Peter Cellier

Peter François Cellier (born 12 July 1928) is an English retired actor who has appeared on film, stage and television. He is known for his role as Sir Frank Gordon in Yes Minister and Yes, Prime Minister in the 1980s as well as for his appearances as the Major in Keeping Up Appearances in the early 1990s.

Early life Cellier was born on 12 July 1928, in Hendon, Middlesex, into a family of actors including his father Frank, his mother Phyllis Shannaw and his half-sister Antoinette. His grandfather was the Gilbert and Sullivan conductor François Cellier.

Career Theatre Cellier started his career at the Leatherhead Theatre in 1953. His theatre work has included seasons at Stratford-on-Avon, The Old Vic and the Chichester Festival Theatre, and he was a founder-member of the National Theatre. Shakespeare plays in which Cellier has appeared include Hamlet, The Merchant of Venice, Othello, Love's Labour's Lost, Measure for Measure, As You Like It, King John, Julius Caesar, Cymbeline and Henry V, as the Dauphin. Other roles include Pinchard in Georges Feydeau's An Absolute Turkey, Tommy Devon in Aunt Edwina, The Dean of Archeo in Body and Soul, Eric Shelding in The Case in Question, Danforth in The Crucible, Duke Francis in The Dark Horse, Dr Finache in Jacques Charon's National Theatre production of Feydeau's A Flea in her Ear, Charles Blutham in Juno and the Paycock, Dr Herdal in The Master Builder, Sir John Tremaine in Me And My Girl, The Chaplain in Mother Courage, Christopher in A Private Matter, Captain Brazen in The Recruiting Officer (replacing Laurence Olivier), Polonius in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead Higgins in Ross, Miguel Estete in The Royal Hunt of the Sun and Desmond in The Winslow Boy.

Television

On television, Cellier has appeared in a wide range of programmes since 1955, including detective series such as Softly, Softly and Bergerac, adventure series such as Doctor Who, historical dramas such as The Six Wives of Henry VIII, Upstairs, Downstairs and The Duchess of Duke Street. He made appearances on the John Mortimer written series Rumpole of the Bailey (two guest roles, the second as a defence department official in "Rumpole and the Official Secret") and Paradise Postponed (three episodes as solicitor Mr Rattling). He also appeared in the sitcoms It Ain't Half Hot Mum, Yes Minister and its sequel Yes, Prime Minister (1981–87) and Keeping Up Appearances, as Major Wilton-Smythe (1990–91),

Personal life Cellier married Nonie Pashley in 1950 and was widowed on 4 April 2016.

Filmography Source: Year Title Role Notes 1960 Sink the Bismarck! First Lieutenant on Destroyers Uncredited 1966 Morgan – A Suitable Case for Treatment Second Counsel 1972 Young Winston Captain 1973 Scotch on the Rocks Graham Hart 1974 Luther Prior Don't Just Lie There, Say Something! Attorney General Man About the House Morris Pluthero 1975 Slade in Flame Salesman In Car Showroom Uncredited Man Friday Carey Barry Lyndon Sir Richard 1977 Jabberwocky 1st Merchant The Prince and the Pauper Mean Man Holocaust 2000 Sheckley 1980 The Pumaman Museum Curator Breaking Glass Garage Customer 1981 Chariots of Fire Head Waiter–Savoy 1983 And the Ship Sails On Sir Reginald J. Dongby 1985 A Room with a View Sir Harry Otway, a landlord 1986 Clockwise Headmaster #4 1987 Personal Services Mr Marples Out of Order Home Secretary 1992 Howards End Colonel Fussell 1993 Bhaji on the Beach Ambrose Waddington The Remains of the Day Sir Leonard Bax 1994 Stanley's Dragon Mr Johnson 1997 Mrs Dalloway Lord Lezham 2004 Ladies in Lavender BBC Announcer

Television