Peter Collingwood

Peter Trevor Collingwood (6 May 1920 – 23 September 2016) was an English-born actor who appeared in theatre roles, films, miniseries and serials from 1938 to 2003 in his native England and Australia. Collingwood was known for his portrayal of judges, military men and upper-crust befuddled types. He was also a playwright.

Early life Collingwood was born in Kent(some sources give, Farnham, Surrey), England on 6 May 1920. He initially studied at the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth. During the Second World War, he also served in the British Navy including on the Greek submarine as liaison officer, but was discharged due to eyesight problems.

He enrolled in the Embassy School of Acting at the Embassy Theatre, London, in 1937. His first professional acting job was in Wang Shifu's Chinese play The Western Chamber at London's Torch Theatre in 1938.

Career

Theatre After the war, Collingwood joined Amersham Repertory Theatre, followed by the Young Vic Company, and a number of other companies. After marrying his wife, they moved to Perth, Scotland where he worked for the Perth Repertory Company. During this time, he wrote the farce Gathering Nuts, which was performed by the company, as well as by a number of other repertory companies.

In 1953, Collingwood returned to London with his family, where he worked regularly on stage (as well as in film and television).

In 1961, with his wife and step-son Michael, Collingwood travelled overland to Sri Lanka, then by ship to Perth, Australia. From late 1961 to 1963, he worked at the Perth Playhouse.

The family returned to England for two years, during which he appeared in a number of successful West End shows, including Inadmissible Evidence, Meals on Wheels, and I Love you Mrs Patterson.

In 1967, Collingwood emigrated to Australia, first living in Perth before settling near Sydney in Balmain, New South Wales. He worked for many Sydney theatre companies including the Old Tote, Nimrod Theatre, Belvoir Theatre Company, the Independent Theatre and Sydney Theatre Company. Between 1970 and 1972 he was Artistic Director of the Marian Street Theatre. Governor Phillip in The Timeless Land, and a recurring guest role on Home and Away as Bert King, father to main character Pippa Ross, from 1995 to 1997.

He also made appearances in Phoenix Five, The Coral Island Homicide, Division 4, Mother and Son, A Country Practice, Police Rescue, All Saints and Always Greener.

Notable Australian film appearances include classic film Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975), Mad Dog Morgan (1976), Minnamurra (1989) and a minor part in Baz Luhrmann’s hit musical film Moulin Rouge! (2001).

Personal life In 1950 Collingwood married Margery Shaw, with whom he had daughter Julia. His stepsons were Christopher and Michael.

Death Collingwood retired in 2003 and died 23 September 2016 at the age of 96.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Type 1950 Spring-Heeled Jack Denis Stocks TV movie 1954 River Beat Coroner Feature film 1956 Sailor Beware! Verger (uncredited) Feature film 1958 Up the Creek Chippy Feature film 1958 Further Up the Creek Chippy Feature film 1959 Body Found Collins TV movie 1959 The Missing Mercury Mr Jones TV movie 1960 Follow That Horse! Uncredited Feature film 1960 Who Pays the Piper? TV movie 1960 The Balloon and the Baron Francis Giles TV movie 1961 The Green Helmet Charlie Feature film 1961 Wings of Death Harris Short film 1961 The Train Set Customer TV movie 1963 The Rose and Crown Edward Stone TV movie 1966 Morgan – A Suitable Case for Treatment Geoffrey Feature film 1968 Volpone Corvino TV movie 1970 Adam's Woman Chaplain Feature film 1974 Between Wars Judge Feature film 1975 Picnic at Hanging Rock Colonel Fitzhubert Feature film 1975 Two Way Mirror Sam Bellamy TV movie 1976 Mad Dog Morgan Judge Barry Feature film 1976 Deathcheaters Langham Feature film 1978 The Night the Prowler Dr Herborn Feature film 1978 Magee and the Lady Deveaux TV movie 1981 The Killing of Angel Street Government Minister Feature film 1982 Crosstalk Hollister Feature film 1984 Fast Talking School Principal Feature film 1985 The Empty Beach Fred Ward Feature film 1985 Wills & Burke Sir William Stawell Feature film 1985 Burke & Wills Doctor William Wills Feature film 1987 Les Patterson Saves the World Jeremy Williams Feature film 1989 Minnamurra (aka Wrangler) Banker Feature film 1994 Cody: Bad Love CJ Unwin TV movie 1995 Billy's Holiday Anna's Gentleman Feature film 1997 The Ripper Chalmers TV movie 2001 Moulin Rouge! Audience Member (uncredited) Feature film

