---
name: "Vernon Dobtcheff"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/vernon-dobtcheff"
fi1m_id: "vernon-dobtcheff"
imdb_id: "nm0229943"
tmdb_id: 649
wikidata_id: "Q205868"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "14 August 1934"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 20
average_fi1m_score: 77
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 19
updated: "2026-10-07T13:51:31.418644+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."
---

# Vernon Dobtcheff

## Identity

Vernon Dobtcheff

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/vernon-dobtcheff
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** vernon-dobtcheff
- **IMDb ID:** nm0229943
- **TMDB ID:** 649
- **Wikidata ID:** Q205868
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vernon_Dobtcheff, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q205868, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0229943/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/649

Actor. Born 14 August 1934 in Nimes, France.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 14 August 1934, Nimes, France
- **Active:** 1969–present
- **Also known as:** Eugene, Alexander Vernon Dobtcheff, Alexandre Vernon Dobtcheff, Vernon Dobthcheff, Вернон Добчефф
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 20: 19 acting, 1 other
- **Average Fi1m score:** 77, as actor, over 19 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1960s 65 (2), 1970s 72 (7), 1980s 81 (4), 1990s 78 (3), 2000s 91 (1), 2010s 82 (2), 2020s 80 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 78 to 70 across 12 titles
- **Score spread:** 8 at 80+, 9 at 60–79, 2 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 8 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 14, History 6, Romance 5, Comedy 4, Action 3, Thriller 3
- **Screen time:** 32 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $960m across 9 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vernon_Dobtcheff, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q205868, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0229943/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/649

## Streaming the US now

- **The Roku Channel:** [*Before Sunset*](https://film.one/film/before-sunset.md) (91), [*Father Ted*](https://film.one/tv/father-ted.md) (89), [*The Canterbury Tales*](https://film.one/film/the-canterbury-tales.md) (55)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*An Englishman Abroad*](https://film.one/film/an-englishman-abroad.md) (84)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Biography

Vernon Dobtcheff is a French-British character actor born on 14 August 1934 in Nîmes, France. He was raised in Sussex, England, and attended Ascham St Vincent's School in Eastbourne, where he won the Acting Cup. He made his professional stage debut in 1960 with the Colchester Repertory Company and joined the Old Vic company later that year.

Dobtcheff has appeared in over 300 film, television and stage productions. His film credits include roles in *Murder on the Orient Express* (1974), *The Spy Who Loved Me* (1977), *Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade* (1989) and *Before Sunset* (2004), in which he played the Bookstore Manager. On television he appeared as the Old Nazi in *Father Ted* (1998).

In his 2006 memoir *Red Carpets and Other Banana Skins*, Rupert Everett described Dobtcheff as the "patron saint of the acting profession" for his habit of attending first nights across the country.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, rottentomatoes.com, tvmaze.com.*

## On Fi1m (20)

### Performed in (19) — the average rests on these

- *The Gold* (2023), Fi1m 80, as Matteo Constantino — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-gold.md)
- *The Durrells* (2016), Fi1m 80, as Mr. Kralefsky — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-durrells.md)
- *The Great Beauty* (2013), Fi1m 83, as Arturo — [page](https://film.one/film/the-great-beauty.md)
- *Before Sunset* (2004), Fi1m 91, as Bookstore Manager — [page](https://film.one/film/before-sunset.md)
- *Father Ted* (1995), Fi1m 89, as Old Nazi — [page](https://film.one/tv/father-ted.md)
- *Hamlet* (1990), Fi1m 72, as Reynaldo — [page](https://film.one/film/hamlet-1990.md)
- *The Krays* (1990), Fi1m 74, as Teacher — [page](https://film.one/film/the-krays.md)
- *Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade* (1989), Fi1m 83, as Butler — [page](https://film.one/film/indiana-jones-and-the-last-crusade.md)
- *Caravaggio* (1986), Fi1m 79, as Art Lover — [page](https://film.one/film/caravaggio.md)
- *The Name of the Rose* (1986), Fi1m 77, as Hugh of Newcastle — [page](https://film.one/film/the-name-of-the-rose.md)
- *An Englishman Abroad* (1983), Fi1m 84, as Guildenstern — [page](https://film.one/film/an-englishman-abroad.md)
- *The Spy Who Loved Me* (1977), Fi1m 77, as Max Kalba — [page](https://film.one/film/the-spy-who-loved-me.md)
- *India Song* (1975), Fi1m 78, as Georges Crawn — [page](https://film.one/film/india-song.md)
- *Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em* (1973), Fi1m 78, Actor — [page](https://film.one/tv/some-mothers-do-ave-em.md)
- *The Day of the Jackal* (1973), Fi1m 84, as Interrogator — [page](https://film.one/film/the-day-of-the-jackal.md)
- *The Canterbury Tales* (1972), Fi1m 55, as The Franklin — [page](https://film.one/film/the-canterbury-tales.md)
- *Fiddler on the Roof* (1971), Fi1m 77, as Russian Official — [page](https://film.one/film/fiddler-on-the-roof.md)
- *Nicholas and Alexandra* (1971), Fi1m 58, as Dr. Lazovert — [page](https://film.one/film/nicholas-and-alexandra.md)
- *Anne of the Thousand Days* (1969), Fi1m 60, as Mendoza — [page](https://film.one/film/anne-of-the-thousand-days.md)

