Kenneth Colley
Biography
Kenneth Colley is a male actor born on December 7, 1937, in Manchester, England, UK. He is known for his work in various film and television productions. Colley's acting credits include roles in the Star Wars franchise, specifically as Admiral Piett in Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. He also appeared in the film Life of Brian, playing a brief role as Jesus, and in the BBC Television Shakespeare production of Measure for Measure. Additionally, Colley held an important role in the Clint Eastwood film Firefox.
Career overview
Kenneth Colley was an English actor with a long career in film and television. He gained wider recognition for his role as Admiral Piett in two Star Wars films. Colley was born in Manchester and began his acting career in various productions, including a Python-related television series and a BBC Television Shakespeare production.
In addition to his work in the Star Wars franchise, Colley appeared in other notable films and television shows. He played a brief role as Jesus in the 1979 film Life of Brian, and he also appeared in the 1979 BBC Television Shakespeare production of Measure for Measure. Colley's acting credits include a role in the Clint Eastwood film Firefox.
Throughout his career, Kenneth Colley accumulated a large number of acting credits, with over 120 known roles. He was active in the film and television industry for many years, working in a variety of genres and productions. Colley's work spanned multiple decades, and he remained a prominent figure in the entertainment industry until his death in 2025.
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Full Filmography
129 titles- The Institute (2025) as Gate Guard #5
- Dan Hawk Psychic Detective (2025) as Thaddeus Moncrief
- Peaky Blinders (2013) as Vicente Changretta
- Scar Tissue (2013) as Weaver
- LEGO Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out (2012) as Admiral Piett (voice)
- Vera (2011) as Ronald Devreux
- Misfits (2009) as Old Rudy
- The Queen (2009)
- Greetings (2007) as Ken
- Greetings (2007) Director
- Greetings (2007) Producer
- Greetings (2007) Writer
- Like Father Like Son (2005) as Rawsthorne
- New Tricks (2004)
- The Royal (2003) as Bernard Hussey
- Foyle's War (2002) as Brian Jones
- Relic Hunter (1999) as Professor Lamenza
- Always and Everyone (1999) as Joseph
- The Last Train (1999)
- Hold Back the Night (1999) as Uncle Bob
- The Mrs Bradley Mysteries (1998) as Archie Burlington
- Shadow Run (1998) as Larcombe
- Midsomer Murders (1997) as Lloyd Kirby
- Brassed Off (1996) as Greasley
- Robert Rylands' Last Journey (1996) as Archdale
- Solomon & Sheba (1995) as Nathan
- Wycliffe (1994) as Sam Peploe
- Peak Practice (1993) as Stan Jordan
- Unnatural Causes (1993) as Inspector Gerry Reckless
- Heartbeat (1992) as Clive Harris
- Between the Lines (1992) as Chief Supt. Tattersall
- La Vie de Bohème (1992) as Street Sweeper
- The Secret Life of Arnold Bax (1992) as John Ireland
- Prisoner of Honor (1991) as Capt. Dreyfus
- I Hired a Contract Killer (1990) as The Killer
- The Plot to Kill Hitler (1990) as Wilhelm Keitel
- The Last Island (1990) as Nick
- Kremlin Farewell (1990) as Sergej
- Agatha Christie's Poirot (1989) as Mathew Davenheim
- The Rainbow (1989) as Mr. Brunt
- A Master of the Marionettes (1989) as Inspector Tennyson
- The Play on One (1988) as DI Tennyson
- War and Remembrance (1988) as Paul Blobel
- The Modern World: Ten Great Writers (1988) as Chief Inspector Heat
- A Summer Story (1988) as Jim
- Inspector Morse (1987) as DCI Patrick Dawson
- Casanova (1987) as Le Duc
- Casualty (1986) as Paddy
- Casualty (1986) as Clifford Watkins
- Casualty (1986) as Arthur Cobb
- John Silver's Return to Treasure Island (1986) as Ben Gunn
- The Whistle Blower (1986) as Bill Pickett
- Screen Two (1985) as Sergej
- Mussolini: The Untold Story (1985) as King Vittorio Emmanuele
- Wallenberg: A Hero's Story (1985) as Adolf Eichmann
