John Rapley obit

John Rapley(1935-2016)

 

He was not on the list.

John Rapley was born on April 18, 1935 in West Ham, London, England, UK. He was an actor, known for The Elephant Man (1980), Jane and the Lost City (1987) and Goodnight Sweetheart (1993). He died on April 18, 2016 in Theydon Bois, Essex, England, UK.

A ubiquitous character actor with a hangdog expression and the definitive British comb-over, usually seen representing the stolid middle-aged old-school type. Rarely given a really memorable part or much in the way of dialogue, yet he's been a stalwart of British TV since the '60s. He pops up in fare as varied as 'Blott on the Landscape', 'Grange Hill', 'Murder Most English', 'The Avengers', 'Colditz', and in particular, a good bit of period drama, from 'Jeeves and Wooster', 'The Onedin Line', and 'The Duchess of Duke Street' to 'David Copperfield', 'Dombey & Son', and 'The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes'

With a face for comedy, it's also likely that you'll see him in things like 'Black Adder', 'The New Statesman', 'Terry & June', 'Goodnight Sweetheart', as well as the Jim Broadbent flop vehicle 'The Peter Principle', and with Robert Lindsay in 'My Family'.

 

Fairly limited work in the cinema includes roles in 'Elephant Man' (1980), Clint Eastwood's 'White Hunter Black Heart' (1990), and the silly silk-undies romp 'Jane and the Lost City' (1987)

 

Actor

Sean Lock in 15 Storeys High (2002)

15 Storeys High

8.1

TV Series

2004

1 episode

 

Alexander Armstrong, Richard Griffiths, and Reece Shearsmith in tlc (2002)

tlc

7.1

TV Series

Exterminator

2002

1 episode

 

Daniela Denby-Ashe, Robert Lindsay, Kris Marshall, Gabriel Thomson, and Zoë Wanamaker in My Family (2000)

My Family

7.5

TV Series

Uncle Frank

2001

1 episode

 

My Hero (2000)

My Hero

6.6

TV Series

Mr Jenks

2001

1 episode

 

The Boss (1995)

The Boss

8.2

TV Series

Mr. Dawson

2000

1 episode

 

The Last Salute

6.8

TV Series

Mr. Brownsword

1998

1 episode

 

Oh Doctor Beeching! (1995)

Oh Doctor Beeching!

7.1

TV Series

Vicar

1997

1 episode

 

Searching (1995)

Searching

TV Series

Hetty's dad

1995

1 episode

 

Michelle Holmes, Dervla Kirwan, and Nicholas Lyndhurst in Goodnight Sweetheart (1993)

Goodnight Sweetheart

7.4

TV Series

Stan

Old Codger

1993–1995

6 episodes

 

Honey for Tea (1994)

Honey for Tea

4.1

TV Series

Jarvis

1994

1 episode

 

Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie in Jeeves and Wooster (1990)

Jeeves and Wooster

8.4

TV Series

Mr Trotter

1993

1 episode

 

James Ellis, Robert Lindsay, and David Threlfall in Nightingales (1990)

Nightingales

8.2

TV Series

Mr. Younger

1993

1 episode

 

Stephanie Cole and Graham Crowden in Waiting for God (1990)

Waiting for God

7.8

TV Series

Ron Arthur

1992

1 episode

 

Land of Hope and Gloria (1992)

Land of Hope and Gloria

5.6

TV Series

Crompton

1992

6 episodes

 

Hope It Rains (1991)

Hope It Rains

7.6

TV Series

Mr. Green

1991

1 episode

 

Wilson the Notorious Canary Trainer

TV Movie

Wilson

1990

 

Mark Billingham, David Lloyd, and Tony Robinson in Maid Marian and Her Merry Men (1989)

Maid Marian and Her Merry Men

7.8

TV Series

Sir Walter

1990

1 episode

 

Clint Eastwood in White Hunter Black Heart (1990)

White Hunter Black Heart

6.5

Gun Shop Salesman

1990

 

