Get a closer look at some of Hollywood's perfect pairs.

Hollywood Power Couples

Get a closer look at some of Hollywood&#39;s perfect pairs.

"The Gentlemen" and "Slow Horses" return this fall, while the "Reacher" spin-off series "Neagley" makes its debut. See our guide of the biggest Fall TV and streaming releases.

2026 Fall TV and Streaming Watch Guide

&quot;The Gentlemen&quot; and &quot;Slow Horses&quot; return this fall, while the &quot;Reacher&quot; spin-off series &quot;Neagley&quot; makes its debut. See our guide of the biggest Fall TV and streaming releases.

Get a closer look at these actors from their many TV and streaming series roles.

Streaming Stars, Then and Now

Genial Manchester-born comic actor Sam Kelly had a considerable gift for timing and observation. His special forte was playing decrepit, rheumy characters of more advanced years than his own actual age. Among the many endearing impressions he made on the small screen, he is probably best remembered as the illiterate crook 'Bunny' Warren in Porridge (1974) and as the inept German officer Hans Geering in 'Allo 'Allo! (1982), forever abbreviating the Nazi salute to a shout of "Tler!" (which to many ears sounded like 'klop' or 'club'). His other sitcom credits include Norman Elston in Now and Then (1983), the servant Nathaniel Grunge in the Georgian period romp Haggard (1990) and the chauffeur Sam Jones in On the Up (1990). Kelly's expressive features also splendidly suited a varied gallery of Dickensian characters: the timid Mr. Snagsby (Masterpiece Theatre: Bleak House (1985); the undertaker Mr. Mould (Martin Chuzzlewit (1994); the kindly manservant Giles (Oliver Twist (1999); and the grocer Cudlipp (in John Sullivan's ITV adaptation Micawber (2001)).

By his own admission, Kelly might have been content running a village post office. He began his working life as a clerk in the Liverpool civil service before enrolling at the London Academy of Dramatic Arts at the age of twenty. He graduated in 1967 and then acted in regional repertory theatre for five years. In the course of his subsequent career, he made frequent appearances at London's West End, at the Old Vic and at the Royal Court in plays ranging from "The Odd Couple" and "HMS Pinafore" to "War and Peace". The stage was to remain his preferred medium, allowing him to occasionally branch out into serious roles (while regular television work necessarily paid the bills). His dramatic performance as a sorrowful bachelor facing retirement in "Grief" (2011) at the National Theatre was said to have been his best.

In 1977, Kelly co-founded the Croydon Warehouse Theatre, which operated until its closure due to financial and structural problems in 2012.

Trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts (1964-1967)
after three years in the Civil Service.

He played The Wizard in the West End musical &#39;Wicked&#39; from May 2009 to March 2010. He returned to the role in November 2013, but ill health meant he had to leave the cast just before Christmas.

Best known for his comedy roles in British TV.

He was due to play a part in the <a class="ipc-md-link ipc-md-link--entity" href="/title/tt0436992/?ref_=nmtrv_trv">Doctor Who (2005)</a> episode &#39;Midnight&#39; which was filmed in December 2007 but he was knocked down and injured by a car in London&#39;s West End so <a class="ipc-md-link ipc-md-link--entity" href="/name/nm0873739/?ref_=nmtrv_trv">David Troughton</a> had to replace him.

Regularly worked with <a class="ipc-md-link ipc-md-link--entity" href="/name/nm0005139/?ref_=nmtrv_trv">Mike Leigh</a>.

Plays an intoxicated frustrated writer very authentically, even amusingly, in Inspector Morse, s.5, e.1, &#39;Second Time Around&#39;.

Trivia

Sam Kelly

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