Bowles, Peter 1936-

views updated

Bowles, Peter 1936-

PERSONAL

Born October 16, 1936, in London, England; son of Herbert Reginald and Sarah Jane (maiden name, Harrison) Bowles; married Susan Alexandra Bennett, April 8, 1961; children: Guy Rupert, Adam Peter, Sasha Jane. Education: Trained for the stage at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, 1953-55. Avocational Interests: Modern British art, motoring.

Addresses:

Agent—Conway Van Gelder, 18-21 Jermyn St., Third Floor, London SW1 Y6HP, England.

Career:

Actor. Peter Bowles Productions, founder and principal. Associate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

Member:

Equity (British Actors' Equity Association), Screen Actors Guild, Garrick Club, Chelsea Arts Club.

Awards, Honors:

Named ITV (Independent Television) personality of the year, Variety Club of Great Britain, 1984; named comedy actor of the year, Pye awards, 1984; Golden Gate Award, San Francisco, CA, c. 1993, for Running Late; honorary D.Litt., Nottingham Trent University, 2002; Kendal Prize, Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

CREDITS

Television Appearances; Series:

Brett, BBC, 1971.

Colin Peale, Good Girl, Yorkshire Television, 1974.

Murat, Napoleon and Love, Thames Television, 1974.

Ken Green, The Crezz, Thames Television, 1976.

Sir Guthrie Featherstone, Rumpole of the Bailey, Thames Television, 1978-79, 1983, 1987-88, 1991, 1992, broadcast in the U.S. as series I: Rumpole and the Heavy Brigade, PBS, 1980 series II: Rumpole and the Fascist Beast and Rumpole and the Age for Retirement, PBS, 1981 series III: Rumpole and the Genuine Article, PBS, 1984 series IV: Rumpole and the Judge's Elbow, PBS, 1988 series V: Rumpole and the Tap End, PBS, 1989 series VI, PBS, 1993, episodes broadcast on Mystery!, PBS.

Richard DeVere and Bedrich Polouvicki, To the Manor Born, BBC, 1979-81.

Archie Glover, Only When I Laugh, Yorkshire Television, 1979-82.

Paul Buttitude, Vice Versa, Associated Television, 1981.

Howard Booth, The Bounder, Yorkshire Television, 1982-83, PBS, 1985.

Major Sinclair Yeates (title role), The Irish RM (also known as The Irish R.M., The Irish RM, Part II, and The Irish R.M., Part II), Channel 4 (England) and Ulster Television, 1983-85, broadcast on Masterpiece Theatre (also known as ExxonMobil Masterpiece Theatre and Mobil Masterpiece Theatre), PBS, c. 1984, 1986.

Neville Lytton, Lytton's Diary, Thames Television, 1985-86.

Donald Fairchild, Executive Stress, Thames Television and PBS, 1987-88.

Guy Buchanan, Perfect Scoundrels (also known as The Perfect Scoundrels), Television South, 1990-92.

Narrator, Jade's Salon, LivingTV and LivingTV2, beginning 2005.

Television Appearances; Miniseries:

Major Milligan, Murder Must Advertise (also known as Lord Peter Wimsey: Murder Must Advertise), BBC, 1973, broadcast on broadcast on Masterpiece Theatre (also known as ExxonMobil Masterpiece Theatre and Mobil Masterpiece Theatre), PBS, c. 1974.

Caractacus, I, Claudius, BBC-2, 1976, broadcast on Masterpiece Theatre (also known as ExxonMobil Masterpiece Theatre and Mobil Masterpiece Theatre), PBS, 1977.

Prosecuting counsel, Pennies from Heaven (musical), BBC, 1978, also broadcast on PBS.

Lord Jack Carbury, Beryl Markham: A Shadow on the Sun (also known as Shadow on the Sun, Afrika, mein Leben, Etelaen auringon varjossa, Grosse Liebe Afrika, and Schatten auf der Sonne), London Weekend Television and CBS, 1988.

Television Appearances; Movies:

Paris singer, Isadora: The Biggest Dancer in the World (also known as Isadora), BBC, 1966.

Byron, Shelley, BBC and Thames Television, 1972.

Sir Guthrie Featherstone, Rumpole's Return, Thames Television, 1980.

George Grant, Running Late, [Great Britain], 1992.

Inspector Bullion, Passport to Murder, NBC, 1993.

Oliver, Little White Lies, BBC, 1998.

Sir Donald, Ballet Shoes, BBC, 2007.

Television Appearances; Specials:

Simpson, "Underground," Armchair Theatre, Associated British Picture Corporation, 1958.

