Kenneth Colley
Kenneth Colley | |
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Born | Manchester,Lancashire,England | 7 December 1937
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1961–present |
Kenneth Colley(born 7 December 1937) is an English film and television actor whose career spans over 60 years. He came to wider prominence through his role asAdmiral Piettin theStar WarsfilmsThe Empire Strikes Back(1980) andReturn of the Jedi(1983), as well as his roles in the films ofKen Russelland asJesusinMonty Python’s Life of Brian.
Career[edit]
Colley was born inManchester,Lancashire.[1]One of his early appearances on British television was as Noah Riley in the 1970s police dramaThe Sweeney,in an episode entitledTrap.[2]He playedJesusinThe Life of Brian,having also appeared in the earlierMonty Python-related productionRipping Yarnsepisode "The Testing of Eric Olthwaite"alongsideMichael Palin.[1]As a Shakespearean actor he played the Duke of Vienna in theBBC Television Shakespeareproduction ofMeasure for Measurein 1979.[3]
Colley worked extensively with British directorKen Russellfrom the early 1970s to the early 1990s as part of a repertory of actors who appeared across Russell's television and film work.[4]He played the role ofModest Tchaikovskyin the filmThe Music Lovers(1971). He went on to play the role of LeGrand in Russell'sThe Devils(also 1971); he played the journalist Krenek in the biopicMahler(1974); the composerFrédéric ChopininLisztomania(1975); Mr Brunt in Russell's adaptation ofThe Rainbow(1989) byD. H. Lawrence.[1]His last role for Russell was as Captain Dreyfus in the filmPrisoner of Honor(1991), which dealt with theDreyfus affair.[5]
For his work in theStar Warsfranchise, Colley's role asAdmiral Piettis noted for differing from the other ill-fated Imperial officers who appeared alongside him inThe Empire Strikes Back(1980), as Colley was the only actor to play an Imperial officer in a secondStar Warsfilm, reprising his role inReturn of the Jedi(1983).[6]Colley reprised his role as Piett in theCartoon Networkanimated specialLego Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Outin September 2012.[7]Coincidentally, Colley andDavid Prowsehad a part in the fantasy filmJabberwocky(1977).[8]
Colley also played a notable role in the 1982Clint EastwoodfilmFirefox,where he played aSovietcolonel tasked with the protection of the Firefox and its secrets.[9]He went on to playSS-StandartenführerPaul Blobelin theSecond World WardramaWar and Remembrance.[10]
Colley has directed one film to date,Greetings(2007), a horror film starring Kirsty Cox, Henry Dunn andBen Shockley.[11]
In 2017, Colley recorded a series of short narrations for inclusion onPop Wasteland,an album byFolkestoneband Phenomenal Cat.[12]
Personal life[edit]
Colley lives inHythe, Kent.[13]
According to comments whichTerry Gilliam(who directed him inJabberwockyand acted with him inLife of Brian) made in the DVD audio commentaries for both films, Colley has astammerin 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 1978BBCtelevision dramaPennies from Heaven.[14]
Filmography[edit]
Film[edit]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1964 | Seventy Deadly Pills | Covent Garden Porter | |
1967 | The Jokers | De Winter | |
How I Won the War | 2nd Replacement | ||
1968 | The Blood Beast Terror | James | |
1970 | Performance | Tony Farrell | credited as Ken Colley |
The Music Lovers | Modeste Tchaikovsky | ||
1971 | The Devils | Legrand | |
1972 | The Triple Echo | Provo Corporal | credited as Ken Colley |
1973 | Hitler: The Last Ten Days | Boldt | Uncredited |
1974 | Fall of Eagles | Father Gapon | |
Mahler | Krenek | credited as Ken Colley | |
Juggernaut | Detective Brown | ||
1975 | Slade in Flame | Tony Devlin | |
Lisztomania | Frédéric Chopin | credited as Ken Colley | |
1977 | Jabberwocky | 1st Fanatic | |
1979 | Measure For Measure | The Duke of Vienna | |
Monty Python's Life of Brian | Jesus | ||
1980 | The Empire Strikes Back | Admiral Piett | |
1981 | Peter and Paul | Theodotus | |
1982 | Firefox | Colonel Kontarsky | |
Giro City | Martin | ||
1983 | The Scarlet and the Black | Captain Hirsch | credited as Ken Colley |
Return of the Jedi | Admiral Piett | ||
1984 | Return to Waterloo | The Traveller | |
1987 | The Whistle Blower | Bill Pickett | |
1988 | A Summer Story | Jim | credited as Ken Colley |
1989 | The Rainbow | Mr. Brunt | credited as Ken Colley |
1990 | The Plot to Kill Hitler | Field MarshalWilhelm Keitel | |
