Occupation Actor Years active 1961-present | Name Kenneth Colley Role Actor | |
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Movies Star Wars: Episode VI ‑ Return o, Monty Python's Life of Bri, Firefox, I Hired a Contract Killer, The Scarlet and the Black Similar People Denis Lawson, Piers Haggard, Richard Marquand, Femi Taylor, Ken Russell | ||
Ken Colley Interview - Oxford Comic Con 2017
Kenneth Colley (born 7 December 1937) is an English actor. A long-time character actor, he came to wider prominence through his role as Admiral Piett in Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi.
Contents
- Ken Colley Interview Oxford Comic Con 2017
- Pennies from Heaven Dennis Potter remembered BFI 2014
- Career
- Personal life
- Filmography
- References
Pennies from Heaven & Dennis Potter remembered (BFI 2014)
Career
Unlike the other ill-fated officers who appeared alongside him in The Empire Strikes Back, Colley was the only actor to play an Imperial officer in more than one Star Wars film. Colley reprised his role as Piett in the Cartoon Network animated special Lego Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out in September 2012. Coincidently, Colley and David Prowse had a part in the 1977 fantasy film Jabberwocky.
Colley was born in Manchester, Lancashire. He played Jesus in The Life of Brian, having also appeared in the earlier Monty Python-related production Ripping Yarns episode "The Testing of Eric Olthwaite" alongside Michael Palin. As a Shakespearean actor he played the Duke of Vienna in the BBC Television Shakespeare production of Measure for Measure in 1979.
Colley also held an important role in the Clint Eastwood film Firefox, where he played a Soviet Colonel tasked with the protection of the Firefox and its secrets.
Colley went on to play SS-Standartenführer Paul Blobel in the Second World War drama War and Remembrance. He directed one film to date, Greetings, a 2007 horror film starring Kirsty Cox, Henry Dunn and Ben Shockley. According to comments which Terry Gilliam (who directed him in Jabberwocky and acted with him in Life of Brian) made in the DVD audio commentaries for both films, Colley is a terrible stammerer in real life. When he had a role in a film, however, he could recite the lines perfectly. Stuttering is a character trait however in his role as the "Accordion Man" in the 1978 BBC television drama, Pennies from Heaven.
Kenneth Colley worked extensively with the British director Ken Russell from the early 1970s to the early 1990s as part of a repertory of actors who appeared across Russell's television and film work (others included Murray Melvin, Brian Murphy , Oliver Reed, Max Adrian and Georgina Hale) . He played the role of Modest Tchaikovsky in the 1971 film The Music Lovers. He went on to play the role of LeGrand in Russell's controversial masterpiece The Devils ; he played the journalist Krenek in the biopic Mahler (film) in 1974; the composer Frédéric Chopin in Lisztomania (film); Mr Brunt in Russell's adaptation of The Rainbow by D. H. Lawrence. His last role for Ken Russell was as Captain Dreyfus in the film Prisoner of Honor, which dealt with the Dreyfus affair.
Personal life
Colley lives in Hythe, Kent.
