The Editor - Scott Palmer

Scott Palmer, a native of San Diego and graduate of San Diego State University, is the former managing Director of the California Performing Arts Centre. 

His other books include A Who's Who of British Film Actors, British Film Actors' Credits 1895-1987, A Who's Who of Australian & New Zealand Film Actors, The Films of Agatha Christie, and Jack the Ripper: A Reference Guide.

He has also written articles and short stories, has appeared in films, on television and radio, and has been featured in newspapers and magazines, as well as appearing in the Guinness Book of Records.  He resides in San Diego, California.

The Anthology of British Film and Television Actors has been written to provide a comprehensive list of British film performers with the most complete list of their film and tv credits found in print. Nearly 19,000 players are listed, along with approaching 1,000,000 titles.  Nevertheless, it is impossible to list every actor and every film, although that is the aim of this work.  I therefore apologize for any omissions; they are unintentional.

I have attempted a complete scope of British actors, going back to 1895 and continuing to the present.  Listings are alphabetical; hence no need for an index.  The Scottish, Irish, Welsh, Australian, New Zealand,Canadian, South African and other British Commonwealth per­formers are identified and included, as are British-born actors whose films were made outside the U.K. (as in Hollywood).  By the same token, actors born in foreign countries but who filmed solely or primarily in England are included.  All performers, from well-known stars and co-stars to supporting and character actors, as well as stunt and background players, are listed.

Years of birth/death are listed where I was able to trace them; due to the great number of small-part or lesser-known players listed this was not always possible due to lack of available information.  Dates have been verified at the Records Office and by birth/death  certificates whenever  possible.  I trust the reader will therefore find fewer errors concerning dates than in other reference books.

A brief character description is given for each actor, followed by the list of films in chronological order.  I have tried to list the year of the film's release, which is generally the same as when it was completed, but I do apologize for any errors and hope the reader will understand the difficulty in cross-checking a work of this size. Television films, plays, and serials are also included.  Although the emphasis of this book is on “films,” I do not intend a lenghthy discussion on what constitutes a film; hence the inclusion of television work.  Most actors these days appear on television, as the motion picture industry has changed a great deal the last decade or two, and there are now com­paratively few studios.

Finally, I have inserted a few special features, i.e. a list of those actors who have been bestowed titles, those who have made at least 100 films, and winners of the British and American Academy Awards.

During the course of writing this book a number of people have been helpful to me. 

First and foremost I would like to thank Martin Abel and Henry Rintoul, who have been providing me with a great deal of useful information for many years.  I would also like to thank Walter & Pam Palmer. Doreen Allen, Richard Baer, Pat Perilli & Peter Seward of the British Film Institute, Ken Baker, Karen Beesley, Lovisa Berger, Brian Bilgorri, Chris Boxall, Edward Brett, Penny Brown, Joan Burns, Larry Chadbourne,  Marilyn Collis, David Cresswell, Sarah Crouch, David Daly, Deborah Del Vecchio,Gina Dennison, Eleanor Dugan, Philip Ellis, June Epstein, Andrea Flynn, Kevin Francis, John Goodman, John Grant, Jackie Hare, Janice Healey, Cathy Herbert, Emma Hitching, Paul Ibbetson, Carole James,Tobias Jellinek, Pippa Johnson, Alun Jones, Rebecca Jones, Mark Knight, Philip Knowles, Doreen McCarthy, Anna Mahoney, Terry Marcel, Jean-Claude Michel, Peter Price, Wendy Raeburn, Hanns-Georg Rodek,Sandy Ross-Brown, Clare Saxby, John Sealy, Christoffer Slotte, Maggie Smith, Barrie Stacey, Steven Stoa, Glen Stump, Gregory Taylor, Jack Tillmany, David Tomblin, Harry Alan Towers, David Tringham, Anthony Van Der Elst, Nick Van Der Waarden, Jean Wedlock, Jo Willis-Bund, and Katrina Wood.

Agents who were kind enough to provide client credits include Marjorie Abel, The Agency (Dublin), Jonathan Altaras, Susan Angel, Asquith &Horner, Associated-Internatibnal Management, Julian Belfrage, Rebecca Blond Associates, Bloomsbury Management, Brunskill Management, Barry Burnett, C.C.A. Ltd., C.D.A. Ltd.,The Casting Network, Peter Charlesworth Ltd., Jean Clarke Management, Collis Management, Vernon Conway Ltd., Lou Coulson, Daly Gagan Associates, David Agency, Dolly Brook Agency, Ellison Combe Associates, June Epstein Associates,Elloitt Agency, Essanay Ltd., Evans & Reiss, Ex-Casting, Kate Feast Management, Film Rights Ltd., Sheridan Fitzgerald, Galloways Two, Kerry Gardner Management, Green & Underwood Ltd., Sandra Griffin Associates, Harbour & Coffey, Richard Hatton Ltd., Ste­phen Hatton, Howes & Prior, Trudy Howson, Bernard Hunter, I.C.M., J.L.M., Richard Jackson Management, Carole James Management, Joseph & Wagg, Chuck Julian Associates, Ray Knight Casting, Michael Ladkin, Langford Associates, Lee's People, L' Epine Smith & Carney, London Management Ltd., Ken McReddie, Mahoney Gretton Associates, Markham & Froggatt Ltd., Marmont Management, Scott Marsh­all, Carol Martin, Marina Martin, Masque Management, Mayer Management, Elaine Murphy, Toni Nelson, Peters, Fraser& Dunlop Ltd., Nina Quick Ass­ociates, Joan Redding, Saraband Associates, Tim Scott, James Sharkey, Vincent Shaw Associates, Christina Shepherd Ltd., Pamela Simons, Spot­light, St. James Management, Barrie Stacey, Richard Stone Ltd . Gary Tro­lan Management, Roxanne Vacca Management, Conway Van Gelder, Thelma Wade, Walmsley-Horne Associates, Janet Welch, Michael Whitehall Ltd., and April Young Ltd.

I have also been lucky enough to have met with, spoken with,  and written to a number of the actors themselves, many of whom kept records of their careers and were able to provide me with much information.  Sadly, many of them have died, some a while ago, which will indicate how many years this research has taken. 

In conclusion, any additions, corrections, comments, criticisms, etc. will be welcome by myself, and can reach me directly at 2645 Teresita Street, San Diego, California, 92104.