Oloe Krohn "Olaf" Pooley (13 March 1914 – 14 July 2015) was an English actor, screenwriter and painter. As an actor, he appeared as Professor Stahlman in the seven-part ''

Doctor Who ''Doctor Who'' is a British science fiction television series broadcast by the BBC since 1963. The series depicts the adventures of a Time Lord called the Doctor, an extraterrestrial being who appears to be human. The Doctor explores the ...

'' serial '' Inferno'' (1970).

Early life

Pooley was born to an English father and Danish mother in

Parkstone Parkstone is an area of Poole, Dorset. It is divided into 'Lower' and 'Upper' Parkstone. Upper Parkstone - "Up-on-'ill" as it used to be known in local parlance - is so-called because it is largely on higher ground slightly to the north of the ...

Dorset Dorset ( ; archaically: Dorsetshire , ) is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The ceremonial county comprises the unitary authority areas of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole and Dorset. Covering an area of , ...

. He studied painting at Chelsea College of Arts and at the

Académie Colarossi The Académie Colarossi (1870–1930) was an art school in Paris founded in 1870 by the Italian model and sculptor Filippo Colarossi. It was originally located on the Île de la Cité, and it moved in 1879 to 10 rue de la Grande-Chaumière in the ...

in Paris under the tutelage of Marcel Gromaire, before training at the

Architectural Association School of Architecture The Architectural Association School of Architecture in London, commonly referred to as the AA, is the oldest independent school of architecture in the UK and one of the most prestigious and competitive in the world. Its wide-ranging programme ...

to enable a more financially secure career option. His paternal uncle Sir Ernest Pooley, the future Chairman of the

Arts Council of Great Britain The Arts Council of Great Britain was a non-departmental public body dedicated to the promotion of the fine arts in Great Britain. It was divided in 1994 to form the Arts Council of England (now Arts Council England), the Scottish Arts Council ( ...

, secured him a job as a set designer at

Pinewood Studios Pinewood Studios is a British film and television studio located in the village of Iver Heath, England. It is approximately west of central London. The studio has been the base for many productions over the years from large-scale films to t ...

. During World War II, Pooley registered as a

conscientious objector A conscientious objector (often shortened to conchie) is an "individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service" on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience, or religion. The term has also been extended to objec ...

and volunteered as a fireman; he was subsequently discharged on medical grounds and began his acting career on stage.

Career

He wrote and appeared in the film '' The Corpse'' (released in the United States as ''Crucible of Horror''), starring

Michael Gough Francis Michael Gough ( ; 23 November 1916 – 17 March 2011) was a British character actor who made more than 150 film and television appearances. He is known for his roles in the Hammer Horror Films from 1958, with his first role as Sir Arthu ...

, and wrote, directed and appeared in ''The Johnstown Monster''. He also wrote the screenplay for a film version of Bernard Taylor's novel ''The Godsend'' (1980). Beaumont directed the film. Pooley's other writing credits include the television film ''Falcon's Gold'' (1982) and being an uncredited writer on the sci-fi horror film '' Lifeforce'' (1985). Pooley's TV guest appearances from the 1950s onwards include '' Dixon of Dock Green'', ''

Paul Temple Paul Temple is a fictional character created by English writer Francis Durbridge. Temple is a professional author of crime fiction and an amateur private detective. With his wife Louise, affectionately known as 'Steve' in reference to her ...

'', '' Jason King'', ''

MacGyver Angus "Mac" MacGyver is the title character and the protagonist in the TV series ''MacGyver''. He is played by Richard Dean Anderson in the 1985 original series. Lucas Till portrays a younger version of MacGyver in the 2016 reboot. In both p ...

'' and '' Star Trek: Voyager''. He played Professor Stahlman and his parallel Earth counterpart Director Stahlmann in the ''

'' serial '' Inferno'' (1970). He also played Lars Torvik in the first episode of ''

The Sandbaggers ''The Sandbaggers'' is a British spy drama television series about men and women on the front lines of the Cold War. Set contemporaneously with its original broadcast on ITV in 1978 and 1980, ''The Sandbaggers'' examines the effect of espionag ...

'' ("First Principles", 1978). His other appearances include the

BBC Radio BBC Radio is an operational business division and service of the British Broadcasting Corporation (which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a royal charter since 1927). The service provides national radio stations covering ...

play ''Ambrose in Paris'' (1958) and Sebastian in a BBC Television '' Sunday Night Theatre'' production of

Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...

's '' The Tempest'' (1956). Pooley had a major career in West End theatre appearing in such notable productions as

Noël Coward Sir Noël Peirce Coward (16 December 189926 March 1973) was an English playwright, composer, director, actor, and singer, known for his wit, flamboyance, and what ''Time'' magazine called "a sense of personal style, a combination of cheek and ...

