John Phillips
Known for: Acting
A tall, imposing character actor with a voice to match, John Phillips brought an authoritative manner and dignified military bearing to his many roles on stage and screen. A decorated veteran of the 1944 Normandy Campaign, Phillips frequently appeared on television as uniformed senior officers and police chief constables, from Frontier (1968) to Z Cars (1962). His piercing eyes and forthright manner made him equally suited to portraying magistrates, academics and clergymen. After a long innings with the Birmingham Repertory prior to 1945, he appeared post-war in Bristol and at the Old Vic in London, playing anything from Henrik Ibsen to Shakespeare. He was critically acclaimed for his roles as Henry VIII and Timon of Athens, Prospero and Tamburlaine the Great (in Christopher Marlowe's play)). Acting on screen from the early 1950's, he was insidious as lawyer Tulkinghorn in Bleak House (1959), and lent gravitas to his Norfolk in Richard III (1955) and Grand Duke Nicholas in Fall of Eagles (1974). He was not beyond parodying his screen personae, being droll and stereotypically stiff-upper-lip, as Colonel Harcourt Badger Owen in the uproarious Ripping Yarns (1976) episode 'Escape from Stalag Luft 112 B'. Phillips retired from the stage in the 1980's and made his celluloid curtain call in the eccentric, off-beat comedy Leon the Pig Farmer (1992).
Filmography
Series
Play for Today
Examining Judge
1970
Series
The Avengers
Nesbitt
1961
Series
The Wednesday Play
Councillor Percival
1964
Series
The Wednesday Play
Cardinal Runan
1964
Series
The Wednesday Play
Forbes-Wainwright
1964
Series
The Wednesday Play
Sir Gilbert Hardacre
1964
Series
Z-Cars
Det. Chief Superintendent Robins
1962
Series
Thirty-Minute Theatre
Mr. Tredgold
1965
Series
BBC Play of the Month
Major General Atkins
1965
Series
One Step Beyond
Frank
1959
Series
Danger Man
Coyannis
1960
Series
Theatre 625
Alfred Truelove
1964
Series
Dixon of Dock Green
Magistrate
1955
Series
Dixon of Dock Green
Mr. Parry
1955
Sunday-Night Play
Trifonov
1960
Sunday-Night Play
Prince Galitzin
1960
Series
The Persuaders!
Lanning Koestler
1971
Series
The Onedin Line
Mr. Frazer
1971
Series
The Onedin Line
Jack - Frazer Senior
1971
Series
Jesus of Nazareth
Naso
1977
Series
The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes
Professor Dyne
1971
Series
The Main Chance
Arnold Bingley
1969
Series
The Count of Monte Cristo
1956
Series
Sergeant Cork
Big Ben Lewis
1963
Series
The Pallisers
Sir Gregory Grogram
1974
Series
Mystery and Imagination
Colonel Gaillarde
1966
Series
Father Brown
Brander Merton
1974
Series
Fall of Eagles
Grand Duke Nicholas
1974
Series
Manhunt
Klintzch
1970
W. Somerset Maugham
Commandant
1969
Series
Hazell
DS Bull
1978
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Von Brondorff
1951
Series
Theatre Night
Hooper Moulsworth
1957
Series
Bleak House
Mr Tulkinghorn
1959
Series
Ripping Yarns
1976
Film
Joey Boy
Insp. Morgan
1965
Out of Town Theatre
Sir Howard Price
1966
Series
1990
1977
Series
Days of Hope
Josiah Wedgwood
1975
Film
Village of the Damned
General Leighton
1960
Series
Crime of Passion
1970
Series
Crime of Passion
Maitre Lacan
1970
Christ Recrucified
Pope Grigoris
1969
Film
Man in the Moon
Professor Stephens
1960
Mr Big
Leopold Ruchworth
1977
Film
Quadrophenia
Magistrate
1979
Film
Becket
Bishop of Winchester
1964
The Old Men at the Zoo
Dr. Charles Langley-Beard
1983
Series
Merlin of the Crystal Cave
King Dafydd
1991
Series
The Caesars
Piso
1968
Rupert of Hentzau
Colonel Zapt
1964
Smuggler's Bay
Elzevir Block
1964
Film
Dunkirk
Boat Owner Spokesman (uncredited)
1958
Film
The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone
Tom Stone
1961
Film
We Joined the Navy
Rear Admiral
1963
Series
Man of Straw
Dr. Heuteufel
1972
Legend of Death
Edward Gargan
1965
Film
The Mummy's Shroud
Stanley Preston
1967
Film
The Mouse on the Moon
Bracewell - U.S. Delegate
1963
Film
Torture Garden
Eddie Storm (segment 2 "Terror Over Hollywood")
1967
Film
I Accuse!
Prosecutor at Esterhazy Trial
1958
Film
A Prize of Arms
Col. Fowler
1962
Film
Fortune Is a Woman
Willis Croft
1957
Film
Escape from Stalag Luft 112B
Colonel Harcourt Badger Owen
1977
Film
The Shiralee
Doctor
1957
Film
Angels One Five
Engineer Officer
1952
Film
Mission: Monte Carlo
Koestler (archive footage)
1974
A Call on Kuprin: Part 2
Trifonov
1961
Film
Three Dangerous Ladies
Francis Urcombe
1977
Film
Romanoff and Juliet
Hooper Moulsworth
1961
The Devil's Eggshell
Major General Atkins
1966
Film
Mrs. Lawrence Will Look After It
Councillor Percival
1968
Film
Dial Red O
Deputy Morgan
1955
A Call on Kuprin: Part 1
Trifonov
1961
Film
The Government Inspector
The Mayor
1958
Film
Sky High
Lt. Col. Turbojet
1951
Film
The Executioner
Examining Judge
1980
Film
Offbeat
Chief Superintendent Gault
1961
Film
The Hallelujah Handshake
Rev. Howard Whithead
1970
Film
Ascendancy
Wintour
1983
Mrs. Amworth
Francis Urcombe
1975
Film
Strife
John Anthony
1965