Thorley Swinstead Walters (12 May 1913 – 6 July 1991) was an English actor. He played comedy roles in films including '' Carlton-Browne of the F.O.'' (1959) and ''

Two-Way Stretch ''Two-Way Stretch'', also known as ''Nothing Barred'', is a 1960 British comedy film directed by Robert Day and starring Peter Sellers, Wilfrid Hyde-White, Lionel Jeffries and Bernard Cribbins. The screenplay is by Vivian Cox, John Warren ...

'' (1960).

Early life

Walters was born in Teigngrace,

Devon Devon ( ; historically also known as Devonshire , ) is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is bordered by the Bristol Channel to the north, Somerset and Dorset to the east, the English Channel to the south, and Cornwall to the west ...

, the son of Prebendary Thomas Collins Walters of

Silverton, Devon Silverton is a large village and civil parish, about north of Exeter, in the English county of Devon. It is one of the oldest villages in Devon and dates from the first years of the Saxon occupation. It has been suggested that the medieval man ...

and his wife Mary née Swinstead. He was educated at

Monkton Combe School Monkton Combe School is a public school ( fee-charging boarding and day school), in the village of Monkton Combe near Bath in Somerset, England. History Monkton Combe School was founded in 1868 by the Revd. Francis Pocock, a former curate ...

Somerset Somerset ( , ), Archaism, archaically Somersetshire ( , , ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South West England. It is bordered by the Bristol Channel, Gloucestershire, and Bristol to the north, Wiltshire to the east ...

. Walters appeared in the West End in the 1942 naval play '' Escort'' by

Patrick Hastings Sir Patrick Gardiner Hastings (17 March 1880 – 26 February 1952) was an English barrister and politician noted for his long and highly successful career as a barrister and his short stint as Attorney General. He was educated at Charterhouse ...

and the 1949 musical ''

Her Excellency Excellency is an honorific style (manner of address), style given to certain high-level officers of a sovereign state, officials of an international organization, or members of an aristocracy. Once entitled to the title "Excellency", the holder ...

'' at the

London Hippodrome The Hippodrome is a building on the corner of Cranbourn Street and Charing Cross Road in the City of Westminster, London. The name was used for many different theatres and music halls, of which the London Hippodrome is one of only a few survi ...

Career

Films

Walters featured in three of the St Trinian's films, starting as an army major in ''

Blue Murder at St Trinian's ''Blue Murder at St Trinian's'' is a 1957 British comedy film, directed by Frank Launder, co-written by Launder and Sidney Gilliat, and starring Terry-Thomas, George Cole, Joyce Grenfell, Lionel Jeffries and Richard Wattis; the film also incl ...

''. He later appeared as Butters, assistant to Education Ministry senior civil servant Culpepper-Brown (

Eric Barker Eric Leslie Barker (12 February 1912 – 1 June 1990) was an English comedy actor. He is most remembered for his roles in the popular British '' Carry On'' films, although he appeared only in the early films in the series, apart from returning ...

) in ''

The Pure Hell of St Trinian's ''The Pure Hell of St Trinian's'' is a 1960 British comedy film directed by Frank Launder and starring Cecil Parker, George Cole, Joyce Grenfell and Eric Barker. It was written by Launder, Sidney Gilliat and Val Valentine, and set in the fict ...

'' and played the part of Culpepper-Brown in ''

The Wildcats of St Trinian's ''The Wildcats of St Trinian's'' is the fifth British comedy film set in the fictional St Trinian's School. Directed by Frank Launder, it was released in 1980. The film pokes fun at the Trades Union Congress, British trade union movement which ...

''. From the 1960s onwards Walters also appeared in several

Hammer horror Hammer Film Productions Ltd. is a British film production company based in London. Founded in 1934, the company is best known for a series of Gothic horror and fantasy films made from the mid-1950s until the 1970s. Many of these involve classi ...

films, including ''

The Phantom of the Opera The Phantom of the Opera may refer to: Novel * The Phantom of the Opera (novel), ''The Phantom of the Opera'' (novel), 1910 novel by Gaston Leroux Characters * Erik (The Phantom of the Opera), Erik (''The Phantom of the Opera''), the title char ...

'' (1962), '' Dracula: Prince of Darkness'' (1966), '' Frankenstein Created Woman'' (1967), '' Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed'' (1969) and '' Vampire Circus'' (1972). He was a close friend of Hammer's most important director

Terence Fisher Terence Fisher (23 February 1904 – 18 June 1980) was a British film director best known for his work for Hammer Film Productions, Hammer Films. He was the first to bring gothic horror alive in full colour, and the sexual overtones and explic ...

