Movies
TV Shows
People

Thorley Walters

Known For
Acting

Known Credits
126

Gender
Male

Birthday
May 12, 1913 (113 years old)

Place of Birth
Teigngrace, Devon, England, UK

Thorley Walters

Biography

Thorley Swinstead Walters (12 May 1913 – 6 July 1991) was an English character actor.

He is probably best remembered for his comedy film roles such as in Two-Way Stretch and Carlton-Browne of the FO. He also appeared in the acclaimed TV drama Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy.

Walters played Sherlock Holmes sidekick Doctor Watson in four unrelated films: Sherlock Holmes and the Deadly Necklace (1962), The Best House in London (1969), The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother (1975), and Silver Blaze (1977).

He featured in three of the St Trinian's movies, starting as an army major in Blue Murder at St Trinian's. He later appeared as Butters, assistant to Education Ministry senior civil servant Culpepper-Brown (Eric Barker) in The Pure Hell of St Trinian's and played the part of Culpepper-Brown in The Wildcats of St Trinian's.

In the 1960s he also appeared in several Hammer horror films, including The Phantom of the Opera (1962), Dracula, Prince of Darkness (1966), Frankenstein Created Woman (1967) and Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed (1969).

In the DVD commentary to The Man Who Haunted Himself, Roger Moore mentioned that co-star Walters lived in Dolphin Square, the prestigious apartment block in Pimlico, London in which some scenes of the film were shot.

Thorley and Richard Hope-Hawkins visited the ailing Terry-Thomas in Barnes, London in 1989. Walters had starred with Terry in the Boulting Brother's film Carlton-Browne of the F.O., and was shocked at his appearance (he was ill with Parkinson's Disease). That visit resulted in the "Terry-Thomas Gala" held in the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in the same year which raised funds to help Terry live the rest of his life in comfort. Hope-Hawkins was with Walters and actress Siobhan Redmond, when he died in a London nursing home. Actor Ian Bannen gave the main address at his funeral held at Golders Green.

Description above from the Wikipedia article Thorley Walters, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Known For

