Peter Jeffrey (18 April 1929 – 25 December 1999) was an English actor. Starting his performing career on stage, he later portrayed many roles in television and film.

Early life

Jeffrey was born in

Bristol Bristol () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, the most populous city in the region. Built around the River Avon, Bristol, River Avon, it is bordered by t ...

, the son of Florence Alice (née Weight) and Arthur Winfred Gilbert Jeffrey. He was educated at

Harrow School Harrow School () is a Public school (United Kingdom), public school (English boarding school for boys) in Harrow on the Hill, Greater London, England. The school was founded in 1572 by John Lyon (school founder), John Lyon, a local landowner an ...

and

Pembroke College, Cambridge Pembroke College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. The college is the third-oldest college of the university and has over 700 students and fellows. It is one of the university's larger colleges, with buildings from ...

, but had no formal training as an actor.

Career

Theatre

Jeffrey spent many years on stage with the

Bristol Old Vic Bristol Old Vic is a British theatre company based at the Theatre Royal, Bristol. The present company was established in 1946 as an offshoot of the Old Vic in London. It is associated with the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, which became a fin ...

and the

Royal Shakespeare Company The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) is a major British theatre company, based in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England. The company employs over 1,000 staff and opens around 20 productions a year. The RSC plays regularly in London, Stratf ...

. From 25 May 1966 he appeared in ''Tango'', a play by Sławomir Mrożek at the Aldwych Theatre alongside Patience Collier, Mike Pratt, Ursula Mohan and Dudley Sutton, under director

Trevor Nunn Sir Trevor Robert Nunn (born 14 January 1940) is an English theatre director and lyricist. He has been the artistic director for the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal National Theatre, and, currently, the Theatre Royal Haymarket. He has dir ...

Television

Numerous television roles include two guest appearances in ''

Doctor Who ''Doctor Who'' is a British science fiction television series broadcast by the BBC since 1963. The series, created by Sydney Newman, C. E. Webber and Donald Wilson (writer and producer), Donald Wilson, depicts the adventures of an extraterre ...

'': as the Colony Pilot in '' The Macra Terror'' (1967) and as Count Grendel in '' The Androids of Tara'' (1978). In

Granada Television ITV Granada, formerly known as Granada Television, is the ITV (TV network), ITV franchisee for the North West of England and Isle of Man. From 1956 to 1968 it broadcast to both the north west and Yorkshire on weekdays only, as ABC Weekend TV, ...

's daytime legal drama series ''

Crown Court The Crown Court is the criminal trial court, court of first instance in England and Wales responsible for hearing all indictable offences, some Hybrid offence, either way offences and appeals of the decisions of magistrates' courts. It is ...

'', Jeffrey played

Barrister A barrister is a type of lawyer in common law jurisdiction (area), jurisdictions. Barristers mostly specialise in courtroom advocacy and litigation. Their tasks include arguing cases in courts and tribunals, drafting legal pleadings, jurisprud ...

Peter Edgar QC having made a previous appearance as William Askwith Vennings in the case involving ''Regina v Vennings & Vennings''. He played King

Philip II of Spain Philip II (21 May 152713 September 1598), sometimes known in Spain as Philip the Prudent (), was King of Spain from 1556, King of Portugal from 1580, and King of Naples and List of Sicilian monarchs, Sicily from 1554 until his death in 1598. He ...

in the

BBC The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...

serial '' Elizabeth R'' (1971) and

Oliver Cromwell Oliver Cromwell (25 April 15993 September 1658) was an English statesman, politician and soldier, widely regarded as one of the most important figures in British history. He came to prominence during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, initially ...

in '' By the Sword Divided'' (1985). He also appeared in ''Special Branch'' (1973), '' Thriller'' (1974), ''

Porridge Porridge is a food made by heating, soaking or boiling ground, crushed or chopped starchy plants, typically grain, in milk or water. It is often cooked or served with added flavourings such as sugar, honey, fruit, or syrup to make a sweet cereal ...