Vas Blackwood, Samantha Womack, Paul Rothery, Ling Tai, Stephanie Charles, and Joe Greco in Spatz (1990)

Spatz

6.6

TV Series

Mr. Fox

1990

1 episode

 

Rik Mayall in The New Statesman (1987)

The New Statesman

7.8

TV Series

Bookmakers Shop Manager

1990

1 episode

 

London's Burning (1988)

London's Burning

7.0

TV Series

Vicar

1989

1 episode

 

Pierce Brosnan, Eric Idle, and Julia Nickson in Around the World in 80 Days (1989)

Around the World in 80 Days

7.1

TV Mini Series

Reverend Samuel Smythe

1989

3 episodes

 

Mr. Majeika (1988)

Mr. Majeika

7.3

TV Series

Lord Reg Pickles

1989

1 episode

 

Tim Roth in Coppers (1988)

Coppers

7.0

TV Movie

Fiat Driver

1988

 

The Return of Sherlock Holmes (1986)

The Return of Sherlock Holmes

8.7

TV Series

Underground Official

1988

1 episode

 

Singles (1988)

Singles

6.5

TV Series

Mr. Wormald

1988

1 episode

 

Peter Davison, Carol Drinkwater, Robert Hardy, and Christopher Timothy in All Creatures Great & Small (1978)

All Creatures Great & Small

8.4

TV Series

Mr. Carter

1988

1 episode

 

Hugh Pollard and Elizabeth Spriggs in Simon and the Witch (1987)

Simon and the Witch

7.3

TV Series

Mr. Bodley

1987

11 episodes

 

Knights of God (1987)

Knights of God

6.6

TV Series

Crown Maker

1987

1 episode

 

Jane and the Lost City (1987)

Jane and the Lost City

4.4

Dr. Schell

1987

 

Don Henderson and Siobhan Redmond in Bulman (1985)

Bulman

7.9

TV Series

Janitor

1987

1 episode

 

High & Dry (1985)

High & Dry

6.5

TV Series

Arthur Ramsden

1987

1 episode

 

Screen Two (1984)

Screen Two

6.4

TV Series

Postman

1987

1 episode

 

The Pyrates

8.2

TV Movie

Samuel Pepys

1986

 

The Fools on the Hill (1986)

The Fools on the Hill

7.2

TV Movie

Second Warehouseman

1986

 

Tom Adams and Annabel Leventon in Strike It Rich! (1986)

Strike It Rich!

8.0

TV Series

Gerald

1986

1 episode

 

Lost in London (1985)

Lost in London

6.9

TV Movie

Publican

1985

 

Terry and June (1979)

Terry and June

6.4

TV Series

Jack

1985

1 episode

 

Simon Cadell, George Cole, Geraldine James, Julia McKenzie, and David Suchet in Blott on the Landscape (1985)

Blott on the Landscape

7.6

TV Mini Series

Colonel Chapman

1985

6 episodes

 

Marti Caine and Philip Madoc in Hilary (1984)

Hilary

7.4

TV Series

Middle-aged man

1985

1 episode

 

David Suchet in Freud (1984)

Freud

7.6

TV Mini Series

Kastner (uncredited)

1984

1 episode

 

Kenneth Cranham in Shine on Harvey Moon (1982)

Shine on Harvey Moon

7.6

TV Series

Bull

1984

1 episode

 

The Best of Gilbert and Sullivan

5.8

Video

Sir Arthur Seymour Sullivan

1983

 

Illusione (1983)

Illusione

Johnny's stepfather

1983

 

Sweet Sixteen (1983)

Sweet Sixteen

7.0

TV Series

Arthur Poole

1983

5 episodes

 

Reilly: Ace of Spies (1983)

Reilly: Ace of Spies

8.1

TV Mini Series

Manservant

Servant

1983

2 episodes

 

Jemima Shore Investigates (1983)

Jemima Shore Investigates

7.0

TV Series

Mr. Sullivan

1983

1 episode

 

