# 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 Matrozos as liaison officer, but was discharged due to eye sight 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.

### Television & film

Collingwood appeared in numerous serial roles, both dramatic and comedic, in the UK and Australia.
He played Lord John Russell in 1975 drama series Edward the Seventh.
His Australian roles included playing Mr. Dunkley in Are You Being Served? 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 |