---
name: "John Horsley"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/john-horsley"
fi1m_id: "john-horsley"
imdb_id: "nm0395443"
tmdb_id: 47569
wikidata_id: "Q3181781"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "21 July 1920"
died: "12 January 2014"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 4
average_fi1m_score: 71
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 3
updated: "2026-10-07T10:21:33.574938+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 Horsley

## Identity

John Horsley

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/john-horsley
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** john-horsley
- **IMDb ID:** nm0395443
- **TMDB ID:** 47569
- **Wikidata ID:** Q3181781
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Horsley_(actor), https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3181781, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0395443/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/47569

Actor. Born 21 July 1920 in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, England, UK. Died 12 January 2014.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 21 July 1920, Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, England, UK
- **Died:** 12 January 2014
- **Active:** 1976–1987
- **Also known as:** John Horseley, Джон Хорсли, John Lovell Horsley
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 4: 3 acting, 1 other
- **Average Fi1m score:** 71, as actor, over 3 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1950s 76 (1), 1970s 83 (1), 1980s 66 (2)
- **Score spread:** 1 at 80+, 1 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 1 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Comedy 2, Action 1, Thriller 1
- **Screen time:** 2 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $12m across 1 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Horsley_(actor), https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3181781, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0395443/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/47569

## Biography

John Lovell Horsley (21 July 1920 – 12 January 2014) was an English character actor. Born in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, the son of a doctor, he made his professional stage debut at the Theatre Royal, Bournemouth, and appeared in repertory theatre before serving in the British Army during the Second World War.

Horsley worked extensively in film and television from the 1950s onwards, often cast as doctors or authority figures. He played a doctor in *Hell Drivers* (1957) and appeared in *Ben-Hur* (1959), *Sink the Bismarck!* (1960) and *The Fourth Protocol* (1987). He is best known for portraying Doc Morrissey, the bumbling company doctor whose catchphrase was "Take two aspirins", in the BBC sitcom *The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin* (1976–79); he reprised the role in the 1996 sequel series. Other television credits include *The Avengers* (1961), *Robin of Sherwood* (1984), *Agatha Christie's Poirot* (1994) as Tressilian, *You Rang, M'Lord?* (1990–93) and a final role in the 1997 adaptation of *Rebecca*.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, thetimes.com, telegraph.co.uk.*

## On Fi1m (4)

### Performed in (3) — the average rests on these

- *The Fourth Protocol* (1987), Fi1m 57, as Sir Anthony Plumb — [page](https://film.one/film/the-fourth-protocol.md)
- *Hi-de-Hi!* (1980), Fi1m 74, as Clive — [page](https://film.one/tv/hi-de-hi.md)
- *The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin* (1976), Fi1m 83, as Doc Morrissey — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-fall-and-rise-of-reginald-perrin.md)

### Also credited (1) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited

- *Ben-Hur* (1959), Fi1m 76, as Spintho (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/ben-hur.md)