Filmography
Actor
-
I am Tree (Short) (filming) as
Oak (voice)
-
Dan Hawk Psychic Detective (completed) as
Thaddeus Moncrief
-
Infernal Creations (Short) (completed) as
Malcolm
2017
The Great Escape (Short) as
Angus
2017
Mum (Short) as
Graham
2005
Holby City (TV Series) as
Dudley Drake / Vaughn Chewer / Don Lawson
- Indefensible (2016) - Dudley Drake
- My No.1 Fan (2010) - Vaughn Chewer
- Rat Race (2005) - Don Lawson
2016
Peaky Blinders (TV Series) as
Vicente Changretta
- Episode #3.3 (2016) - Vicente Changretta
- Episode #3.2 (2016) - Vicente Changretta
2015
Star Wars: Force of Evil (Short) as
Jaxan Tosh
2013
Misfits (TV Series) as
Old Rudy 2
- Episode #5.4 (2013) - Old Rudy 2
2013
Scar Tissue as
Weaver
2013
Vera (TV Series) as
Ronald Devreux
- Young Gods (2013) - Ronald Devreux
2012
Lego Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out (TV Movie) as
Admiral Piett (voice, as Kenneth Cooley)
2011
The Avenging Spirit (Short) as
Mr. Grey
1991
Casualty (TV Series) as
Arthur Cobb / Clifford Watkins / Paddy
- System Error (2011) - Arthur Cobb
- A Turn of the Scrooge (2000) - Clifford Watkins
- Humpty Dumpty (1991) - Paddy
2010
Freedom Day (Short) as
Skipper
2009
The Queen (TV Series) as
Prince Philip
- The Enemy Within (2009) - Prince Philip
2009
Casualty 1909 (TV Series) as
Dr. Frederick Smith
- Episode #1.4 (2009) - Dr. Frederick Smith
- Episode #1.2 (2009) - Dr. Frederick Smith
- Episode #1.1 (2009) - Dr. Frederick Smith
2008
Holby Blue (TV Series) as
John Snr
- Episode #2.12 (2008) - John Snr
- Episode #2.11 (2008) - John Snr
- Episode #2.6 (2008) - John Snr
- Episode #2.5 (2008) - John Snr
2007
Alligator (Short) as
Glen
2007
Greetings as
Ken
2006
House of Donn (Short) as
Dad
2006
New Tricks (TV Series) as
Frank Benson
- Dockers (2006) - Frank Benson
2006
A Nearly Silent Film (TV Short) as
Signwriter
2006
Foyle's War (TV Series) as
Brian Jones
- Bad Blood (2006) - Brian Jones
2005
Like Father Like Son (TV Movie) as
Rawsthorne
2003
EastEnders (TV Series) as
Brian
- Episode dated 19 June 2003 (2003) - Brian
- Episode dated 17 June 2003 (2003) - Brian
- Episode dated 16 June 2003 (2003) - Brian
2003
The Royal (TV Series) as
Bernard Hussey
- Crash (2003) - Bernard Hussey
2002
Relic Hunter (TV Series) as
Professor Lamenza
- Faux Fox (2002) - Professor Lamenza
2002
Doctors (TV Series) as
Frank Tyler
- Rat Man (2002) - Frank Tyler
2001
Midsomer Murders (TV Series) as
Lloyd Kirby
- The Electric Vendetta (2001) - Lloyd Kirby
2000
The Mrs Bradley Mysteries (TV Series) as
Archie Burlington
- The Rising of the Moon (2000) - Archie Burlington
1999
Holding On as
Phil
1999
Hold Back the Night as
Uncle Bob
1999
Always and Everyone (TV Series) as
Joseph
- The Death Shift (1999) - Joseph
1999
The Last Train (TV Mini Series) as
Mark
- Episode #1.5 (1999) - Mark (as Ken Colley)
1995
The Bill (TV Series) as
Mr. Baker / Acting Supt. Shannon / Patrick Houghton
- Slinging Mud (1999) - Mr. Baker (as Ken Colley)
- Boiling Point (1996) - Acting Supt. Shannon
- Who Cares? (1995) - Patrick Houghton
1998
Dangerfield (TV Series) as
Bill Hunter
- The Lost Boy (1998) - Bill Hunter
1998
Heartbeat (TV Series) as
Clive Harris
- Snake in the Grass (1998) - Clive Harris
1998
Shadow Run as
Larcombe
1997
Peak Practice (TV Series) as
Stan Jordan
- Running to Hide (1997) - Stan Jordan
1996
Brassed Off as
Greasley (as Ken Colley)