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

- *Darling* (1965), Fi1m 70, as Art Critic at Ralph Riggs Exposure (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/darling.md)

## Complete filmography (253)

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

- *Doctor Who: The War Games in Colour* (2024), as The Scientist (archive footage)
- *The Gold* (2023), series, as Matteo Constantino — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-gold.md)
- *Burning Casablanca* (2021), as Corny
- *The Haunting of Margam Castle* (2020), as Enos
- *The Witcher* (2019), series, as Older Elf — Fi1m 61, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-witcher.md)
- *The Violet Hour* (2018), as M. Audran
- *The Romanoffs* (2018), series, as M. Audran
- *L'hypothèse de la reine rouge* (2018), as Sherlock Holmes
- *The Man with the Iron Heart* (2017), as Emile Hacha
- *Emerald City* (2017), series, as High Born Man
- *The Durrells* (2016), series, as Mr. Kralefsky — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-durrells.md)
- *Killing Jesus* (2015), as Isaiah
- *The Invisible Boy* (2014), as Artiglio
- *Horsehead* (2014), as George
- *Seven Lucky Gods* (2014), as Lawrence
- *The Great Beauty* (2013), as Arturo — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/the-great-beauty.md)
- *Another Woman's Life* (2012), as Dimitri Speranski
- *Zarafa* (2012), as Le vieux sage (voice)
- *The Passage* (2011), as Vieil homme
- *The Borgias* (2011), series, as Cardinal Versucci
- *Undisputed III: Redemption* (2010), as Rezo
- *Godforsaken* (2010), as The Surgeon
- *Changing Climates, Changing Times* (2009), as Lucas
- *The Little Murders of Agatha Christie* (2009), series, as Anatole Deschanel
- *The Joy of Singing* (2008), as Le lecteur du bar
- *Apparitions* (2008), series, Actor
- *La Légende des 3 clefs* (2007), series, as The anthropologist Gilles Clément
- *Priceless* (2006), as Jacques
- *Courts mais Gay : Tome 12* (2006), as Anthony
- *For the Time Being* (2006), as Anthony
- *Surviving Disaster* (2006), series, Actor
- *An American Haunting* (2005), as Elder #1
- *Empire of the Wolves* (2005), as Kudseyi
- *Before Sunset* (2004), as Bookstore Manager — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/film/before-sunset.md)
- *Evilenko* (2004), as Bagdasarov
- *Pontormo - Un amore eretico* (2004), as Riccio
- *Thank You, Doctor Rey* (2003), as François
- *Brocéliande* (2003), as Brennos
- *The Red Siren* (2002), as Vitali
- *The Falklands Play* (2002), as Nicanor Costa Méndez (Argentine Minister of External Relations)
- *David Copperfield* (2001), as Quinion
- *Festival in Cannes* (2001), as Millie's Escort
- *The Order* (2001), as Oscar
- *The Body* (2001), as Monsignor
- *Revelation* (2001), as Curé at Rennes-le-Chateau
- *Largo Winch* (2001), series, as Maurice de Beliveau
- *David Copperfield* (2000), series, as Quinion
- *Le Prof* (2000), as Patte Folle
- *The Greeks: Crucible of Civilization* (2000), series, as Cleisthenes
- *The Greeks: Crucible of Civilization* (2000), as Cleisthenes
- *Falling Through* (2000), as Father
- *Dreaming of Joseph Lees* (1999), as Italian Doctor
- *Relic Hunter* (1999), series, as Anthony Cureton
- *The Strange Case of Delfina Potocka* (1999), as Art Gallery Lecturer
- *Hilary and Jackie* (1998), as Professor Bentley
- *Jinnah* (1998), as Lord Willingdon
- *30 Years to Life* (1998), as Sandler
- *Highlander: The Raven* (1998), series, as Count Van Der Meer
- *Vigo* (1998), as Papa Lozinska
- *Spanish Fly* (1998), as Carl's Friend
- *Merlin* (1998), series, as 1st Physician
- *Déjà Vu* (1998), as Konstantine