## Complete filmography (137)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Rebecca* (1997), series, as Frith
- *The Legacy of Reginald Perrin* (1996), series, as Doc Morrisey
- *Kavanagh Q.C.* (1995), series, as Judge Garton
- *Stanley's Dragon* (1994), as Mr Little
- *Harry* (1993), series, as Mr Moser
- *Perfect Scoundrels* (1990), series, as Sir Joshua Backhouse
- *You Rang, M'Lord?* (1990), series, as Ralph Shawcross, Sir Ralph Shawcross
- *Here Is the News* (1989), as Proprietor
- *Campion* (1989), series, as Colonel Gyrth
- *Agatha Christie's Poirot* (1989), series, as Tressilian — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/agatha-christies-poirot.md)
- *Wife Begins at 40* (1988), Actor
- *The Woman He Loved* (1988), as Justice Sir John Hawke
- *The Fourth Protocol* (1987), as Sir Anthony Plumb — Fi1m 57, [page](https://film.one/film/the-fourth-protocol.md)
- *Miss Marple: Nemesis* (1987), series, as Professor Wanstead
- *My Husband and I* (1987), series, as Mr Mundy
- *Ladies' Night* (1986), as Summerland
- *Unnatural Causes* (1986), series, as Summerland
- *Hot Metal* (1986), series, as Father Teasdale
- *Lovejoy* (1986), series, as Farley
- *The Cold War Killers* (1986), as Sir Alec Russell
- *Mr. and Mrs. Edgehill* (1985), as Sir Mostyn Llewellyn
- *The Doctor and the Devils* (1985), as Dr Mackendrick
- *Affairs of the Heart* (1985), series, as Mr. St. James
- *Deceptions* (1985), as Vicar
- *Home to Roost* (1985), series, as Sir John
- *Dempsey and Makepeace* (1985), series, as Judge Lionel Hackett — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/tv/dempsey-and-makepeace.md)
- *The Box of Delights* (1984), series, as Bishop of Tatchester
- *Robin of Sherwood* (1984), series, as Abbot of Thornton Abbey
- *The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin* (1983), as Doc Morrissey
- *Secrets* (1983), as Dr. Jefferies
- *The Forgotten Voyage: The Story of Alfred Russel Wallace* (1983), as Sir Charles Lyell
- *The Funny Side of Christmas* (1982), as Doc Morrissey
- *P.Q. 17* (1981), as Admiral Nicholas
- *The Glamour Girls* (1980), series, as Pritchard
- *Oh Happy Band!* (1980), series, Actor
- *Lady Killers* (1980), series, as Mr. Justice Rigby Swift
- *Hi-de-Hi!* (1980), series, as Clive — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/hi-de-hi.md)
- *Terry and June* (1979), series, as Mr Smith
- *Love Among the Artists* (1979), series, as Mr. Brailsford
- *Tales of the Unexpected* (1979), series, as Giles Rowley
- *Edward and Mrs Simpson* (1978), series, as Norman Birkett K.C.
- *Leave it to Charlie* (1978), series, as Mr. ffolliott
- *Strangers* (1978), series, as The Professor
- *The Professionals* (1977), series, as Headmaster, Mitchell
- *The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin* (1976), series, as Doc Morrissey — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-fall-and-rise-of-reginald-perrin.md)
- *The Duchess of Duke Street* (1976), series, as Sir James Rosslyn
- *England, Summer, Sunday* (1976), as Colonel
- *Rentaghost* (1976), series, as Earl Perivale
- *Clayhanger* (1976), series, as Osmond Orgreave
- *Rumpole of the Bailey* (1975), series, as Lord Plunger Plumpton
- *The Floater* (1975), as Judge
- *Schmoedipus* (1974), as Ronnie
- *Centre Play* (1973), series, as Colonel
- *Last of the Summer Wine* (1973), series, as Vicar
- *Crown Court* (1972), series, as Mr. Justice Mowbray, The Hon. Mr. Justice Mowbray, Mr. Justice Mowbury
- *The Adventurer* (1972), series, as John Burdett
- *The Sullens Sisters* (1972), as Judge
- *Country Matters* (1972), series, as Judge
- *The Lotus Eaters* (1972), series, as Sir Hugh Russell
- *New Scotland Yard* (1972), series, as Sir James Goodenough
- *Upstairs, Downstairs* (1971), series, as Jack Challen — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/upstairs-downstairs.md)
- *Budgie* (1971), series, as Leslie
- *The Italian Table* (1970), as Sir Andrew Charles