1996
El último viaje de Robert Rylands as
Archdale
1996
Wycliffe (TV Series) as
Sam Peploe
- Number of the Beast (1996) - Sam Peploe
1994
Moving Story (TV Series) as
Ken Uttley
- Canterbury Tales (1995) - Ken Uttley
- Superstition (1995) - Ken Uttley
- Trivial Pursuits (1995) - Ken Uttley
- Something Blue (1995) - Ken Uttley
- Bear Necessities (1995) - Ken Uttley
- Norman Blood (1995) - Ken Uttley
- The African Queen (1995) - Ken Uttley
- None Shall Sleep (1994) - Ken Uttley (as Ken Colley)
- Charlotte, Emma, Bamber & Anne (1994) - Ken Uttley (as Ken Colley)
- Father's Day (1994) - Ken Uttley (as Ken Colley)
- Last Stand at Laurel Way (1994) - Ken Uttley (as Ken Colley)
- A Piece of Cake (1994) - Ken Uttley (as Ken Colley)
- Moving Story (1994) - Ken Uttley
1995
Solomon & Sheba (TV Movie) as
Nathan
1994
Capital Lives (TV Series)
- Fall (1994)
1993
Between the Lines (TV Series) as
Chief Supt. Tattersall
- Manoeuvre 11 (1993) - Chief Supt. Tattersall
1993
Unnatural Causes (TV Movie) as
Inspector Gerry Reckless
1992
The Secret Life of Arnold Bax (TV Movie) as
John Ireland
1992
The Bohemian Life as
Balayeur de rues
1991
Prisoner of Honor (TV Movie) as
Capt. Dreyfus
1991
Minder (TV Series) as
Ron
- Him Indoors (1991) - Ron
1991
Inspector Morse (TV Series) as
Detective Chief Inspector Patrick Dawson
- Second Time Around (1991) - Detective Chief Inspector Patrick Dawson
1990
The Last Island as
Nick
1990
I Hired a Contract Killer as
The Killer
1990
Screen Two (TV Series) as
Sergej
- The Kremlin Farewell (1990) - Sergej
1990
Napoleon's Last Battle: Timewatch (TV Series) as
Napoleon Bonaparte
1990
Poirot (TV Series) as
Mathew Davenheim
- The Disappearance of Mr. Davenheim (1990) - Mathew Davenheim
1990
The Plot to Kill Hitler (TV Movie) as
Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel
1989
The Rainbow as
Mr. Brunt (as Ken Colley)
1989
The Play on One (TV Series) as
Inspector Tennyson
- A Master of the Marionettes (1989) - Inspector Tennyson
1988
War and Remembrance (TV Mini Series) as
SS Col. Paul Blobel
- Part VII (1988) - SS Col. Paul Blobel
- Part V (1988) - SS Col. Paul Blobel
1988
A Summer Story as
Jim (as Ken Colley)
1988
Ten Great Writers of the Modern World (TV Mini Series documentary) as
Chief Inspector Heat
- Joseph Conrad's 'The Secret Agent' (1988) - Chief Inspector Heat
1987
MacHeath (Short) as
David Garrick
1987
When Reason Sleeps (TV Mini Series) as
James Bentik
- The Scar (1987) - James Bentik
1987
Casanova (TV Movie) as
Le Duc
1986
The Whistle Blower as
Pickett
1986
The Kenny Everett Television Show (TV Series)
- Episode #4.3 (1986)
1986
Return to Treasure Island (TV Mini Series) as
Ben Gunn
- Treasure Island (1986) - Ben Gunn (as Ken Colley)
- Spanish Gold (1986) - Ben Gunn (as Ken Colley)
- In Chains (1986) - Ben Gunn (as Ken Colley)
- Fugitives (1986) - Ben Gunn (as Ken Colley)
- The Crow's Nest (1986) - Ben Gunn (as Ken Colley)
- Manhunt (1986) - Ben Gunn (as Ken Colley)
- Jamaica (1986) - Ben Gunn (as Ken Colley)
- Island of the Damned (1986) - Ben Gunn (as Ken Colley)
- Mutiny (1986) - Ben Gunn (as Ken Colley)
- The Map (1986) - Ben Gunn (as Ken Colley)
1985
Mussolini: The Untold Story (TV Mini Series) as
King Vittorio Emmanuele
- Episode #1.2 (1985) - King Vittorio Emmanuele
1985
Function Room (TV Mini Series)
- Wingers (1985)
1985
Wallenberg: A Hero's Story (TV Movie) as
