---
name: "Peter Copley"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/peter-copley"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "20 May 1915"
died: "7 October 2008"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 4
average_fi1m_score: 82
updated: "2026-09-16T23:03:30.513551+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."
---

# Peter Copley

Actor. Born 20 May 1915 in Bushey, Hertfordshire, England, UK. Died 7 October 2008.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 20 May 1915, Bushey, Hertfordshire, England, UK
- **Died:** 7 October 2008
- **Active:** 1967–1997
- **Also known as:** Peter Francis Gabain Copley
- **Works often with:** Christine Gernon, David Renwick, Susan Belbin

## Biography

Peter Copley (20 May 1915 – 7 October 2008) was an English stage, film and television actor. Born in Bushey, Hertfordshire, he was the son of printmakers John Copley and Ethel Gabain. He trained at the Old Vic School and made his stage debut in 1932, with his first film appearance in 1934.

He appeared in numerous television series, including *The Avengers* (1961), *Doctor Who* (1963, as Dr Warlock), *One Foot in the Grave* (1990) and *Jonathan Creek* (1998, as Eric). Film roles include the jeweller in *Help!* (1965), a part in *Quatermass and the Pit* (1967), and the Dining Hall Master in *Oliver Twist* (2005). He continued acting into his nineties and received an Honorary Master of Arts from the University of the West of England in 2001.

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

## On Fi1m (4)

- *Jonathan Creek* (1997), Fi1m 78, as Eric — [page](https://film.one/tv/jonathan-creek.md)
- *One Foot in the Grave* (1990), Fi1m 83, Actor — [page](https://film.one/tv/one-foot-in-the-grave.md)
- *Empire of the Sun* (1987), Fi1m 81, as British Prisoner — [page](https://film.one/film/empire-of-the-sun.md)
- *Callan* (1967), Fi1m 86, Actor — [page](https://film.one/tv/callan.md)

## Also known for

- *Oliver Twist* (2005), Dining Hall Master
- *Agatha Christie's Poirot* (1989), Burgoyne
- *Help!* (1965), Jeweller
- *Little Lord Fauntleroy* (1980), Reverend Muldaur
- *Quatermass and the Pit* (1967), Howell
- *The Colour of Magic* (2008), Greyhald Spold
- *Victim* (1961), Paul Mandrake
- *The Avengers* (1961), Henry Barker, Sparshott

---
© 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/peter-copley