Percy Herbert

Percy Herbert (31 July 1920 – 6 December 1992) was an English actor.

Early years Herbert was born in east London. His father left home when Herbert was a young boy. The middle sibling, Herbert was brought up by his mother Ann Herbert along with his brother Lawrence and his sister Maisie. In his youth he learned boxing at Repton Boxing club.

Acting career

Post-war he returned to London. Dame Sybil Thorndike helped him secure an interview with the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art where he won a scholarship. His acting work began in the theatre, including at John Gielgud's Old Vic Company.

Beginning in 1954, he went on to appear in 78 films. He often played soldiers including in The Cockleshell Heroes and The Bridge on the River Kwai. The Bridge on the River Kwai was about British POWs working on the Burma Railway (of which Herbert had living experience). Herbert as well as being cast as Grogan, he was paid by Producer David Lean as a consultant on the film. It was Herbert who suggested using the well-known "Colonel Bogey March" that prisoners whistle in the film.

His other notable war films include Sea of Sand, Tunes of Glory, The Guns of Navarone, Guns at Batasi, Tobruk and The Wild Geese.

He was equally at home in comedies (Barnacle Bill, Casino Royale, 3 Carry On films), fantasy (One Million Years B.C., Mysterious Island), drama (Becket, Bunny Lake is Missing), and science fiction (Quatermass 2, Night of the Big Heat).

Death Herbert died of a heart attack, aged 72, on 6 December 1992 in Broadstairs, Kent. He was survived by his childhood sweetheart and wife Amy, and his two daughters Vanessa and Katrina .

Complete filmography

I Done a Murder (1951, TV film) - The Rev. Christopher Spoke The Young Lovers (1954) - Richards (uncredited) Montserrat (1954, TV film) - Morales The Green Carnation (1954) - Casey O'Rourke One Good Turn (1955) - "Seen Enough" Boxing Spectator (uncredited) The Night My Number Came Up (1955) - R.E.M.E. Sergeant The Prisoner (1955) - Soldier (uncredited) Confession (1955) - Barman The Gold Express (1955) Timeslip (1955) - Assassin (uncredited) The Cockleshell Heroes (1955) - Marine Lomas Doctor at Sea (1955) - Helmsman (uncredited) Lost (1956) - Police Constable in Phone Box (uncredited) Child in the House (1956) - Det. Sgt. Taylor A Hill in Korea (1956) - Pte. Moon Tiger in the Smoke (1956) - Copper Quatermass 2 (1957) - Gorman The Steel Bayonet (1957) - Pte. Clark The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) - Grogan Night of the Demon (1957) - Farmer (deleted from US print) Barnacle Bill (1957) - Tommy The Safecracker (1958) - Sergeant Harper No Time to Die (1958) - 1st British soldier Sea Fury (1958) - Walker Sea of Sand (1958) - 'Blanco' White Idol on Parade (1959) - Sgt. Hebrides The Square Ring (1959) The Hill (1959, TV film) - Reuben Serious Charge (1959) - Mr. Thompson Deadly Record (1959) - Belcher Yesterday's Enemy (1959) - Wilson The Devil's Disciple (1959) - Edict Sergeant Don't Panic Chaps! (1959) - Bolter A Touch of Larceny (1960) - (uncredited) The Challenge (1960) - Shop Steward There Was a Crooked Man (1960) - Prison Warden Tunes of Glory (1960) - RSM Riddick The Guns of Navarone (1961) - Sgt. Grogan Mysterious Island (1961) - Sergeant Pencroft Mutiny on the Bounty (1962) - Seaman Matthew Quintal The Captive City (1962) - Sgt. Maj. Reed Call Me Bwana (1963) - First Henchman The Cracksman (1963) - Nosher Carry On Jack (1963) - Mister Angel, Bo’sun Dr. Syn, Alias the Scarecrow (1963) - Dover Castle Jailer Becket (1964) - Baron Guns at Batasi (1964) - Colour Sgt. Ben Parkin The Counterfeit Constable (1964) - L'agent Baxter Carry On Cleo (1964) - Guard (uncredited) Joey Boy (1965) - Mad George Long Bunny Lake Is Missing (1965) - Policeman at Station Carry On Cowboy (1965) - Charlie, the Bartender One Million Years B.C. (1966) - Sakana Tobruk (1967) - Dolan Mister Ten Per Cent (1967) - Inspector Great The Viking Queen (1967) - Catus Casino Royale (1967) - 1st Piper Night of the Big Heat (1967) - Gerald Foster The Royal Hunt of the Sun (1969) - Diego One More Time (1970) - Mander Too Late the Hero (1970) - Sergeant Johnstone The Other Reg Varney (1970, TV film) - Various characters Captain Apache (1971) - Moon Man in the Wilderness (1971) - Fogarty Doomwatch (1972) - Constable Hartwell The Fiend (1972) - Commissionaire Up the Front (1972) - Cpl. Lovechild Black Snake (1973) - Joker Tierney The Mackintosh Man (1973) - Taafe Craze (1974) - Detective Constable Russet One of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing (1975) - Mr. Gibbons Metamorphosis Alpha (1976, TV film) - Thargon Commander Hardcore (1977) - Hubert Valentino (1977) - Studio Guard The Wild Geese (1978) - Keith The London Connection (1979) - Ship's Captain The Sea Wolves (1980) - Dennison Rules of Justice (1981, TV film) - George Lattimore The Love Child (1988) - Maurice