Adolf Eichmann
1984
Return to Waterloo (TV Movie) as
The Traveller
1984
All the World's a Stage (TV Mini Series) as
Quotations Reader / Extracts: A Month in the Country; The Playboy of the Western World; The Plough and the Stars
- The Actors Do Not Understand (1984) - Quotations Reader / Extracts: A Month in the Country; The Playboy of the Western World; The Plough and the Stars
1983
Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi as
Admiral Piett
1983
The Scarlet and the Black (TV Movie) as
Capt. Hirsch (as Ken Colley)
1982
Giro City as
Martin
1982
Firefox as
Colonel Kontarsky
1982
I Remember Nelson (TV Mini Series) as
Vice-Adm. Horatio Viscount Nelson
- Battle (1982) - Vice-Adm. Horatio Viscount Nelson
- Duty (1982) - Vice-Adm. Horatio Viscount Nelson
- Passion (1982) - Vice-Adm. Horatio Viscount Nelson
- Love (1982) - Vice-Adm. Horatio Viscount Nelson
1981
Peter and Paul (TV Movie) as
Theodotus
1980
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back as
Admiral Piett
1979
Life of Brian as
Jesus
1979
The Danedyke Mystery (TV Series) as
The Major
- Episode #1.6 (1979) - The Major
- Episode #1.5 (1979) - The Major
- Episode #1.4 (1979) - The Major
- Episode #1.3 (1979) - The Major
- Episode #1.2 (1979) - The Major
- Episode #1.1 (1979) - The Major
1979
The BBC Television Shakespeare (TV Series) as
Duke Vincentio
- Measure for Measure (1979) - Duke Vincentio
1978
Les Miserables (TV Movie) as
Police Prefect
1977
Play for Today (TV Series) as
Frank Benyon / Bruce Tetley
- One Bummer News Day (1978) - Frank Benyon
- Come the Revolution (1977) - Bruce Tetley
1978
Pennies from Heaven (TV Mini Series) as
The Accordion Man / Accordion Man
- Says My Heart (1978) - The Accordion Man (uncredited)
- Painting the Clouds (1978) - Accordion Man
- Better Think Twice (1978) - Accordion Man
- Easy Come, Easy Go (1978) - Accordion Man
- The Sweetest Thing (1978) - The Accordion Man
- Down Sunnyside Lane (1978) - The Accordion Man
1978
Hazell (TV Series) as
Porter
- Hazell Goes to the Dogs (1978) - Porter
1977
Ripping Yarns (TV Series) as
Robber
- The Testing of Eric Olthwaite (1977) - Robber
1977
Target (TV Series) as
Jessal
- Blow Out (1977) - Jessal
1977
Horizon (TV Series documentary) as
Wren
- The Amazing Doctor Newton (1977) - Wren
1977
Jabberwocky as
1st Fanatic
1976
Dickens of London (TV Mini Series) as
Robert Seymour
- Fame (1976) - Robert Seymour
1972
Crown Court (TV Series) as
James Armstrong / Victor Snead / Stanley Meredith / ...
- Those in Peril: Part 3 (1976) - James Armstrong
- Those in Peril: Part 2 (1976) - James Armstrong
- Those in Peril: Part 1 (1976) - James Armstong
- Confine to Solitary: Part 2 (1974) - Victor Snead
- Confine to Solitary: Part 1 (1974) - Victor Snead
- Conspiracy: Part Three (1972) - Stanley Meredith (uncredited)
- Conspiracy: Part Two (1972) - Stanley Meredith
1976
Three Days in Szczecin (TV Movie) as
Edmund Baluka
1966
BBC Play of the Month (TV Series) as
Yolinichev
- Chester Mystery Cycle (1976)
- Defection! The Case of Colonel Petrov (1966) - Yolinichev
1975
Lisztomania as
Frédéric Chopin (as Ken Colley)
1975
The Sweeney (TV Series) as
Noah Riley
- Trap (1975) - Noah Riley
1975
Churchill's People (TV Series) as
Ancient Beau
- The Fine Art of Bubble-Blowing (1975) - Ancient Beau
1975
The Love School (TV Series) as
Edward Burne-Jones