Rowan Atkinson in Blackadder (1982)

Blackadder

8.0

TV Series

Rev. Lloyd

1983

1 episode

 

The Boy Who Won the Pools (1983)

The Boy Who Won the Pools

6.9

TV Series

Rupert Malt

1983

1 episode

 

Rob Edwards and Paul Shelley in The Fourth Arm (1983)

The Fourth Arm

8.0

TV Series

Stage Manager

1983

1 episode

 

Felicity Kendal in Solo (1981)

Solo

6.9

TV Series

Crematorium Superintendant

1982

1 episode

 

Jane (1982)

Jane

7.7

TV Series

Prof. Donner

1982

4 episodes

 

Union Castle (1982)

Union Castle

TV Series

Lord Black of Blu

1982

1 episode

 

The Bounder (1982)

The Bounder

6.4

TV Series

Enquiry Agent

1982

1 episode

 

George Cole in Minder (1979)

Minder

7.8

TV Series

Punter

1982

1 episode

 

Clive Dunn in Grandad (1979)

Grandad

6.0

TV Series

Mr. Higgins

1982

1 episode

 

The Story of the Treasure Seekers (1982)

The Story of the Treasure Seekers

6.7

TV Mini Series

Butcher

1982

3 episodes

 

Paul Greenwood in Rosie (1977)

Rosie

7.6

TV Series

Nervous driver

1981

1 episode

 

Goodbye Darling (1979)

Goodbye Darling

7.8

TV Series

Henderson

1981

1 episode

 

Grange Hill (1978)

Grange Hill

7.2

TV Series

Councillor

1981

1 episode

 

Peter Gilmore and Anne Stallybrass in The Onedin Line (1971)

The Onedin Line

7.6

TV Series

Dunwoody

Barman

1971–1980

26 episodes

 

John Hurt in The Elephant Man (1980)

The Elephant Man

8.2

King in Panto

1980

 

Grundy (1980)

Grundy

6.0

TV Series

Bookworm

1980

1 episode

 

Agony (1979)

Agony

7.2

TV Series

Dispatch Rider

1980

1 episode

 

Time of My Life (1980)

Time of My Life

7.1

TV Series

Nervous man

1980

1 episode

 

Andrew Sachs in The History of Mr. Polly (1980)

The History of Mr. Polly

6.8

TV Mini Series

Rumbold

1980

2 episodes

 

Andrew Hughes in God's Wonderful Railway (1980)

God's Wonderful Railway

7.7

TV Series

Mr. Hartwell

1980

2 episodes

 

Jackanory Playhouse

8.3

TV Series

High steward

1979

1 episode

 

Only When I Laugh (1979)

Only When I Laugh

6.8

TV Series

Customer

1979

1 episode

 

Nicholas Ball in Hazell (1978)

Hazell

7.3

TV Series

Mr. Clive

1979

1 episode

 

Anthony Andrews, Judy Geeson, Iain Cuthbertson, and Maurice Roëves in Danger UXB (1979)

Danger UXB

8.4

TV Series

Silversmith

1979

1 episode

 

Everyday Maths (1978)

Everyday Maths

8.3

TV Series

Edmond Courteney

1979

1 episode

 

Terror (1978)

Terror

5.2

Priest

1978

 

The Three Kisses

TV Movie

Mr. Calthorpe

1978

 

Cumbernauld Hit

Wutz

1977

 

The Duchess of Duke Street (1976)

The Duchess of Duke Street

8.3

TV Series

Ernest Leyton

Mr. Leyton

1976–1977

5 episodes

 

Premiere (1977)

Premiere

7.1

TV Series

Petrol Station Owner

1977

1 episode

 

Christopher Benjamin, Kenneth Colley, Vivien Heilbron, Philip Madoc, Patrick Mower, Ron Pember, Brendan Price, Sandy Ratcliff, and Maurice Roëves in Target (1977)

Target

7.5

TV Series

Jeweller

1977

1 episode

 