Television Year Title Role Type 1956 The Grove Family 1st Reporter TV series, season 2, episode 22: "The Champion" 1956 My Husband and I Jennings TV series 1957 Little Lord Fauntleroy Mr Wilkins, a groom Miniseries, 2 episodes 1958 BBC Sunday Night Theatre Hughie Gibson TV series, season 9, episode 32: "The Shadow of Doubt" 1958 The Sky Larks Harold Jones TV series, episode 11: "Down in the Drink" 1958–1960 ITV Television Playhouse George Poddy / Tom Cardwick / Addison / Steen TV series, 4 episodes 1959 World Theatre Magistrate's Clerk Miniseries, episode 9: "The Silver Box" 1959 Dial 999 Janitor TV series, season 1, episode 38: "Robbery with Violence" 1959 The Vise Fenn TV series, season 7, episode 5: "Murder with Make-Up" 1959 Glencannon Sparks TV series, 9 episodes 1960 The Little Ship Dr Pietro TV series, 6 episodes 1960 Inside Story Mr Davies TV series, episode 7: "Return to Base" 1960 Interpol Calling Travel Agent TV series, episode 34: "Eight Days Inclusive" 1960 Knight Errant Limited Andy Forsyth / John Higgins TV series, 2 episodes 1960 Boyd Q.C. Mr Moate TV series, season 4, episode 2: "Hell Hath No Fury" 1960 Bootsie and Snudge TV series, season 1, episode 1: "Civvy Street" 1960 The Haunted House Simo Miniseries, episode 2: "Part 2" 1960 Fact and Fiction Teacher TV series, episode 2 1960 Theatre 70 Honore Malfont TV series, episode 14: "To Death with Love" 1960–1961 No Hiding Place Specialist / Mr Peebles TV series, 2 episodes 1961 The Men from Room 13 Johnson TV series, 2 episodes 1961 Rendezvous Peter TV series, episode 19: "The Road Between" 1961 Deadline Midnight Barney Tutley TV series, season 2, episode 9: "Doggo" 1957–1961 ITV Play of the Week Tom Whittle / Mr Carewe TV series, 2 episodes 1961 Drama 61-67 Jeweller TV series, season 1, episode 14: "Drama '61: The Glove" 1961 The Pursuers Carpenter / Joey Conrad TV series, 2 episodes 1964 The Hidden Truth Mr Frisby TV series, episode 3: "Cross Examination" 1964 Emergency Ward 10 Mr Barker TV series, 2 episodes 1964 Swizzlewick Dr McCrag TV series, 1 episode 10: "In for a Penny" 1964 The Count of Monte Cristo Baron Dandré TV series, episode 3: "The Abbé Faria" 1964 Thursday Theatre William Gregson / Stanley Griffiths TV series, 2 episodes 1965 Z Cars Chipperfield TV series, season 4, episode 26: "A Shame to Take the Money" 1965 The Sullavan Brothers Jack Gibbon TV series, season 2, episode 1: "The Corrupters" 1965 Volpone Magistrate TV series, episode 3 1966 Sergeant Cork Belling TV series, season 6, episode 15: "The Case of the Unpopular Judge" 1967 Love and War Emperor Miniseries, episode 4: "The Brass Butterfly" 1968 Contrabandits Tom Keating TV series, season 2, episode 15: "Double Entry" 1969 I've Married a Bachelor Captain Makepeace TV series, season 2, episode 4: "The Army Will Make a Man of You, Mrs. Malloy" 1969 The Rovers Professor John Neary TV series, episode 3: "The Long Cry of the Bunyip" 1969 Delta Carpenter TV series, episode 7: "There's a Lot of It About" 1970 Phoenix Five Earth Space Controller TV series, 26 episodes 1970 Division 4 District Inspector / Magistrate TV series, 2 episodes 1969–1971 Homicide Dr Finch / Rev Galbraith / Major Dymond TV series, 3 episodes 1971 Mrs. Finnegan TV series, episode 13: "Something Old, Something New" 1974 Three Men of the City Charles Freeth Miniseries, episode 3: "A Kind of Revenge" 1974 Out of Love Miniseries, episode 1: "I Don't Want To Know" 1974 A Touch of Reverence Miniseries 1974 Certain Women TV series, 1 episode 1975 Scattergood: Friend of All TV series, episode 3: "The Great Egg Cosy Disaster" 1975 Edward the Seventh Lord John Russell Miniseries, 2 episodes 1975 Ben Hall Miniseries, 2 episodes 1975 The Company Men Charles Freeth Miniseries, 5 episodes 1976 Rush Major Chivers TV series, season 2, episode 2: "The Great Eastern Bubble" 1976 Luke's Kingdom Governor Miniseries, 2 episodes 1980 Are You Being Served? Mr Dunkley TV series, 7 episodes 1980 The Timeless Land Governor Phillip Miniseries, 2 episodes 1981 A Town Like Alice Dr Kennedy Miniseries, episode 3 1980–1982 Cop Shop Bert Jenkins / Wilfred Perry TV series, 2 episodes 1983 Coral Island Reverend McNab Miniseries, 3 episodes 1983 The Dismissal Tun Abdul Razak Miniseries, episode 3 1983 Carson's Law Martin Brewster TV series, 2 episodes 1983 Under Capricorn Governor Miniseries, 2 episodes 1984 Eureka Stockade General Nickle Miniseries, episode 2 1984 The Last Bastion General Haining Miniseries, 3 episodes 1985 Mother and Son Bank Manager Shirley TV series, season 2, episode 1: "The Money" 1983; 1992 A Country Practice Gerald Wilkes / Teddy Turner TV series, 3 episodes 1993 E Street Bishop Harcourt TV series, episode 382 1995 Police Rescue Douglas TV series, season 4, episode 5: "Guardian Angel" 1995 Echo Point Mr Greenway TV series, season 1, episode 68 1995–1997 Home and Away Bert King TV series, 35 episodes 1998 A Difficult Woman Chris Fitzgerald Miniseries, 3 episodes 2001 Escape of the Artful Dodger Judge TV series, episode 1: "Jack in the Box" 1998; 1999; 2002 All Saints Lionel Macken / Harry Fellowes TV series, 5 episodes 2002–2003 Always Greener Dr Dalrymple TV series, 6 episodes