'' (1975), ''

Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em ''Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em'' is a British sitcom broadcast on BBC1, created and written by Raymond Allen (scriptwriter), Raymond Allen and starring Michael Crawford and Michele Dotrice. It was first broadcast in 1973 and ran for two series, inc ...

'' (1975), '' Quiller'' (1975), ''

Rising Damp ''Rising Damp'' is a British sitcom, written by Eric Chappell and produced by Yorkshire Television for ITV, which was originally broadcast from 2 September 1974 until 9 May 1978. Chappell adapted the story from his 1973 stage play ''The Banana ...

'' (1978), '' Minder'' (1980), ''

Nanny A nanny is a person who provides child care. Typically, this care is given within the children's family setting. Throughout history, nannies were usually servants in large households and reported directly to the lady of the house. Today, modern ...

'' (1981), ''

Juliet Bravo ''Juliet Bravo'' is a television in the United Kingdom, British television police procedural drama series, first broadcast on 30 August 1980, that ran for six series and a total of 88 episodes on BBC One, BBC1. The theme of the series concerned ...

'' (1982), ''

Yes Minister ''Yes Minister'' is a British political satire sitcom written by Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn. Comprising three seven-episode series, it was first transmitted on BBC2 from 1980 to 1984. A sequel, ''Yes, Prime Minister'', ran for 16 episodes f ...

'' (1984), and Dennis Potter's '' Lipstick on Your Collar'' (1993). He played the villainous Sultan in the fantasy epic '' The Adventures of Baron Munchausen'' (1988) and appeared as Police Commissioner Blamire in ''

Our Friends in the North ''Our Friends in the North'' is a British television drama Serial (radio and television), serial produced by the BBC. It was originally broadcast in nine episodes on BBC2 in early 1996. Written by Peter Flannery, it tells the story of four frie ...

'' (1996). He made three appearances in '' The Avengers''; the episodes were "Room Without A View" (1966), "The Joker" (1967) and "The Game" (1968). He featured in '' The New Avengers'' episode "House of Cards" (1976)

Films

He played the role of Headmaster in Lindsay Anderson's '' If....''. In 1971, he played Inspector Trout in '' The Abominable Dr. Phibes'', a role he reprised in 1972 in '' Dr. Phibes Rises Again''. He later starred as disgraced Oxford don and psychiatric hospital inmate Ahmet in '' Midnight Express'' (1978).

Death

Jeffrey died on

Christmas Day Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people around the world. A liturgical feast central to Christianity, Chri ...

in 1999 from

prostate cancer Prostate cancer is the neoplasm, uncontrolled growth of cells in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system below the bladder. Abnormal growth of the prostate tissue is usually detected through Screening (medicine), screening tests, ...

Selected filmography

Films

* '' Never Look Back'' (1952) – Court reporter (uncredited) * '' Becket'' (1964) – Baron * ''

The Early Bird ''The Early Bird'' is a 1965 British comedy film directed by Robert Asher (director), Robert Asher and starring Norman Wisdom, Edward Chapman (actor), Edward Chapman, Bryan Pringle, Richard Vernon, John Le Mesurier and Jerry Desmonde. It was t ...

'' (1965) – Fire Chief * '' That Riviera Touch'' (1966) – Mauron * '' A Choice of Kings'' (1966) – Bishop Odo * '' The Fighting Prince of Donegal'' (1966) – Sergeant * '' The Fixer'' (1968) – Berezhinsky * '' If....'' (1968) – Headmaster: Staff * '' Ring of Bright Water'' (1969) – Colin Wilcox * '' The Best House in London'' (1969) – Sherlock Holmes (uncredited) * '' Anne of the Thousand Days'' (1969) –

Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk, (10 March 1473 – 25 August 1554) was an English politician and nobleman of the Tudor era. He was an uncle of two of the wives of King Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard, both of whom were beh ...

