Wensley Pithey | |
---|---|
Born | 21 June 1914 |
Died | 10 November 1993
London, England, UK | (aged 79)
Wensley Ivan William Frederick Pithey (21 June 1914 – 10 November 1993) was a South African character actor who had a long stage and film career in Britain. [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 – a role he also played in the miniseries Ike) as well as Special Branch and Poldark. [1] [4] His British television appearances included Danger Man (1961) among others. [5] He also played the title role Detective Superintendent Charlesworth in a number of BBC series including Charlesworth at Large (1958) and its sequel Charlesworth the following year. In 1964 he played a ballistics expert in the BBC series Call the Gun Expert.
Between 1961 and 1976, Pithey appeared in German TV commercials as a fake coffee expert for Tchibo. [6]
Wensley Pithey | |
---|---|
Born | 21 June 1914 |
Died | 10 November 1993
London, England, UK | (aged 79)
Wensley Ivan William Frederick Pithey (21 June 1914 – 10 November 1993) was a South African character actor who had a long stage and film career in Britain. [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 – a role he also played in the miniseries Ike) as well as Special Branch and Poldark. [1] [4] His British television appearances included Danger Man (1961) among others. [5] He also played the title role Detective Superintendent Charlesworth in a number of BBC series including Charlesworth at Large (1958) and its sequel Charlesworth the following year. In 1964 he played a ballistics expert in the BBC series Call the Gun Expert.
Between 1961 and 1976, Pithey appeared in German TV commercials as a fake coffee expert for Tchibo. [6]