I Hired a Contract Killer | The Killer | ||
The Last Island | Nick | ||
1992 | La Vie de Bohème | Street Sweeper | |
1996 | El último viaje de Robert Rylands | Archdale | |
Brassed Off | Greasley | credited as Ken Colley | |
1997 | Shadow Run | Larcombe | |
1999 | Hold Back the Night | Uncle Bob | |
Holding On | Phil | ||
2007 | Greetings | Ken | |
2013 | Scar Tissue | Weaver |
Television[edit]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1963: | The Avengers | A young man | Episode: "Don't look behind you" |
1963 | Thorndyke | Ellis | 1 episode |
1971 | The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes | Farrish | 2 episodes |
1974 | The Nine Tailors | "Potty" Peake | TV mini-series (part ofLord Peter Wimsey), Series 1 Episode 3 |
1974 | Special Branch | Oliver | TV series, Series 4 Episode 9, "Date of Birth" |
1975 | The Sweeney | Noah Riley | TV series, Series 2 Episode 6, "Trap" |
1977 | Ripping Yarns | Arthur, The Robber | 1 episode, "The Testing of Eric Outhwaite" |
1978 | Les Misérables | Police Prefect | TV film |
1978 | Pennies from Heaven | The Accordion Man | 6 episodes, TV mini-series |
1979 | Measure for Measure | Duke | BBC Shakespeare series |
The Danedyke Mystery | Major | 6 episodes, TV series | |
1985 | Wallenberg: A Hero's Story | Adolf Eichmann | TV film |
Mussolini: The Untold Story | King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy | TV mini-series | |
1982 | I Remember Nelson | Admiral Lord Nelson | |
1986 | Return to Treasure Island | Ben Gunn | 10 episodes, credited as Ken Colley |
1988 | War and Remembrance | SSStandartenführerPaul Blobel | 2 episodes, TV mini-series |
1990 | Agatha Christie's Poirot | Mathew Davenheim | 1 episode, "The Disappearance of Mr. Davenheim" |
1991 | Inspector Morse | DCI Patrick Dawson | Episode 16 "Second Time Around" |
Prisoner of Honour | Captain Alfred Dreyfus | TV film | |
1993 | Unnatural Causes | Inspector Gerry Reckless | TV film |
1993 | Between the Lines | Chief Supt. Tattersall | 1 episode, "Manoeuvre 11" |
1994-1995 | Moving Story | Ken Uttley | 13 episodes |
1995 | Solomon & Sheba | Nathan | TV film |
1995-1999 | The Bill | Various Characters | 3 episodes, credited as Ken Colley in 1999 |
1999 | The Last Train | Mark | Episode Five, credited as Ken Colley |
2001 | Midsomer Murders | Lloyd Kirby | 1 episode, "The Electric Vendetta" |
2002 | Relic Hunter | Professor Lamenza | 1 episode, "Faux Fox" |
2003 | EastEnders | Brian | 3 episodes |
2005 | Like Father Like Son | Rawsthorne | 2 episodes |
2006 | Foyle's War | Brian Jones | 1 episode, "Bad Blood" |
2006 | New Tricks | Frank Benson | 1 episode, "Dockers" |
2009 | Casualty 1909 | Dr. Frederick Smith | 3 episodes |
2012 | Lego Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out | Admiral Piett | TV film, credited as Kenneth Cooley |
2013 | Vera | Ronald Devreux | Series 3, Episode 3Young Gods |
Misfits | Old Rudy | Series 5, Episode 4 | |
2016 | Peaky Blinders | Vicente Changretta | Series 3, Episodes 2 & 3 |
References[edit]
- ^abc"Kenneth Colley".BFI.Archived fromthe originalon 21 April 2017.
- ^"Trap (1975)".BFI.Archived fromthe originalon 30 December 2018.
- ^"BFI Screenonline: Measure For Measure (1979)".screenonline.org.uk.BFI Screenonline.Retrieved8 December2015.
- ^"Kenneth Colley | Biography, Movie Highlights and Photos".AllMovie.
- ^"Prisoner of Honour (1991) - Ken Russell | Cast and Crew | AllMovie"– via allmovie.
- ^Daniel Mumby."10 Actors Who Weren't Able to Let Star Wars Go - Page 2".whatculture.What Culture.Retrieved8 December2015.
...since his character is the only Imperial officer to last more than one Star Wars film
- ^Milton, Luke (18 September 2012)."Interview: Writer Michael Price Reveals LEGO Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out!".Fruitless Pursuits.Retrieved28 September2012.
- ^"Jabberwocky (1977)".bfi.org.uk.BFI.Archived fromthe originalon 11 March 2016.Retrieved3 March2016.
- ^"Firefox (1982) - Clint Eastwood | Cast and Crew | AllMovie"– via allmovie.
- ^"Kenneth Colley | TV Guide".TVGuide.
- ^"Greetings (2007) - Kenneth Colley | Cast and Crew | AllMovie"– via allmovie.
- ^Werksman, Hans."Pop Wasteland album review".Here Comes The Flood.
- ^Leclere, Matt (29 October 2015)."Sir Ian McKellen lends a touch of magic to Folkestone's Leas Pavilion campaign".Kent Online.Retrieved8 December2015.
Ken Colley, from Hythe
- ^"BFI Screenonline: Pennies From Heaven (1978)".screenonline.org.uk.BFI Screenonline.Retrieved8 December2015.