* '' Goodbye Gemini'' (1970) – Detective Inspector Kingsley * '' Countess Dracula'' (1971) – Captain Balogh – Chief Bailiff * '' The Abominable Dr. Phibes'' (1971) – Inspector Trout * '' The Horsemen'' (1971) – Hayatal * '' Kidnapped'' (1973) – Riach * '' What Became of Jack and Jill?'' (1972) – Dr. Graham * '' Dr. Phibes Rises Again'' (1972) – Inspector Trout * '' O Lucky Man!'' (1973) – Factory chairman / Prison Governor * ''

The Odessa File ''The Odessa File'' is a thriller by English writer Frederick Forsyth, first published in 1972, about the adventures of a young German reporter attempting to discover the location of a former SS concentration-camp commander. The name ODESSA ...

'' (1974) – David Porath * '' Deadly Strangers'' (1975) – Belle's Uncle * '' The Return of the Pink Panther'' (1975) – General Wadafi * '' Midnight Express'' (1978) – Ahmet * '' Britannia Hospital'' (1982) – Sir Geoffrey * '' The Adventures of Baron Munchausen'' (1988) – Sultan * '' Hands of a Murderer'' (1990) – Mycroft Holmes * '' A Village Affair'' (1995) - Peter Morris * ''

Rasputin Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin ( – ) was a Russian mystic and faith healer. He is best known for having befriended the imperial family of Nicholas II, the last Emperor of Russia, through whom he gained considerable influence in the final ye ...

'' (1996) - Bishop Hermogones * '' The Treasure Seekers'' (1996) - Wentworth * '' Breakout'' (1997) - Prof. Bannerman * '' The Tale of Sweeney Todd'' (1997) - Dr. Maxwell

Television

* ''The Castiglioni Brothers'' (1958) - Camillio * '' Saturday Playhouse: Conflict at Kalandi'' (1960) - Major Verreker * '' The Spread of the Eagle'' (1963) - Sicinius Velutus (3 episodes) * '' First Night: Sticks'' (1963) - Lieutenant * ''

No Hiding Place ''No Hiding Place'' is a British television series that was produced at Wembley Studios by Associated-Rediffusion for the ITV (TV network), ITV network between 16 September 1959 and 22 June 1967. It was the sequel to the series ''Murder Bag'' ...

'' (1964) - Horatio (1 episode) * ''

The Plane Makers ''The Plane Makers'' is a British television series created by Wilfred Greatorex and produced by Rex Firkin. ATV made three series for ITV between 1963 and 1965. It was succeeded by ''The Power Game'', which ran for an additional three ...

'' (1964-5) - James Cameron-Grant MP (8 episodes) * '' The Saint'' (1964-5) - George Marring, Quincy (2 episodes) * '' ITV Play of the Week: Acquit or Hang'' (1964) - Muspratt * '' Public Eye'' (1965) - Harry Lawford (1 episode) * '' Armchair Theatre: The Mandarins'' (1965) - Marsden * ''

The Wednesday Play ''The Wednesday Play'' is an anthology series of United Kingdom, British television plays which ran on BBC One, BBC1 for six seasons from October 1964 to May 1970. The plays were usually original works written for television, although dramatic ...

: Moving On'' (1965) - Staff Tucker * ''

Armchair Mystery Theatre ''Armchair Mystery Theatre'' is a 60-minute UK television anthology mystery series. Thirty-four episodes aired from 1960–1965. It was hosted by Donald Pleasence and produced by Leonard White. It was a spin-off from the successful '' Armchai ...

- Time and Mr Madingley'' (1965) - Prescott * '' Cluff'' (1965) - Reader (1 episode) * ''ITV Play of the Week: Two Blue Birds'' (1965) - Cameron Gee * ''The Wednesday Play: The Seven O'Clock Crunch'' (1965) - Martin * '' The Liars'' (1966) - Cadi (1 episode) * ''

Adam Adamant Lives! ''Adam Adamant Lives!'' is a British adventure television series that ran from 1966 to 1967 on BBC 1, starring Gerald Harper in the title role. The series was created and produced by several alumni from ''Doctor Who''. The titular character w ...

