---
name: "Robert Oates"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/robert-oates"
roles: ["Actor"]
reviewed_on_fi1m: 1
updated: "2026-09-16T21:15:58.656105+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."
---

# Robert Oates

Actor.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Also known as:** Bob Oates

## Biography

Robert Oates, also credited as Bob Oates, is a British actor. His screen credits include the role of Policeman 1 in the 1987 film *Withnail & I*, Fhloston Commander in *The Fifth Element* (1997), Cottage Doctor in *Finding Neverland* (2004), Bill Pitman in an episode of *Midsomer Murders* (2001), and Cabbie in *Virtual Sexuality* (1999).

He has appeared in numerous television series and films from the 1960s onwards, with additional roles in *The Bill*, *Silent Witness*, *Goodnight Mr Tom* (1998) and *Dandelion Dead* (1994). Oates has also performed on stage, including in the West End productions of *Guys and Dolls* (1982) and *Hiawatha* (1981).

*Sources: imdb.com, comedy.co.uk, broadwayworld.com.*

## On Fi1m (1)

- *Withnail & I* (1987), Fi1m 88, as Policeman 1 — [page](https://film.one/film/withnail-and-i.md)

## Also known for

- *The Fifth Element* (1997), Fhloston Commander
- *Midsomer Murders* (1997), Bill Pitman
- *Virtual Sexuality* (1999), Cabbie
- *Culloden* (1964), Private Alexander Laing (uncredited)
- *The Man with Rain in His Shoes* (1998), Driver

---
© 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/robert-oates