- Return to Waterloo (1984) as The Traveller
- Return of the Jedi (1983) as Admiral Piett
- The Scarlet and the Black (1983) as Capt. Hirsch
- The Kenny Everett Television Show (1982) as Self
- Firefox (1982) as Colonel Kontarsky
- I Remember Nelson (1982) as ice-Adm. Horatio Viscount Nelson
- I Remember Nelson (1982) as Vice-Adm. Horatio Viscount Nelson
- Giro City (1982) as Martin
- Peter and Paul (1981) as Theodotus
- The Empire Strikes Back (1980) as Admiral Piett
- Minder (1979) as Ron
- Life of Brian (1979) as Jesus
- The Danedyke Mystery (1979) as The Major
- Measure for Measure (1979) as Duke Vincentio
- The BBC Television Shakespeare (1978) as Duke Vincentio
- Pennies from Heaven (1978) as The Accordion Man
- Les Misérables (1978) as Police Prefect
- One Bummer News Day (1978) as Frank Benyon
- Target (1977) as Jessal
- Jabberwocky (1977) as 1st Fanatic
- The Testing of Eric Olthwaite (1977) as Robber
- Come the Revolution (1977) as Bruce Tetley
- Dickens of London (1976) as Robert Seymour
- Ripping Yarns (1976) as Robber
- Three Days in Szczecin (1976) as Edmund Bałuka
- The Chester Mystery Plays (1976)
- The Sweeney (1975) as Noah Riley
- The Love School (1975) as Edward Burne-Jones
- Lisztomania (1975) as Frederic Chopin
- Flame (1975) as Tony Devlin
- Churchill's People (1974) as Ancient Beau
- Fall of Eagles (1974) as Father Gapon
- Juggernaut (1974) as Detective Brown
- Mahler (1974) as Krenek
- Black and Blue (1973) as Schultz
- Hitler: The Last Ten Days (1973) as Boldt
- Crown Court (1972) as Stanley Meredith
- The Protectors (1972) as Devlin
- New Scotland Yard (1972) as Peter Elliot
- The Triple Echo (1972) as Provo Corporal
- The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes (1971) as Farrish
- The Devils (1971) as Legrand
- The Boy Friend (1971) as King in fantasy sequence (uncredited)
- The Music Lovers (1971) as Modeste Tchaikovsky
- Play for Today (1970) as Bruce Tetley
- Play for Today (1970) as Frank Benyon
- Performance. (1970) as Tony Farrell
- Dance of the Seven Veils (1970)
- Dear Mother... ...Love Albert (1969)
- Judge Dee (1969)
- The Expert (1968) as Foreman
- The Expert (1968) as Munt
- The Blood Beast Terror (1968) as James
- Cause of Death (1968) as Dr. Emil Justin
- Who Pays? (1968) as Corbett
- Omnibus (1967) as Hitler
- City '68 (1967) as Corbett
- How I Won the War (1967) as 2nd Replacement
- The Jokers (1967) as De Winter
- The Informer (1966) as Slater
- Macbeth (1966) as Macbeth's servant
- BBC Play of the Month (1965) as Yolinichev
- Thirty-Minute Theatre (1965) as Paddy
- Thirty-Minute Theatre (1965) as Dr. Emil Justin
- Thirty-Minute Theatre (1965) as Adolf Hitler
- Thirty-Minute Theatre (1965) as Charles I
- Three Clear Sundays (1965) as Nick
- The Wednesday Play (1964) as Bethold Florenberg
- Redcap (1964) as Private Bolt
- It's Dark Outside (1964) as Hammond
- Seventy Deadly Pills (1963) as Covent Garden porter
- The Avengers (1961)
- No Hiding Place (1959)
- Armchair Theatre (1956) as Jimmy
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Kenneth Colley best known for?
Kenneth Colley is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including The Institute (2025), Peaky Blinders (2013), Vera (2011), Misfits (2009).
When and where was Kenneth Colley born?
Kenneth Colley was born on December 7, 1937 in Manchester, England, UK. They passed away on June 30, 2025.
How many credits does Kenneth Colley have?
Kenneth Colley has accumulated over 129 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1956 to 2025.
What is Kenneth Colley's background in cinema and television?
Kenneth Colley is a male actor born on December 7, 1937, in Manchester, England, UK. He is known for his work in various film and television productions. Colley's acting credits include roles in the Star Wars franchise, specifically as Admiral Piett in Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars Episode ...