Charles Pemberton
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- September 19, 1939
- Died
- May 13, 2007 (aged 67)
- Birthplace
- Leyland, Lancashire, U.K.
Biography
Character actor Charles Pemberton had a long career in television but found theatrical fame with his one man entertainment, WS Gilbert - A Disagreeable Man? which he toured throughout the UK and Europe. The two hour show, from a script by Brian Jones, traced the life of the 19th century popular composer and martinet. Pemberton was born on September 19, 1939 in Leyland, Lancashire. He trained for the stage at the Rose Bruford Drama School and graduated with distinction in 1963. He joined the Bristol Old Vic Theatre Company where he remained for two years before appearing in repertory at the Library Theatre, Manchester, Harrogate and Derby. He made his television debut in 1964 as a detective sergeant in the soap Crossroads and went on to play a succession of policemen, military types and officials in countless dramas and sitcoms such as Callan, The Professionals, Minder, Juliet Bravo and Dangerous Davies: The Last Detective. He was in two storylines of Doctor Who, The Tomb of the Cybermen and The War Games and he played Johnny Mann in Coronation Street (1973). He also had cameos in the award-winning drama The Naked Civil Servant (1975), John Le Carre's A Perfect Spy (1987), Great Expectations (1989) (as Mr Philbean 1989), Victoria Wood's Pat & Margaret (1994) and Foyle's War (2004). On the West End stage he appeared with Ingrid Bergman in Sir John Gielgud's revival of The Constant Wife (Albery Theatre 1973) and he played Ormonroyd in Priestley's When We Are Married (Whitehall Theatre). He also starred in several commercials including the award-winning series of John Smith's Yorkshire Bitter adverts. He later recorded his one man show on CD. Pemberton was an accomplished magician and held the Inner Magic Circle Silver Star. He was vice president of the Catholic Stage Guild and a much revered member of the CAA. He had recently been elected to the Savage Club where he had performed his own man show to much acclaim. A genial and kind man with a self effacing sense of humour he was a familiar figure in London's theatreland with his bewhiskered looks and jaunty smile. He will be much missed by his many colleagues in the profession. Friend Barbara Angell said, "We were friends through thick and thin - we were sometimes rich together but mostly poor, at least financially. We shared a lot of laughs. Pemberton had been suffering from cancer and died on May 13, 2007. He was survived by his mother.
Known For
Filmography
Doctor Who: The War Games in Colour
Movie · as Alien Technician (archive footage)
King of Fridges
Movie · as 2nd Stereo Customer
The Four Feathers
Movie · as Impressario
Foyle's War
TV · as Policeman · 1 ep
A Pin for the Butterfly
Movie · as Černík
Pat and Margaret
Movie · as Porter
(All Quiet on the) Preston Front
TV · as Roger · 1 ep
Gone to Seed
TV · as Don · 1 ep
Virtual Murder
TV · as PC · 1 ep
A Murder of Quality
Movie · as Sgt. Ted Mundy
The Upper Hand
TV · as Mr. Bradshaw · 1 ep
Norbert Smith: A Life
Movie · as Policeman
Agatha Christie's Poirot
TV · as Stooge, Harry Clarke · 1 ep
The Paradise Club
TV · as Charlie O'Neill · 1 ep
No Strings
TV · as Publican · 1 ep
The First Kangaroos
Movie · as Large Man
Playing Away
Movie · as Constable
The Russian Soldier
Movie · as Plainclothes Policeman
Bread
TV · as DHSS Claimant · 1 ep
Charters and Caldicott
TV · as Court Sergeant · 1 ep
Miss Marple: A Pocketful of Rye
TV · as Sergeant Rose · 2 eps
Screen Two
TV · as Pub Man · 1 ep
Oliver Twist
TV · as Warden · 1 ep
Unfair Exchanges
Movie · as Pub Man
The Box of Delights
TV · as Chief Constable · 2 eps
Big Deal
TV · as Fireman · 1 ep
Wayne and Albert
Movie · as Barman
Fame Is the Spur
TV · as PC · 1 ep
Stainless Steel and the Star Spies
Movie · as Dad
Dangerous Davies: The Last Detective
Movie · as Det. Const. Evans
The Best of the Adventures
Movie · as Sergeant Jeeves (archive footage) (uncredited)
Shillingbury Tales
TV · as Sgt Phillips · 1 ep
Hammer House of Horror
TV · as Policeman · 1 ep
A Question of Guilt
TV · as PC Ralph · 1 ep
Time of My Life
TV · 1 ep
Porridge
Movie · as Miller
On Giant's Shoulders
Movie · as Employment clerk
Minder
TV · as Policeman · 1 ep
Terry and June
TV · as Man with dog · 1 ep
Danger UXB
TV · as Police Sergeant · 2 eps
Sapphire & Steel
TV · as Policeman · 2 eps
Shoestring
TV · as Court Officer · 1 ep
Let's Get Laid
Movie · as PC Baxter
Return of the Saint
TV · as Security Man · 1 ep
All Creatures Great and Small
TV · as Reg Wilkey · 1 ep
Black Joy
Movie · as White Official
The Black Panther
Movie
The Professionals
TV · as Big Man, Styles · 1 ep
England, Summer, Sunday
Movie · as Sergeant
Adventures of a Taxi Driver
Movie · as Sergeant Jeeves
The Chauffeur
Movie · as Chauffeur
Dickens of London
TV · as Uncle William Dickens · 1 ep
Rentaghost
TV · as Police Constable · 1 ep
Brannigan
Movie · as Arthur (uncredited)
The Naked Civil Servant
Movie · as Court PC
Eskimo Nell
Movie · as Policeman (uncredited)
My Honourable Mrs
TV · as The 2nd Workman · 1 ep
Centre Play
TV · as Sergeant · 1 ep
Romany Jones
TV · as Ron Bailey · 1 ep
Doctor Who: The War Games
Movie · as Alien Technician
Doctor Who: The Tomb of the Cybermen
Movie · as Cyberman
Not in Front of the Children
TV · as Ron · 1 ep