Theatre

As actor Year Title Role Type 1938 The Western Chamber Torch Theatre, London 1947 The King Stag Cigolotti / Peasant Lyric Theatre (Hammersmith), London, Prince of Wales Theatre, Cardiff & other locations with Old Vic Trust & Young Vic Company 1947 The Winslow Boy Desmond Curry Cambridge Arts Theatre 1949 A Wind on the Heath Bedford Theatre, Camden Town, London 1949 The Crooked Billet Bedford Theatre, Camden Town, London 1954–1955 Peter Pan Bristol Hippodrome 1955 The Shadow of Doubt Saville Theatre, London 1955–1956 The Devil's Disciple Bristol Hippodrome 1957 Olive Ogilvie Herman Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh & Aldwych Theatre, London 1961 Serjeant Musgrave's Dance: an Un-historical Parable University of Sydney 1962 The Caretaker Playhouse, Perth with National Theatre Inc. 1962 Plaintiff in a Pretty Hat Playhouse, Perth with National Theatre Inc. 1962 Gathering Nuts Playhouse, Perth with National Theatre Inc. 1962 The Gazebo Playhouse, Perth with National Theatre Inc. 1963 The Member of the Wedding Royal Addams Playhouse, Perth with National Theatre Inc. 1963 The Irregular Verb to Love Felix Rankin Playhouse, Perth with National Theatre Inc. 1963 The Amorous Prawn Playhouse, Perth with National Theatre Inc. 1964 I Love You, Mrs. Patterson Mr Baxter St Martin's Theatre, London 1965 Inadmissible Evidence Hudson (replacement) Wyndham's Theatre, London with English Stage Company 1965 Meals on Wheels Father Royal Court Theatre, London with English Stage Company 1964 The Cat and the Canary Roger Crosby Playhouse, Perth with National Theatre Inc. 1966 Romeo and Juliet Friar Laurence New Fortune Theatre, Perth with Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust for Festival of Perth 1966 Any Wednesday Playhouse, Perth with National Theatre Inc. 1966 A Severed Head Playhouse, Perth with National Theatre Inc. 1966 Altona The Father Playhouse, Canberra, UNSW Old Tote Theatre, Sydney, Russell Street Theatre, Melbourne, Playhouse, Perth with National Theatre Inc. 1966; 1973 Festival of Four Plays South Australia 1967 The School for Scandal UNSW Old Tote Theatre, Sydney 1967 The Devil's Advocate Aurello, Bishop of Valenta Playhouse, Perth with National Theatre Inc. 1968 King Lear / Childermas Earl of Gloucester UNSW Old Tote Theatre Company, Her Majesty's Theatre, Brisbane 1968 A Refined Look at Existence UNSW with Old Tote Theatre Company 1968 This Old Man Comes Rolling Home UNSW with Old Tote Theatre Company 1968 The Fire on the Snow Wilson UNSW with Old Tote Theatre Company 1968 At Least You Get Something Out of That Captain Ah Rees UNSW with Old Tote Theatre Company 1969 Six Characters in Search of an Author Russell Street Theatre