Name Sydney Tafler Role Actor | ||
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Born 31 July 1916 ( 1916-07-31 ) London, England Died November 8, 1979, London, United Kingdom Spouse Joy Shelton (m. 1944–1979) Children Jonathan Tafler, Jennifer Tafler, Jeremy Tafler Movies The Spy Who Loved Me, Passport to Pimlico, Alfie, The Birthday Party, The Lavender Hill Mob Similar People Joy Shelton, Jonathan Tafler, Lewis Gilbert, Henry Cornelius, Robert Hamer | ||
Siblings Hylda Tafler, Sheila Aza | ||
Wide Boy (1952) - opening scene
Sydney Tafler (31 July 1916 – 8 November 1979) was an English actor best remembered for numerous appearances in films and on British television from the 1940s to the 1970s.
Contents
Career
His father was an antiques dealer. After two years at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, he first appeared on stage in London's West End in 1936, with Sir Seymour Hicks in The Man in Dress Clothes. On British television he appeared alongside Sid James and Tony Hancock in the early 1960s. His other television work included Angel Pavement, The Gentle Killers, The Infernal Machine, Focus, Citizen James, Dixon of Dock Green and Hadleigh. He appeared in many films from 1947 to 1977. He most commonly played spiv characters, one notable exception being the 1956 film Reach for the Sky in which he played the prosthetics expert to Douglas Bader. There again, he appeared briefly in a drily comic role as a uniformed policeman in the 1956 film The Cockleshell Heroes. His film career ended with a role as the captain of the supertanker Liparus in the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me.
Personal life
Tafler was born into a Jewish family to Eva (née Kosky) and Mark Tafler. He was married to the English film actress Joy Shelton from 1941 until his death from cancer; they had three children – two sons, Jeremy and Jonathan, and a daughter, Jennifer.
Filmography
Actor
1980
The Enigma Files (TV Series) as
Solly King
- The Sweeper (1980) - Solly King
1980
BBC2 Playhouse (TV Series) as
Kugelmann
- Pews (1980) - Kugelmann
1979
Cannon and Ball (TV Series) as
The Agent
- Episode #1.2 (1979) - The Agent
1979
Potter (TV Series) as
Harry Tooms
- A Touch of Elderberry (1979) - Harry Tooms
1978
Devenish (TV Series) as
Sidney Bloom
- The Golf Merger (1978) - Sidney Bloom
1978
Do You Remember? (TV Series) as
Ambrose Solto
- Night School (1978) - Ambrose Solto
1973
Play for Today (TV Series) as
Harry Perlman / Mr. Leo Crowley
- Oy Vay Maria (1977) - Harry Perlman
- Baby Blues (1973) - Mr. Leo Crowley
1977
The Spy Who Loved Me as
Liparus Captain
1977
The Mike Reid Show (TV Series)
- Episode #1.4 (1977)
1976
Victorian Scandals (TV Series) as
Achille Fould
- Skittles (1976) - Achille Fould
1975
Wodehouse Playhouse (TV Series) as
I.Q. Fishbein / Isadore Q. Fishbein
- The Nodder (1976) - I.Q. Fishbein
- The Rise of Minna Nordstrom (1975) - Isadore Q. Fishbein
1976
Survivors (TV Series) as
Manny
- Lights of London: Part 2 (1976) - Manny
- Lights of London: Part 1 (1976) - Manny
1976
Yes, Honestly (TV Series) as
Harry Burton
- Make Them Listen: Croon Anywhere (1976) - Harry Burton
1975
The Sweeney (TV Series) as
Manny Bellow
- Trap (1975) - Manny Bellow
1975
Thriller (TV Series) as
Sam Meadows
- Nightmare for a Nightingale (1975) - Sam Meadows
1975
Crown Court (TV Series) as
Harry Simons
- Take Back Your Mink: Part 1 (1975) - Harry Simons
1975
Churchill's People (TV Series) as
Haskelot
- A Sprig of Broom (1975) - Haskelot
1974
Village Hall (TV Series) as
Arthur Bolton
- The Magic Sponge (1974) - Arthur Bolton
1974
Marked Personal (TV Series) as
Cartwright
- Episode #1.60 (1974) - Cartwright
- Episode #1.59 (1974) - Cartwright
1963
Z Cars (TV Series) as
Ray Dawson / Willy Tyndale / Wasilewski / ...
