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| death_place = London, England
| death_place = London, England
| othername =
| othername =
| education = [[Central School of Speech and Drama]]
| occupation = Actor
| occupation = Actor
| years_active = 1933–1971
| years_active = 1920s (theatre) 1933–1971 (film)
| spouse =
| spouse =
| domesticpartner =
| domesticpartner =
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}}
}}


'''Frederick Piper''' (23 September 1902 – 22 September 1979) was an English actor who appeared in over 80 films and many television productions in a career spanning over 40 years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://explore.bfi.org.uk/4ce2ba2dcc1db|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120711152541/http://explore.bfi.org.uk/4ce2ba2dcc1db|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-07-11|title=Frederick Piper|work=BFI}}</ref> Piper studied drama under [[Elsie Fogerty]] at the [[Central School of Speech and Drama]], then based at the [[Royal Albert Hall]], London.<ref>V&A, Theatre and Performance Special Collections, Elsie Fogerty Archive, THM/324</ref>
'''Frederick Piper''' (23 September 1902 – 22 September 1979) was an English actor of stage and screen who appeared in over 80 films and many television productions in a career spanning over 40 years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://explore.bfi.org.uk/4ce2ba2dcc1db|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120711152541/http://explore.bfi.org.uk/4ce2ba2dcc1db|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-07-11|title=Frederick Piper|work=BFI}}</ref> Piper studied drama under [[Elsie Fogerty]] at the [[Central School of Speech and Drama]], then based at the [[Royal Albert Hall]], London.<ref>V&A, Theatre and Performance Special Collections, Elsie Fogerty Archive, THM/324</ref>


Never a leading player, Piper was usually cast in minor, sometimes uncredited, parts although he also appeared in some more substantial supporting roles. Piper never aspired to star-status, but became a recognisable face on the British screen through the sheer volume of films in which he appeared. His credits include a number of films which are considered classics of British cinema, among them five 1930s [[Alfred Hitchcock]] films; he also appeared in many [[Ealing Studios]] productions, including some of the celebrated [[Ealing comedies]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://movie-dude.co.uk/Frederick%20Piper.htm|title=Frederick Piper}}</ref>
Never a leading player, Piper was usually cast in minor, sometimes uncredited, parts although he also appeared in some more substantial supporting roles. Piper never aspired to star-status, but became a recognisable face on the British screen through the sheer volume of films in which he appeared. His credits include a number of films which are considered classics of British cinema, among them five 1930s [[Alfred Hitchcock]] films; he also appeared in many [[Ealing Studios]] productions, including some of the celebrated [[Ealing comedies]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://movie-dude.co.uk/Frederick%20Piper.htm|title=Frederick Piper}}</ref>


==Stage career==
==Stage career==

Born in London in 1902, Piper worked as a tea merchant before starting his acting career on the stage in the 1920s, playing in London productions and also touring as far afield as Canada. He continued to appear in theatrical productions in the [[West End theatre|West End]] alongside his screen roles. These included appearances in the original runs of [[Barré Lyndon]]'s ''[[The Man in Half Moon Street (play)|The Man in Half Moon Street]]'', [[Vernon Sylvaine]]'s ''[[Nap Hand (play)|Nap Hand]]'', [[N.C. Hunter]]'s ''[[A Day by the Sea]]'', [[Robert Bolt]]'s ''[[Flowering Cherry]]'' and ''[[Home at Seven (play)|Home at Seven]]'' and ''[[The White Carnation]]'' by [[R.C. Sheriff]].
Born in London, England in September 1902, Piper worked as a tea merchant before starting his acting career on the stage in the 1920s, playing in London productions and also touring as far afield as Canada. He continued to appear in theatrical productions in the [[West End theatre|West End]] alongside his screen roles. These included appearances in the original runs of [[Barré Lyndon]]'s ''[[The Man in Half Moon Street (play)|The Man in Half Moon Street]]'', [[Vernon Sylvaine]]'s ''[[Nap Hand (play)|Nap Hand]]'', [[N.C. Hunter]]'s ''[[A Day by the Sea]]'', [[Robert Bolt]]'s ''[[Flowering Cherry]]'' and ''[[Home at Seven (play)|Home at Seven]]'' and ''[[The White Carnation]]'' by [[R.C. Sheriff]].


