Eric Porter
Biography
Eric Porter was a classical actor and Shakespearean who worked for five decades until his death from colon cancer on May 15, 1995. Born on April 8, 1928, in Shepard's Bush, London, UK, he was the son of Richard John Porter and Phoebe Elizabeth Spall. He attended Wimbledon Technical College before beginning his stage career as a walk-on in a production of William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night in February 1945 at the Arts Theatre in Cambridge. He continued in repertory theatre prior to joining the National Service with the RAF during the war years. His international fame came from his portrayal in the miniseries The Forsyte Saga in 1967, for which he won a BAFTA award. Over his career, Porter accumulated 59 known acting credits.
Career overview
Eric Porter was a classical actor and highly respected Shakespearean whose career spanned five decades until his death from colon cancer on May 15, 1995. Born in Shepard's Bush, London, UK on April 8, 1928, he was the son of Richard John Porter and Phoebe Elizabeth Spall. Before beginning his acting career, he attended Wimbledon Technical College. Porter first stepped onto the stage as a walk-on in a production of William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night in February 1945 at the Arts Theatre in Cambridge. He continued working in repertory until his service in the National Service with the RAF during the war years, with early post-war credits including tour work.
Despite his extensive theatrical background, Porter achieved international fame outside of the Shakespearean realm through his portrayal in the miniseries The Forsyte Saga in 1967. For his work in the miniseries, he won a BAFTA award. Over the course of his career, Porter accumulated 59 known acting credits in movies and television shows. He passed away at the age of 67.
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Career timeline
Full Filmography
64 titles- Morecambe & Wise: Christmas Specials (2007)
- The Heroes of Telemark: Location report from Norway (2003)
- The Best of Morecambe and Wise (2001) as Self (archive footage)
- The World of Hammer (1994) as Self (archive footage)
- Message for Posterity (1994) as James Player
- Performance (1991) as James Player
- The Return of Sherlock Holmes (1986) as Professor Moriarty
- Oliver Twist (1985) as Fagin
- Oliver Twist (1985) as Fagin
- Sherlock Holmes (1984) as Professor Moriarty
- The Jewel in the Crown (1984) as Dimitri Bronowsky
- The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1984) as Professor Moriarty
- A Shilling Life (1982) as Petersham
- Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years (1981) as Neville Chamberlain
- The Sin Bin (1981) as Stanley Wilkinson
- Little Lord Fauntleroy (1980) as Mr. Havisham
- Why Didn't They Ask Evans? (1980) as Dr. Nicholson
- Hamlet (1980) as Polonius
- The Crucible (1980) as Deputy Governor Danforth
- Churchill and the Generals (1979) as Gen. Sir Alan Brooke
- The Thirty Nine Steps (1978) as Chief Superintendent Lomas
- Anna Karenina (1977) as Karenin
- The Shetland Experience (1977) as Narrator (voice)
- The Winslow Boy (1977) as Arthur Winslow
- Hitler’s Germany - A World at War Special Presentation (1976) as Narrator
- Private Affairs (1975) as Charles Stewart Parnell
- Hennessy (1975) as Tobin
- The Two Deaths of Adolf Hitler (1975) as Narrator
- The Statue and the Rose (1975) as Parnell
- The Final Solution (1975) as Narrator
- The Final Solution (1975) as Self - Narrator
- Playhouse (1974) as Petersham
- Callan (1974) as Hunter
- Warrior - World at War Special Presentation (1974) as Narrator
- From War to Peace (1974) as Narrator
- The Day of the Jackal (1973) as Colonel Rodin
- Hitler: The Last Ten Days (1973) as Generalfeldmarschall Robert Ritter von Greim
- The Belstone Fox (1973) as Asher Smith
- Antony and Cleopatra (1972) as Enobarbus
- Nicholas and Alexandra (1971) as Stolypin
- Hands of the Ripper (1971) as Dr. John Pritchard
- Play for Today (1970) as Stanley Wilkinson
- Solo (1970)
- Separate Tables (1970) as Major Pollock / John Malcolm
- Macbeth (1970) as Macbeth
- Civilisation (1969) as Macbeth (voice)
- Morecambe & Wise: Christmas Specials (1969) as Himself
- The Lost Continent (1968) as Lansen
- The Forsyte Saga (1967) as Soames Forsyte
- Kaleidoscope (1966) as Harry Dominion
- The Last Invasion (1966) as Harold
- BBC Play of the Month (1965) as Cyrano de Bergerac
- BBC Play of the Month (1965) as Arthur Winslow
- BBC Play of the Month (1965) as Councillor Albert Parker
- BBC Play of the Month (1965) as Jack Tanner
- BBC Play of the Month (1965) as Maj. Pollock / John Malcolm
- BBC Play of the Month (1965) as Macbeth
- The Heroes of Telemark (1965) as Terboven
- The Wars of the Roses (1965) as Henry VII
- Knock on Any Door (1965) as Johnny Isaacs
- Theatre 625 (1964) as 'Newton'
- The Fall of the Roman Empire (1964) as Julianus
- Theatre Night (1957) as Vadim Romanoff
- Emma (1948)
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Eric Porter best known for?
Eric Porter is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including The World of Hammer (1994), The Return of Sherlock Holmes (1986), Oliver Twist (1985), Sherlock Holmes (1984).
When and where was Eric Porter born?
Eric Porter was born on April 8, 1928 in Shepard's Bush, London, UK. They passed away on May 15, 1995.
How many credits does Eric Porter have?
Eric Porter has accumulated over 64 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1948 to 2007.
What is Eric Porter's background in cinema and television?
Eric Porter was a classical actor and Shakespearean who worked for five decades until his death from colon cancer on May 15, 1995. Born on April 8, 1928, in Shepard's Bush, London, UK, he was the son of Richard John Porter and Phoebe Elizabeth Spall. He attended Wimbledon Technical College before beginning his stage ca...