. Walters played

Sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes () is a Detective fiction, fictional detective created by British author Arthur Conan Doyle. Referring to himself as a "Private investigator, consulting detective" in his stories, Holmes is known for his proficiency with obser ...

's sidekick

Doctor Watson Dr. John H. Watson is a fictional character in the Sherlock Holmes stories by Arthur Conan Doyle, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Along with Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Watson first appeared in the novel ''A Study in Scarlet'' (1887). "The Adventure of Shosc ...

in four unrelated films: ''

Sherlock Holmes and the Deadly Necklace ''Sherlock Holmes and the Deadly Necklace'' () is a 1962 mystery film directed by Terence Fisher and written by Curt Siodmak, based on the characters Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson created by Arthur Conan Doyle. It stars Christopher Lee as Holm ...

'' (1962), '' The Best House in London'' (1969), '' The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother'' (1975) and '' Silver Blaze'' (1977).

Television

Walters' television appearances included the Granada 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 ...

'', both as a judge and as a barrister. He also appeared as a barrister in the BBC Series ''A P Herbert's Misleading Cases'', starring

Roy Dotrice Roy Dotrice (26 May 1923 – 16 October 2017) was a British stage and screen actor. He played the antiquarian John Aubrey in the solo play '' Brief Lives''. He won a Tony Award for his performance in the 2000 Broadway revival of '' A Moon for ...

as Albert Haddock. He also was in '' The Avengers'' starring as Hemming in the 1966 episode "What the Butler Saw". Walters also had roles in '' The Lotus Eaters'' and ''

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy ''Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy'' is a 1974 spy novel by the author and former spy John le Carré. It follows the endeavours of the taciturn, ageing spymaster George Smiley to uncover a Soviet mole in the British Secret Intelligence Service. Th ...

''. Walters was considered for the role of Captain Mainwaring in ''

Dad's Army ''Dad's Army'' is a British television British sitcom, sitcom about the United Kingdom's Home Guard (United Kingdom), Home Guard during the World War II, Second World War. It was written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft (TV producer), David Crof ...

'', before the part was assigned to Arthur Lowe – Walters was offered the role by producer David Croft but turned it down. In 1974 he played the Prince of Wales in the TV drama ''Jennie - Lady Randolph Churchill''.

Personal life

In the DVD commentary to '' The Man Who Haunted Himself'', actor

Roger Moore Sir Roger George Moore (14 October 192723 May 2017) was an English actor. He was the actor to portray Ian Fleming's fictional secret agent James Bond (literary character), James Bond in the Eon Productions/MGM Studios film series, playing the ...

mentioned that co-star Walters lived in

Dolphin Square Dolphin Square is an estate of private flats with some ground floor business units near the River Thames in Pimlico, Westminster, London built between 1935 and 1937. Until the building of Highbury Square, it was the most developed garden squar ...

Pimlico Pimlico () is a district in Central London, in the City of Westminster, built as a southern extension to neighbouring Belgravia. It is known for its garden squares and distinctive Regency architecture. Pimlico is demarcated to the north by Lon ...

, London in which some scenes of the film were shot. Walters visited the ailing

Terry-Thomas Terry-Thomas (born Thomas Terry Hoar Stevens; 10 July 1911 – 8 January 1990) was an English character actor and comedian who became internationally known through his films during the 1950s and 1960s. He often portrayed disreputable members ...

in Barnes, London in 1989. Walters had starred with Thomas in the

Boulting Brothers John Edward Boulting (21 December 1913 – 17 June 1985) and Roy Alfred Clarence Boulting (21 December 1913 – 5 November 2001), known collectively as the Boulting brothers, were English filmmakers and identical twins who became known for thei ...

' film '' Carlton-Browne of the F.O.'' and was shocked at his appearance (he was ill with

Parkinson's disease Parkinson's disease (PD), or simply Parkinson's, is a neurodegenerative disease primarily of the central nervous system, affecting both motor system, motor and non-motor systems. Symptoms typically develop gradually and non-motor issues become ...

