David Quilter
Born: 1942-06-11 in Northwood, London, England, UK
Known For: Acting
Biography
David Quilter is an English actor who has made numerous appearances in British television plays and series since the mid-1960s. He was born in Northwood, London, and attended Bryanston School, Dorset. "My first inkling that it was possible to be a professional actor was when a boy at school got a scholarship to RADA," remembered Quilter. "I never did any acting at school, which I slightly regret, but seeing him actually go off and train to be an actor, it made me realise that it was what I wanted to do." Quilter trained at Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in South Kensington and then joined weekly rep at Chesterfield in 1963. "We did seven plays in eight weeks," he recalled. "I then joined the RSC in 1964 to play very small parts in the complete history cycle." Quilter's grandfather, Lawrence Beesley, was a survivor of the sinking of RMS Titanic and wrote an account of his experience called The Loss of the SS Titanic. Quilter made three 15-minute films based on Beesley's story, and in 2012 gave a reading of Beesley's account at the Aldeburgh Lighthouse Station for the 100th anniversary of the sinking. His television appearances include; Softly, Softly: Taskforce (1967), Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em (1973), Get Some In! (1975–78), The Bill (1990–97), Grange Hill (2000) as Mr Arnold, Silent Witness (2001–03) and Doctor Who (2008). He also appeared in the film The Battle of Britain (1969) as a pilot, All Creatures Great and Small (1988), Goldeneye (1989), Charles and Diana: Unhappily Ever After (1992) as the Duke of Edinburgh, and Jinnah (1998).
Filmography
2025
- Innes Lloyd: The Producer as Innes Lloyd (voice)
2016
- War and Peace as Tikhon
2013
- Utopia as Danny Gorsand
- Richard Wilson - Both Feet In the Army as (archive footage)
2005
- Doctor Who as Greeves
2001
- Murder in Mind as Reverend Robert Fraser
- Messiah as Brian Herd
- The Lost World as Businessman 1
1996
- Silent Witness
- True Blue as Cambridge Coach
1994
- Space Precinct as Sergeant Thorald Fredo
1992
- Charles and Diana: Unhappily Ever After as Prince Philip
1990
- The Chief as Tresilian
1989
- Agatha Christie's Poirot as Mr. Shaw
- Bomber Harris as Principal Medical Officer
- Wilt as Boffin
- Heartland as Minister
1987
- White Mischief as Poppy
- A Dorothy L. Sayers Mystery as Chief Inspector Parker
1986
- Bread as Mr. Masefield
- Paying Guests (Part 2) as The Rev. Banks
- Paying Guests (Part 1) as The Rev. Banks
1985
- Blue Money as Rick Skinner
1984
- The Bill
- Mr. Palfrey of Westminster as John McNair
1983
- Agatha Christie's Partners in Crime
- Last Love as Peter Fox
- Brass as Commanding Officer
1982
- Shine on Harvey Moon as Victor
- Union Castle
1981
- Bergerac as Fairfax
- Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years as Wing-Commander Torr Anderson
1980
- No Defence as John Helps
- Together as RSPCA Inspector
- Buccaneer as Harper
1978
- All Creatures Great and Small as Andrew Bruce
- Blake's 7 as The Tracer
1977
- Secret Army as Prosecuting Officer
- BBC2 Play of the Week as Captain Richard
- The Sinking of the HMS Victoria as Captain Richard
1975
- Rumpole of the Bailey as Captain Orde
1970
- The Man Who Had Power Over Women as Floor Manager
- Manhunt as German Officer
1969
- Battle of Britain as 'A' Station Pilot (uncredited)
1968
- The Expert as Shaw
1967
- The Deadly Affair as Nobleman (in Edward II)
1961
- The Avengers as Wilson