- Born
- Died
- Birth nameRupert Lisburn Gwynne Davies
- Rupert Davies was born on May 22, 1916 in Liverpool, England, UK. He was an actor, known for The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1965), Waterloo (1970) and My Friend Charles (1956). He was married to Jessica Isobel Knowles. He died on November 22, 1976 in London, England, UK.
- SpouseJessica Isobel Knowles(1946 - November 22, 1976) (his death, 2 children)
- ChildrenTimothy Davies
- Having become famous playing Chief Inspector Jules Maigret on TV, he then impersonated a Maigret-like character in a series of commercials for Dubonnet, for ITV. Georges Simenon, Maigret's creator, objected to the commercials and had them stopped. Davies regretted this, claiming he had made more money over the few days of filming the commercials than he had in nearly four years of playing Maigret for the BBC.
- Often regarded as the definitive screen incarnation of Georges Simenon's easy-going detective, Chief Inspector Jules Maigret. On the strength of his popularity, Davies was named "Television Actor of the Year" in 1963.
- He was the first actor to play George Smiley. The character was later played by Alec Guinness, Gary Oldman, Denholm Elliott and James Mason (though it was based on Smiley, the character name had to be changed to Charles Dobbs because Paramout owned the rights to the character).
- Amongst his fellow prisoners in Stalag Luft III were Donald Pleasence, Peter Butterworth and Talbot Rothwell (screenwriter of the "Carry On" films).
- Joined the British Merchant Navy prior to World War II, before becoming an observer in the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy. Spent five years in a German POW camp, after being shot down behind enemy lines.
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