==Film career==
==Film career==

His first film appearance came in the 1933 production ''[[The Good Companions (1933 film)|The Good Companions]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/152831%7C55952/Frederick-Piper/|title=Overview for Frederick Piper|work=Turner Classic Movies}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/frederick-piper/credits/150949|title=Frederick Piper|work=TV Guide}}</ref>
His first film appearance came in the 1933 production ''[[The Good Companions (1933 film)|The Good Companions]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/152831%7C55952/Frederick-Piper/|title=Overview for Frederick Piper|work=Turner Classic Movies}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/frederick-piper/credits/150949|title=Frederick Piper|work=TV Guide}}</ref>


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Piper's services were always in demand, and he is said to have once joked that he had cornered the market in unnamed police officers and barmen. From the late 1930s he became associated with [[Ealing Studios]], appearing in dozens of their productions, from cheaply shot programmers through to the company's most prestigious films such as ''[[In Which We Serve]]'' (1942). Most of Piper's roles were fleeting and his name rarely appeared in promotional material, but there was an occasional more substantial part in films such as ''[[Nine Men (film)|Nine Men]]'' (1943), ''[[The October Man]]'' (1947) and ''[[Hunted (1952 film)|Hunted]]'' (1952). Other films include ''[[Hue and Cry (film)|Hue and Cry]]'', ''[[Passport to Pimlico]]'' (1949) and ''[[The Lavender Hill Mob]]'' (1951).<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cmYMXECN-jkC&q=frederick+piper+actor&pg=PA37|title=Ealing Studios|isbn=9780520215542|last1=Barr|first1=Charles|date=1998-01-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://forgottenactors.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/frederick-piper.html|title=Forgotten Actors|author=Ian T|date=2013-04-24}}</ref>
Piper's services were always in demand, and he is said to have once joked that he had cornered the market in unnamed police officers and barmen. From the late 1930s he became associated with [[Ealing Studios]], appearing in dozens of their productions, from cheaply shot programmers through to the company's most prestigious films such as ''[[In Which We Serve]]'' (1942). Most of Piper's roles were fleeting and his name rarely appeared in promotional material, but there was an occasional more substantial part in films such as ''[[Nine Men (film)|Nine Men]]'' (1943), ''[[The October Man]]'' (1947) and ''[[Hunted (1952 film)|Hunted]]'' (1952). Other films include ''[[Hue and Cry (film)|Hue and Cry]]'', ''[[Passport to Pimlico]]'' (1949) and ''[[The Lavender Hill Mob]]'' (1951).<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cmYMXECN-jkC&q=frederick+piper+actor&pg=PA37|title=Ealing Studios|isbn=9780520215542|last1=Barr|first1=Charles|date=1998-01-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://forgottenactors.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/frederick-piper.html|title=Forgotten Actors|author=Ian T|date=2013-04-24}}</ref>


From the early 1960s film work began to dry up, but Piper continued to find work in television, a medium on which he had first appeared as early as 1938 in a production of [[J. B. Priestley]]'s play ''Laburnum Grove'' for the fledgling BBC. His TV credits during the 1960s included popular series such as ''[[Danger Man]]'', ''[[Dixon of Dock Green]]'' and cult favourite ''[[The Prisoner]]''. Piper's last credit however was in a film, a minor role in the 1971 production ''[[Burke & Hare (1971 film)|Burke & Hare]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aveleyman.com/ActorCredit.aspx?ActorID=29649|title=Frederick Piper}}</ref>
From the early 1960s film work began to dry up, but Piper continued to find work in television, a medium in which he had first appeared as early as 1938 in a production of [[J. B. Priestley]]'s play ''Laburnum Grove'' for the fledgling BBC. His TV credits during the 1960s included popular series such as ''[[Danger Man]]'', ''[[Dixon of Dock Green]]'' and cult favourite ''[[The Prisoner]]''. Piper's last credit however was in a film, a minor role in the 1971 production ''[[Burke & Hare (1971 film)|Burke & Hare]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aveleyman.com/ActorCredit.aspx?ActorID=29649|title=Frederick Piper}}</ref>