- *The Right Prospectus* (1970), as 1st Headmaster
- *Happy Ever After* (1969), series, as Ogilvie
- *Counterstrike* (1969), series, as Chairman
- *The Main Chance* (1969), series, as Magistrate
- *The Limbo Line* (1969), Actor
- *The Champions* (1968), series, as Chairman
- *ITV Playhouse* (1967), series, as Doctor
- *Second Childhood* (1966), as Tom Dennistoun
- *Out of the Unknown* (1965), series, as Tom Dennistoun
- *You Must Be Joking* (1965), as Lloyds Committee Member (uncredited)
- *A Man Called Harry Brent* (1965), series, as Reg Bryer
- *Gideon's Way* (1965), series, as Supt. Hopkinson
- *Redcap* (1964), series, as Major Coulter
- *The Comedy Man* (1964), as Co-pilot
- *Theatre 625* (1964), series, as Hugo
- *Detective* (1964), series, as Superintendent Bell
- *The Human Jungle* (1963), series, as Percy Roberts
- *Return to Sender* (1963), as Supt. Gilchrist
- *Night of the Prowler* (1962), as Det. Insp. Cameron
- *Jigsaw* (1962), as Supt. Ramsey (uncredited)
- *Out of This World* (1962), series, as Morley
- *Serena* (1962), as Mr. Fisher
- *The Scales of Justice* (1962), series, as Nelson
- *The Sinister Man* (1961), as Pathologist
- *The Secret Ways* (1961), as Jon Brainbridge
- *Seven Keys* (1961), as Police Sergeant
- *The Avengers* (1961), series, as Dr. Grant — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-avengers-1961.md)
- *Sink the Bismarck!* (1960), as Captain - 'Sheffield'
- *A Touch of Larceny* (1960), as 1st Editor (uncredited)
- *Ben-Hur* (1959), as Spintho (uncredited) — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/film/ben-hur.md)
- *Interpol Calling* (1959), series, as Montell
- *Wrong Number* (1959), as Supt. Blake
- *Operation Amsterdam* (1959), as Commander Bowerman
- *Stormy Crossing* (1958), as Inspector Parry
- *Dunkirk* (1958), as Padre
- *Barnacle Bill* (1957), as First Surgeon
- *Man in the Shadow* (1957), as Alan Peters
- *Hell Drivers* (1957), as Doctor attending Gino
- *Stranger in Town* (1957), as Inspector Powell
- *Circus Friends* (1956), as Bert Marlow
- *The Adventures of Sir Lancelot* (1956), series, as Athelred
- *The Weapon* (1956), as Johnson
- *Breakaway* (1956), as Michael Matlock
- *Bond of Fear* (1956), as Motor Cycle Policeman
- *Peril for the Guy* (1956), as Fireman
- *A Time to Kill* (1955), as Peter Hastings
- *They Can't Hang Me* (1955), as Assistant Commissioner
- *The Adventures of Robin Hood* (1955), series, as Sir Guy Quentin, Bligh Denton
- *Barbados Quest* (1955), as Det. Insp. Taylor
- *Little Red Monkey* (1955), as Det. Sgt. Gibson
- *Above Us the Waves* (1955), as Lt. Anderson
- *Mad About Men* (1954), as Sports Organiser (uncredited)
- *Delayed Action* (1954), as Worsley
- *Father Brown* (1954), as Inspector Wilkins
- *Forbidden Cargo* (1954), as Customs Officer
- *Night People* (1954), as Lt. Col. Stanways
- *Double Exposure* (1954), as Lamport
- *Impulse* (1954), as police officer
- *Meet Mr. Malcolm* (1954), as Tony Barlow
- *Personal Affair* (1953), as Parson (uncredited)
- *Recoil* (1953), as Inspector Trubridge
- *Wheel of Fate* (1953), as Detective Sergeant Simpson
- *Sailor of the King* (1953), as Commander John Willis
- *Deadly Nightshade* (1953), as Inspector Clements
- *The Runaway Bus* (1953), as Inspector Henley
- *Time Bomb* (1953), as Constable Charles Baron
- *The Long Memory* (1953), as Bletchley
- *The Big Frame* (1952), as Brown
- *The Frightened Man* (1952), as Harry Armstrong
- *Appointment with Venus* (1951), as Naval Officer Kent
- *Encore* (1951), as Joe, Mate
- *The Quiet Woman* (1951), as Dick Bromley
- *Blackmailed* (1951), as Maggie's Doctor
- *Highly Dangerous* (1950), as Customs Officer

## Gallery

- ![John Horsley](https://film.one/media/person/285562/gallery-ad5491e117c4.jpg) John Horsley — Image via TMDB
- ![John Horsley](https://film.one/media/person/285562/gallery-589bafce5998.jpg) John Horsley — Image via TMDB

---
© 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-horsley