Acting

2025Mrs. Weekley's Loveras Baron Von Richthofen
1994The World of Hammeras Self (archive footage)
1991A Murder of Qualityas Bishop Harry
1990He's Asking For Meas Uncle Harold
1988Onassis: The Richest Man in the Worldas Winston Churchill
1988The Dunroamin' Risingas Mr Finister
1988The Play on Oneas Mr Finister
1987Hammer: The Studio That Dripped Bloodas Ludwig (archive footage)
1986David Copperfieldas Richard 'Mr Dick' Babley
1986Paradise Postponedas
1985Bulmanas Bill Dugdale
1985In the Secret Stateas Johnny Davenport
1985Screen Twoas Uncle Harold
1984The Little Drummer Girlas Ned Quilley
1983The Sign of Fouras Major John Sholto
1982Spider's Webas Hugo Birch
1982Soft Targetsas Old Wedding Guest
1980A Cup O' Tea An' A Slice O' Cake - Worzel Gummidge Christmas Specialas Colonel Bloodstock
1980The Wildcats of St Trinian'sas Hugo Culpepper Brown
1980Cribbas CI Jowett
1980A Question of Guiltas Sir Charles Russell
1979Henry Vas Charles the Sixth, King of France
1979Minderas Magistrate
1979Tinker Tailor Soldier Spyas Tufty Thessinger
1979Tales of the Unexpectedas Harry Gold
1979Malice Aforethoughtas Sir Francis Lee-Bannerton
1979Worzel Gummidgeas Colonel Bloodstock
1978Life of Shakespeareas Mr. Justice Fleminge
1978Will Shakespeareas Mr Justice Fleminge
1978Strangersas Bill Dugdale
1977Treasure Islandas
1977The People That Time Forgotas Norfolk
1977The Sunday Dramaas Dr John Watson
1977Rafflesas Lord Lochmaben
1977Silver Blazeas Dr. Watson
1976James and the Giant Peachas Grasshopper
1976Beasts: The Dummyas Sir Ramsey
1976Beastsas Sir Ramsey
1976The Duchess of Duke Streetas Bulstrode
1975The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brotheras Dr. Watson
1975Chips with Everythingas Wing Commander
1975Goodbyeas Chalcott-Bentinck
1975The Apple Cartas Home Secretary
1974Jennie: Lady Randolph Churchillas
1974Masqueradeas Bunny
1974Soft Beds, Hard Battlesas General Erhardt
1973Ring Once for Deathas Dr. Ledworth
1973Orson Welles' Great Mysteriesas Beecham
1973Thrilleras Dr. Ledworth
1972The Edwardiansas Edward, Prince of Wales
1972The Edwardiansas King Edward VII
1972Crown Courtas
1972Young Winstonas Major Finn
1972Vampire Circusas Burgermeister
1972The Lotus Eatersas Maj. Edward Woolley
1972Late Night Theatreas Arthur
1971The Persuaders!as John Hatton
1971Cousin Betteas Baron Hector Hulot
1971Mr. Forbush and the Penguinsas Mr. Forbush Sr.
1970There's a Girl in My Soupas Manager of Carlton Hotel
1970Bartlebyas The Colleague
1970The Adventures of Don Quickas Chief Dreamer
1970Trogas Magistrate
1970Play for Todayas Old Wedding Guest
1970The Man Who Haunted Himselfas Frank Bellamy
1970The Misfitas Forbes-Erskine
1969Cribbinsas
1969The Best House in Londonas Doctor Watson (uncredited)
1969Frankenstein Must Be Destroyedas Insp. Fritsch
1969The Last Shot You Hearas General Jowett
1969Crooks and Coronetsas Hubbard
1969Oh! What a Lovely Waras Staff Officer
1968Twisted Nerveas Sir John Forrester
1968On the Eve of Publicationas Holland
1968Ooh La La!as The Prince
1967Misleading Casesas Sir Joshua Hoot
1967Frankenstein Created Womanas Dr. Hertz
1966The Family Wayas Vicar
1966The Wrong Boxas Patience
1966The Psychopathas Martin Roth
1966Dracula: Prince of Darknessas Ludwig
1965BBC Play of the Monthas Col. Redfern
1965Rotten to the Coreas Chief Constable Preston
1965Joey Boyas Col. Grant
1964A Home of Your Ownas Estate agent
1964The Earth Dies Screamingas Edgar Otis
1964The Wednesday Playas Holland
1964Ring of Spiesas Cmdr. Winters
1963Espionageas Dr Cantlie
1963Heavens Above!as Tranquilax Executive
1962Sherlock Holmes and the Deadly Necklaceas Dr. Watson
1962The Phantom of the Operaas Lattimer
1961Petticoat Piratesas Captain Jerome Robertson
1961Murder She Saidas Cedric Ackenthorpe
1961Invasion Quartetas
1960The Pure Hell of St Trinian'sas Butters
1960Two-Way Stretchas Colonel Parkright
1960Suspectas Special Agent Prince
1960A French Mistressas Colonel Edmonds
1959Don't Panic Chapsas
1959Carlton-Browne of the F.O.as Colonel Bellingham
1958Happy Is the Brideas Jim
1958A Lady Mislaidas Mr. Smith
1957Blue Murder at St. Trinian'sas Major Whitehart
1957The Birthday Presentas Photographer
1957The Truth About Womenas Trevor Eaton
1957Second Fiddleas Charles
1957The Passionate Strangeras Jimmy
1956Armchair Theatreas Professor Mortimer
1956The Baby and the Battleshipas Lt. Setley
1956Who Done It?as Raymond Courtney
1956Private's Progressas Captain Bootle
1956You Can't Escapeas Chadwick
1955Josephine and Menas Salesman
1951Hallmark Hall of Fameas Stanley Baldwin
1947Captain Boycottas Army Officer (uncredited)
1945Waltz Timeas Stefan Ravenne
1945They Were Sistersas Channing
1944Medal for the Generalas Andrew
1940It Happened to One Manas Ronnie
1939Secret Journeyas Max Von Reimer
1939The Kindled Flameas Cleon
1939Design for Murderas Huey Frazer
1938Life of St. Paulas Unidentified role
1935The Love Testas Chemist
1935Once in a New Moonas Beamish

Production