Wensley Pithey
| Wensley Pithey | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born |
21 June 1914 Cape Town, South Africa |
| Died |
10 November 1993 (aged 79) London, England, UK |
Wensley Pithey (21 June 1914 – 10 November 1993) was a South African-born character actor who had a long stage and film career in England.[1][2]
Pithey was born in Cape Town, South Africa.[1] A graduate of the University of Cape Town where he studied music and drama, he travelled to Britain in 1947.[3] He appeared in various Shakespearean roles in his long career (memorably as Sir Toby Belch) as well as appearing in Eugene O'Neill's Anna Christie.[3] He also directed and produced plays in the West End and appeared in a range of roles on television including the 1976 drama Edward and Mrs Simpson (as Winston Churchill) as well as Special Branch and Poldark.[1][4] His British television appearances included Danger Man (1961) among others.[5]
Between 1961 and 1976, Pithey appeared in German TV commercials as a fake coffee expert for Tchibo.[6]
Filmography
- The Mark of Cain (1947) - Opera House Attendant (uncredited)
- London Belongs to Me (1948) - First Warden
- It's Hard to Be Good (1948) - Vicar (uncredited)
- Cardboard Cavalier (1949) - Jailer
- Your Witness (1950) - Alfred
- Guilt Is My Shadow (1950) - Tillingham
- The Woman's Angle (1952) - (uncredited)
- Brandy for the Parson (1952) - Circus Owner
- Father's Doing Fine (1952) - Policeman (uncredited)
- Lady in the Fog (1952) - Sid - the Barman
- The Titfield Thunderbolt (1953) - A Policeman
- The Diamond (1954) - Springwell Police Sergeant (uncredited)
- The Men of Sherwood Forest (1954) - Hugo
- Isn't Life Wonderful! (1954) - Sam
- Tiger in the Smoke (1956) - Detective Sergeant Pickett
- You Can't Escape (1956) - (uncredited)
- Doctor at Large (1957) - Sam - Poacher
- Kill Me Tomorrow (1957) - Inspector Lane
- Hell Drivers (1957) - Pop
- The Long Haul (1957) - Minor Role
- Blue Murder at St. Trinian's (1957) - Brigadier (uncredited)
- Serious Charge (1959) - Police Sergeant
- Make Mine Mink (1960) - Superintendent (uncredited)
- Persuasion (1960-1961) - Mr. Musgrove
- The Pure Hell of St. Trinian's (1960) - Chief Constable
- Snowball (1960) - Jim Adams
- The Barber of Stamford Hill (1962) - Mr. O
- The Boys (1962) - Mr. Coulter
- The Knack ...and How to Get It (1965) - Teacher
- Oliver! (1968) - Dr. Grimwig
- Oh! What a Lovely War (1969) - Archduke Franz Ferdinand (uncredited)
- One of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing (1975) - Bromley
- The Saint and the Brave Goose (1979) - Franklyn
- Red Monarch (1983) - Voroshilov
- White Mischief (1987) - Sheridan
- American Friends (1991) - Cave