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Brian Pettifer

Brian Pettifer

Acting1953Durban, Natal, South Africa

Biography

Brian Pettifer (born January 1, 1953) is a South African actor who has appeared in many television shows, and also on stage and in film. He is the younger brother of folk musician Linda Thompson.

He intended to become a photographer, but pursued a career as an actor. He appeared as a child in the BBC's This Man Craig and Dr Finlay's Casebook, and Madame Bovary (with his friend Alex Norton) which gave him an avid interest in acting on television.

His first film role was in Lindsay Anderson's film if.... (1968). He also appeared in Anderson's O Lucky Man! (1973) and Britannia Hospital (1982) playing the same character in all three Anderson films, that of Biles. His other film credits include roles in Amadeus (1984), A Christmas Carol (1984), Gulag (1985), Heavenly Pursuits (1986), Little Dorrit (1987), The Great Escape II: The Untold Story (1988), Loch Ness (1996), The House of Mirth (2000), Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (2002), The Rocket Post (2004), Vanity Fair (2004) and Lassie (2005).

Pettifer was a regular in Rab C. Nesbitt mainly propping up a bar, but was also known as aircraftman Bruce Leckie in Get Some In!, where he was constantly the butt of jokes directed at him by Corporal Marsh. He also played cousin Hughie in the long running Liverpool based 70s sitcom The Liver Birds.

He also played Alfred Meyer in the BBC/HBO film Conspiracy and the part of Dr. Cameron in the Radio 4 series entitled Adventures of a Black Bag, after appearing in several episodes of Dr. Finlay's Casebook.

He appeared in Hamish Macbeth, as well as guest starring in Still Game. In 2005, he also appeared in the first episode of the BBC drama Bleak House. In 2011 and 2013, he played Father Richards in The Field of Blood. He had the role of Poupart in the BBC One series The Musketeers.

In 2012, Brian Pettifer appeared as Archie Milgrow in the episode Old School Ties in the series New Tricks.

He has worked extensively in the theatre: writing, directing and acting. He has been in a production of The Fairy-Queen at Glyndebourne, which went to Paris and New York in 2010.

In 2015, Pettifer appeared in the crime comedy The Legend of Barney Thomson along with his Hamish Macbeth co-star Robert Carlyle.

In 2019, he appeared in an episode of Holby City playing patient Laurie Stocks.

Acting History

2024
Damaged
as Village Man
2023
Endeavour
TVas Jephthah Claypole1 eps
2022
Outlander
TVas Old Charlie1 eps
Grace
TVas Hector Hegarty1 eps
2021
The Last Bus
as Billy (Drunk)
Go Home
as Mike
2018
2017
Darkest Hour
as Lord Kingsley Wood
Black Mirror
TVas William Grange, Dentist1 eps
2016
2012
New Tricks
TVas Archie Milgrow1 eps
2011
Hattie
as Ron
The Field of Blood
TVas Father Richards
2010
Donkeys
as Brian Colburn
Garrow's Law
TVas Robert Boycott1 eps
2008
A Risk Worth Taking
as Maxwell Borthwick
2004
The Rocket Post
as Reverend Shand
One Last Chance
as Macgregor
Vanity Fair
as Mr. Raggles
Heartbeat
TVas Andrew McIntyre1 eps
Hustle
TVas Tip Jones1 eps
2002
Snoddy
TVas Professor Baxter
2001
Conspiracy
as Alfred Meyer
Monarch of the Glen
TVas Eric Morton1 eps
2000
1999
The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc
as the executioner / the torturer of the trial
Life Support
TVas Gordon Travers
1998
Vigo
as Fatman
1996
Loch Ness
as Repairman
1995
In the Bleak Midwinter
as Ventriloquist
Hamish Macbeth
TVas Rory Campbell
1993
Lovejoy
TVas Willy Kinross1 eps
1992
In Dreams
as Journalist/Dave
1987
Little Dorrit
as Clarence Barnacle
1986
Heavenly Pursuits
as Father Cobb
City Lights
TVas Alisdair
Farrington of the F.O.
TVas Billy Murdoch
1985
Gulag
as Vlasov
1984
Amadeus
as Hospital Attendant
1982
Cloud Howe
TVas Dite Peat
1978
Return of the Saint
TVas Bartender1 eps
1976
Last of the Summer Wine
TVas The Best Man1 eps
Clayhanger
TVas Stifford
1975
Get Some In!
TVas Bruce Leckie
1972
Just Your Luck
as Youth at Wedding
1970
The Right Prospectus
as Boy in Grounds
Warm Feet, Warm Heart
as Nigel Purvis
Let There Be Light
as Pupil Teacher
Play for Today
TVas Boy in Grounds1 eps
1968
if....
as Biles

Social Media

Personal Info

Known For
Acting
Gender
Male
Birthday
1/1/1953(73 years old)
Place of Birth
Durban, Natal, South Africa