"Thank You and Goodnight," Armchair Theatre, Associated British Picture Corporation, 1962.

Captain Buckley, "The Crunch," Studio '64, broadcast on Drama 60-67, Associated Television, 1964.

Toby Meres, "A Magnum for Schneider," Armchair Theatre, Associated British Picture Corporation, 1967.

Brian, "The Egg on the Face of the Tiger," Love Story, Associated Television, 1968.

Inspector Hounslow, "Flint," Play of the Month, BBC, 1978.

Himself, A Night of Comic Relief 2, BBC, 1989.

Himself, Avenging the Avengers (documentary), Channel 4 (England), 2000.

Melville, "In Love and War" (also known as "Love and War in the Apennines"), Hallmark Hall of Fame, CBS, 2001.

Television Appearances; Awards Presentations:

The Evening Standard Theatre Awards 2003, Independent Television (England), 2003.

Television Appearances; Episodic:

Neil Anstice, "Second Sight," The Avengers, Associated British Picture Corporation, 1963.

Nikkolai, "Three Days to Die," Crane, Associated Rediffusion, 1963.

Dr. Fothergill, "The Bottle Shop," The Protectors, Associated British Picture Corporation, 1964.

Joe Bask, "Real Class," No Hiding Place, Associated Rediffusion, 1964.

Maurice Kerr, "Lida," The Saint, Associated Television and Incorporated Television Company, 1964.

Freddy, "A Harsh World for Zealots," Public Eye, Thames Television, 1965.

Gamal, "Fish on the Hook," Danger Man (also known as Secret Agent and Secret Agent aka Danger Man), Associated Television, Incorporated Television Company, and CBS, 1965.

Joe, "Dead Man's Chest," The Edgar Wallace Mystery Theatre (also known as Edgar Wallace, Edgar Wallace Mysteries, Edgar Wallace Mysteries: "Dead Man's Chest," and Tales of Edgar Wallace), 1965.

John Harvey, "Dial a Deadly Number," The Avengers, Associated British Picture Corporation, 1965.

Machin, "A Fistful of Trouble," No Hiding Place, Associated Rediffusion, 1965.

Police officer, "Some Lapse of Time," Out of the Unknown, BBC-2, 1965.

Vincent Moro, "A Cargo of Cornflower," Crane, Associated Rediffusion, 1965.

Butros, "Buckingham Palace," Redcap, Associated British Picture Corporation, 1966.

Jack Hart, "One for Sorrow," The Informer, Rediffusion, 1966.

Jack Hart, "Two for Joy," The Informer, Rediffusion, 1966.

A, "A. B. and C.," The Prisoner, Associated Television, 1967.

Abbas Ramzi, "My Daughter Knows Her Way Around," The Troubleshooters (also known as Mogul), BBC, 1967.

D. K. Davies, "Another Little Drink," Adam Adamant Lives!, BBC, 1967.

Jim Gaynor, "You Can't Win Them All," The Baron, Associated Television and Incorporated Television Company, 1967.

Mendez, "Time to Kill," The Baron, Associated Television and Incorporated Television Company, 1967.

Serge, "The Art Collectors," The Saint, Associated Television and Incorporated Television Company, 1967.

Toby Meres, "A Magnum for Schneider," Callan, Associated British Picture Corporation, 1967.

Waldo Thyssen, "Escape in Time," The Avengers, Associated British Picture Corporation, 1967.

Degnos, "The Golden Fleece," Champion House, BBC, 1968.

Ezdorf, "Get-A-Way!," The Avengers, Associated British Picture Corporation, 1968.

Joseph Harrison, "The Naval Treaty," Sherlock Holmes, BBC, 1968.

Borowitsch, "Six Days," Department "S," Associated Television and Incorporated Television Company, 1969.

Conn, "One Thing Leads to Another," Softly Softly (also known as Softly, Softly: Task Force), BBC, 1969.

Jeremy Mandl-Fry, "Stop Acting," Take Three Girls, BBC, 1969.

Robert Crosbie, "The Letter," W. Somerset Maugham (also known as W. Somerset Maugham: The Letter), BBC-2, 1969.

Stockbroker, "The Kill," The Gold Robbers, London Weekend Television, 1969.

Alain, "The Dead Live Longer," Ryan International, BBC, 1970.

Inspector Saunders, "The Woman in the Big Hat," The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes, Thames Television, 1971.

Mitchell, "Element of Risk," The Persuaders!, Incorporated Television Company, 1971.

Robert Charlton, "Breakdown," Hadleigh, Yorkshire Television, 1971.