- *The Wonderland Experience* (1998), as Vincent
- *St. Ives* (1998), as Bonnefoy
- *The Odyssey* (1997), series, as Aegyptius
- *Anna Karenina* (1997), as Pestov
- *The Hunchback* (1997), as Father Michel
- *The Ice Princess* (1996), as Chancellor
- *The Ogre* (1996), as Lawyer
- *Surviving Picasso* (1996), as Diaghilev
- *Catherine the Great* (1996), as Naryshkin
- *Jude* (1996), as Curator
- *Le fils de Paul* (1995), as Duval
- *Sharpe's Sword* (1995), as Don Felipe
- *Father Ted* (1995), series, as Old Nazi — Fi1m 89, [page](https://film.one/tv/father-ted.md)
- *Jefferson in Paris* (1995), as King's Translator
- *The House that Mary Bought* (1995), Actor
- *Mademoiselle O* (1994), as Rouka
- *Frankenstein* (1993), as Chancellor
- *M. Butterfly* (1993), as Agent Etancelin
- *The Hour of the Pig* (1993), as Apothecary
- *Sharpe* (1993), series, as Don Felipe
- *Jeanne d'Arc au bûcher* (1993), as Un Héraut / Un prêtre / Un clerc
- *Temptation of Sainthood* (1993), as Freud
- *Highlander: The Series* (1992), series, as Carlo Luchesi, Hamad
- *Venice/Venice* (1992), as Alexander
- *Obiettivo indiscreto* (1992), as Primo editore
- *Sweetheart* (1992), as Thurson
- *The First Circle* (1992), as Riyumin
- *As Time Goes By* (1992), series, as Dr. Stoker
- *The Strauss Dynasty* (1991), series, as Hirsch
- *Let Him Have It* (1991), as Clerk of Court
- *Hamlet* (1990), as Reynaldo — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/hamlet-1990.md)
- *Vincent and Me* (1990), as Dr Winkler
- *Meridian* (1990), as Priest
- *The Garden* (1990), as Old Man at Sauna
- *The Krays* (1990), as Teacher — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/the-krays.md)
- *The Plot to Kill Hitler* (1990), as Fellgiebel
- *Flight from Paradise* (1990), as Merrill
- *The Hostage of Europe* (1989), as Hudson Lowe
- *Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade* (1989), as Butler — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/indiana-jones-and-the-last-crusade.md)
- *Poor Little Rich Girl: The Barbara Hutton Story* (1989), series, as Jules Glaenzer
- *Murderers Among Us: The Simon Wiesenthal Story* (1989), as Doctor Webber
- *Natalia* (1989), as Alfred Grabner
- *Splendor* (1989), Actor
- *Berlin-Jerusalem* (1989), as Editor
- *Agatha Christie's Poirot* (1989), series, as Simeon Lee — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/agatha-christies-poirot.md)
- *The Sweet House of Horrors* (1989), as The Exorcist
- *War and Remembrance* (1988), series, as Henri Bulle
- *Testimony* (1988), as Gargolovsky
- *Pascali's Island* (1988), as Pariente
- *Catacombs* (1988), as Brother Timothy
- *Le due croci* (1988), as Bischof de Jong
- *Maigret* (1988), as Gannett
- *Fortunes of War* (1987), series, as Prince Hadjimoscos
- *Crossbow* (1987), series, Actor
- *The Name of the Rose* (1986), as Hugh of Newcastle — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/film/the-name-of-the-rose.md)
- *Caravaggio* (1986), as Art Lover — Fi1m 79, [page](https://film.one/film/caravaggio.md)
- *The Return of Sherlock Holmes* (1986), series, as Mendelstam
- *If Tomorrow Comes* (1986), series, as Boris Melnikov
- *Mussolini: The Untold Story* (1985), series, as Sebastiani
- *Tender Is the Night* (1985), series, as Luis Campion
- *Mata Hari* (1985), as Prosecutor
- *A.D.* (1985), series, as Flavius Sabinus
- *Morenga* (1985), series, as Lohmann
- *Much Ado About Nothing* (1984), as Don John
- *L'Homme de Suez* (1984), series, as Konya, Turkish Colonel, spy in the service of the English
- *Sherlock Holmes* (1984), series, as Mendelstam
- *Gwendoline* (1984), as Shirko