Maidens' Trip (1977)

Maidens' Trip

TV Series

Dad Blossom

1977

1 episode

 

Murder Most English: A Flaxborough Chronicle (1977)

Murder Most English: A Flaxborough Chronicle

7.4

TV Series

Henry Spain

1977

1 episode

 

Googie Withers in Within These Walls (1974)

Within These Walls

7.7

TV Series

Mr. Young

1976

1 episode

 

Striker (1975)

Striker

8.7

TV Series

Arnold Bingham

1976

1 episode

 

Z Cars (1962)

Z Cars

7.0

TV Series

Henry Addams

Matthews

Ferris ...

1964–1976

5 episodes

 

Dawsons Weekly (1975)

Dawsons Weekly

7.8

TV Series

Second Man

1975

1 episode

 

Churchill's People (1974)

Churchill's People

5.7

TV Series

George I

1975

1 episode

 

Colin Blakely and Michael Williams in The Hanged Man (1975)

The Hanged Man

7.5

TV Mini Series

Big Ears

1975

1 episode

 

Bill Owen, Peter Sallis, and Brian Wilde in Last of the Summer Wine (1973)

Last of the Summer Wine

7.1

TV Series

Cardplayer

1975

1 episode

 

Geoffrey Keen in The Venturers (1975)

The Venturers

TV Series

Max Zeller

1975

1 episode

 

Brian Blessed, Diana Dors, Sinéad Cusack, Don Henderson, Freddie Jones, Nyree Dawn Porter, Robert Powell, and Dennis Waterman in Thriller (1973)

Thriller

7.8

TV Series

Dr. Ward

1975

1 episode

 

David Copperfield (1974)

David Copperfield

7.2

TV Mini Series

Creditor

1974

1 episode

 

Microbes and Men (1974)

Microbes and Men

8.6

TV Series

Hotel Porter

1974

1 episode

 

George Cole, Rod Culbertson, Alan Erasmus, Tom Georgeson, Bernard Hepton, Ron Moody, John Nightingale, and Colin Welland in Village Hall (1974)

Village Hall

7.5

TV Series

Derek Watling

1974

1 episode

 

Hunters Walk (1973)

Hunters Walk

8.1

TV Series

Mr. Cross

1974

1 episode

 

Brian Blessed in Boy Dominic (1974)

Boy Dominic

8.1

TV Series

Mr. Cherry

1974

1 episode

 

Nerys Hughes and Polly James in The Liver Birds (1969)

The Liver Birds

6.5

TV Series

Taxi Driver

1974

1 episode

 

Pianorama

Short

1974

 

Robert Wagner, David McCallum, and Hans Meyer in Colditz (1972)

Colditz

8.3

TV Series

Hauptsturmfuehrer Braun

1974

1 episode

 

Murder Must Advertise (1973)

Murder Must Advertise

8.0

TV Mini Series

Small Man

1973

1 episode

 

Armchair Theatre (1956)

Armchair Theatre

7.5

TV Series

Butcher

1973

1 episode

 

Francesca Annis and Keith Steven in A Pin to See the Peepshow (1973)

A Pin to See the Peepshow

7.7

TV Series

Williams

1973

1 episode

 

Jenny Twigge and Margaret Whiting in Two Women (1973)

Two Women

TV Series

Lorry driver

1973

1 episode

 

Play for Today (1970)

Play for Today

7.8

TV Series

Chief Rotarian

1973

1 episode

 

Donald Pleasence and Betsy Blair in Love Story (1963)

Love Story

7.1

TV Series

Dan

1973

1 episode

 

John Carlisle and John Woodvine in New Scotland Yard (1972)

New Scotland Yard

7.3

TV Series

Simpson

1972

1 episode

 

Danny La Rue and Alfred Marks in Our Miss Fred (1972)

Our Miss Fred

5.4

German Airman (uncredited)

1972

 

Lady Caroline Lamb (1972)