- Two Wise Monkeys (1974) - Willy Tyndale
- Defection (1973) - Wasilewski
- The Wrong Odds: Part 2 (1971) - Ray Dawson
- The Wrong Odds: Part 1 (1971) - Ray Dawson
- Daylight Robbery (1963) - Oliver Snow
1974
Vienna 1900 (TV Mini Series) as
Herr Klingemann
- The Spring Sonata (1974) - Herr Klingemann
1973
Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em (TV Series) as
Lockwood
- Frank and Marvin (1973) - Lockwood
1973
Van der Valk (TV Series) as
Halsbeek
- A Rose from Mr. Reinhart (1973) - Halsbeek
- A Man of No Importance (1973) - Halsbeek
- A Death by the Sea (1973) - Halsbeek
1973
Love Story (TV Series) as
Mr. Miller
- My Brother's House (1973) - Mr. Miller
1973
The Adventurer (TV Series) as
Wyvern
- The Solid Gold Hearse (1973) - Wyvern
1972
BBC Play of the Month (TV Series) as
Prime Minister
- King Oedipus (1972) - Prime Minister
1971
Alexander the Greatest (TV Series) as
Joe Green
- Renata's Secret Affair (1972) - Joe Green
- Sam Leaves Home (1972) - Joe Green
- The 21 Year Itch (1972) - Joe Green
- Kicking the Filthy Habit (1972) - Joe Green
- Israel Needs You (1972) - Joe Green
- The New Policy (1972) - Joe Green
- Charity Ends at Home (1972) - Joe Green
- Happy Anniversary (1971) - Joe Green
- The Disengagement of Murray and Renata (1971) - Joe Green
- The Match (1971) - Joe Green
- The All Night Party (1971) - Joe Green
- The Third World Starts Tonight (1971) - Joe Green
- A Week to Live (1971) - Joe Green
1971
Danger Point as
Man
1970
Thirty-Minute Theatre (TV Series) as
Alexander Rosticoff / Mallows / Hans
- Farewell Performance (1971) - Alexander Rosticoff
- Waugh on Crime: In Which Inspector Waugh Observes the Truth of an Old Music Hall Song (1970) - Mallows
- Reparation (1970) - Hans
1971
Misleading Cases (TV Series) as
Mr. Benkle
- Regina Versus Sagittarius (1971) - Mr. Benkle
1970
ITV Playhouse (TV Series) as
Danski
- The Style of the Countess (1970) - Danski
1970
W. Somerset Maugham (TV Series) as
Sir Adolphus Bland
- The Alien Corn (1970) - Sir Adolphus Bland
1970
The Adventurers as
Col. Gutierrez (as Sidney Tafler)
1966
The Wednesday Play (TV Series) as
Blaustein / Arthur Bradshaw
- The Cellar and the Almond Tree (1970) - Blaustein
- Way Off Beat (1966) - Arthur Bradshaw
1964
Dixon of Dock Green (TV Series) as
Mr. Green / Peter Cassidy / Ralph Edwards
- Bobby (1969) - Mr. Green
- The Fourth Finger (1966) - Peter Cassidy
- Don't Play with Fire (1964) - Ralph Edwards
1969
Coronation Street (TV Series) as
Mr. Maddox-Smith
- Episode #1.927 (1969) - Mr. Maddox-Smith
- Episode #1.926 (1969) - Mr. Maddox-Smith
1969
Hadleigh (TV Series) as
Zinneman
- The Ring (1969) - Zinneman
1969
Me Mammy (TV Series) as
Sir Gerald Bronstein
- The Day Concepta Got Engaged (1969) - Sir Gerald Bronstein
1968
The Birthday Party as
Goldberg
1968
The Ugliest Girl in Town (TV Series) as
Bert Pooley
- Popped Star (1968) - Bert Pooley
1968
Man in a Suitcase (TV Series) as
Reynolds