- *Night Patrol* (1984), as James
- *The Devil's Lieutenant* (1984), as Dr. Goldschmiedt
- *Mon Ami Washington* (1984), Actor
- *An Englishman Abroad* (1983), as Guildenstern — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/an-englishman-abroad.md)
- *Dramarama* (1983), series, as Mr. Rolyat
- *The Scarlet and the Black* (1983), as Count Langenthal
- *Nutcracker* (1982), as Markovitch
- *Marco Polo* (1982), series, as Pietro De Abano
- *Enigma* (1982), as Minister
- *That Night of Varennes* (1982), as Judge at the confiscation
- *Troilus & Cressida* (1981), as Agamemnon
- *L'Amour nu* (1981), as John, le patron de Claire
- *Goldene Zeiten - Bittere Zeiten* (1981), series, as M. Bernard
- *Sredni Vashtar* (1981), as Dr. Russell
- *Condorman* (1981), as Russian Agent
- *Le Beau Monde* (1981), as Pablo
- *San-Antonio ne pense qu'à ça* (1981), as Un tueur russe
- *Private Schulz* (1981), series, as Sturmer
- *Peter and Paul* (1981), series, as High Priest of Herod
- *Masada* (1981), series, as Chief Priest
- *Nijinsky* (1980), as Sergei Grigoriev
- *Turning Year Tales* (1979), series, as Bailiff
- *Ike* (1979), series, as Gen. Charles DeGaulle
- *Ike* (1979), as Gen. Charles DeGaulle
- *Mazarin* (1978), series, as Pimentel
- *Romeo and Juliet* (1978), as Apothecary
- *Question of Love* (1978), as Peter
- *Last In, First Out* (1978), as Le réceptionniste
- *Little Girl in Blue Velvet* (1978), as Lamberti
- *Holocaust* (1978), series, as Karp
- *Blake's 7* (1978), series, as The Chairman
- *The Roads of Exile* (1978), as Le peintre Ramsay
- *1990* (1977), series, Actor
- *March or Die* (1977), as Mean Corporal
- *The Spy Who Loved Me* (1977), as Max Kalba — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/film/the-spy-who-loved-me.md)
- *Joseph Andrews* (1977), as Fop Two
- *The Achurch Letters* (1977), as Eugene
- *Dickens of London* (1976), series, as Legal Gentleman
- *Police Commissioner Moulin* (1976), series, as Astman
- *Killers* (1976), series, as Clerk of the Assizes
- *French Without Tears* (1976), as Monsieur Maingot
- *Michael Strogoff* (1975), series, as Blount
- *Rumpole of the Bailey* (1975), series, as Edward Gandolphini
- *Rumpole of the Bailey* (1975), as Magnus Piecan
- *Lovers Like Us* (1975), as Coleman
- *Des Christoffel von Grimmelshausen abenteuerlicher Simplizissimus* (1975), series, as Dr. Canard
- *Operation: Daybreak* (1975), as Pyotr
- *The Messiah* (1975), as Samuel
- *The Secret Agent* (1975), as Karl Yundt
- *Cat and Mouse* (1975), as Germain's accomplice
- *Van der Valk and the Scapegoat* (1975), as Reinders
- *India Song* (1975), as Georges Crawn — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/india-song.md)
- *Playing with Fire* (1975), as A messenger
- *The Sweeney* (1975), series, as Harry Kretchmar — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-sweeney.md)
- *Churchill's People* (1974), series, as De Reynes
- *Scent of a Woman* (1974), as Don Carlo (uncredited)
- *Murder on the Orient Express* (1974), as Concierge
- *À vous de jouer Milord* (1974), series, as N° 2
- *Father Brown* (1974), series, as Simon Vesty
- *The Marseille Contract* (1974), as Lazar
- *Fall of Eagles* (1974), series, as Count Stookau
- *Playhouse* (1974), series, as Eugene
- *Cartesius* (1974), series, as Astronomo Ciprus
- *Soft Beds, Hard Battles* (1974), as Padre
- *Nobody Is Norman Wisdom* (1973), series, as Proshnik
- *Impossible Object* (1973), as Private Investigator
- *The Day of the Jackal* (1973), as Interrogator — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/the-day-of-the-jackal.md)