'' (1966) - Sinoda (1 episode) * ''The Wednesday Play: A Tale of Two Wives'' (1966) - Raoul * ''ITV Play of the Week: A Choice of Kings'' (1966) - Odo, Bishop of Bayeuz * '' The Avengers'' (1966-8) - Various (3 episodes) * '' BBC Play of the Month: The Making of Jericho'' (1966) - O' Reilly * ''

Dixon of Dock Green ''Dixon of Dock Green'' is a BBC police procedural television series about daily life at a fictional London police station, with the emphasis on petty crime, successfully controlled through common sense and human understanding. It ran from 1955 ...

'' (1966) - Det. Insp. Carter (2 episodes) * '' Drama 61-67' - Mr Irtin'' (1967) - Mr Irtin * ''

: The Macra Terror'' (1967) - Pilot (4 episodes) * '' Theatre 625: The Cupboard'' (1967) - Thompson * '' Softly, Softly'' (1967) - Duke (1 episode) * ''ITV Play of the Week: The Sleeping Partner'' (1967) - Inspector Baker * ''The Wednesday Play: Wanted, Single Gentleman'' (1967) - Charles * '' The Revenue Men'' (1967) - Milo Benedict * '' Mogul'' (1967-71) - Mallin, Heritage (2 episodes) * '' Dr Finlay's Casebook'' (1968) - Craig (1 episode) * ''BBC Play of the Month: Cyrano de Bergerac'' (1968) - Comte de Guiche) * '' ITV Playhouse: Inventory for the Summer'' (1968) - Mervyn * ''Theatre 625: The Pistol Shot'' (1968) - The Baron * ''ITV Playhouse: Beast in the Jungle'' (1968) - John Marcher * '' Out of the Unknown: Get Off My Cloud'' (1969) - Masham Cresswell * '' Strange Report'' (1969) - Supt. Shaw (1 episode) * ''

The Canterbury Tales ''The Canterbury Tales'' () is a collection of 24 stories written in Middle English by Geoffrey Chaucer between 1387 and 1400. The book presents the tales, which are mostly written in verse, as part of a fictional storytelling contest held ...

: The Friar's Tale'' (1969) - The Friar's Tale Yeoman * '' W. Somerset Maughan: The Closed Shop'' (1970) - El Presidente 2 * '' Villette'' (1970) - Paul Emmanuel (5 episodes) * ''Fraud Squad'' (1970) - Henry Cornwallis (1 episode) * '' The Main Chance'' (1970-5) - Hugh Neville, Kenneth Manmer (2 episodes) * ''

Play for Today ''Play for Today'' is a British television anthology drama series, produced by the BBC and transmitted on BBC1 from 1970 to 1984. During the run, more than three hundred programmes, featuring original television plays, and adaptations of stage ...

: The Rainbirds'' (1971) - Doctor * '' The Expert'' (1971) - Cedric Lambert (1 episode) * '' Elizabeth R'' (1971) - King Philip II of Spain (2 episodes) * ''Play for Today: O Fat White Woman'' (1971) - Major Digby-Hunter * ''

The Onedin Line ''The Onedin Line'' is a BBC television drama series that ran from 1971 to 1980. The series was created by Cyril Abraham. The series is set in Liverpool from 1860 to 1886 and covers the rise of a fictional shipping company, the Onedin Line, nam ...

'' (1972) - McPherson (1 episode) * '' The Shadow of the Tower'' (1972) - The Prisoner (1 episode) * '' Dead of Night: Two in the Morning'' (1972) - Wisbech * ''Crown Court'' (1972-8) - Various (15 episodes) * '' The Adventurer'' (1973) - Rymans (1 episode) * '' Barlow at Large'' (1973) - Det. Sgt. Miller (1 episode) * ''

Special Branch Special Branch is a label customarily used to identify units responsible for matters of national security and Intelligence (information gathering), intelligence in Policing in the United Kingdom, British, Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth, ...

