Brian Pettifer
Biography
Brian Pettifer was born on 1 January 1953 in Durban, Natal, South Africa. He is the younger brother of folk musician Linda Thompson. Although he initially intended to become a photographer, he pursued acting and began his career as a child, appearing in the BBC series This Man Craig and Dr Finlay’s Casebook, as well as in a production of Madame Bovary with his friend Alex Norton, experiences that sparked his enthusiasm for television work. Pettifer’s first film role came in Lindsay Anderson’s if… (1968). He later reprised the same character, Biles, in Anderson’s O Lucky Man! (1973) and Britannia Hospital (1982). Over the decades he has worked extensively in television, stage and film.
Career overview
Brian Pettifer was born on 1 January 1953 in Durban, Natal, South Africa, and is the younger brother of folk musician Linda Thompson. He began his career as a child actor, appearing in the BBC series This Man Craig and Dr Finlay’s Casebook, as well as in a television adaptation of Madame Bovary alongside his friend Alex Norton. Those early experiences sparked a lasting interest in television acting. Although he initially intended to become a photographer, Pettifer pursued acting across multiple media, accumulating credits in television, stage and film.
His first feature‑film role came in Lindsay Anderson’s if… (1968). He continued his collaboration with Anderson, portraying the character Biles in the subsequent films O Lucky Man! (1973) and Britannia Hospital (1982), thereby appearing as the same character in all three works. Over the ensuing decades Pettifer built a substantial body of work, with more than eighty credited performances across television series, stage productions and movies. He is recognised for his versatility and longevity in the industry, having maintained an active presence in British and international productions since his childhood appearances.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
80 titles- Damaged (2024) as Village Man
- Grace (2021) as Hector Hegarty
- The Last Bus (2021) as Billy (Drunk)
- Go Home (2021) as Mike
- Get Duked! (2019) as PC Dougie
- Memories of Lindsay Anderson (2019) as Self
- The Flu That Killed 50 Million (2018) as Victor Vaughan
- Darkest Hour (2017) as Lord Kingsley Wood
- Whisky Galore (2016) as Angus
- Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell (2015) as Honeyfoot
- The Legend of Barney Thomson (2015) as Charlie
- Outlander (2014) as Old Charlie
- Endeavour (2013) as Jephthah Claypole
- Black Mirror (2011) as William Grange, Dentist
- The Field of Blood (2011) as Father Richards
- Hattie (2011) as Ron
- Donkeys (2010) as Brian Colburn
- Garrow's Law (2009) as Robert Boycott
- Terror! Robespierre and the French Revolution (2009) as Couthon
- A Risk Worth Taking (2008) as Maxwell Borthwick
- To the Ends of the Earth (2005) as Wheeler
- Lassie (2005) as O'Donnell
- The Strange Case of Sherlock Holmes & Arthur Conan Doyle (2005) as Harry How
- New Tricks (2004) as Archie Milgrow
- Hustle (2004) as Tip Jones
- Vanity Fair (2004) as Mr. Raggles
- The Rocket Post (2004) as Reverend Shand
- Lindsay Anderson: Lucky Man? (2004) as Self
- One Last Chance (2004) as Macgregor
- Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (2003) as Poole
- The Key (2003)
- Rockface (2002) as Brother Thomas
- Snoddy (2002) as Professor Baxter
- Conspiracy (2001) as Alfred Meyer
- Monarch of the Glen (2000) as Eric Morton
- The House of Mirth (2000) as Mr. Bry
- The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc (1999) as the executioner / the torturer of the trial
- Life Support (1999) as Gordon Travers
- Vigo (1998) as Fatman
- The History of Tom Jones: A Foundling (1997) as Parson Supple
- The James Gang (1997) as Spanner
- Loch Ness (1996) as Repairman
- Hamish Macbeth (1995) as Rory Campbell
- The Ghostbusters of East Finchley (1995) as Howard Heights
- In the Bleak Midwinter (1995) as Ventriloquist
- Eleven Men Against Eleven (1995) as Cliff Tutley
- Heartbeat (1992) as Andrew McIntyre
- Is That All There Is? (1992) as Self
- In Dreams (1992) as Journalist/Dave
- The Great Escape II: The Untold Story (1988) as Kirby-Green
- Lucky Sunil (1988) as Cyril
- Little Dorrit (1987) as Clarence Barnacle
- Lovejoy (1986) as Willy Kinross
- City Lights (1986) as Alisdair
- Farrington of the F.O. (1986) as Billy Murdoch
- Heavenly Pursuits (1986) as Father Cobb
- Happy the Man (1986) as Andy
- Gulag (1985) as Vlasov
- Amadeus (1984) as Hospital Attendant
- A Christmas Carol (1984) as Ben
- Britannia Hospital (1982) as Biles
- Cloud Howe (1982) as Dite Peat
- Return of the Saint (1978) as Bartender
- Clayhanger (1976) as Stifford
- Get Some In! (1975) as Bruce Leckie
- Bedtime Stories (1974) as Alan
- Last of the Summer Wine (1973) as The Best Man
- Villains (1972) as Youth
- Peer Gynt (1972) as Additional cast
- Just Your Luck (1972) as Youth at Wedding
- Play for Today (1970) as Boy in Grounds
- The Right Prospectus (1970) as Boy in Grounds
- Is That Your Body, Boy (1970) as Spratt
- Warm Feet, Warm Heart (1970) as Nigel Purvis
- Let There Be Light (1970) as Pupil Teacher
- ITV Saturday Night Theatre (1969) as Adam Armour
- if.... (1968) as Biles
- This Man Craig (1966)
- The Vital Spark (1965)
- Armchair Theatre (1956) as Nigel Purvis
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Brian Pettifer best known for?
Brian Pettifer is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Damaged (2024), Grace (2021), Get Duked! (2019), Darkest Hour (2017).
When and where was Brian Pettifer born?
Brian Pettifer was born on January 1, 1953 in Durban, Natal, South Africa.
How many credits does Brian Pettifer have?
Brian Pettifer has accumulated over 80 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1956 to 2024.
What is Brian Pettifer's background in cinema and television?
Brian Pettifer was born on 1 January 1953 in Durban, Natal, South Africa. He is the younger brother of folk musician Linda Thompson. Although he initially intended to become a photographer, he pursued acting and began his career as a child, appearing in the BBC series This Man Craig and Dr Finlay’s Casebook, as well as...
Brian Pettifer by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Black Mirror (2011) as William Grange, Dentist — aged about 58
- Outlander (2014) as Old Charlie — aged about 61
- Endeavour (2013) as Jephthah Claypole — aged about 60
- Amadeus (1984) as Hospital Attendant — aged about 31
- Hustle (2004) as Tip Jones — aged about 51
- Hamish Macbeth (1995) as Rory Campbell — aged about 42
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