Tommy Radd, "Black Eye on Sunday," The Ten Commandments, Independent Television (England), 1971.

Gregor Kofax, "Triple Cross," The Protectors, Incorporated Television Company and syndicated, 1972.

Gerald Somerville, "Beware of the Dogs," Crown Court, Granada Television, 1973.

Mr. Duffield, "Wild Justice," The Adventures of Black Beauty, London Weekend Television, 1973.

Igor, "Downwind of Angels," Special Branch, Thames Television, 1974.

Anthony Croxley, "They All Sound Simple at First," Public Eye, Thames Television, 1975.

Balor, "End of Eternity," Space: 1999 (also known as Spazio: 1999), Incorporated Television Company, 1975.

David Grant, "The Fourth Horseman," Survivors, BBC, 1975.

Superintendent Lucas, "The Double Kill," Thriller (also known as Thriller: The Double Kill), Associated Television and NBC, 1975.

Hilary, "Stage Struck," Rising Damp, Yorkshire Television, 1977.

Peter, "Stigma," A Ghost Story for Christmas (also known as A Ghost Story for Christmas: Stigma), BBC, 1977.

Fred Bowlby, "The Doomsday Chair," Bless Me Father, London Weekend Television, 1978.

Major Haddock, "Neck," Tales of the Unexpected (also known as Roald Dahl's "Tales of the Unexpected"), Anglia Television and NBC, 1979.

Himself, "Peter Bowles," This Is Your Life, Thames Television, 1980.

Himself, Masterchef, BBC, 1992.

Captain Graves, "The Best Years of Your Death," Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased) (also known as Randall & Hopkirk), BBC, 2000.

(In archive footage) Richard DeVere and Donald Fairchild, "Penelope Keith," Funny Turns, BBC, 2000.

Himself, "Leonard Rossiter," Heroes of Comedy, Thames Television, 2001.

Bernie Farraday, "Love or Money," Holby City (also known as Holby), BBC, 2003.

Himself, Today with Des and Mel, Independent Television, 2003.

Narrator, "The F***ing Fulfords," Cutting Edge, Channel 4 (England), 2004.

Himself, Britain's Best Sitcom, BBC, 2004.

Fleming, "The Hollow Men," Jericho, Independent Television, 2005.

Fleming, "The Killing of Johnny Swan," Jericho, Independent Television, 2005.

Himself, "To the Manor Born," Comedy Connections, BBC, 2006.

Appeared in other programs, including Turtle's Progress, Associated Television.

Television Appearances; Pilots:

Jack Askew, A Roof over My Head, BBC, 1977.

Neville Lytton, "Lytton's Diary," Storyboard, Thames Television, 1983.

Television Appearances; Other:

Appeared in other programs, including The Brain of Trevor, London Weekend Television; and The Marrying Kind, Associated Television.

Television Creator; Series:

(With Philip Broadley) Lytton's Diary, Thames Television, 1985-86.

(With others) Perfect Scoundrels (also known as The Perfect Scoundrels), Television South, 1990-92.

Television Associate Producer; Movies:

Running Late, [Great Britain], 1992.

Television Creator; Pilots:

(With Philip Broadley) "Lytton's Diary," Storyboard, Thames Television, 1983.

Film Appearances:

Williams, "Wings of Death," Scotland Yard (also known as Scotland Yard: Wings of Death), Anglo-Amalgamated Film Distributors, 1961.

(Uncredited) Reginald Parker, Live Now—Pay Later, Regal Films International, 1962.

Gang member, The Informers (also known as Underworld Informers), 1963.

Sammy, Three Hats for Lisa (also known as One Day in London), Warner Bros., 1965.

Ron, Blow-Up (also known as Blowup), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1966.

Paymaster captain Henry Duberly, The Charge of the Light Brigade, United Artists, 1968.

Alfredo Guardi, Taste of Excitement (also known as Why Would Anyone Want to Kill a Nice Girl Like You?), Crispin, 1969.

Client at Madame Otero's, The Assassination Bureau (also known as The Assassination Bureau Limited), Paramount, 1969.

Paul, Laughter in the Dark (also known as La chambre obscure), Lopert Pictures, 1969.

Freddie, A Day in the Death of Joe Egg, Columbia, 1970.

Victor Grazzini, Sudden Terror (also known as Eyewitness), National General Pictures, 1970.

Reuben Brown, Endless Night (also known as Agatha Christie's "Endless Night"), British Lion, 1972.

Detective inspector Cameron, The Offence (also known as The Offense and Something Like the Truth), United Artists, 1973.