- Castle in the Clouds (1968) - Reynolds
1967
Berserk as
Harrison Liston
1967
The World of Wooster (TV Series) as
Jas. Waterbury
- Jeeves and the Greasy Bird (1967) - Jas. Waterbury
1967
Sam and Janet (TV Series) as
Mr. Spalding
- Episode #1.5 (1967) - Mr. Spalding
1967
Write a Play (TV Series)
- The Masterpiece & To an Audience of Cork-Lined Ears (1967)
1966
Runaway Railway as
Mr. Jones
1966
The Sandwich Man as
First Fish Porter
1966
Theatre 625 (TV Series) as
Shamrayef / Finkelstein
- The Seagull (1966) - Shamrayef
- Focus (1966) - Finkelstein
1966
Alfie as
Frank
1966
Promise Her Anything as
Panel Participant
1965
A Slight Case of... (TV Series)
- Exposure (1965)
1961
No Hiding Place (TV Series) as
Marty Cook / Charlie Monkton / Lew Hemming
- To Find a Fox (1965) - Marty Cook
- Solomon Dancey's Luck (1963) - Charlie Monkton
- The Slippery Deck (1961) - Lew Hemming
1965
Front Page Story (TV Series) as
Waterman
- Anonymous Donor (1965) - Waterman
1964
Gideon C.I.D. (TV Series) as
Gabriel Lyon
- Big Fish Little Fish (1964) - Gabriel Lyon
1964
World of His Own (TV Series)
- Episode #1.7 (1964)
1964
The 7th Dawn as
Tom - Chief Petty Officer
1960
Citizen James (TV Series) as
Charlie Davenport
- The Jury (1962) - Charlie Davenport
- The Tube Station (1962) - Charlie Davenport
- The Librarian (1962) - Charlie Davenport
- The Watchdog (1962) - Charlie Davenport
- A Perfect Friendship? (1962) - Charlie Davenport
- The Old People's Outing (1962) - Charlie Davenport
- The Transistor (1962) - Charlie Davenport
- The Day Out (1962) - Charlie Davenport
- The Reporter (1962) - Charlie Davenport
- It's Not Cricket (1962) - Charlie Davenport
- The Tennis Ball (1962) - Charlie Davenport
- The Play's the Thing (1962) - Charlie Davenport
- The Hospital (1962) - Charlie Davenport
- Christmas Day (1961) - Charlie Davenport
- Washing Day (1961) - Charlie Davenport
- Teenagers (1961) - Charlie Davenport
- The Pensioner (1961) - Charlie Davenport
- The Rally (1961) - Charlie Davenport
- Sit-Down (1961) - Charlie Davenport
- Insurance (1961) - Charlie Davenport
- The Hotel (1961) - Charlie Davenport
- The Football Team (1961) - Charlie Davenport
- The Handbag (1961) - Charlie Davenport
- Kids (1961) - Charlie Davenport
- Crusty Bread (1961) - Charlie Davenport
- The Lamp (1961) - Charlie Davenport
- The Brand Image (1960) - Charlie Davenport
- The Raffle (1960) - Charlie Davenport
- The Rivals (1960) - Charlie Davenport
- The Money (1960) - Charlie Davenport
- The Race (1960) - Charlie Davenport
1959
The Third Man (TV Series) as
George Freeman / Colonel Abu Said
- A Question of Libel (1962) - George Freeman
- Harry Lime and the King (1959) - Colonel Abu Said
1962
Comedy Playhouse (TV Series) as
Lionel
- The Channel Swimmer (1962) - Lionel
1961
Hamlet (TV Series) as
Claudius
- Hamlet: Part 5 (1961) - Claudius
- Hamlet: Part 4 (1961) - Claudius
- Hamlet: Part 3 (1961) - Claudius
- Hamlet: Part 2 (1961) - Claudius
