Thorley Walters
Acting
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.
TV Shows(35)
The World of Hammer
Self (archive footage)
1994
David Copperfield
Richard 'Mr Dick' Babley
1986
Paradise Postponed
1986
Bulman
Bill Dugdale
1985
Cribb
CI Jowett
1980
Minder
Magistrate
1979
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Tufty Thessinger
1979
Tales of the Unexpected
Harry Gold
1979
Malice Aforethought
Sir Francis Lee-Bannerton
1979
Worzel Gummidge
Colonel Bloodstock
1979
Life of Shakespeare
Mr. Justice Fleminge
1978
Strangers
Bill Dugdale
1978
Treasure Island
1977
The Sunday Drama
Dr John Watson
1977
Raffles
Lord Lochmaben
1977
Beasts
Sir Ramsey
1976
The Duchess of Duke Street
Bulstrode
1976
Jennie: Lady Randolph Churchill
1974
Thriller
Dr. Ledworth
1973
The Edwardians
Edward, Prince of Wales
1972
Crown Court
1972
The Lotus Eaters
Maj. Edward Woolley
1972
The Persuaders!
John Hatton
1971
Cousin Bette
Baron Hector Hulot
1971
The Adventures of Don Quick
Chief Dreamer
1970
Play for Today
Old Wedding Guest
1970
The Misfit
Forbes-Erskine
1970
Cribbins
1969
Ooh La La!
The Prince
1968
Misleading Cases
Sir Joshua Hoot
1967
BBC Play of the Month
Col. Redfern
1965
The Wednesday Play
Holland
1964
Espionage
Dr Cantlie
1963
Armchair Theatre
Professor Mortimer
1956
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Stanley Baldwin
1951
Movies(83)
Mrs. Weekley's Lover
Baron Von Richthofen
2025
A Murder of Quality
Bishop Harry
1991
He's Asking For Me
Uncle Harold
1990
Onassis: The Richest Man in the World
Winston Churchill
1988
The Dunroamin' Rising
Mr Finister
1988
Hammer: The Studio That Dripped Blood
Ludwig (archive footage)
1987
In the Secret State
Johnny Davenport
1985
The Little Drummer Girl
Ned Quilley
1984
The Sign of Four
Major John Sholto
1983
Spider's Web
Hugo Birch
1982
Soft Targets
Old Wedding Guest
1982
A Cup O' Tea An' A Slice O' Cake - Worzel Gummidge Christmas Special
Colonel Bloodstock
1980
The Wildcats of St Trinian's
Hugo Culpepper Brown
1980
Henry V
Charles the Sixth, King of France
1979
The People That Time Forgot
Norfolk
1977
Silver Blaze
Dr. Watson
1977
James and the Giant Peach
Grasshopper
1976
Beasts: The Dummy
Sir Ramsey
1976
The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother
Dr. Watson
1975
Chips with Everything
Wing Commander
1975
Goodbye
Chalcott-Bentinck
1975
The Apple Cart
Home Secretary
1975
Soft Beds, Hard Battles
General Erhardt
1974
Ring Once for Death
Dr. Ledworth
1973
Young Winston
Major Finn
1972
Vampire Circus
Burgermeister
1972
Mr. Forbush and the Penguins
Mr. Forbush Sr.
1971
There's a Girl in My Soup
Manager of Carlton Hotel
1970
Bartleby
The Colleague
1970
Trog
Magistrate
1970
The Man Who Haunted Himself
Frank Bellamy
1970
The Best House in London
Doctor Watson (uncredited)
1969
Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed
Insp. Fritsch
1969
The Last Shot You Hear
General Jowett
1969
Crooks and Coronets
Hubbard
1969
Oh! What a Lovely War
Staff Officer
1969
Twisted Nerve
Sir John Forrester
1968
On the Eve of Publication
Holland
1968
Frankenstein Created Woman
Dr. Hertz
1967
The Family Way
Vicar
1966
The Wrong Box
Patience
1966
The Psychopath
Martin Roth
1966
Dracula: Prince of Darkness
Ludwig
1966
Rotten to the Core
Chief Constable Preston
1965
Joey Boy
Col. Grant
1965
A Home of Your Own
Estate agent
1964
The Earth Dies Screaming
Edgar Otis
1964
Ring of Spies
Cmdr. Winters
1964
Heavens Above!
Tranquilax Executive
1963
Sherlock Holmes and the Deadly Necklace
Dr. Watson
1962
The Phantom of the Opera
Lattimer
1962
Petticoat Pirates
Captain Jerome Robertson
1961
Murder She Said
Cedric Ackenthorpe
1961
Invasion Quartet
1961
The Pure Hell of St Trinian's
Butters
1960
Two-Way Stretch
Colonel Parkright
1960
Suspect
Special Agent Prince
1960
A French Mistress
Colonel Edmonds
1960
Don't Panic Chaps
1959
Carlton-Browne of the F.O.
Colonel Bellingham
1959
Happy Is the Bride
Jim
1958
A Lady Mislaid
Mr. Smith
1958
Blue Murder at St Trinian's
Major Whitehart
1957
The Birthday Present
Photographer
1957
The Truth About Women
Trevor Eaton
1957
Second Fiddle
Charles
1957
The Passionate Stranger
Jimmy
1957
The Baby and the Battleship
Lt. Setley
1956
Who Done It?
Raymond Courtney
1956
Private's Progress
Captain Bootle
1956
You Can't Escape
Chadwick
1956
Josephine and Men
Salesman
1955
Captain Boycott
Army Officer (uncredited)
1947
Waltz Time
Stefan Ravenne
1945
They Were Sisters
Channing
1945
Medal for the General
Andrew
1944
It Happened to One Man
Ronnie
1940
Secret Journey
Max Von Reimer
1939
The Kindled Flame
Cleon
1939
Design for Murder
Huey Frazer
1939
Life of St. Paul
Unidentified role
1938
The Love Test
Chemist
1935
Once in a New Moon
Beamish
1935