). That visit resulted in the Terry-Thomas Gala held in the

Theatre Royal, Drury Lane The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, commonly known as Drury Lane, is a West End theatre and listed building, Grade I listed building in Covent Garden, London, England. The building faces Catherine Street (earlier named Bridges or Brydges Street) an ...

in the same year which raised funds to help Thomas live the rest of his life in comfort. Actress

Siobhan Redmond Siobhan Redmond ( ; born 27 July 1959) is a Scottish actress, a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company, and known for various stage, audio and television roles such as Anne Marie in '' Two Doors Down''. Early life Siobhan Redmond was born on ...

was visiting Walters when he died in a London nursing home. Actor

Ian Bannen Ian Edmund Bannen (29 June 1928 – 3 November 1999) was a Scottish actor with a long film, stage and TV career. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, Academy Award for his performance in ''The Flight of the Phoenix ( ...

gave the main address at his funeral held at

Golders Green Golders Green is a suburb in the London Borough of Barnet in north London, northwest of Charing Cross. It began as a medieval small suburban linear settlement near a farm and public grazing area green, and dates to the early 19th century. It ...

Filmography

* '' The Love Test'' (1935) - Chemist * '' Once in a New Moon'' (1935) * ''Life of St. Paul'' (1938) - Unidentified role * '' Trunk Crime'' (1939) - Huey Frazer * '' Secret Journey'' (1939) – Max von Reimer * '' It Happened to One Man'' (1940) – Ronnie * '' Medal for the General'' (1944) – Andrew * ''

They Were Sisters ''They Were Sisters'' is a 1945 British melodrama film directed by Arthur Crabtree for Gainsborough Pictures and starring Phyllis Calvert and James Mason. The film was produced by Harold Huth, with cinematography from Jack Cox and screenpla ...

'' (1945) – Channing * '' Waltz Time'' (1945) – Stefan Ravenne * '' Captain Boycott'' (1947) – Army Officer (uncredited) * ''

Josephine and Men ''Josephine and Men'' is a 1955 British comedy film directed by Roy Boulting and starring Glynis Johns, Jack Buchanan, Donald Sinden and Peter Finch. It was written by Nigel Balchin, Frank Harvey and Boulting. Produced by the Boulting ...

'' (1955) – Salesman * ''

Private's Progress ''Private's Progress'' is a 1956 British comedy film directed by John Boulting and starring Richard Attenborough, Dennis Price, Terry-Thomas and Ian Carmichael. The script was by John Boulting and Frank Harvey, based on the novel of the same ...

'' (1956) – Captain Bootle * '' Who Done It?'' (1956) – Raymond Courtney * '' The Baby and the Battleship'' (1956) – Lt. Setley * '' You Can't Escape'' (1956) – Chadwick * '' The Passionate Stranger'' (1957) – Jimmy * '' Second Fiddle'' (1957) – Charles * ''

The Truth About Women ''The Truth About Women'' is a 1957 British comedy film directed by Muriel Box and starring Laurence Harvey, Julie Harris, Mai Zetterling and Diane Cilento. The film was not a commercial success. Plot When his son-in-law comes to him with a ...

'' (1957) – Trevor * ''

The Birthday Present ''The Birthday Present'' is a 1957 British drama film directed by Pat Jackson and starring Tony Britton and Sylvia Syms. The screenplay was by Jack Whittingham who also produced the film for British Lion Films. Plot Simon Scott, a top toy s ...

'' (1957) – Photographer * ''

'' (1957) – Major * '' Happy Is the Bride'' (1958) – Jim * ''

A Lady Mislaid ''A Lady Mislaid'' is a 1958 British comedy film directed by David MacDonald and starring Phyllis Calvert, Alan White and Thorley Walters. It was written by Frederick Gotfurt based on the 1948 play of the same name by Kenneth Horne. Plot ...

'' (1958) – Smith * '' Carlton-Browne of the F.O.'' (1959) – Colonel Bellingham of the Bays * '' Don't Panic Chaps!'' (1959) – Brown * ''

'' (1960) – Col. Parkright * '' A French Mistress'' (1960) – Colonel Edmonds – Chairman of the Governors * ''

Suspect In law enforcement jargon, a suspect is a known person accused or suspected of committing a crime. Police and reporters in the United States often use the word suspect as a jargon when referring to the perpetrator of the offense (perp in dated U. ...

'' (1960) – Special Agent Prince * ''

'' (1960) – Butters * ''

Invasion Quartet ''Invasion Quartet'' is a 1961 British World War II comedy-drama film directed by Jay Lewis and starring Bill Travers and Spike Milligan. It was publicised as a parody of ''The Guns of Navarone (film), The Guns of Navarone''. The screenplay was ...