's '' Peace in Our Time'' and revivals of '' The Tempest'' and ''

Othello ''Othello'' (full title: ''The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice'') is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare, probably in 1603, set in the contemporary Ottoman–Venetian War (1570–1573) fought for the control of the Island of Cyp ...

''. He was also a member of the

repertory company.

Personal life

In 1946, Pooley married actress Irlin Hall and together they had a daughter, the actress Kirstie Pooley (born 1954) and a son, comedian Seyton Pooley and later divorced. In 1982, he married director

Gabrielle Beaumont Gabrielle Beaumont (7 April 1942 – 8 October 2022) was a British film and television director. Her directing credits range from '' Hill Street Blues'' to '' Star Trek: The Next Generation''. She became the first woman to direct an episode of ' ...

, although they later separated. Pooley moved to the United States in 1986 and lived in

Southern California Southern California (commonly shortened to SoCal) is a geographic and cultural region that generally comprises the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. It includes the Los Angeles metropolitan area, the second most populous urban ...

, with an art studio in

Santa Monica Santa Monica (; Spanish: ''Santa Mónica'') is a city in Los Angeles County, situated along Santa Monica Bay on California's South Coast. Santa Monica's 2020 U.S. Census population was 93,076. Santa Monica is a popular resort town, owing to i ...

where he devoted his time to painting. He turned 100 on 13 March 2014.

Death

He died from

congestive heart failure Heart failure (HF), also known as congestive heart failure (CHF), is a syndrome, a group of signs and symptoms caused by an impairment of the heart's blood pumping function. Symptoms typically include shortness of breath, excessive fatigue, ...

on 14 July 2015, aged 101, at his home in

Santa Monica, California Santa Monica (; Spanish: ''Santa Mónica'') is a city in Los Angeles County, situated along Santa Monica Bay on California's South Coast. Santa Monica's 2020 U.S. Census population was 93,076. Santa Monica is a popular resort town, owing to ...

. Pooley was survived by his two children, Seyton and Kirstie, and four grandchildren.

Filmography

:n.b. for credit listings reference

Film

{, class="wikitable sortable" , - ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" , Notes ! ref , - , 1948 , ''

Penny and the Pownall Case ''Penny and the Pownall Case'' is a 1948 British second feature mystery film, directed by Slim Hand and starring Ralph Michael, Peggy Evans, Diana Dors and Christopher Lee. It was the first featured role for Diana Dors, the second female lead ...

'' , Von Leicher , , , - , rowspan="2" , 1949 , '' The Huggetts Abroad'' , Straker , The final film of The Huggetts , , - , ''

The Lost People ''The Lost People'' is a 1949 British drama film directed by Muriel Box and Bernard Knowles and starring Dennis Price, Mai Zetterling and Richard Attenborough. It is based on the play ''Cockpit'' by Bridget Boland. It was shot partly at Den ...

'' , Milosh , Set after the Second World War , , - , rowspan="2" , 1950 , '' She Shall Have Murder'' , Mr. White , British drama film , , - , '' Highly Dangerous'' , Detective-Interrogator , British spy film , , - , 1951 , ''

Hell Is Sold Out ''Hell Is Sold Out'' is a 1951 British drama film directed by Michael Anderson and starring Mai Zetterling, Herbert Lom and Richard Attenborough. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Maurice Dekobra. Plot A Swedish-born woman, V ...

'' , Cheri , British drama film , , - , rowspan="3" , 1952 , '' The Woman's Angle'' , Fudolf Mansell , British drama film , , - , '' Gift Horse'' , German Interrogation Officer , Uncredited , , - , ''

Top Secret Classified information is material that a government body deems to be sensitive information that must be protected. Access is restricted by law or regulation to particular groups of people with the necessary security clearance and need to kn ...

'' , Professor Roblettski ,

British comedy Throughout film, television, and radio, British comedy has become known for its consistently peculiar characters, plots, and settings, and has produced some of the most renowned comedians and characters in the world. History British comedy history ...

film , , - , rowspan="3" , 1956 , ''

The Gamma People ''The Gamma People'' is a 1956 British-American black-and-white science fiction film, produced by John Gossage, directed by John Gilling, that stars Paul Douglas, Eva Bartok, and Leslie Phillips. The film was distributed by Columbia Pictures and ...

'' , Bikstein , , , - , '' The Iron Petticoat'' , , , , - , ''

Anastasia Anastasia (from el, Ἀναστασία, translit=Anastasía) is a feminine given name of Greek origin, derived from the Greek word (), meaning " resurrection". It is a popular name in Eastern Europe, particularly in Russia, where it was the mo ...

'' , Zhadanov , Uncredited , , - , 1957 , '' Windom's Way'' , Colonel Lupat , , , - , 1959 , ''

Left Right and Centre ''Left Right and Centre'' is a 1959 British satirical comedy film directed by Sidney Gilliat and starring Ian Carmichael, Patricia Bredin, Richard Wattis, Eric Barker and Alastair Sim. It was produced by Frank Launder. A political comedy, it fo ...

'' , TV newscaster , , , - , 1960 , ''

Sink the Bismarck! ''Sink the Bismarck!'' is a 1960 black-and-white CinemaScope British war film based on the 1959 book '' The Last Nine Days of the Bismarck'' by C. S. Forester. It stars Kenneth More and Dana Wynter and was directed by Lewis Gilbert.Weiler, A.H ...

'' , Officer of the Watch on Sheffield , Uncredited , , - , rowspan="2" , 1962 , '' The Password Is Courage'' , German doctor , Based on John Castle's 1954 Second World War memoir of the same name , , - , ''The Battleaxe'' , , , , - , 1966 , '' Naked Evil'' , Father Goodman , British

horror film Horror is a film genre that seeks to elicit fear or disgust in its audience for entertainment purposes. Horror films often explore dark subject matter and may deal with transgressive topics or themes. Broad elements include monsters, ap ...

, , - , 1969 , '' The Assassination Bureau Limited'' , Swiss Cashier , , , - , 1971 , '' The Corpse'' , Reid , {{Plain list , * Originally known as ''The Velvet House'' in the United Kingdom * Released as ''Crucible of Horror'' in the United States , John Hamilton, ''The British Independent Horror Film 1951–70'' Hemlock Books 2013 p 203-207. Retrieved 17 July 2015. , - , 1979 , ''

Charlie Muffin ''Charlie Muffin'' is a 1979 made-for-TV film based on the 1977 novel of the same name by Brian Freemantle. In the U.S., the picture was later re-released under the title ''A Deadly Game''. A Euston Films production, the movie features Da ...

'' , Soviet First Secretary , , , -

Television

{, class="wikitable sortable" , - ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" , Notes ! ref , - , 1952 , ''Dial M for Murder'' , Captain Lesgate , Original production BBC Television, 23 March 1952 20.30 , , - , 1958 , ''

The Adventures of Ben Gunn ''The Adventures of Ben Gunn'' is a 1956 adventure novel by the British writer R.F. Delderfield. It is a prequel to Robert Louis Stevenson's ''Treasure Island''. In 1958 it was adapted into a BBC television series of the same title starring Pe ...

'' , Billy Bones , 4 episodes , - , 1958 , '' Colonel March of Scotland Yard'' , Carlmeddy , Episode: "The Abominable Snowman" (S 1:Ep 3) , , - , 1958 , ''

The Invisible Man ''The Invisible Man'' is a science fiction novel by H. G. Wells. Originally serialized in '' Pearson's Weekly'' in 1897, it was published as a novel the same year. The Invisible Man to whom the title refers is Griffin, a scientist who has devo ...

'' , Casino Manager , Episode: "Odds Against Death" (S 1:Ep 12) , , - , 1960 , '' The Four Just Men'' , Lorenzo , Episode: "The Rietti Group" (S 1:Ep 21) , , - , rowspan="2" , 1963 , '' Ghost Squad'' , Kobelik , Episode: "The Menacing Mazurka" (S 2:Ep 10) , , - , ''

Hancock Hancock may refer to: Places in the United States * Hancock, Iowa * Hancock, Maine * Hancock, Maryland * Hancock, Massachusetts * Hancock, Michigan * Hancock, Minnesota * Hancock, Missouri * Hancock, New Hampshire ** Hancock (CDP), New Hampshir ...

'' , Ron Roberts , Episode: "The Reporter" (S 1:Ep 11) , , - , 1965 , ''

Sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes () is a fictional detective created by British author Arthur Conan Doyle. Referring to himself as a " consulting detective" in the stories, Holmes is known for his proficiency with observation, deduction, forensic science and ...

'' , Lascar , Episode: "The Man with the Twisted Lip" (S 1:Ep 7) , , - , 1966 , '' The Master'' , The Master , Southern Television six-part adaptation of

T. H. White Terence Hanbury "Tim" White (29 May 1906 – 17 January 1964) was an English writer best known for his Arthurian novels, published together in 1958 as ''The Once and Future King''. One of his most memorable is the first of the series, '' The S ...

novel , , - , 1967 , ''

The Troubleshooters ''The Troubleshooters'' (titled ''Mogul'' for the first series) is a British television series made by the BBC between 1965 and 1972, created by John Elliot. It recounted events in an international oil company – the "Mogul" of the title. Th ...

'' , Aircraft Captain , Episode: "Think Big (S 2:Ep 6) , , - , rowspan="3" , 1968 , ''Detective'' , Mr. Nash , Episode: "Crime of Passion" (S 2:Ep 14) , {{cite web, url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0558784/fullcredits/, title=Detective (TV series) Crime of Passion (1968) Full Cast & Crew, publisher=

IMDb IMDb (an abbreviation of Internet Movie Database) is an online database of information related to films, television series, home videos, video games, and streaming content online – including cast, production crew and personal biographies, ...

, access-date=19 July 2015 , - , '' The Expert'' , Adams , Episode: "He's Good for It" (S 1:Ep 10) , , - , '' Dixon of Dock Green'' , Captain Bailey , Episode: "Berserk" (S 15:Ep 16) , , - , 1969 , ''

'' , John Blight , Episode: "Who Dies Next" (S 1:Ep 1) , , - , rowspan="2" , 1970 , ''

Codename A code name, call sign or cryptonym is a code word or name used, sometimes clandestinely, to refer to another name, word, project, or person. Code names are often used for military purposes, or in espionage. They may also be used in industrial c ...

'' , Istov , Episode: "The Quickness of the Hand" (S 1:Ep 8) , , - , ''

'' , Professor Stahlman , Serial: '' Inferno'' (7 episodes) , , - , rowspan="2" , 1971 , '' Doomwatch'' , Ensor , Episode: "By the Pricking of My Thumbs..." (S 2:Ep 5) , , - , '' Jason King'' , Gorini , Episode: "A Page Before Dying" (S 1:Ep 2) , , - , rowspan="2" , 1973 , '' Pathfinders'' , Leidig , Episode: "Operation Pickpocket" (S 1: Ep 11) , , - , ''

The Protectors ''The Protectors'' is a British television series, an action thriller created by Gerry Anderson. It was Anderson's second TV series to exclusively use live actors as opposed to marionettes (following ''UFO''), and his second to be firmly set in ...

'' , Commissioner Braun , Episode: "WAM, Part Two" (S 2:Ep 9) , , - , rowspan="2" , 1974 , ''

Special Branch Special Branch is a label customarily used to identify units responsible for matters of national security and intelligence in British, Commonwealth, Irish, and other police forces. A Special Branch unit acquires and develops intelligence, usu ...

'' , Eastry Senior , Episode: "Jailbait" (S 1:Ep 1) , , - , ''

The Zoo Gang ''The Zoo Gang'' is a 1974 ITC Entertainment drama series that ran for six one-hour colour episodes, based on the 1971 book of the same name by Paul Gallico. Plot Five French Resistance fighters, known by their animal-based code names (the Wo ...

'' , Inspector , Episode: "The Twisted Cross" (S 1:Ep 6) , , - , 1978 , ''

'' , Lars Torvik , Episode: "First Principles" (S 1:Ep 1) , , - , 1984 , ''

Scarecrow and Mrs. King ''Scarecrow and Mrs. King'' is an American television series that aired from October 3, 1983, to September 10, 1987, on CBS. The show starred Kate Jackson and Bruce Boxleitner, as divorced housewife Amanda King and top-level "Agency" operative ...

'' , Claude , Episode: "The Artful Dodger" (S 1:Ep17) , , - , 1985 , ''

'' , Dr. Sidney Marlow , Episode: "Pilot" (S 1:Ep 1) , , - , 1986 , ''

Hill Street Blues ''Hill Street Blues'' is an American serial police procedural television series that aired on NBC in prime-time from January 15, 1981, to May 12, 1987, for 146 episodes. The show chronicles the lives of the staff of a single police station loca ...

'' , Jaeger , Episode: "Suitcase" (S 7:Ep 1) , , - , 1992 , '' L.A. Law'' , Dr. Stanley Schulan , Episode: "Great Balls Afire" (S 6:Ep 15) , , - , 1996 , '' Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman'' , Judge , Episode: "Eye for an Eye" (S 4:Ep 20) , , - , 2000 , '' Star Trek: Voyager'' , Cleric , Episode: " Blink of an Eye" (S 6:Ep 12) , , -

References

{{reflist

External links

* {{IMDb name, 0690905 * {{TV Guide person, 261275
Olaf Pooley
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a

Olaf Pooley
at Theatricalia {{Authority control {{DEFAULTSORT:Pooley, Olaf 1914 births 2015 deaths 20th-century English painters 21st-century English painters Académie Colarossi alumni Alumni of Chelsea College of Arts Alumni of the Architectural Association School of Architecture British conscientious objectors British expatriate male actors in the United States English male painters English people of Danish descent English film directors English male film actors English male radio actors English male stage actors English male television actors People from Parkstone English centenarians Men centenarians 20th-century English male actors 21st-century English male actors Male actors from Dorset 20th-century English male artists 21st-century English male artists