Lady Caroline Lamb

5.4

2nd Partner (uncredited)

1972

 

Norman Bowler, Walter Gotell, Stratford Johns, and Frank Windsor in Softly Softly: Task Force (1969)

Softly Softly: Task Force

7.2

TV Series

Drunken Driver

1972

1 episode

 

Bill Fraser in The Train Now Standing (1972)

The Train Now Standing

TV Series

Mr. Bancroft

1972

1 episode

 

Upstairs, Downstairs (1971)

Upstairs, Downstairs

8.4

TV Series

Mr. Summers

1972

1 episode

 

Mandog (1972)

Mandog

7.1

TV Series

Mr. Morris

1972

3 episodes

 

Nigel Stock in Owen, M.D. (1971)

Owen, M.D.

6.8

TV Series

Peter Dutton

1971

2 episodes

 

Derek Jacobi, Ronald Fraser, Charles Gray, Bernard Hepton, John Thaw, and Douglas Wilmer in The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes (1971)

The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes

7.2

TV Series

Bouchet

1971

1 episode

 

Cyril Luckham in The Guardians (1971)

The Guardians

8.1

TV Series

Steve

Irate Driver

1971

2 episodes

 

Hugh Burden and Willoughby Goddard in The Mind of Mr. J.G. Reeder (1969)

The Mind of Mr. J.G. Reeder

7.6

TV Series

Sims

1971

1 episode

 

Marius Goring in The Expert (1968)

The Expert

8.0

TV Series

Harris

1971

1 episode

 

Little Women (1970)

Little Women

6.2

TV Mini Series

The Editor

1970

1 episode

 

Ros Drinkwater and Francis Matthews in Paul Temple (1969)

Paul Temple

7.0

TV Series

Garage Attendant

1970

1 episode

 

Canterbury Tales (1969)

Canterbury Tales

6.8

TV Series

Magician

1969

1 episode

 

Counterstrike (1969)

Counterstrike

7.4

TV Series

Charlesworth

1969

1 episode

 

Susan Hampshire and John Neville in The First Churchills (1969)

The First Churchills

8.0

TV Mini Series

Earl of Feversham

1969

2 episodes

 

Jack Warner in Dixon of Dock Green (1955)

Dixon of Dock Green

6.9

TV Series

Garage Foreman

1969

1 episode

 

Dombey and Son (1969)

Dombey and Son

7.3

TV Mini Series

Stonemason

1969

1 episode

 

Richard Beckinsale, Freddie Fletcher, Arthur Lowe, Jack Rosenthal, and Paula Wilcox in ITV Playhouse (1967)

ITV Playhouse

7.3

TV Series

Post office customer

1969

1 episode

 

All Neat in Black Stockings (1969)

All Neat in Black Stockings

5.1

Party Goer (uncredited)

1969

 

The Avengers (1961)

The Avengers

8.3

TV Series

Taxi Driver

1969

1 episode

 

George Baker and Siân Phillips in The Sex Game (1968)

The Sex Game

7.3

TV Series

Benson

1968

1 episode

 

The Wednesday Play (1964)

The Wednesday Play

7.2

TV Series

Hugh Snelby

Michael

1965–1966

2 episodes

 

Derek Fowlds in Take a Pair of Private Eyes (1966)

Take a Pair of Private Eyes

TV Series

Hearse Driver

1966

1 episode

 

Undermind (1965)

Undermind

6.8

TV Series

Shop Assistant

1965

1 episode

 

Julia Lockwood and Margaret Lockwood in The Flying Swan (1965)

The Flying Swan

6.9

TV Series

Chris

1965

2 episodes

 

Alfred Burke in Public Eye (1965)

Public Eye

8.5

TV Series

Customer

1965

1 episode

 

Peter Hempson, John Pike, Gerald Rowland, Dennis Waterman, and Patricia Wilson in The Barnstormers (1964)

The Barnstormers

6.8

TV Series

Camberley (uncredited)

1964

2 episodes