'' (1961) – Cummings * '' Murder, She Said'' (1961) – Cedric * '' Petticoat Pirates'' (1961) – Captain Jerome Robertson * ''

'' (1962) – Lattimer * ''

'' (1962) – Dr. Watson * ''

Heavens Above! ''Heavens Above!'' is a 1963 British satirical comedy film directed and produced by John and Roy Boulting, and starring Peter Sellers. It was written by John Boulting and Frank Harvey, from an idea by Malcolm Muggeridge. Plot A naive but cari ...

'' (1963) – Tranquilax Executive * '' Ring of Spies'' (1964) – Cmdr. Winters * '' The Earth Dies Screaming'' (1964) – Edgar Otis * '' Joey Boy'' (1965) – Col. Grant * '' A Home of Your Own'' (1965) – Estate agent * '' Rotten to the Core'' (1965) – Chief Constable Preston * '' Dracula: Prince of Darkness'' (1966) – Ludwig * '' The Psychopath'' (1966) – Martin Roth * '' The Wrong Box'' (1966) – Lawyer Patience * '' The Family Way'' (1966) – The Vicar * '' Frankenstein Created Woman'' (1967) – Doctor Hertz * '' Twisted Nerve'' (1968) – Sir John Forrester * '' Crooks and Coronets'' (1969) – Hubbard * ''

Oh! What a Lovely War ''Oh! What a Lovely War'' is a 1969 British epic comedy historical musical war film directed by Richard Attenborough (in his directorial debut), with an ensemble cast, including Maggie Smith, Dirk Bogarde, John Gielgud, John Mills, Kenneth Mo ...

'' (1969) – Staff Officer in Ballroom * ''

The Last Shot You Hear ''The Last Shot You Hear'' is a 1969 British thriller film directed by Gordon Hessler and starring Hugh Marlowe, Zena Walker, Patricia Haines, and William Dysart. The screenplay was by Tim Shields based on William Fairchild's 1959 play ''Th ...

'' (1969) – Gen. Jowett * '' Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed'' (1969) – Inspector Frisch * '' The Best House in London'' (1969) – Doctor Watson (uncredited) * '' The Man Who Haunted Himself'' (1970) – Frank Bellamy * '' Trog'' (1970) – Magistrate * ''

Bartleby "Bartleby, the Scrivener: A Story of Wall Street" is a short story by American writer Herman Melville, first serialized anonymously in two parts in the November and December 1853 issues of ''Putnam's Magazine'' and reprinted with minor textual ...

'' (1970) – The Colleague * ''

There's a Girl in My Soup ''There's a Girl in My Soup'' is a 1970 British romantic comedy film directed by Roy Boulting and starring Peter Sellers and Goldie Hawn. Terence Frisby wrote the screenplay based on his 1966 stage play of the same name. Plot Robert Danve ...

'' (1970) – Manager, Carlton Hotel * '' Mr. Forbush and the Penguins'' (1971) – Mr. Forbush Sr. * '' The Lotus Eaters'' (1972) – Major Edward Woolley * '' Vampire Circus'' (1972) – Burgermeister * '' Young Winston'' (1972) – Major Finn * '' The Edwardians'' (1972) -

King Edward VII Edward VII (Albert Edward; 9 November 1841 – 6 May 1910) was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910. The second child and eldest son of Queen Victoria and ...

* ''

Soft Beds, Hard Battles ''Soft Beds, Hard Battles'' is a 1974 British comedy film directed by Roy Boulting, starring Peter Sellers (in several roles), Curd Jürgens, Lila Kedrova and Jenny Hanley. Sellers reunited with the Boulting brothers for this farce, in which th ...

'' (1974) – General Erhardt * '' The Gathering Storm'' (1974) – Stanley Baldwin * '' The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother'' (1975) – Dr. Watson * '' The People That Time Forgot'' (1977) – Norfolk * ''

'' (1980) – Hugo Culpepper Brown * '' The Sign of Four'' (1983) – Major John Sholto * '' The Little Drummer Girl'' (1984) – Ned Quilley * ''

The Play on One ''The Play on One'' (''Play on One'' in the final series) is a British television drama anthology series, produced by the BBC Nations and Regions in its studios outside London, and transmitted on BBC1 BBC One is a British free-to-air publ ...

: The Dunroamin' Rising'' (1988) – Mr Finister

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Walters, Thorley 1913 births 1991 deaths 20th-century English male actors English male film actors English male stage actors English male television actors Male actors from Devon People educated at Monkton Combe School People from Teignbridge (district)