Charles Pemberton

Person

Charles Pemberton

Acting September 19, 1939

Leyland, Lancashire, U.K.

Character actor Charles Pemberton had a long career in television but found theatrical fame with his one man entertainment, WS Gilbert - A Disagreeable Man? which he toured throug…

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Known for

Popular titles

Agatha Christie's Poirot

Agatha Christie's Poirot

8.2 1989 TV Show
The Four Feathers

The Four Feathers

6.6 2002 Movie
Minder

Minder

7.1 1979 TV Show
Foyle's War

Foyle's War

7.9 2002 TV Show
Screen Two

Screen Two

7.1 1985 TV Show
The Professionals

The Professionals

7.6 1977 TV Show
All Creatures Great and Small

All Creatures Great and Small

7.8 1978 TV Show
Hammer House of Horror

Hammer House of Horror

7.1 1980 TV Show
Brannigan

Brannigan

6.0 1975 Movie
Return of the Saint

Return of the Saint

7.0 1978 TV Show
The Upper Hand

The Upper Hand

7.2 1990 TV Show
Bread

Bread

7.0 1986 TV Show

Biography

A closer look

Read full biography

Character actor Charles Pemberton had a long career in television but found theatrical fame with his one man entertainment, WS Gilbert - A Disagreeable Man? which he toured throughout the UK and Europe. The two hour show, from a script by Brian Jones, traced the life of the 19th century popular composer and martinet. Pemberton was born on September 19, 1939 in Leyland, Lancashire. He trained for the stage at the Rose Bruford Drama School and graduated with distinction in 1963. He joined the Bristol Old Vic Theatre Company where he remained for two years before appearing in repertory at the Library Theatre, Manchester, Harrogate and Derby. He made his television debut in 1964 as a detective sergeant in the soap Crossroads and went on to play a succession of policemen, military types and officials in countless dramas and sitcoms such as Callan, The Professionals, Minder, Juliet Bravo and Dangerous Davies: The Last Detective. He was in two storylines of Doctor Who, The Tomb of the Cybermen and The War Games and he played Johnny Mann in Coronation Street (1973). He also had cameos in the award-winning drama The Naked Civil Servant (1975), John Le Carre's A Perfect Spy (1987), Great Expectations (1989) (as Mr Philbean 1989), Victoria Wood's Pat & Margaret (1994) and Foyle's War (2004). On the West End stage he appeared with Ingrid Bergman in Sir John Gielgud's revival of The Constant Wife (Albery Theatre 1973) and he played Ormonroyd in Priestley's When We Are Married (Whitehall Theatre). He also starred in several commercials including the award-winning series of John Smith's Yorkshire Bitter adverts. He later recorded his one man show on CD. Pemberton was an accomplished magician and held the Inner Magic Circle Silver Star. He was vice president of the Catholic Stage Guild and a much revered member of the CAA. He had recently been elected to the Savage Club where he had performed his own man show to much acclaim. A genial and kind man with a self effacing sense of humour he was a familiar figure in London's theatreland with his bewhiskered looks and jaunty smile. He will be much missed by his many colleagues in the profession. Friend Barbara Angell said, "We were friends through thick and thin - we were sometimes rich together but mostly poor, at least financially. We shared a lot of laughs. Pemberton had been suffering from cancer and died on May 13, 2007. He was survived by his mother.

Filmography

Movies and shows, newest first

  1. 2024
    Doctor Who: The War Games in Colour

    Movie Alien Technician (archive footage)

  2. 2004
    King of Fridges

    Movie 2nd Stereo Customer

  3. 2002
    Foyle's War

    TV show Policeman

  4. 2002
    The Four Feathers

    Movie Impressario

  5. 1995
    A Pin for the Butterfly

    Movie Černík

  6. 1994
    Pat and Margaret

    Movie Porter

  7. 1994
    (All Quiet on the) Preston Front

    TV show Roger

  8. 1992
    Gone to Seed

    TV show Don

  9. 1992
    Virtual Murder

    TV show PC

  10. 1991
    A Murder of Quality

    Movie Sgt. Ted Mundy

  11. 1990
    The Upper Hand

    TV show Mr. Bradshaw

  12. 1989
    Norbert Smith: A Life

    Movie Policeman

  13. 1989
    The Paradise Club

    TV show Charlie O'Neill

  14. 1989
    No Strings

    TV show Publican

  15. 1989
    Agatha Christie's Poirot

    TV show Stooge

  16. 1988
    The First Kangaroos

    Movie Large Man

More credits
  1. 1987
    Playing Away

    Movie Constable

  2. 1986
    Bread

    TV show DHSS Claimant

  3. 1986
    The Russian Soldier

    Movie Plainclothes Policeman

  4. 1985
    Oliver Twist

    TV show Warden

  5. 1985
    Miss Marple: A Pocketful of Rye

    TV show Sergeant Rose

  6. 1985
    Unfair Exchanges

    Movie Pub Man

  7. 1985
    Charters and Caldicott

    TV show Court Sergeant

  8. 1985
    Screen Two

    TV show Pub Man

  9. 1984
    The Box of Delights

    TV show Chief Constable

  10. 1984
    Big Deal

    TV show Fireman

  11. 1983
    Wayne and Albert

    Movie Barman

  12. 1982
    Fame Is the Spur

    TV show PC

  13. 1981
    Shillingbury Tales

    TV show Sgt Phillips

  14. 1981
    Dangerous Davies: The Last Detective

    Movie Det. Const. Evans

  15. 1981
    The Best of the Adventures

    Movie Sergeant Jeeves (archive footage) (uncredited)

  16. 1981
    Stainless Steel and the Star Spies

    Movie Dad

  17. 1980
    Hammer House of Horror

    TV show Policeman

  18. 1980
    A Question of Guilt

    TV show PC Ralph

  19. 1980
    Time of My Life

    TV show

  20. 1979
    Minder

    TV show Policeman

  21. 1979
    Terry and June

    TV show Man with dog

  22. 1979
    Shoestring

    TV show Court Officer

  23. 1979
    Porridge

    Movie Miller

  24. 1979
    Sapphire & Steel

    TV show Policeman