William Mervyn
Biography
William Mervyn Pickwoad (3 January 1912 – 6 August 1976) was an English actor. He was born in Nairobi, then British East Africa, and was educated in Britain at Forest School, Snaresbrook. After five years in provincial theatre he made his West End debut in 1946 as part of The Guinea Pig at the Criterion Theatre. His stage work also included Lend Me Robin at the Embassy Theatre, the comedy Ring Round the Moon, The Mortimer Touch and a production of Oscar Wilde’s A Woman of No Importance at the Savo. On screen he is best remembered for playing the bishop in the television comedy All Gas and Gaiters, the old gentleman in The Railway Children, and Inspector Charles Rose in The Odd Man and its sequels.
Career overview
William Mervyn Pickwoad was born on 3 January 1912 in Nairobi, then part of British East Africa, and died on 6 August 1976 at the age of 64. Educated in Britain at Forest School, Snaresbrook, he began a career on the stage after five years working in provincial theatre. His West End debut came in 1946 when he appeared in The Guinea Pig at the Criterion Theatre. Subsequent stage work included performances in Lend Me Robin at the Embassy Theatre, the comedy Ring Round the Moon, The Mortimer Touch and Oscar Wilde’s A Woman of No Importance at the Savo.
Mervyn became widely recognised for his television work, most notably as the bishop in the clerical comedy All Gas and Gaiters. He also portrayed the old gentleman in the film adaptation of The Railway Children and took on the role of Inspector Charles Rose in the series The Odd Man and its sequels. Across his career he accumulated a substantial body of work, with 63 credited appearances listed in the Motion Picture Database. His contributions spanned both stage and screen, establishing him as a familiar character actor in mid‑twentieth‑century British entertainment.
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Career timeline
Full Filmography
69 titles- Raffles (1977) as Osborne
- The Ghosts of Motley Hall (1976) as Mr Brayling
- The Bawdy Adventures of Tom Jones (1976) as Squire Alworthy
- The Christmas Messenger (1975) as (voice)
- Crown Court (1972) as The Hon. Mr. Justice Campbell
- Crown Court (1972) as Mr. Justice Campbell
- The Ruling Class (1972) as Sir Charles Gurney
- Up the Front (1972) as Lord Twithampton
- The Persuaders! (1971) as Sir Charles Worthington
- The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes (1971) as Sir Hector Drummond
- Carry On Henry (1971) as Dr. Finlay
- Blood Suckers (1971) as Marc Honeydew
- The Railway Children (1970) as Old Gentleman
- Atlantic Wall (1970) as Protestant Bishop, Jeff's father
- Carry On Again Doctor (1969) as Lord Paragon
- The Best House in London (1969) as Cabinet Minister (uncredited)
- Salt & Pepper (1968) as Prime Minister
- Hammerhead (1968) as Walter Perrin
- All Gas and Gaiters (1967) as The Bishop, The Right Reverend Cuthbert Hever
- Mr. Rose (1967) as Charles Rose / Marcus Despard
- Follow That Camel (1967) as Sir Cyril Ponsonby
- Deadlier Than the Male (1967) as Chairman of the Phoenician Board
- The Jokers (1967) as Uncle Edward
- The Liars (1966) as Sir Gerald
- Doctor Who: The War Machines (1966) as Sir Charles Summer
- BBC Play of the Month (1965) as Sir Hector Rose
- Gideon's Way (1965) as Mr. Pater
- Thirty-Minute Theatre (1965) as Father
- Thirty-Minute Theatre (1965) as Sir Eric Brown
- Operation Crossbow (1965) as Dutch Technical Examiner
- Reluctant Bandit (1965) as Carson
- Heiress of Garth (1965) as Squire Griffin
- The Legend of Young Dick Turpin (1965) as Lord Justice
- Old Man's Fancy (1965) as The Bishop
- It's Dark Outside (1964) as Chief Insp. Charles Rose
- Murder Ahoy (1964) as Breeze-Connington
- Hot Enough for June (1964) as Passenger on Plane
- No Love for Johnnie (1961) as Postmaster-General (uncredited)
- Watch It, Sailor! (1961) as Ship's Captain
- Maigret (1960) as Doctor
- The Odd Man (1960) as Chief Insp. Charles Rose
- On Trial (1960) as President of the Court
- Circus of Horrors (1960) as Dr. Morley
- Persuasion (1960) as Admiral Croft
- A Touch of Larceny (1960) as Capt. Balfour (uncredited)
- The Battle of the Sexes (1960) as Detective's Friend
- No Hiding Place (1959) as Colonel Frew
- No Hiding Place (1959) as Ivor Naunton
- Charlesworth (1959) as Charles Begbie
- Upstairs and Downstairs (1959) as Kingsley
- The Young Lady from London (1959) as King Klaus
- Carve Her Name with Pride (1958) as Colonel Buckmaster
- Nicholas Nickleby (1957) as Mr. Witterly
- Barnacle Bill (1957) as Captain
- Now Let Him Go (1957) as Sir Edmund
- Hancock's Half Hour (1956) as Council Official
- The Long Arm (1956) as Manager of Festival Hall
- Armchair Theatre (1956) as Dr. Scott
- Armchair Theatre (1956) as Sir Edmund
- Armchair Theatre (1956)
- Kitty Clive (1956) as Colley Cibber
- Tons of Trouble (1956) as Roberts (MI5)
- The Adventures of Robin Hood (1955) as Thomas
- The Adventures of Robin Hood (1955) as Judd
- Conflict of Wings (1954) as Mr. Wentworth/Col. Wentworth
- The Blue Lamp (1950) as Chief Inspector Hammond (Uncredited)
- Four Men in Prison (1950) as (uncredited)
- Stop Press Girl (1949) as Cinema Manager (uncredited)
- The Loves of Joanna Godden (1947) as Huxtable
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is William Mervyn best known for?
William Mervyn is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Raffles (1977), Spider-Man 3 (2007), Crown Court (1972), Crown Court (1972).
When and where was William Mervyn born?
William Mervyn was born on January 3, 1912 in Nairobi, Kenya. They passed away on August 6, 1976.
How many credits does William Mervyn have?
William Mervyn has accumulated over 69 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1947 to 1977.
What is William Mervyn's background in cinema and television?
William Mervyn Pickwoad (3 January 1912 – 6 August 1976) was an English actor. He was born in Nairobi, then British East Africa, and was educated in Britain at Forest School, Snaresbrook. After five years in provincial theatre he made his West End debut in 1946 as part of The Guinea Pig at the Criterion Theatre. His st...