John Paul (20 April 1921 – 23 February 1995) was a British actor. He is best known for his television roles, particularly as Dr Spencer Quist in ''

Doomwatch ''Doomwatch'' is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC, which ran on BBC1 between 1970 and 1972. The series was set in the then present day, and dealt with a scientific government agency led by Doctor Spencer Quist ...

'' (1970–1972) and Marcus Agrippa in ''

I, Claudius ''I, Claudius'' is a historical novel by English writer Robert Graves, published in 1934. Written in the form of an autobiography of the Roman Emperor Claudius, it tells the history of the Julio-Claudian dynasty and the early years of the Ro ...

'' (1976), both for

BBC Television BBC Television is a service of the BBC. The corporation has operated a public broadcast television service in the United Kingdom, under the terms of a royal charter, since 1927. It produced television programmes from its own studios from 193 ...

. An early role was as the lead in the ITV series '' Probation Officer'' in the early 1960s. He appeared as ''Captain Flint'' in a BBC adaptation of

Arthur Ransome Arthur Michell Ransome (18 January 1884 – 3 June 1967) was an English author and journalist. He is best known for writing and illustrating the ''Swallows and Amazons'' series of children's books about the school-holiday adventures of childre ...

's ''

Swallows and Amazons ''Swallows and Amazons'' is a children's adventure novel by English author Arthur Ransome and first published on 21 July 1930 by Jonathan Cape. Set in the summer of 1929 in the Lake District, the book introduces the main characters of John, S ...

'' in 1963. He had guest roles in episodes of popular television series such as ''

Out of the Unknown ''Out of the Unknown'' is a British television science fiction anthology drama series, produced by the BBC and broadcast on BBC2 in four series between 1965 and 1971. Most episodes of the first three series were a dramatisation of a science fi ...

'', ''

Doctor Finlay's Casebook ''Dr. Finlay's Casebook'' is a television drama series that was produced and broadcast by the BBC from 1962 until 1971. Based on A. J. Cronin's 1935 novella ''Country Doctor'', the storylines centred on a general medical practice in the fiction ...

'', '' The Avengers'', '' Dixon of Dock Green'', '' The Saint'', ''

Marked Personal ''Marked Personal'' was a British daytime television drama created by Charles Dennis and starring Stephanie Beacham and Heather Chasen. The series was made by Thames Television and consisted of 90 episodes, shown twice weekly on Tuesday and Wed ...

'' and '' The New Avengers'', mostly during the 1960s and 1970s. One of his final TV appearances was in ''

Selling Hitler ''Selling Hitler'' is a 1991 ITV television comedy-drama mini-series about the Hitler Diaries hoax and was based on Robert Harris's 1986 book ''Selling Hitler: The Story of the Hitler Diaries''. Plot In 1981, Gerd Heidemann ( Jonathan Pryce) ...

'', based on the real-life attempts to sell fake diaries attributed to Adolf Hitler. During his career he also appeared in feature

film A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmospher ...

s such as '' Yangtse Incident'' (1957), ''

The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb ''The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb'' is a 1964 British horror film produced, written and directed by Michael Carreras, starring Terence Morgan, Ronald Howard, Fred Clark and introducing Jeanne Roland. Plot "Egypt in the year 1900". The mummy ...

'' (1964), ''

Cromwell Oliver Cromwell (25 April 15993 September 1658) was an English politician and military officer who is widely regarded as one of the most important statesmen in English history. He came to prominence during the 1639 to 1651 Wars of the Three Ki ...

'' (1970), '' Eye of the Needle'' (1981), and ''

Cry Freedom ''Cry Freedom'' is a 1987 epic apartheid drama film directed and produced by Richard Attenborough, set in late-1970s apartheid-era South Africa. The screenplay was written by John Briley based on a pair of books by journalist Donald Woods. ...

'' (1987).

Partial filmography

* '' The Long Arm'' (1956) - Police Radio Operator (uncredited) * '' The Girl in the Picture'' (1957) - Det. Sgt. Nixon * '' Yangtse Incident: The Story of H.M.S. Amethyst'' (1957) - Staff Officer Operations * ''

The Steel Bayonet ''The Steel Bayonet'' is a 1957 British war film directed by Michael Carreras and starring Leo Genn, Kieron Moore and Michael Medwin. Michael Caine also had a small role in the film, early in his career. It is set during the Second World War, ...