with MTC 1969 The Unknown Soldier and His Wife Russell Street Theatre with MTC 1970 What the Butler Saw Russell Street Theatre, Melbourne 1974 The Seagull Nimrod Theatre, Sydney 1976 Coriolanus Playhouse, Adelaide with South Australian Theatre Company for Adelaide Festival 1976 A Doll’s House Dr Rank Sydney Opera House with Old Tote Theatre Company 1977 The Alchemist Lovewit UNSW with Old Tote Theatre Company 1977 The Time Is Not Yet Ripe Sir Henry Pillsbury Sydney Opera House with Old Tote Theatre Company 1978 Widowers' Houses Mr Sartorius UNSW Old Tote Theatre, Sydney 1979 Romeo and Juliet Capulet Octagon Theatre, Perth, Nimrod Theatre, Sydney 1980 My Fair Lady Col. Pickering St George Leagues Club, Sydney, Twin Towns Services Club, Gold Coast, Port Macquarie RSL, Canberra Theatre with L.W. Productions 1980 Volpone Sir Politic Wouldbe Nimrod Theatre, Sydney 1981 Last Day in Woolloomooloo Ted Nimrod Theatre, Sydney 1982 The Importance of Being Earnest Marian Street Theatre, Sydney, Newcastle Civic Theatre 1983 The Portage to San Cristobal of A.H. Sir Evelyn / Nikolai / Dr Rothling / Avery Sydney Opera House with STC 1984 The Boiling Frog Nimrod Theatre, Sydney 1985 The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui Seymour Centre, Sydney with Nimrod Theatre Company 1985 Pride and Prejudice Queensland Theatre 1986; 1987 Aren't We All? Vicar His Majesty's Theatre, Perth, Comedy Theatre, Melbourne, Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney 1986 The Madras House Sydney Opera House with STC 1986 The Seagull Sydney Opera House with STC 1987 The Winslow Boy Northside Theatre, Sydney 1988 Breaking the Code Northside Theatre, Sydney 1989 Bedroom Farce Glen Street Theatre, Sydney, Illawarra Performing Arts Centre, Riverside Theatres Parramatta, Laycock Street Theatre, Gosford 1989 The Marriage of Figaro Donguzman Brid'oison Wharf Theatre, Sydney with STC 1989 Lettice and Lovage Mr Bardolph Sydney Opera House, Playhouse, Melbourne, Playhouse, Adelaide, Princess Theatre, Launceston with STC & MTC 1990 No Sugar Playhouse, Perth, Tandanya Theatre, Adelaide 1991 Rookery Nook Marian Street Theatre, Sydney 1991 Mortlock Peacock Theatre, Hobart with Zootango Theatre Company 1992 The Homecoming Wharf Theatre, Sydney with STC 1992 Macbeth Ensemble Theatre, Sydney 1993 Out of Order The Waiter Comedy Theatre, Melbourne, Regal Theatre, Perth, Her Majesty's Theatre, Adelaide 1993 The Visit Sydney Opera House with STC 1994; 1995 Arcadia Sydney Opera House, Playhouse, Adelaide, Theatre Royal, Hobart, His Majesty's Theatre, Perth with STC 2000 Fame - The Musical Mr Sheinkopf Star City, Sydney, Canberra Theatre, Lyric Theatre, Brisbane with Jacobsen Entertainment Group