- *Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em* (1973), series, Actor — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/some-mothers-do-ave-em.md)
- *An Echo of Theresa* (1973), as Bannerheim
- *The Edwardians* (1972), series, as Benjamin Disraeli
- *Crown Court* (1972), series, as John Maitland-Wilson
- *The Protectors* (1972), series, as Joe Flynn
- *Van der Valk* (1972), series, as Sebastian Jonge
- *The Canterbury Tales* (1972), as The Franklin — Fi1m 55, [page](https://film.one/film/the-canterbury-tales.md)
- *Up the Front* (1972), as Muller
- *Far from Dallas* (1972), Actor
- *New Scotland Yard* (1972), series, as Jacob Harmann
- *Mary, Queen of Scots* (1971), as Duc De Guise
- *Nicholas and Alexandra* (1971), as Dr. Lazovert — Fi1m 58, [page](https://film.one/film/nicholas-and-alexandra.md)
- *Fiddler on the Roof* (1971), as Russian Official — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/film/fiddler-on-the-roof.md)
- *The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes* (1971), series, as Molbech
- *The Horsemen* (1971), as Zam Hajji
- *The Beast in the Cellar* (1971), as Newsmith
- *The Married Couple of the Year Two* (1971), as le pasteur
- *Them* (1970), as Brisbane
- *Play for Today* (1970), series, Actor
- *Ace of Wands* (1970), series, as Sandor Zandar
- *Darling Lili* (1970), as Otto Kraus
- *Codename* (1970), series, as Herman Voss
- *Anne of the Thousand Days* (1969), as Mendoza — Fi1m 60, [page](https://film.one/film/anne-of-the-thousand-days.md)
- *Doctor Who: The War Games* (1969), as Chief Scientist
- *Baby Love* (1969), as Man in Cinema
- *The Assassination Bureau* (1969), as Baron Muntzof
- *Beach Head* (1969), as N.G. Waldron
- *The Champions* (1968), series, as Manager
- *The Name of the Game* (1968), series, as Dedushko
- *A Dandy in Aspic* (1968), Actor
- *The Further Adventures of the Musketeers* (1967), series, as Msgr. de Gondy
- *The Taming of the Shrew* (1967), as Pedant
- *The Three Musketeers* (1966), series, as Commissary
- *Breaking Point* (1966), series, Actor
- *Mystery and Imagination* (1966), series, as Dr Lutz
- *The World of George Orwell: 1984* (1965), as Goldstein
- *BBC Play of the Month* (1965), series, as Monsieur Maingot
- *The Mask of Janus* (1965), series, as Colonel Valenkov
- *Thirty-Minute Theatre* (1965), series, as Carpenter
- *Out of the Unknown* (1965), series, as N.G. Waldron
- *Darling* (1965), as Art Critic at Ralph Riggs Exposure (uncredited) — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/darling.md)
- *Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines or How I Flew from London to Paris in 25 Hours 11 Minutes* (1965), as Member of the French Team
- *The World of Wooster* (1965), series, as Music Store Assistant
- *The Debussy Film* (1965), as The Actor
- *The Count of Monte Cristo* (1964), series, as Prison Inspector
- *Theatre 625* (1964), series, as Priest, Emmanuel Goldstein
- *The Life of Galileo* (1964), as Philosopher
- *The Protectors* (1964), series, as Cherni
- *Martin Chuzzlewit* (1964), series, Actor
- *Doctor Who* (1963), series, as Scientist — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/doctor-who.md)
- *Festival* (1963), series, as Philosopher
- *Espionage* (1963), series, as Captain of Police
- *The Saint* (1962), series, as Vogel
- *The Scales of Justice* (1962), series, as Mr. Strang
- *The Avengers* (1961), series, as Spencer, Stenson — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-avengers-1961.md)
- *Dixon of Dock Green* (1955), series, as Counsel for Defence
- *Parlez-nous de l'Amour*, Actor

---
© 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/vernon-dobtcheff