- The Artisan (1975) - Edward Burne-Jones
- Beata Beatrix (1975) - Edward Burne-Jones
- Remember Me (1975) - Edward Burne-Jones
1975
Slade in Flame as
Tony Devlin
1974
Juggernaut as
Detective Brown
1964
Z Cars (TV Series) as
Lennie Bowles / Rosser / Fenton
- Family (1974) - Lennie Bowles
- The Long Spoon (1965) - Rosser
- Family Reunion (1964) - Fenton
1974
The Nine Tailors (TV Mini Series) as
Potty Peake
- Episode #1.3 (1974) - Potty Peake
1974
Fall of Eagles (TV Mini Series) as
Father Gapon
- The Appointment (1974) - Father Gapon (uncredited)
- Dearest Nicky (1974) - Father Gapon
1974
Special Branch (TV Series) as
Oliver
- Date of Birth (1974) - Oliver
1974
Mahler as
Krenek (as Ken Colley)
1973
The Protectors (TV Series) as
Devlin
- Dragon Chase (1973) - Devlin
1973
Arthur of the Britons (TV Series) as
Erig
- Rowena (1973) - Erig
1973
Black and Blue (TV Series) as
Schultz
- High Kampf (1973) - Schultz
1973
Jack the Ripper (TV Mini Series) as
Police Constable
- Suspects (1973) - Police Constable
1973
Hitler: The Last Ten Days as
Gerhardt Boldt
1972
The Triple Echo as
Provo Corporal (as Ken Colley)
1972
The Visitors (TV Mini Series) as
Agent
- Episode #1.4 (1972) - Agent
- Episode #1.3 (1972) - Agent
1972
Dear Mother... ...Love Albert (TV Series) as
Jimmy
- A Ghost Story (1972) - Jimmy
1972
New Scotland Yard (TV Series) as
Peter Elliot
- The Come Back (1972) - Peter Elliot
1972
A Family at War (TV Series) as
Sergeant Jago
- Two Fathers (1972) - Sergeant Jago
1971
The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes (TV Series) as
Farrish
- The Case of the Mirror of Portugal (1971) - Farrish
- The Affair of the Avalanche Bicycle & Tyre Co. Ltd. (1971) - Farrish
1971
The Devils as
Legrand
1971
The Music Lovers as
Modeste
1970
Performance as
Tony Farrell (as Ken Colley)
1967
Thirty-Minute Theatre (TV Series) as
Charles I / Adolf Hitler / Dr. Emil Justin / ...
- Revolutions: Cromwell (1970) - Charles I
- These Men Are Dangerous: Hitler (1969) - Adolf Hitler
- Cause of Death (1968) - Dr. Emil Justin
- Haven't You People Got Homes? (1967) - Paddy
1970
Omnibus (TV Series documentary) as
Hitler
- Dance of the Seven Veils (1970) - Hitler
1965
The Wednesday Play (TV Series) as
Jock / Bethold Florenberg / Nick
- Happy (1969) - Jock
- Coincidence (1968) - Bethold Florenberg
- 3 Clear Sundays (1965) - Nick
1968
The Expert (TV Series) as
Munt / Foreman
- Eddie (1969) - Munt
- Fire Without Smoke (1968) - Foreman
1969
Judge Dee (TV Series) as
Kun Shan
- The Curse of the Lacquer Screen (1969) - Kun Shan
1969
Oh! What a Lovely War as
Irish Soldier (uncredited)
1968
Look and Read (TV Series) as
Mr. Moon
- Len and the River Mob: Part 10 - After Them! (1968) - Mr. Moon
- Len and the River Mob: Part 9 - Find the S.S. Samba (1968) - Mr. Moon
- Len and the River Mob: Part 8 - Tied and Gagged (1968) - Mr. Moon
- Len and the River Mob: Part 7 - This Way Up (1968) - Mr. Moon
- Len and the River Mob: Part 5 - Captain Grenko (1968) - Mr. Moon
- Len and the River Mob: Part 4 - The Big Job (1968) - Mr. Moon
- Len and the River Mob: Part 3 - The Missing Crate (1968) - Mr. Moon
- Len and the River Mob: Part 1 - A Job in the Docks (1968) - Mr. Moon
1968
The Blood Beast Terror as
James
1968
City '68 (TV Series) as
Corbett
- Who Pays? (1968) - Corbett
1967
The Informer (TV Series) as
Slater
- Where There's Muck, There's Money (1967) - Slater
