Biography
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.
Acted in 113
2020s
- 2025
Mrs. Weekley's Lover
Baron Von Richthofen
1990s
- 1991
A Murder of Quality
Bishop Harry
1980s
- 1988
Onassis: The Richest Man in the World
Winston Churchill
The Dunroamin' Rising
Mr Finister
- 1987
Hammer: The Studio That Dripped Blood
Ludwig (archive footage)
- 1986
David Copperfield
Richard 'Mr Dick' Babley · 5 episodes
Paradise Postponed
TV
- 1985
Bulman
Bill Dugdale · 1 episode
In the Secret State
Johnny Davenport
- 1984
The Little Drummer Girl
Ned Quilley
- 1983
- 1982
Spider's Web
Hugo Birch
Soft Targets
Old Wedding Guest
- 1980
A Cup O' Tea An' A Slice O' Cake - Worzel Gummidge Christmas Special
Colonel Bloodstock
The Wildcats of St Trinian's
Hugo Culpepper Brown
Cribb
CI Jowett · 1 episode
1970s
- 1979
Henry V
Charles the Sixth, King of France
Malice Aforethought
Sir Francis Lee-Bannerton · 1 episode
- 1978
Will Shakespeare
Mr Justice Fleminge · 1 episode
- 1977
Treasure Island
TV
Raffles
Lord Lochmaben · 1 episode
Silver Blaze
Dr. Watson
- 1976
James and the Giant Peach
Grasshopper
Beasts: The Dummy
Sir Ramsey
Beasts
Sir Ramsey · 1 episode
- 1975
The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother
Dr. Watson
Chips with Everything
Wing Commander
Goodbye
Chalcott-Bentinck
- 1974
Jennie: Lady Randolph Churchill
TV
Village Hall
Carruthers · 1 episode
Soft Beds, Hard Battles
General Erhardt
- 1973
Ring Once for Death
Dr. Ledworth
- 1972
Young Winston
Major Finn
The Lotus Eaters
Maj. Edward Woolley · 4 episodes
- 1971
Cousin Bette
Baron Hector Hulot · 5 episodes
Mr. Forbush and the Penguins
Mr. Forbush Sr.
- 1970
The Adventures of Don Quick
Chief Dreamer · 1 episode
Trog
Magistrate
The Man Who Haunted Himself
Frank Bellamy
The Misfit
Forbes-Erskine · 1 episode
1960s
- 1969
Cribbins
TV
The Best House in London
Doctor Watson (uncredited)
The Last Shot You Hear
General Jowett
Crooks and Coronets
Hubbard
Oh! What a Lovely War
Staff Officer
- 1968
Twisted Nerve
Sir John Forrester
On the Eve of Publication
Holland
Ooh La La!
The Prince · 1 episode
- 1967
- 1966
The Wrong Box
Patience
The Psychopath
Martin Roth
Dracula: Prince of Darkness
Ludwig
- 1965
Rotten to the Core
Chief Constable Preston
- 1964
A Home of Your Own
Estate agent
Ring of Spies
Cmdr. Winters
- 1963
Heavens Above!
Tranquilax Executive
- 1962
The Phantom of the Opera
Lattimer
- 1961
Petticoat Pirates
Captain Jerome Robertson
Murder She Said
Cedric Ackenthorpe
- 1960
The Pure Hell of St Trinian's
Butters
Two-Way Stretch
Colonel Parkright
Suspect
Special Agent Prince
A French Mistress
Colonel Edmonds
1950s
- 1959
Don't Panic Chaps
Movie
Carlton-Browne of the F.O.
Colonel Bellingham
- 1958
Happy Is the Bride
Jim
A Lady Mislaid
Mr. Smith
- 1957
Blue Murder at St. Trinian's
Major Whitehart
The Birthday Present
Photographer
The Truth About Women
Trevor Eaton
Second Fiddle
Charles
The Passionate Stranger
Jimmy
- 1956
Armchair Theatre
Professor Mortimer · 1 episode
The Baby and the Battleship
Lt. Setley
Who Done It?
Raymond Courtney
Private's Progress
Captain Bootle
You Can't Escape
Chadwick
- 1955
Josephine and Men
Salesman
1940s
- 1947
Captain Boycott
Army Officer (uncredited)
- 1945
Waltz Time
Stefan Ravenne
They Were Sisters
Channing
- 1944
Medal for the General
Andrew
1930s
- 1939
Design for Murder
Huey Frazer
- 1938
Life of St. Paul
Unidentified role
- 1935
The Love Test
Chemist
Once in a New Moon
Beamish