- Hamlet: Part 1 (1961) - Claudius
1961
Deadline Midnight (TV Series) as
Bluey Roxon
- The Golden Handshake (1961) - Bluey Roxon
1961
Here's Harry (TV Series)
- The Voice (1961)
1961
Three Live Wires (TV Series)
- Stranger Than Fiction (1961)
1961
A Weekend with Lulu as
Stationmaster
1961
The Arthur Askey Show (TV Series) as
Oscar Lamouche
- Pilbeam, the Journalist (1961) - Oscar Lamouche
- The Movie Mogul (1961) - Oscar Lamouche
1961
Carry on Regardless as
Strip Club Manager
1961
Five Golden Hours as
Alfredo
1960
A Christmas Night with the Stars (TV Series) as
Charlie Davenport - with Sid James
- Episode dated 25 December 1960 (1960) - Charlie Davenport - with Sid James
1960
Beware of Children as
Mr. Rockbottom
1960
The Bulldog Breed as
Speedboat Owner
1960
Danger Man (TV Series) as
Mikhail Radek
- The Sisters (1960) - Mikhail Radek
1960
Knight Errant Limited (TV Series) as
Angelo Broza
- An Affair of Fashion (1960) - Angelo Broza
1960
The Larkins (TV Series) as
Sidney Foskett
- Little Big Brother (1960) - Sidney Foskett
1960
Make Mine Mink as
Spanager
1960
Boyd Q.C. (TV Series) as
De Viani
- The Hard Way (1960) - De Viani
1960
Skywatch as
Ted Green (as Gunner Sydney Tafler)
1960
An Arabian Night (TV Movie) as
Samit
1957
ITV Television Playhouse (TV Series) as
Gregor / Charlie / Landrieu
- Bridge of Sighs (1960) - Gregor
- Our Best for Harry (1959) - Charlie
- Men Without Shadows (1957) - Landrieu
1960
Let's Get Married as
Pendle
1960
Bottoms Up as
Sid Biggs (as Sidney Tafler)
1960
Sink the Bismarck! as
Henry - First Workman
1958
Dial 999 (TV Series) as
Pete / Smiler Harris / Colletta
- Rat Trap (1959) - Pete
- Night Mail (1959) - Smiler Harris
- The Killing Job (1958) - Colletta
1959
Glencannon (TV Series) as
Mr. Daninds
- The Masked Monster (1959) - Mr. Daninds
1959
Tommy the Toreador as
Ramon (uncredited)
1959
Follow a Star as
Pendlebury
1959
Whack-O! (TV Series) as
Harrison Jessel
- Episode #5.6 (1959) - Harrison Jessel
1959
The Crowning Touch as
Joe
1959
Playhouse 90 (TV Series) as
Club Manager
- Dark as the Night (1959) - Club Manager
1959
Alfred Marks Time (TV Series)
- Episode #4.4 (1959)
1959
Too Many Crooks as
Solicitor
1958
Theatre Night (TV Series) as
Pedro Juarez
- Not in the Book (1958) - Pedro Juarez
1958
The Bank Raiders as
Bernie Shelton
1958
Dick and the Duchess (TV Series) as
Giuseppe
- Bank Robbery (1958)
- The Italian Maid (1958) - Giuseppe
1958
Carve Her Name with Pride as
Potter
1958
East End, West End (TV Series)
- Episode #1.1 (1958)
1957
Angel Pavement (TV Series) as
Mr. Golspie
- Episode #1.4 (1958) - Mr. Golspie
- Episode #1.3 (1958) - Mr. Golspie
- Episode #1.2 (1958) - Mr. Golspie
- Episode #1.1 (1957) - Mr. Golspie
1957
Educated Evans (TV Series) as
Morry Green
- The Dreamer (1957) - Morry Green
1957
The Surgeon's Knife as
Dr. Hearne
1957
Booby Trap as
Mr. Hunter (as Sidney Tafler)
1950
BBC Sunday-Night Theatre (TV Series) as
Chauvelin / Harry Soames / George Ware / ...