==Personal life==


Piper lived in [[Windsor, Berkshire]] from the 1940s<ref>'Obituary: Frederick Piper', ''The Stage and Television Today'', 18 October 1979, p.32.</ref> and was married to the theatre director Joan Riley; their son, Mark Piper, also became a theatre director.<ref>'Obituaries: Joan Riley', ''The Stage and Television Today'', 20 June 1991, p.38.</ref> Frederick Piper died on 22 September 1979, one day short of his 77th birthday.
Piper died in London on 22 September 1979, one day short of his 77th birthday.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/45221826|title=Frederick Piper (1902–1979) – Find A Grave Memorial}}</ref>{{Primary source inline|date=December 2017}}


==Filmography==
==Filmography==
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*1948: ''[[Escape (1948 film)|Escape]]'' - Brownie - convict
*1948: ''[[Escape (1948 film)|Escape]]'' - Brownie - convict
*1948: ''[[Penny and the Pownall Case]]'' - Policeman
*1948: ''[[Penny and the Pownall Case]]'' - Policeman
*1948: ''[[My Brother's Keeper (1948 film)|My Brother's Keeper]]'' - Camp Caretaker
*1948: ''[[My Brother's Keeper (film)|My Brother's Keeper]]'' - Camp Caretaker
*1948: ''[[To the Public Danger]]'' (Short) - Labourer
*1948: ''[[To the Public Danger]]'' (Short) - Labourer
*1948: ''Fly Away Peter'' - Mr. Hapgood
*1948: ''Fly Away Peter'' - Mr. Hapgood
Line 130: Line 135:
*1964: ''[[Becket (1964 film)|Becket]]'' - Monk (uncredited)
*1964: ''[[Becket (1964 film)|Becket]]'' - Monk (uncredited)
*1965: ''[[One Way Pendulum (film)|One Way Pendulum]]'' - Usher / Office Clerk
*1965: ''[[One Way Pendulum (film)|One Way Pendulum]]'' - Usher / Office Clerk
*1965: ''[[Catacombs (1965 film)|Catacombs]]'' - Police Inspector Merkot
*1965: ''[[Catacombs (1965 film)|Catacombs]]'' - Inspector Murcott
*1965: ''[[He Who Rides a Tiger]]'' - Mr. Steed
*1965: ''[[He Who Rides a Tiger]]'' - Mr. Steed
*1971: ''[[Burke & Hare (1971 film)|Burke & Hare]]'' - Lodger (final film role)
*1971: ''[[Burke & Hare (1971 film)|Burke & Hare]]'' - Lodger (final film role)

Latest revision as of 12:29, 16 March 2024

Frederick Piper
in Passport to Pimlico (1949)
Born(1902-09-23)23 September 1902
London, England
Died22 September 1979(1979-09-22) (aged 76)
London, England
EducationCentral School of Speech and Drama
OccupationActor
Years active1920s (theatre) 1933–1971 (film)

Frederick Piper (23 September 1902 – 22 September 1979) was an English actor of stage and screen who appeared in over 80 films and many television productions in a career spanning over 40 years.[1] Piper studied drama under Elsie Fogerty at the Central School of Speech and Drama, then based at the Royal Albert Hall, London.[2]

Never a leading player, Piper was usually cast in minor, sometimes uncredited, parts although he also appeared in some more substantial supporting roles. Piper never aspired to star-status, but became a recognisable face on the British screen through the sheer volume of films in which he appeared. His credits include a number of films which are considered classics of British cinema, among them five 1930s Alfred Hitchcock films; he also appeared in many Ealing Studios productions, including some of the celebrated Ealing comedies.[3]