1967
How I Won the War as
2nd Replacement
1967
The White Rabbit (TV Mini Series) as
Sasha
- The Beginning (1967) - Sasha
1967
Hobson's Choice (TV Series) as
Will Mossop
- How to Do Right by Your Father and Still Make a Profit (1967) - Will Mossop
- How to Wed on a Shoe-String and Keep Your Father Out of Court (1967) - Will Mossop
- How to Rule a Father and Hook a Husband (1967) - Will Mossop
1967
The Jokers as
De Winter (chauffeur)
1966
Macbeth (TV Movie) as
Macbeth's servant
1966
Softly Softly (TV Series) as
Robins
- Sleeping Dogs (1966) - Robins
1966
The Baron (TV Series) as
Dinny Brand
- The Legions of Ammak (1966) - Dinny Brand
1966
The Government Inspector (TV Mini Series) as
Postmaster
- Part 3 (1966) - Postmaster
- Part 2 (1966) - Postmaster
- Part 1 (1966) - Postmaster
1966
Armchair Theatre (TV Series) as
Jimmy
- The Three Barrelled Shotgun (1966) - Jimmy
1964
Emergency-Ward 10 (TV Series) as
Arthur Pastor / Ed
- Episode #1.927 (1966) - Arthur Pastor
- Episode #1.926 (1966) - Arthur Pastor
- Episode #1.763 (1964) - Ed
- Episode #1.762 (1964) - Ed
1965
No Hiding Place (TV Series) as
Sidney Runtle
- A Moment of Freedom (1965) - Sidney Runtle
1965
The Good Soldier Schweik (TV Movie) as
Patient / Railwayman
1965
R3 (TV Series) as
George Barratt
- Black Warning (1965) - George Barratt
1964
Thorndyke (TV Series) as
Ellis
- The Puzzle Lock (1964) - Ellis
1964
Redcap (TV Series) as
Private Bolt
- It's What Comes After (1964) - Private Bolt
1963
ITV Play of the Week (TV Series) as
Colin / Private Leetham
- The Other Man (1964) - Colin
- For King and Country #3: Tunnel Trench (1963) - Private Leetham
1964
Coronation Street (TV Series) as
Lionel
- Episode #1.329 (1964) - Lionel
- Episode #1.328 (1964) - Lionel
1964
Seventy Deadly Pills as
Covent Garden porter
1964
It's Dark Outside (TV Series) as
Hammond
- More Ways of Killing a Cat (1964) - Hammond
1963
The Avengers (TV Series) as
Young Man
- Don't Look Behind You (1963) - Young Man
1963
Maupassant (TV Series)
- Consequences (1963)
1963
Ghost Squad (TV Series) as
Bank Teller
- Hot Money (1963) - Bank Teller
1963
The Plane Makers (TV Series) as
Jack Moss
- The Blunt Approach (1963) - Jack Moss
1961
A for Andromeda (TV Series) as
Dead Body
- The Last Mystery (1961) - Dead Body (uncredited)
Director
2007
Alligator (Short)
2007
Greetings
2006
A Nearly Silent Film (TV Short)
Writer
2007
Alligator (Short) (written by)
2007
Greetings (written by)
2006
A Nearly Silent Film (TV Short)
Producer
2007
Alligator (Short) (producer)
2007
Greetings (producer)
Soundtrack
-
Pennies from Heaven (TV Mini Series) (1 episode, 1978) (performer - 1 episode, 1978)
- Painting the Clouds (1978) - (performer: "Serenade in the Night" - uncredited)
- Down Sunnyside Lane (1978) - ("Pennies from Heaven", uncredited)
Self
2008
Comedy Connections (TV Series documentary) as
Self / Robber
- Ripping Yarns (2008) - Self / Robber
1967
For Schools and Colleges: Drama (TV Series) as
Self
- Comedy (1967) - Self
Archive Footage
2009
Monty Python: Almost the Truth - The Lawyer's Cut (TV Mini Series documentary) as
Jesus
- Lust for Glory! (2009) - Jesus
2007
The Secret Life of Brian (TV Movie documentary) as
Jesus (uncredited)
2001
George Harrison - Der sanfte Beatle (TV Movie documentary)
References
Kenneth Colley Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA