- Born
- Died
- Birth nameThorley Swinstead Walters
- Height5′ 11½″ (1.82 m)
- Son of a clergyman, the British character actor Thorley Walters was born in Teigngrace, Devonshire, England. After stage experience, in which he played Shakespearean and light leading roles, he made his film debut in Once in a New Moon (1934) and continued his early film career with numerous quota quickies. Walters quickly found his acting niche in comic parts and became a featured player in films. During the 1950s and 1960s, he made his name in the comedies of the Boulting Brothers (Private's Progress (1956), Man in a Cocked Hat (1959), Rotten to the Core (1965), etc.) and the Launder-Gilliat team (Joey Boy (1965), and the St. Trinian's films). He also became well-known to horror fans through his numerous appearances for Hammer (The Phantom of the Opera (1962), Dracula: Prince of Darkness (1966), Frankenstein Created Woman (1967), and Vampire Circus (1972)) and Amicus (The Psychopath (1966) and The People That Time Forgot (1977)).
With his beefy build and befuddled manner, Walters was a natural to play Dr. Watson, which he did in several films, including Sherlock Holmes and the Deadly Necklace (1962), The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother (1975), and Silver Blaze (1977). In the latter part of his career, he became a familiar figure on television in such popular series as The Duchess of Duke Street (1976) and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1979). Walters was active in film and television until his death in 1991, appearing mostly in cameo roles as incompetent officers, bumbling authority figures, and muddle-headed assistants.
- IMDb mini biography by: Lyn Hammond - Thorley, the son of a clergyman, was born in Teingrace, Berkshire and educated at Monkton Combe School in Bath. His father had wanted him to follow in his footsteps but he preferred the stage and made his stage debut in 1932 at the Old Vic where he spent two seasons. During the war he toured Africa, Italy, and Gibraltar in troop shows. He scored a great success in the first post war show, Under the Counter (1949) with Cicely Courteidge, and toured with it to Broadway, Australia, and New Zealand. Other shows included Gay's the Word (1952) and Her Excellency (1949). After appearing in the Boulting Brothers' Josephine and Men (1955), he followed the brothers' suggestion and concentrated on comedy.
- IMDb mini biography by: Tonyman 5
- ParentsThomas Collins WaltersMary Francis
- He died only four days after his Jennie: Lady Randolph Churchill (1974) co-star Lee Remick.
- He played King Edward VII (1841-1910) in three unrelated productions in as many years: The Edwardians (1972), Lloyd George (1973) and Jennie: Lady Randolph Churchill (1974).
- He played Dr. John H. Watson in four unrelated productions, each with a different actor playing Sherlock Holmes: Sherlock Holmes and the Deadly Necklace (1962) starring Christopher Lee, The Best House in London (1969) starring Peter Jeffrey, The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother (1975) starring Douglas Wilmer and Silver Blaze (1977) starring Christopher Plummer.
- Actor Thorley Walters appeared in three John le Carré filmed adaptations. The first was in an episode of the television mini-series Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1979) [See: Tarr Tells His Story (1979)], the second was in the theatrical feature film cinema movie The Little Drummer Girl (1984), whilst the third and final appearance was in the tele-movie A Murder of Quality (1991), the latter which was also Walters' final ever film and television appearance. Walters appeared in every kind of John le Carré adaptation: a tele-movie, a TV mini-series, and a theatrical feature film.
- Got the role in Sign of Four (1983) after Trevor Howard dropped out at the last minute.
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