- Edward, My Son (1957) - Harry Soames
- Our Marie (1953) - George Ware
- Her Royal Highness (1952) - Professor Frey
- The Bridesman Danger (1951) - Alexander Lopakhin
- The Scarlet Pimpernel (1951) - Chauvelin
- Hail Nero! (1950) - Petronius Arbiter
- The Seagull (1950) - Dorn
- The Scarlet Pimpernel (1950) - Chauvelin
1957
The Amorous Goldfish (TV Movie) as
Edwin Coppard
1957
Pickup Alley as
Curtis
1957
The Gentle Killers (TV Series) as
Dr. Julian Goldsworthy
1957
The Counterfeit Plan as
Harry Flint
1956
Fire Maidens of Outer Space as
Dr. Higgins
1956
Reach for the Sky as
Robert Desoutter
1956
The Third Key as
Stone
1956
Guilty? as
Camino
1955
The Way Out as
Alf Cressett
1955
Lilli Palmer Theatre (TV Series) as
Harry Bryant
- Death Trap (1955) - Harry Bryant
1955
The Cockleshell Heroes as
Policeman
1955
ITV Play of the Week (TV Series) as
Nacky
- The Pay Off (1955) - Nacky
1955
Curtains for Harry (TV Movie)
1955
The Hole in the Wall (TV Movie) as
Viney
1955
The Woman for Joe as
Butch
1955
A Kid for Two Farthings as
Madam Rita
1955
The Glass Tomb as
Rorke (as Sidney Tafler)
1954
The Sea Shall Not Have Them as
Cpl. Robb
1954
Shop Spoiled as
Alex
1954
The Floating Dutchman as
Victor Skinner
1953
Operation Diplomat as
Wade
1953
The Saint's Girl Friday as
Max Lennar (as Sidney Tafler)
1953
The Square Ring as
1st Wiseacre
1953
Johnny on the Run as
Harry
1953
Your Favorite Story (TV Series)
- An Eye for an Eye (1953)
1953
There Was a Young Lady as
Johnny
1952
The Assassin as
Boldesca
1952
Time, Gentlemen, Please! as
Joseph Spink
1952
Back to Methuselah (TV Series) as
Ghost of Cain / Cain
- As Far as Thought Can Reach (1952) - Ghost of Cain
- In the Beginning (1952) - Cain
1952
The Hundred Hour Hunt as
Brett
1952
Wide Boy as
Benny
1952
Secret People as
Syd Burnett
1952
Blind Man's Bluff as
Ricky Martin
1951
Mystery Junction as
Larry Gordon
1951
What Happens to Love (TV Movie) as
Bill
1951
Chelsea Story as
Fletcher Gilchrist
1951
Hotel Sahara as
Corporal Pullar
1951
The Lavender Hill Mob as
Clayton
1951
Scarlet Thread as
Marcon
1951
The Galloping Major as
Mr. Leon (as Sidney Tafler)
1951
Assassin for Hire as
Antonio Riccardi
1950
Assassin for Hire (TV Movie) as
Tony Riccardi
1950
Once a Sinner as
Jimmy Smart
1950
Dance Hall as
Manager
1949
The Luck of the Graces (TV Movie) as
Reporter
1949
Old English (TV Movie) as
Charles Ventnor
1949
Passport to Pimlico as
Fred Cowan
1948
No Room at the Inn as
The Stranger
1948
The Monkey's Paw as
The Dealer (as Sydney Taffler)
1948
Dulcimer Street as
Night Club Receptionist
1948
Uneasy Terms as
Maysin
1948
Loyalties (TV Movie) as
Ferdinand de Levis
1948
The Only Way (TV Movie) as
Public Prosecutor
1947
It Always Rains on Sunday as
Morry Hyams
1947
Saloon Bar (TV Movie) as
Fred Small
1947
The Little Ballerina (uncredited)
1947
The Brontes (TV Movie) as
Monsieur Heger
1947
The Infernal Machine (TV Movie) as
Oedipus
1947
Busman's Honeymoon (TV Movie) as
Mr. MacBride
1947
Mr. Gladstone (TV Movie) as
Benjamin Disraeli
1947
Henry IV (TV Movie) as
Berthold
1946
The Unguarded Hour (TV Movie) as
Defending Counsel
1944
Information Please (Short) as
Turner (uncredited)
1941
Bombsight Stolen as
RAF Officer (uncredited)
Self
1979
Tell Me Another (TV Series) as
Self
- Stories About Confusing One Star with Another in Showbusiness (1979) - Self
- Stories from the Movies (1979) - Self
- Stories About Personalities (1979) - Self
- Stories About Their Early Lives 4 (1979) - Self
- Embarrassing Stories (1979) - Self
1977
The Making of 'The Spy Who Loved Me' (TV Series documentary) as
Self
- Shooting Scene 330 (1977) - Self (as Sidney Tafler)
1976
This Is Your Life (TV Series documentary) as
Self
- Wilfrid Hyde-White (1976) - Self
1965
That's for Me (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode dated 22 March 1965 (1965) - Self
1962
A Christmas Night with the Stars (TV Series) as
Self - Juke Box Jury segment
- Episode dated 25 December 1962 (1962) - Self - Juke Box Jury segment
References
Sydney Tafler Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA