Peter Ellis (actor)

Peter Ellis (born 30 May 1936) is an English actor. Ellis has worked extensively in theatre and television both as an actor and director. He spent four seasons with the Royal Shakespeare Company, as well as spending five years at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, and three years with the Old Vic Company which included playing Benvolio in Zeffirelli's ''Romeo and Juliet'', Hotspur in ''Henry IV, Part 1'' and later Rosencrantz in a world tour of ''Hamlet'' starring Derek Jacobi. He also played Guildenstern in ''Hamlet'' on the site of the new Globe Theatre.

In the West End he appeared in ''The Tulip Tree'' and in Ray Cooney's ''Funny Money''. He is perhaps best known for playing the role of Chief Superintendent Charles Brownlow in the long running ITV drama ''The Bill''. Has also appeared as a semi-regular in ''Emmerdale Farm'' and ''Coronation Street''. Other series include ''Sam'' ''Lyttons Diary'', ''Edward and Mrs Simpson'', ''The XYY Man'', ''Nolan'', ''The Les Dawson Show'', Victoria Wood's play ''Talent'' for Granada and ''Acorn Antiques'' for BBC TV. He appeared in the David Mercer television play ''In Two Minds'' (1967), a work which was directed by Ken Loach. Ellis also appeared as a Jury Foreman in Granada Television’s daytime legal drama series ''Crown Court,'' the case of ''Regina v Vennings & Vennings''.

In 1981 Ellis appeared as a police officer in Trafalgar Square in the horror film ''An American Werewolf in London''. In 1983, he appeared in the play ''Trafford Tanzi'', starring Toyah Willcox, at the Mermaid Theatre in London.

Ellis was a regular cast member of ''The Bill'' from the first series in 1984 until 2000 when he left the series. His last episode was written by his son Hugh Ellis who went on to write the award-winning feature ''Summer'' starring Robert Carlyle. However he did return to ''The Bill'' in 2002 for a guest appearance. He also appeared in Hugh's film ''The Mortician's Tea Party'' playing Jed.

Ellis played the title role in ''The Mikado'', Carl Rosa's opera tour of Australia.

Ellis played Mr Bennet opposite Susan Hampshire in Bath Theatre tour of ''Pride and Prejudice'', Sorin in the Bristol Old Vic production of ''The Seagull''.
More recently Ellis directed his wife Anita Parry in the comedy drama ''What Would Helen Mirren Do?'' for the Edinburgh Festival 2010. "lnterview: Peter Ellis and Anita Parry of What Would Helen Mirren Do?"
''The Scotsman'' (7 August 2010). Retrieved 22 March 2016.

In 2011 he played Adam/Corin in Shakespeare's ''As You Like It'' at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester. Ellis has also appeared in ''Hindle Wakes'' at the Finbourgh Theatre.

In 2018, Ellis starred in ''For King & Country'' at the Southwark Playhouse.

Career

Recent theatre:
* Mr Bennett - in ''Pride & Prejudice'' for Bath Theatre Royal and tour
* Sorin - ''The Seagull'', Bristol Old Vic
* Gracechurch in ''Topless Mum'' at the Tobacco Factory, Bristol
* The Magistrate in ''Puntilla and his man Mattie'' - Coventry Belgrade Theatre,
* The Muralist in ''The Hidden City'' - Part Exchange Theatre, Plymouth
* Director - ''Fen'', Cygnet New Theatre, Exeter

Television includes:
* ''The Bill'' (16 years playing Chief Superintendent Brownlow)
* ''Lytton's Diary''
* ''Acorn Antiques''
* ''Talent''
* ''In Two Minds''
* ''First Amongst Equals''
* ''Sam''
Other theatre: West End
* ''Trafford Tanzi''
* ''Funny Money'' - Ray Cooney
* ''The Tulip Tree''

Old Vic (4 seasons)
RSC (4 seasons)
Crucible, Sheffield (5 seasons)
West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds
Birmingham Rep
Nottingham Playhouse

Tours with:
Prospect
Belt and Braces
Temba

Worked extensively in radio mainly for BBC Radio 4

In 2012, he toured the UK in a production of ''The Cemetery Club'' alongside Anne Charleston, Anita Harris and Shirley-Anne Field

References

External links

*

Peter Ellis
at the British Film Institute

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ellis, Peter
1936 births
Living people
English male film actors
English male television actors