Philip Latham Explained

Philip Latham
Birth Name:Charles Philip Latham
Birth Date:1929 1, df=y
Birth Place:Essex, England[1] [2]
Occupation:Actor
Years Active:1955–1990

Charles Philip Latham (17 January 1929 – 20 June 2020)[3] [4] [5] [6] was a British actor. He was best known for playing Willy Izard in The Troubleshooters (1965–1972) and Plantagenet Palliser in The Pallisers (1974).

Early life

Latham was born 17 January 1929 in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex.[7] He had an identical twin, John, older brother, Barry and younger brother, David.

He was educated at Felsted School[8] After graduated from Felsted, he completed hi National Service in the Royal Artillery and then graduated from Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 1951.[9]

Career

In the late 1960s/early 1970s he was well known to British TV viewers for his portrayal of chief accountant Willy Izard, the "conscience" to hard-nosed oil company industrialist Brian Stead (played by Geoffrey Keen) in the BBC series The Troubleshooters (1965–72).[10] Other credits Jesus of Nazareth (1956), Paul of Tarsus, Danger Man (1960–1962), Maigret, The Treasure Seekers, The Avengers, Love Story, Undermind, UFO, The Saint, Sergeant Cork, Justice, The Cedar Tree, Killers, Hammer House of Horror, The Professionals, No. 10, and Nanny.[2]

One of his horror film roles was as Dracula's sinister servant Klove in Hammer's 1966 film Dracula, Prince of Darkness,[11] and he had previously worked for Hammer in The Devil-Ship Pirates and The Secret of Blood Island (both 1964).[12] His other film roles included appearances in Ring of Spies (1964), Spy Story (1976) and Force 10 from Navarone (1978).[2] On television he played the joint-lead role of Plantagenet Palliser (opposite Susan Hampshire) in the 26-part BBC series The Pallisers.[13] He also played Lord President Borusa in the 1983 20th anniversary episode of Doctor Who, "The Five Doctors".[14] [15]

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1955The Dam Busters Flight Sergeant Uncredited
1959Left Right and Centre Reporter Uncredited
1959Emergency Ward 10RSO Barnett10 episodes
The MoonstoneDr. Ezra JenningsEpisode: Episode 1.6
The Army GameMajor PriceEpisode: The Bisley Court Martial
The Flying DoctorLou VernonEpisode: Death in the Clouds
Dial 999Dave SaundersEpisode: Robbery with Violence
1960The Adventures of Robin Hood Father IgnatiusEpisode: A Bushel of Apples
Danger Man Frank DelroyEpisode: View from the Villa
Paul of TarsusLuke, the story-teller10 episodes
The Four Just MenValioEpisode: The Man with the Golden Touch
1962Masters of VenusDoctor Wilson
The Andromeda BreakthroughOsborne's P.A.2 Episodes
Locker Sixty-Nine Dr. Trent Edgar Wallace Mysteries
The Wild and the Willing Don Uncredited
MaigretJamesEpisode: The Wedding Guest
Harpers West One Oliver Backhouse14 episodes
1963-1966The Avengers Professor Cartright/Carter2 episodes
1963SuspenseGeorge BoulterEpisode: Deferred Terms
Richard the LionheartBrian McFergusEpisode: The Raiders
Moonstrike Major Kurt KoenigEpisode: The Canary
The Scales of JusticeOfficial ReceiverEpisode: The Invisible Asset
The RivalsLawrence
1963-1964The SaintArthur Ellshaw/Long Harry Garrett 2 episodes
1964Ring of Spies Captain Ray
The Devil-Ship Pirates Miller
The Human JungleCooperEpisode: Success Machine
The Plane MakersEric StylesEpisode: A Lesson for Corbett
Thursday TheatrePhilip MortimerEpisode: Murder Mistaken
1965R3Colonel GoldEpisode: The Critical Moment
Z CarsMartinEpisode: Brotherly Love
Public EyeAlec MaxwellEpisode: They Go Off in the End, Like Fruit
Dr. Finlay's CasebookRobert LennoxEpisode: Soon or Late
The Secret of Blood Island Captain Drake
Story ParadeJohn CoppardEpisode: The Campaign
Front Page StoryGerald McPhersonEpisode: Stateless
UndermindEdmondsEpisode: Puppets of Evil
No Hiding PlaceMichael ThompsonEpisode: Danger: Wrong Turning
1965-72The TroubleshootersWilly Izzard110 episodes
1966 Klove
1968MiddlemarchThe Rev. Mr Casaubon5 episodes
1970The Last Grenade AdamsUncredited
1974The PallisersPlantagenet 26 episodes
1976Spy Story Ferdy Foxwell
1976-78The Cedar TreeArthur Bourne75 episodes
1978Force 10 from Navarone Commander Jensen
1981From a Far Country Chaplain
1983Number 10Charles ArbuthnotMiniseries
Doctor WhoBorusaEpisode: "The Five Doctors"
1984Jackanory Playhouse KingEpisode: Rolf the Stonemason

Notes and References

  1. Registered in the Rochford District of Essex according to the GRO Index
  2. Web site: Philip Latham. https://web.archive.org/web/20160913074402/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b9f1665a9. dead. 13 September 2016.
  3. Web site: Philip Latham..... 19 October 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20150622143219/http://www.britmovie.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=89456&p=1727280&viewfull=1#post1727280. 22 June 2015. dead.
  4. Web site: Philip Latham (1929- 2020). 10 July 2020.
  5. http://announcements.telegraph.co.uk/deaths/242684/latham Telegraph Deaths Announcements: LATHAM, Charles Philip
  6. News: Philip Latham, actor who played the dry aristocrat Plantagenet in the BBC's the Pallisers – obituary. The Daily Telegraph. London. 9 September 2020. Obituaries. Telegraph.
  7. News: Stage, television and film actor dies. The Old Felstedian. December 2020. 19 January 2024. 25.
  8. Web site: Theatre/Music/Art/Broadcasting - Felsted School. 26 June 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20170706151825/http://www.felsted.org/arts. 6 July 2017. dead.
  9. https://www.rada.ac.uk/profiles?aos=acting&yr=1951&fn=philip&sn=latham "STUDENT & GRADUATE PROFILES: Philip Latham"
  10. Web site: BFI Screenonline: Mogul/Troubleshooters, The (1965-72).
  11. Web site: Dracula: Prince of Darkness (1966) - Terence Fisher - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related - AllMovie.
  12. Web site: Philip Latham - Movies and Filmography - AllMovie.
  13. News: Why can't we make drama like The Pallisers anymore?. 2014-05-05. O'Donovan. Gerard.
  14. Web site: Philip Latham.
  15. Web site: Philip Latham. TV.com.