Stage career[edit]

Born in London, England in September 1902, Piper worked as a tea merchant before starting his acting career on the stage in the 1920s, playing in London productions and also touring as far afield as Canada. He continued to appear in theatrical productions in the West End alongside his screen roles. These included appearances in the original runs of Barré Lyndon's The Man in Half Moon Street, Vernon Sylvaine's Nap Hand, N.C. Hunter's A Day by the Sea, Robert Bolt's Flowering Cherry and Home at Seven and The White Carnation by R.C. Sheriff.

Film career[edit]

His first film appearance came in the 1933 production The Good Companions.[4][5]

An unassuming man with no trappings of ambition or conceit, Piper rapidly earned a reputation as a reliable, congenial presence on set and became a first choice for directors with smaller roles to cast, accumulating screen credits at the rate of up to six a year through to the 1960s. He appeared as an extra in Hitchcock's 1934 film The Man Who Knew Too Much (credited as "Policeman with Rifle"), and the following year was cast again by Hitchcock in the role of the milkman in the famous scene with Robert Donat in The 39 Steps. Piper was only on screen for seconds, but the iconic nature of the scene ultimately made this probably his most famous film appearance.[6][7]

Later minor roles for Hitchcock were Sabotage (1936 – as the doomed bus conductor), Young and Innocent (1937) and Jamaica Inn (1939 – as Charles Laughton's agent).[8]

Piper's services were always in demand, and he is said to have once joked that he had cornered the market in unnamed police officers and barmen. From the late 1930s he became associated with Ealing Studios, appearing in dozens of their productions, from cheaply shot programmers through to the company's most prestigious films such as In Which We Serve (1942). Most of Piper's roles were fleeting and his name rarely appeared in promotional material, but there was an occasional more substantial part in films such as Nine Men (1943), The October Man (1947) and Hunted (1952). Other films include Hue and Cry, Passport to Pimlico (1949) and The Lavender Hill Mob (1951).[9][10]

From the early 1960s film work began to dry up, but Piper continued to find work in television, a medium in which he had first appeared as early as 1938 in a production of J. B. Priestley's play Laburnum Grove for the fledgling BBC. His TV credits during the 1960s included popular series such as Danger Man, Dixon of Dock Green and cult favourite The Prisoner. Piper's last credit however was in a film, a minor role in the 1971 production Burke & Hare.[11]

Personal life[edit]

Piper lived in Windsor, Berkshire from the 1940s[12] and was married to the theatre director Joan Riley; their son, Mark Piper, also became a theatre director.[13] Frederick Piper died on 22 September 1979, one day short of his 77th birthday.

Filmography[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Frederick Piper". BFI. Archived from the original on 11 July 2012.
  2. ^ V&A, Theatre and Performance Special Collections, Elsie Fogerty Archive, THM/324
  3. ^ "Frederick Piper".
  4. ^ "Overview for Frederick Piper". Turner Classic Movies.
  5. ^ "Frederick Piper". TV Guide.
  6. ^ McGilligan, Patrick (1986). Backstory. ISBN 9780520056893.
  7. ^ Vagg, Stephen (15 March 2020). "My Top Ten Bit Parts in Films". Filmink.
  8. ^ Per-Erik Skramstad. "Jamaica Inn".
  9. ^ Barr, Charles (1 January 1998). Ealing Studios. ISBN 9780520215542.
  10. ^ Ian T (24 April 2013). "Forgotten Actors".
  11. ^ "Frederick Piper".
  12. ^ 'Obituary: Frederick Piper', The Stage and Television Today, 18 October 1979, p.32.
  13. ^ 'Obituaries: Joan Riley', The Stage and Television Today, 20 June 1991, p.38.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Frederick_Piper&oldid=1214002764"