Conrad Phillips obit

Ex-William Tell and Fawlty Towers actor Conrad Phillips dies aged 90

 He was not on the list.

Actor Conrad Phillips has died at the age of 90 in his home in Chippenham after a short illness, his family has confirmed.

He landed his best known role as the eponymous hero in ITV's The Adventures Of William Tell in 1958, which featured cameos from Christopher Lee, Michael Caine and Sid James among others, and lasted for 39 episodes.

Among his notable TV roles was as Mr Lloyd in the 1975 Wedding Party episode of Fawlty Towers, playing the father of a family that hotelier Basil (John Cleese) mistakenly believes to be a wife-swapping group involving maid Polly.

Born Conrad Havord in London in 1925, he enlisted in the Navy at 17 by forging an older birth date on his ration book before studying at Rada and appearing in both repertory theatre and on the West End stage.

An accident on the set of The Adventures Of William Tell, which saw him fall down a 12-foot drop and injure his knee and ankle, meant he filmed the final episode from a wheelchair.

The accident contributed towards the severe back pain, two replacement knees and replacement hip that brought a premature end to his acting career in 1991.

Towards the end of his career, he would play Stefan, William Tell's mentor, in Crossbow, a 1987 updated version of the Swiss folk tale, that included guest appearances from Brian Blessed and Roger Daltrey.

He is survived by wife Jennie, daughters Kate and Sarah, and grandchildren Alice and Leo.

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6.6

TV Series

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1991

1 episode

 

A Touch of Spice (1989)

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1989

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1989

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Uncle Silas (1989)

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1988

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1988

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The Kenny Everett Television Show (1981)

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1986

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1984

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1984

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6.9

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1977

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1976

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1975

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1975

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1975

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1974

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1974

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1974

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1972

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1971

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1971

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1970

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1969

50 episodes

 

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1969

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1962

 

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1962

 

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1961

 

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1961

 

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1961

 

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7.1

TV Series

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1961

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The Edgar Wallace Mystery Theatre (1959)

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TV Series

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1961

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6.3

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1961

 

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1961

 

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6.9

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1961

 

Alice Through the Looking Box (1960)

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1960

 

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Baxter Dawes

1960

 

Circus of Horrors (1960)

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6.0

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1960

 

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5.2

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1959

 

Witness in the Dark (1959)

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6.6

Inspector Coates

1959

 

Tim Turner in The Invisible Man (1958)

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7.0

TV Series

Captain Finch

1959

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Detective Sergeant Morrison

1959

 

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TV Series

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7.6

TV Series

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1957–1958

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1958

 

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6.2

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1958

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TV Series

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1958

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7.1

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1958

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1957

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1957

 

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1957

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8.0

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Sir Robert Carey

1957

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1957

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7.6

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1957

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Anita Ekberg and Victor Mature in Zarak (1956)

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5.5

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1956

 

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7.0

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1956

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1956

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1956

 

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6.6

Lt. Washbourne - Gunnery Officer, HMS Achilles (uncredited)

1956

 

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5.9

The Hospital: Dr. Mason

1956

 

The Count of Monte Cristo (1956)

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TV Series

Antoine GrizetPierre FresnayAlbert

1956

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TV Series

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1956

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Lilli Palmer Theatre (1955)

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7.4

TV Series

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1956

1 episode

 

The Secret Tent

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1956

 

Patrol Car (1954)

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7.3

TV Series

Raynell

1956

1 episode

 

The Vise (1954)

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6.9

TV Series

Doctor

1955

2 episodes

 

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4.6

Sergt. Walsh

1954

 

Dennis O'Keefe and Margaret Sheridan in The Diamond Wizard (1954)

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5.8

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1954

 

Douglas Fairbanks Jr. in Rheingold Theatre (1953)

Rheingold Theatre

8.2

TV Series

Charlie

1954

1 episode

 

BBC Sunday-Night Theatre (1950)

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7.2

TV Series

Officer

1953–1954

2 episodes

 

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5.7

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1953

 

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6.4

Clerk - Travel Agent (uncredited)

1953

 

It Started in Paradise (1952)

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5.8

1st Photographer (uncredited)

1952

 

Diana Dors in Man Bait (1952)

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6.3

Detective Todd (uncredited)

1952

 

Lilli Marlene (1950)

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5.0

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1950

 

The Temptress

5.5

Captain Green

1949

 

A Song for Tomorrow (1948)

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5.6

Lieutenant Fenton

1948

 

Writer

Linda Marlowe, George Pastell, and Conrad Phillips in Impact (1963)

Impact

5.3

story and screenplay

1963

 

Self

The Golden Shot (1967)

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7.0

TV Series

Self

1967

1 episode

 

Men on the Mend

Short

Self - Commentator

1956

 

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7.2

TV Series

Stephan (archive footage)

1989

1 episode

 

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Crossbow: The Movie

6.7

Video

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1989

 

Kraft Mystery Theater (1961)

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7.9

TV Series

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1961

3 episodes