'' (1957) - Lt. Col. Derry * ''

The Flesh Is Weak ''The Flesh Is Weak'' is a 1957 British film directed by Don Chaffey. It stars John Derek and Milly Vitale. Distributors Corporation of America released the film in the USA as a double feature with ''Blonde in Bondage''. Plot Tony Giani is a ...

'' (1957) - Sergeant Franks * ''

Time Lock A time lock (also timelock) is a part of a locking mechanism commonly found in bank vaults and other high-security containers. The time lock is a timer designed to prevent the opening of the safe or vault until it reaches the preset time, eve ...

'' (1957) - Foreman (uncredited) * '' The Man Who Wouldn't Talk'' (1958) - John Castle * '' Law and Disorder'' (1958) - Customs Officer * ''

Violent Moment ''Violent Moment'' is a 1959 British drama film directed by Sidney Hayers and starring Lyndon Brook, Jane Hylton and Jill Browne. It was made as a B film for release on the lower-half of a double bill. It was the film editor Hayers' first film ...

'' (1959) - Sgt. Ranson * '' Breakout'' (1959) - Arkwright * ''

Deadly Record ''Deadly Record'' is a 1959 'B' feature British crime drama directed by Lawrence Huntington, and based on a novel by Nina Warner Hooke. It aired in the US as part of the ''Kraft Mystery Theatre''. ''Plot'': When airline pilot Trevor Hamilton's w ...

'' (1959) - Phil Gamage * ''

'' (1963) - Captain Flint * ''Take Me Over'' (1963) - Campbell Carter * ''

The Beauty Jungle ''The Beauty Jungle'' (also known as Contest Girl) is a 1964 British film directed by Val Guest. Plot Shirley lives in Bristol. While on a seaside holiday at Butlins holiday camp a young typist Shirley Freeman (Janette Scott) is persuaded by ...

'' (1964) - Advertising Agent (uncredited) * ''

'' (1964) - Inspector Mackenzie * ''

A Countess from Hong Kong ''A Countess from Hong Kong'' is a 1967 British romantic comedy film scored, written, and directed by Charlie Chaplin, and the final film directed, written, produced and scored by him. Based on the life of a former Russian aristocrat as he calls ...

'' (1967) - The Captain * ''

The Blood Beast Terror ''The Blood Beast Terror'' is a 1968 British horror film directed by Vernon Sewell and starring Peter Cushing, Robert Flemyng and Wanda Ventham, released by Tigon in February 1968.John Hamilton, ''Beasts in the Cellar: The Exploitation Film Care ...

'' (1968) - Mr. Warrender * ''

The Strange Affair ''The Strange Affair'' is a 1968 British crime drama film directed by David Greene and starring Michael York, Jeremy Kemp and Susan George. Plot Peter Strange ( Michael York) is an idealistic young police recruit who gets mixed up with the m ...

'' (1968) - Pub Group * ''

Some Girls Do ''Some Girls Do'' is a 1969 British comedy spy film directed by Ralph Thomas. It was the second of the revamped Bulldog Drummond films (following 1967's ''Deadlier Than the Male'') starring Richard Johnson as Drummond, made following the succes ...

'' (1969) - Test Pilot (uncredited) * ''

The Desperados ''The Desperados'' is a 1969 American Western film directed by Henry Levin and starring Vince Edwards and Jack Palance. Plot A ruthless preacher, Parson Josiah Galt, leads a band of Southern marauders during the Civil War that includes his s ...

'' (1969) - Sheriff Lacey * ''

'' (1970) - General Digby * ''

'' (1972) - Dr. Spencer Quist * '' The Bunker'' (1981) - Gen. Wilhelm Keitel * '' Eye of the Needle'' (1981) - Home Guard Captain * ''

'' (1987) - Wendy's stepfather

References

External links

* 1921 births 1995 deaths English male television actors English male film actors 20th-century English male actors {{England-actor-stub