Quick Facts
Biography
Brian Oulton (11 February 1908 – 13 April 1992) was an English character actor.
Born in Liverpool, Lancashire, he made his acting debut in 1939 as a lead actor. During the Second World War he served in the army, and returned to acting playing character roles in 1946; he made a name for himself playing the same pompous character in numerous films, ranging from Last Holiday (1950) to Young Sherlock Holmes (1985). Much of his film roles were in comedies, and he went on to appear in several Carry On films.
In 1969 he appeared as an eccentric psychic medium in Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) in the episode "Never Trust a Ghost", as a hypochondriac GP in Doctor at Large, and in the 1981 hit serial Brideshead Revisited. He was also a stage actor and playwright, writing and starring in productions such as Births, Marriages and Deaths (1975) and For Entertainment Only (1976). Brian Oulton's radio credits include the role of Cyril in the long-running children's favourite Just William. He also appeared in The Young Ones as Neil's dad.
Brian Oulton lived latterly in Stratford-upon-Avon and was married to the actress Peggy Thorpe-Bates (1914–1989), best known for her portrayal of the wife of Horace Rumpole ("she who must be obeyed") in the first television series of John Mortimer's novels.
Selected filmography
- Sally in Our Alley (1931) as Minor Role (uncredited)
- Miranda (1948) as Manell
- Warning to Wantons (1949) (uncredited)
- It's Not Cricket (1949) as Simon Herbage
- The Huggetts Abroad (1949) as Travel Clerk
- Last Holiday (1950) as Prescott
- Young Wives' Tale (1951) as Man in pub
- Castle in the Air (1952) as Phillips
- Will Any Gentleman...? (1953) as Mr Jackson
- The Dog and the Diamonds (1953) as Mr. Plumpton
- The Million Pound Note (1954) as Lloyd
- Doctor in the House (1954) as Medical Equipment Salesman
- The Crowded Day (1954) as Mr. Preedy
- Miss Tulip Stays the Night (1955) as Dr Willis
- Reluctant Bride (1955) as Prof. Baker
- The Deep Blue Sea (1955) as Drunk
- Private's Progress (1956) as M.O. at Gravestone Camp
- The Man Who Never Was (1956) as Wills Officer (uncredited)
- Charley Moon (1956) as Mr. Paxton
- Brothers in Law (1957) as Client
- The Good Companions (1957) as Fauntley
- Let's Be Happy (1957) as Hotel Valet
- Happy Is the Bride (1958) as 2nd Magistrate
- The Silent Enemy (1958) as Holford
- The Spaniard's Curse (1958) as Frank Porter
- Carry On Nurse (1959) as Henry Bray
- The 39 Steps (1959) as Mr Pringle
- I'm All Right Jack (1959) as Appointments Board Examiner
- The Devil's Disciple (1959) as Mr. Brudenell
- Carry On Constable (1960) as Store Manager
- A French Mistress (1960) as Third Governor
- There Was a Crooked Man (1960) as Ashton
- Suspect (1960) as Director
- The Bulldog Breed (1960) as Bert Ainsworth (cinema manager)
- No Kidding (1960) as Vicar
- Very Important Person (1961) as Scientist
- Raising the Wind (1961) as Concert Agent
- Hair of the Dog (1962) as Gregory Willett
- Jigsaw (1962) as Frank Restlin
- The Iron Maiden (1962) as Vicar
- The Damned (1963) as Mr Dingle
- The Kiss of the Vampire (1963) as 1st disciple
- Carry On Cleo (1964) as Brutus
- The Intelligence Men (1965) as Laundry Basket Man
- Devils of Darkness (1965) as The Colonel
- Carry On Camping (1969) as Mr. Short
- Some Will, Some Won't (1970) as Mr Dale
- On the Buses (1971) as Bus Depot Manager
- Mr. Forbush and the Penguins (1971) as Foot Store Man
- Ooh… You Are Awful (1972) as Funeral Director
- Carry On Christmas (1972) as Oriental Orator
- The Old Curiosity Shop (1979) as The Schoolmaster
- Gandhi (1982) as Clerk of Court
- Young Sherlock Holmes (1985) as Master Snelgrove