---
name: "John Cater"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/john-cater"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "17 January 1932"
died: "21 March 2009"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 2
average_fi1m_score: 86
updated: "2026-09-16T21:40:11.183312+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# John Cater

Actor. Born 17 January 1932 in Hendon, London, England, UK. Died 21 March 2009.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 17 January 1932, Hendon, London, England, UK
- **Died:** 21 March 2009
- **Active:** 1976–1990

## Biography

John Edward Cater (17 January 1932 – 21 March 2009) was an English actor. Born in Hendon, north London, he trained at RADA after national service in the Royal Army Educational Corps and began his career in repertory theatre before joining the first London season of the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1961.

Cater became a familiar face on British television in series including *Doctor Who*, *The Avengers*, *Dad's Army*, *The Duchess of Duke Street* (as hall porter Mr Starr) and *I, Claudius* (1976), in which he played Narcissus. His film credits include *Alfie* (1966), *The Abominable Dr. Phibes* (1971), *Dr. Phibes Rises Again* (1972) and *Captain Kronos – Vampire Hunter* (1973). He was married to actress Wendy Gifford from 1963 until his death from liver cancer.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (2)

- *One Foot in the Grave* (1990), Fi1m 83, Actor — [page](https://film.one/tv/one-foot-in-the-grave.md)
- *I, Claudius* (1976), Fi1m 90, as Narcissus — [page](https://film.one/tv/i-claudius.md)

## Also known for

- *Frenzy* (1972), Man in Crowd (uncredited)
- *Midsomer Murders* (1997), Jack Pearce, Mr Tibbs
- *The Abominable Dr. Phibes* (1971), Superintendent Waverley
- *Little Lord Fauntleroy* (1980), Thomas
- *Alfie* (1966), Siddie's Husband
- *Dr. Phibes Rises Again* (1972), Superintendent Waverly
- *The Avengers* (1961), Olliphant, DISCO
- *Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter* (1973), Professor Hieronymous Grost

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/john-cater