. Forbush and the PenguinsFilm: Mr. Forbush Sr.
  58. 1970There's a Girl in My SoupFilm: Manager of Carlton Hotel
  59. 1970BartlebyFilm: The Colleague
  60. 1970The Adventures of Don QuickSeries: Chief Dreamer (1 episode)
  61. 1970TrogFilm: Magistrate
  62. 1970Play for TodaySeries: Old Wedding Guest (1 episode)
  63. 1970The Man Who Haunted HimselfFilm: Frank Bellamy
  64. 1970The MisfitSeries: Forbes-Erskine (1 episode)
  65. 1969CribbinsSeries (1 episode)
  66. 1969The Best House in LondonFilm: Doctor Watson (uncredited)
  67. 1969Frankenstein Must Be DestroyedFilm: Insp. Fritsch
  68. 1969The Last Shot You HearFilm: General Jowett
  69. 1969Crooks and CoronetsFilm: Hubbard
  70. 1969Oh! What a Lovely WarFilm: Staff Officer
  71. 1968Twisted NerveFilm: Sir John Forrester
  72. 1968On the Eve of PublicationFilm: Holland
  73. 1968Ooh La La!Series: The Prince (1 episode)
  74. 1967Misleading CasesSeries: Sir Joshua Hoot (19 episodes)
  75. 1967Frankenstein Created WomanFilm: Dr. Hertz
  76. 1966The Family WayFilm: Vicar
  77. 1966The Wrong BoxFilm: Patience
  78. 1966The PsychopathFilm: Martin Roth
  79. 1966Dracula: Prince of DarknessFilm: Ludwig
  80. 1965BBC Play of the MonthSeries: Col. Redfern (1 episode)

Biography and credits from TMDB. This website uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.