---
name: "Philip Whitchurch"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/philip-whitchurch"
roles: []
born: "30 January 1951"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 4
average_fi1m_score: 82
average_over: 4
updated: "2026-09-18T09:35:26.426347+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."
---

# Philip Whitchurch

Actor. Born 30 January 1951 in Liverpool, England, UK.

## Details

- **Born:** 30 January 1951, Liverpool, England, UK
- **Active:** 1991–present
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 81 (3), 2020s 84 (1)
- **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 1 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 1 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 3, Comedy 1, Crime 1, Romance 1, War 1
- **Screen time:** 3 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $232m across 1 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Whitchurch, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7184548, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0924360/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/5483

## Biography

Philip Whitchurch is an English stage, film and television actor. Born on 30 January 1951 in Liverpool, he trained and began his career in theatre, appearing with the National Theatre in productions including *Boys from the Blackstuff* and *Till the Stars Come Down*.

On television he is known for playing Captain William Frederickson in *Sharpe* (1994–1997), Chief Inspector Philip Cato in *The Bill* (1993–1995), and Tyler in *My Hero* (2000–2006). Other credits include *G.B.H.* (1991) as Franky Murray, *The Vicar of Dibley* (1994), *Midsomer Murders* (1997), *The English Patient* (1996) as Corporal Dade, and *The Responder* (2022). He has also appeared in *Einstein and Eddington* (2008), *Peterloo* (2018) and *The Doorman* (2020).

On stage he played Billy's dad in the West End and Broadway productions of *Billy Elliot the Musical* (2005–2010).

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

## On Fi1m (4)

- *The Responder* (2022), Fi1m 84, as Joe — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-responder.md)
- *The English Patient* (1996), Fi1m 78, as Corporal Dade — [page](https://film.one/film/the-english-patient.md)
- *The Vicar of Dibley* (1994), Fi1m 80, Actor — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-vicar-of-dibley.md)
- *G.B.H.* (1991), Fi1m 85, as Franky Murray — [page](https://film.one/tv/g-b-h.md)

## Complete filmography (57)

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

- *Missionary* (2025), as Father Julian
- *The Jetty* (2024), series, as Superintendent Needham
- *National Theatre Live: Till The Stars Come Down* (2024), as Uncle Pete
- *The Responder* (2022), series, as Joe — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-responder.md)
- *The Doorman* (2020), as Uncle Pat
- *Peterloo* (2018), as Magistrate Colonel Fletcher
- *King Lear* (2016), as Earl of Gloucester
- *Doors Open* (2012), as The Geordie
- *Interview with a Hitman* (2012), as Tosca
- *Easier Ways to Make a Living* (2009), as The Assailant
- *Einstein and Eddington* (2008), as Uncle Rudolf
- *Rocket Man* (2006), series, Acting
- *ShakespeaRe-Told: Macbeth* (2005), as Harry Gibby
- *ShakespeaRe-Told* (2005), series, Acting
- *Beowulf & Grendel* (2005), as Fisherman
- *New Tricks* (2004), series, as Peter Jacobs
- *Three Blind Mice* (2003), as Carlin
- *Blue Murder* (2003), series, as Roy Grant
- *The Last Detective* (2003), series, as Trevethiek
- *Foyle's War* (2002), series, as Ian Judd
- *Merseybeat* (2001), series, Acting
- *Waking the Dead* (2001), series, as Jim Brown
- *Doctors* (2000), series, Acting
- *Monarch of the Glen* (2000), series, as Mr. Brown
- *My Hero* (2000), series, as Tyler
- *Treasure Island* (1999), as Black Dog
- *Get Real* (1998), series, Acting
- *The Gift* (1998), as Dr. Evans
- *Sharpe: The Legend* (1997), as Frederickson
- *Plotlands* (1997), series, as Billy Reed
- *Sharpe's Revenge* (1997), as Captain William Frederickson
- *Midsomer Murders* (1997), series, as Ade Jessell
- *The English Patient* (1996), as Corporal Dade — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/the-english-patient.md)
- *Sharpe's Siege* (1996), as Captain William Frederickson
- *Silent Witness* (1996), series, as Martin Ferris
- *The Vicar of Dibley* (1994), series, Acting — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-vicar-of-dibley.md)
- *Sharpe's Enemy* (1994), as Captain William Frederickson
- *Peak Practice* (1993), series, as Vinnie Kern, Eric Clarkson
- *Sharpe* (1993), series, as William ‘Sweet William’ Frederickson
- *Blue Ice* (1992), as Blackner
- *Virtual Murder* (1992), series, as Clive Warren
- *Heartbeat* (1992), series, as Derek Harper
- *G.B.H.* (1991), series, as Franky Murray — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/tv/g-b-h.md)
- *Waterfront Beat* (1990), series, Acting
- *This Is David Lander* (1988), series, Acting
- *To Kill a Priest* (1988), as SB Officer
- *The Marksman* (1987), series, as Kelling
- *The Shoe People* (1987), series, Acting
- *Casualty* (1986), series, as Detective Sergeant, Paul Bolt, Millard
- *Defence of the Realm* (1986), as Cuttings Librarian
- *Boon* (1986), series, Acting
- *The Brothers McGregor* (1985), series, as Cyril McGregor
- *The Bill* (1984), series, Acting
- *Scully* (1984), series, as Castanets
- *Gaskin* (1983), as Mr Gaskin
- *Bergerac* (1981), series, as Sergeant Gregson
- *Van der Valk* (1972), series, as Erik

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© 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/philip-whitchurch