Thorley Walters
Acting
Thorley Swinstead Walters (12 May 1913 – 6 July 1991) was an English character actor. He is probably best remembered for his comedy film roles such as in Two-Way Stretch and Carlton-Browne of the FO. He also appeared in the acclaimed TV drama Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. Walters played Sherlock Holmes sidekick Doctor Watson in four unrelated films: Sherlock Holmes and the Deadly Necklace (1962), The Best House in London (1969), The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother (1975), and Silver Blaze (1977). He featured in three of the St Trinian's movies, starting as an army major in Blue Murder at St Trinian's. He later appeared as Butters, assistant to Education Ministry senior civil servant Culpepper-Brown (Eric Barker) in The Pure Hell of St Trinian's and played the part of Culpepper-Brown in The Wildcats of St Trinian's. In the 1960s he also appeared in several Hammer horror films, including The Phantom of the Opera (1962), Dracula, Prince of Darkness (1966), Frankenstein Created Woman (1967) and Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed (1969). In the DVD commentary to The Man Who Haunted Himself, Roger Moore mentioned that co-star Walters lived in Dolphin Square, the prestigious apartment block in Pimlico, London in which some scenes of the film were shot. Thorley and Richard Hope-Hawkins visited the ailing Terry-Thomas in Barnes, London in 1989. Walters had starred with Terry in the Boulting Brother's film Carlton-Browne of the F.O., and was shocked at his appearance (he was ill with Parkinson's Disease). That visit resulted in the "Terry-Thomas Gala" held in the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in the same year which raised funds to help Terry live the rest of his life in comfort. Hope-Hawkins was with Walters and actress Siobhan Redmond, when he died in a London nursing home. Actor Ian Bannen gave the main address at his funeral held at Golders Green. Description above from the Wikipedia article Thorley Walters, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Known for
Acting125
movieMrs. Weekley's Lover
2025
Baron Von Richthofen
tvThe World of Hammer
1994
Self (archive footage)
movieA Murder of Quality
1991
Bishop Harry
He's Asking For Me
1990
Uncle Harold
movieOnassis: The Richest Man in the World
1988
Winston Churchill
movieThe Dunroamin' Rising
1988
Mr Finister
tvThe Play on One
1988
Mr Finister
movieHammer: The Studio That Dripped Blood
1987
Ludwig (archive footage)
tvDavid Copperfield
1986
Richard 'Mr Dick' Babley
tvBulman
1985
Bill Dugdale
movieIn the Secret State
1985
Johnny Davenport
tvScreen Two
1985
Uncle Harold
movieThe Little Drummer Girl
1984
Ned Quilley
movieThe Sign of Four
1983
Major John Sholto
movieSpider's Web
1982
Hugo Birch
movieSoft Targets
1982
Old Wedding Guest
movieThe Wildcats of St Trinian's
1980
Hugo Culpepper Brown
tvCribb
1980
CI Jowett
A Question of Guilt
1980
Sir Charles Russell
movieHenry V
1979
Charles the Sixth, King of France
tvMinder
1979
Magistrate
tvTinker Tailor Soldier Spy
1979
Tufty Thessinger
tvTales of the Unexpected
1979
Harry Gold
tvMalice Aforethought
1979
Sir Francis Lee-Bannerton
tvWorzel Gummidge
1979
Colonel Bloodstock
tvLife of Shakespeare
1978
Mr. Justice Fleminge
tvWill Shakespeare
1978
Mr Justice Fleminge
tvStrangers
1978
Bill Dugdale
The Sunday Drama
1977
Dr John Watson
tvRaffles
1977
Lord Lochmaben
movieSilver Blaze
1977
Dr. Watson
movieJames and the Giant Peach
1976
Grasshopper
movieBeasts: The Dummy
1976
Sir Ramsey
tvBeasts
1976
Sir Ramsey
tvThe Duchess of Duke Street
1976
Bulstrode
movieChips with Everything
1975
Wing Commander
movieGoodbye
1975
Chalcott-Bentinck
The Apple Cart
1975
Home Secretary
movieSoft Beds, Hard Battles
1974
General Erhardt
movieRing Once for Death
1973
Dr. Ledworth
tvThriller
1973
Dr. Ledworth
tvThe Edwardians
1972
Edward, Prince of Wales / King Edward VII
movieYoung Winston
1972
Major Finn
movieVampire Circus
1972
Burgermeister
tvThe Lotus Eaters
1972
Maj. Edward Woolley
tvThe Persuaders!
1971
John Hatton
tvCousin Bette
1971
Baron Hector Hulot
movieMr. Forbush and the Penguins
1971
Mr. Forbush Sr.
movieThere's a Girl in My Soup
1970
Manager of Carlton Hotel
movieBartleby
1970
The Colleague
tvThe Adventures of Don Quick
1970
Chief Dreamer
movieTrog
1970
Magistrate
tvPlay for Today
1970
Old Wedding Guest
movieThe Man Who Haunted Himself
1970
Frank Bellamy
tvThe Misfit
1970
Forbes-Erskine
movieThe Best House in London
1969
Doctor Watson (uncredited)
movieFrankenstein Must Be Destroyed
1969
Insp. Fritsch
movieThe Last Shot You Hear
1969
General Jowett
movieCrooks and Coronets
1969
Hubbard
movieOh! What a Lovely War
1969
Staff Officer
movieTwisted Nerve
1968
Sir John Forrester
tvOoh La La!
1968
The Prince
Misleading Cases
1967
Sir Joshua Hoot
movieFrankenstein Created Woman
1967
Dr. Hertz
movieThe Wrong Box
1966
Patience
movieThe Psychopath
1966
Martin Roth
tvBBC Play of the Month
1965
Col. Redfern
movieRotten to the Core
1965
Chief Constable Preston
movieJoey Boy
1965
Col. Grant
movieA Home of Your Own
1964
Estate agent
movieThe Earth Dies Screaming
1964
Edgar Otis
tvThe Wednesday Play
1964
Holland
movieRing of Spies
1964
Cmdr. Winters
tvEspionage
1963
Dr Cantlie
movieHeavens Above!
1963
Tranquilax Executive
moviePetticoat Pirates
1961
Captain Jerome Robertson
movieMurder She Said
1961
Cedric Ackenthorpe
movieTwo-Way Stretch
1960
Colonel Parkright
movieSuspect
1960
Special Agent Prince
movieA French Mistress
1960
Colonel Edmonds
movieCarlton-Browne of the F.O.
1959
Colonel Bellingham
movieA Lady Mislaid
1958
Mr. Smith
movieBlue Murder at St. Trinian's
1957
Major Whitehart
movieThe Birthday Present
1957
Photographer
movieThe Truth About Women
1957
Trevor Eaton
movieSecond Fiddle
1957
Charles
tvArmchair Theatre
1956
Professor Mortimer
movieThe Baby and the Battleship
1956
Lt. Setley
movieWho Done It?
1956
Raymond Courtney
moviePrivate's Progress
1956
Captain Bootle
movieYou Can't Escape
1956
Chadwick
movieJosephine and Men
1955
Salesman
tvHallmark Hall of Fame
1951
Stanley Baldwin
movieCaptain Boycott
1947
Army Officer (uncredited)
movieWaltz Time
1945
Stefan Ravenne
movieThey Were Sisters
1945
Channing
Secret Journey
1939
Max Von Reimer
movieDesign for Murder
1939
Huey Frazer
movieLife of St. Paul
1938
Unidentified role
movieThe Love Test
1935
Chemist
movieOnce in a New Moon
1935
Beamish