'' (1973) - Pettiford (1 episode) * ''BBC Play of the Month: The Common'' (1973) - Edward Noble * ''

Harriet's Back in Town ''Harriet's Back in Town'' is a 1972 British television series produced by Thames Television. The cast included Pauline Yates, William Russell, Edwin Richfield and Sally Bazely. The show featured a newly divorced woman (Harriet Preston, ...

'' (1973) - Ronnie Graham (2 episodes) * ''

New Scotland Yard Scotland Yard (officially New Scotland Yard) is the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police, the territorial police force responsible for policing Greater London's London boroughs, 32 boroughs. Its name derives from the location of the original ...

'' (1973) - Chief Supt. Piggott (1 episode) * '' The Protectors'' (1974) - Police Inspector (1 episode) * '' Napoleon and Love'' (1974) - Tallyrand (7 episodes) * '' Thriller'' (1974) - Dexter (1 episode) * '' Marked Personal'' (1974) - Harry Baker (2 episodes) * ''

King Lear ''The Tragedy of King Lear'', often shortened to ''King Lear'', is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare. It is loosely based on the mythological Leir of Britain. King Lear, in preparation for his old age, divides his ...

'' (1974) - Cornwall (6 episodes) * ''Cakes and Me'' (1974) - Alroy Kear (3 episodes) * '' The Sweeney'' (1975) - Det. Supt. Pringle (1 episode) * '' Jackanory Playhouse: The Jo-Jo Tree'' (1975) - Atticus the Bandit Chief * '' Survivors'' (1975) - Knox (1 episode) * '' Quiller'' (1975) - Colonel Hythe (1 episode) * ''

'' (1975) - Mr. Wainwright (1 episode) * ''

'' (1975) - Hayes (1 episode) * ''

Jackanory ''Jackanory'' was a BBC children's television series which was originally broadcast between 1965 and 1996. It was designed to stimulate an interest in Reading (activity), reading. The programme was first transmitted on 13 December 1965, and the ...

: In the Grip of the Lemon Fever'' (1976) - Storyteller (5 episodes) * ''Bill Band'' (1976) - Maidstone (1 episode) * '' The New Avengers'' (1976) - Ivan Perov (1 episode) * ''London Belongs to Me'' (1977) - Henry Squales (1 episode) * ''Play for Today: Destiny'' (1978) - Frank Kershaw * ''

Rumpole of the Bailey ''Rumpole of the Bailey'' is a British television series created and written by the British writer and barrister John Mortimer. It starred Leo McKern as Horace Rumpole, a middle-aged London barrister who defended a broad variety of clients, ...

'' (1978) - Sam Dogherty (1 episode) * ''

'' (1978) - Ambrose (1 episode) * ''Play for Today: Victims of Apartheid'' (1978) - Canon Capper * ''Doctor Who: The Androids of Tara'' (1978) - Count Grendel (4 episodes) * ''ITV Playhouse: Children of Gods'' (1979) - John Vine * '' Omnibus: Words Fail Me'' (1979) - Father * ''ITV Playhouse: The Quiz Kid'' (1979) - Rugby * ''Spy!'' (1980) - Ambassador Ott (1 episode) * '' Minder'' (1980) - Clive (1 episode) * ''

All's Well That Ends Well ''All's Well That Ends Well'' is a play by William Shakespeare, published in the First Folio in 1623, where it is listed among the comedies. There is a debate about the date of its composition, with possible dates ranging from 1598 to 1608. ...

'' (1981) - Parolles * ''

'' (1981) - Capt. Robert Charlesworth (1 episode) * '' Bognor'' (1981) - Milburn Port (7 episodes) * '' Tales of the Unexpected: The Skelton Key'' (1982) - Mr. Stewart * ''

'' (1982) - Det. Sgt. Nuttall (1 episode) * '' The Jewel in the Crown'' (1984) - Mr. Peabody (1 episode) * '' Freud'' (1984) - Federn (1 episode) * ''

'' (1984) - Eric (1 episode) * '' One by One'' (1984-5) - Maurice Webb (12 episodes) * '' By the Sword Divided'' (1985) -

(6 episodes) * '' Lace II'' (1985) - Nicholas Cliff Sr. * '' The Last Place on Earth'' (1985) -

Lord Curzon George Nathaniel Curzon, 1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston (11 January 1859 – 20 March 1925), known as Lord Curzon (), was a British statesman, Conservative Party (UK), Conservative politician, explorer and writer who served as Viceroy of India ...