Hanley, The Legend of Hell House, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1973.

Jefferies, The Disappearance, World Northal, 1977.

Ronald, For the Love of Benji (also known as Benji: For the Love of Benji), Mulberry Square Releasing, 1977.

The Quarry, 1980.

Igor, Sauf votre respect (also known as Try This One for Size), 1989.

Lord Childwell, The Steal, Poseidon Pictures, 1994.

Mr. Gilzean, Tumbled, 1999.

Jack Warner, One of the Hollywood Ten (also known as Punto de mira), Alibi Films International, 2000.

Cyril, Colour Me Kubrick: A True … ish Story (also known as Color Me Kubrick, Colour Me Kubrick, and Appelez-moi Kubrick), EuropaCorp., 2005, Magnolia Pictures, 2007.

Ballad ghost, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (musical; also known as Sweeney Todd), Warner Bros., 2007.

Miles Urquhart, The Bank Job (also known as Baker Street and D-Notice), Lionsgate, 2007.

The chairman, Freebird, 2008.

Film Work:

Executive producer, Gangster No. 1 (also known as Gangster Number One and Gangster Nr. 1), Film-Four, 2000, IFC Films, 2002.

Stage Appearances:

Young Cato and Trebonius, Julius Caesar, Nottingham Playhouse Theatre, Nottingham, England, 1953.

Abraham, Romeo and Juliet, Old Vic Theatre, London, beginning c. 1955, Opera House, Manchester, England, 1956, and Winter Garden Theatre, New York City, 1956.

Member of the ensemble, Macbeth, Old Vic Theatre, beginning 1955, and Winter Garden Theatre, 1956-57.

Member of the ensemble, Richard II, Old Vic Theatre, beginning 1955, and Winter Garden Theatre, 1956-57.

Member of the ensemble, Troilus and Cressida, Old Vic Theatre, beginning 1955, and Winter Garden Theatre, 1956-57.

Dr. Copperthwaite, The Happy Haven, Royal Court Theatre, London, 1960.

Kirill Glagoliev, Platonov, Royal Court Theatre, 1960.

Messenger number one, J. B., Phoenix Theatre, London, 1961.

Roger, Bonne Soupe, Comedy Theatre, London, 1961, then Wyndham's Theatre, London, 1962.

Pringle, Afternoon Men, Arts Theatre Club, London, 1962.

Grand inquisitor, The Rebel, Royal Shakespeare Company, Aldwych Theatre, London, 1964.

Roland Oliver, The Stiffkey Scandals of 1932, Queen's Theatre, London, 1969.

Paul, Absent Friends, Garrick Theatre, London, 1975.

Withenshaw, Dirty Linen, Arts Theatre Club, 1976.

Bennet, Eclipse, Royal Court Theatre, 1978.

Prince of Salestria, Look after Lulu, Theatre Royal Haymarket, London, 1978.

Hedley, Born in the Gardens, Bristol Old Vic Theatre, Bristol, England, 1979, then Globe Theatre, London, 1980.

Some of My Best Friends Are Husbands, Haymarket Theatre, Leicester, England, 1985.

Archie Rice, The Entertainer, Shaftesbury Theatre, London, 1986.

Canaries Sometimes Sing, Albery Theatre, London, 1987.

Man of the Moment, Globe Theatre, 1990.

Separate Tables, Albery Theatre, 1993.

Pygmalion, Chichester Festival Theatre, Chichester, England, 1994.

Gangster No. 1, Almeida Theatre, London, 1995.

In Praise of Love, Apollo Theatre, London, 1995.

Present Laughter, Wyndham's Theatre, 1996.

The School for Wives, Comedy Theatre, 1997.

Major Barbara, Piccadilly Theatre, London, 1998.

The Misanthrope, Piccadilly Theatre, 1998.

The Old Masters, Comedy Theatre, 2003.

Wait until Dark, Garrick Theatre, 2003.

Joe & I, King's Head Theatre, London, 2005.

David Bliss, Hay Fever, Theatre Royal Haymarket, 2006.

Major Tours:

Some of My Best Friends Are Husbands, English cities, 1985.

Otherwise Engaged, English cities, 1992.

Hedda Gabler, U.K. cities, 1999.

Sleuth, U.K. cities, 1999.

Our Song, U.K. cities, 2003.

The Unexpected Man, English cities, 2005.

OTHER SOURCES

Periodicals:

Radio Times, April 20, 1991, p. 114.

TV Times, May 5, 1990, pp. 68-69.

About this article

Bowles, Peter 1936-

Updated About encyclopedia.com content Print Article