As writer / director / producer Year Title Role Type 1962 The Heiress Production Manager Playhouse, Perth with National Theatre Inc. 1962 Waiting in the Wings Director / Production Manager Playhouse, Perth with National Theatre Inc. 1962 Plaintiff in a Pretty Hat Director Playhouse, Perth with National Theatre Inc. 1962 Gathering Nuts Playwright / Producer Playhouse, Perth with National Theatre Inc. 1963 The Member of the Wedding Production Manager Playhouse, Perth with National Theatre Inc. 1963 The Unexpected Guest Director Playhouse, Perth with National Theatre Inc. 1963 Edward, My Son Director Playhouse, Perth with National Theatre Inc. 1963 The Dumb Waiter Director Playhouse, Perth with National Theatre Inc. 1963 The Room Director Playhouse, Perth with National Theatre Inc. 1963 The Member of the Wedding Production Manager Playhouse, Perth with National Theatre Inc. 1968 In Confidence Producer AMP Theatrette, Sydney with Q Theatre Company 1968 The Dumb Waiter Producer AMP Theatrette, Sydney with Q Theatre Company 1968 Circus Adventure Director AMP Theatrette, Sydney with Q Theatre Company 1969 Surgery Director AMP Theatrette, Sydney with Q Theatre Company 1969 See the Pretty Lights Director AMP Theatrette, Sydney with Q Theatre Company 1969 Applicant Director AMP Theatrette, Sydney with Q Theatre Company 1969 The Conversion of the Anglo-Saxons Director AMP Theatrette, Sydney with Q Theatre Company 1969 Trouble in the Works Director AMP Theatrette, Sydney with Q Theatre Company 1969 Tell Tale Director AMP Theatrette, Sydney with Q Theatre Company 1970 The Contract Burial Director AMP Theatrette, Sydney with Q Theatre Company 1970 The Seagull Director Scott Theatre, Adelaide with South Australian Theatre Company for Adelaide Festival 1972 The Ghost Train Director Killara Community Theatre, Sydney 1976 The Shoemaker's Holiday Director Sydney Opera House 1977 The Magistrate Director Sydney Opera House with Old Tote Theatre Company for Sydney Festival 1977 Dr. Brain's Body Director UNSW Old Tote Theatre, Sydney 1977 The Ultimate Obscenity Director UNSW Old Tote Theatre, Sydney 1977 The Time Is Not Yet Ripe Director Sydney Opera House with Old Tote Theatre Company 1978 The Cat and the Canary Director UNSW with Old Tote Theatre Company, Sydney 1978 Just Between Ourselves Director UNSW with Old Tote Theatre Company, Sydney 1978 Da Director UNSW with Old Tote Theatre Company 1978 The Knack Director UNSW Old Tote Theatre, Sydney 1982 The Importance of Being Earnest Director Marian Street Theatre, Sydney, Newcastle Civic Theatre 1983 The First Night of Pygmalion Director Phillip Street Theatre, Sydney, Townsville Civic Centre, Pilbeam Theatre, Rockhampton, Canberra Theatre, Queensland 1988 A Singular Voyage Director / Adaptor Wharf Theatre, Sydney for Sydney Festival 1991 Rookery Nook Director Marian Street Theatre, Sydney 1991 Mortlock Playwright Peacock Theatre, Hobart with Zootango Theatre Company

Notes and references