(3 episodes) * '' Screen Two: Quartermaine's Terms'' (1987) - Henry Windscape * '' Bergerac'' (1987) - Rockwell (1 episode) * '' You Must Be the Husband'' (1988) - Clifford Unsworth (1 episode) * ''

ScreenPlay A screenplay, or script, is a written work produced for a film, television show (also known as a '' teleplay''), or video game by screenwriters (cf. ''stage play''). Screenplays can be original works or adaptations from existing pieces of w ...

: The Night of Simhat Torah'' (1989) - Rev. Mendel of Riminov * ''Chelworth'' (1989) - Michael Hincham (8 episodes) * '' The Nightmare Years'' (1989) - Norman Ebbutt (4 episodes) * '' Theatre Night: Bingo: Scenes of Money and Death'' (1990) - William Combe * ''

Lovejoy ''Lovejoy'' is a British television comedy-drama mystery fiction, mystery series, based on the Lovejoy (novel series), novels by John Grant (Lovejoy), John Grant under the pen name Jonathan Gash. The show, which ran to 71 episodes over six ser ...

'' (1993) - Geoffrey Connaught (1 episode) * '' The Detectives'' (1993) - Derek (1 episode) * '' Lipstick on Your Collar'' (1993) - Col. Bernwood (6 episodes) * ''

Middlemarch ''Middlemarch, A Study of Provincial Life'' is a novel by English author George Eliot, the pen name of Mary Ann Evans. It appeared in eight installments (volumes) in 1871 and 1872. Set in Middlemarch, a fictional English Midlands town, in 1829 ...

'' (1994) - Nicholas Bulstrode (6 episodes) * '' Paul Merton in Galton and Simpson's...'' (1996) - Judge (1 episode) * ''

The Bill ''The Bill'' is a British police procedural television series, broadcast on ITV (TV network), ITV from 16 October 1984 until 31 August 2010. The programme originated from a one-off drama, "Woodentop (The Bill), Woodentop" (part of the ''Storyb ...

'' (1996) - Harry Hedges (1 episode) * ''

'' (1996) - Colin Blamire (3 episodes) * ''

The Prince and the Pauper ''The Prince and the Pauper'' is a novel by American author Mark Twain. It was first published in 1881 in Canada, before its 1882 publication in the United States. The novel represents Twain's first attempt at historical fiction. The plot conce ...

'' (1996) - The Duke of Norfolk (6 episodes) * ''

The Moonstone ''The Moonstone: A Romance'' by Wilkie Collins is an 1868 British epistolary novel. It is an early example of the modern detective novel, and established many of the ground rules of the modern genre. Its publication was started on 4 January 18 ...

'' (1996) - Mr. Bruff (2 episodes) * '' Knight School'' (1997-8) - Sir Hubert Grindcobbe (3 episodes) * '' Heartbeat'' (1998) - Mr. Ryle (1 episode) * '' Kavanagh QC'' (1999) - Sir Ronald Tibbitt QC (1 episode) * '' Where the Heart Is'' (1999) - Ronnie Lyons (1 episode) * ''

The Scarlet Pimpernel ''The Scarlet Pimpernel'' is the first novel in a series of historical fiction by Baroness Orczy, published in 1905. It was written after her stage play of the same title (co-authored with her husband Montague Barstow) enjoyed a long run in Lo ...

'' (1999) - Marquis de Rochambeau

References

External links

*
Obituary in ''The Independent''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jeffrey, Peter 1929 births 1999 deaths 20th-century English male actors Alumni of Pembroke College, Cambridge Deaths from prostate cancer in England English male film actors English male Shakespearean actors English male stage actors English male television actors Male actors from Bristol People educated at Harrow School