Geoffrey Chater
Geoffrey Michael Chater Robinson was an English film, television and stage actor. He appeared in the crime drama series Callan, Foyle's War, Midsomer Murders and in the classic episode Six Days of the spy-fi Department S.
Early life
Geoffrey Michael Chater Robinson was born in Barnet, Hertfordshire on 23 March 1921 and lived in Iden, East Sussex and London. His father, Lawrence Chater Robinson, was a composer of music for dance bands and his mother Peggy was an actress. It was seeing her perform at London St Martin's Theatre when he was 11 that made him want to follow her onto the stage.
Chater was educated at Marlborough College. Following the outbreak of the Second World War, he joined the Royal Fusiliers in 1940. He served as a captain in India and Burma, where he wrote and performed in revues for the troops during time off. He served in the British Army until 1946.
Career
Following his military service, he focused on his career in the entertainment industry. He became an assistant stage manager at the Theatre Royal, Windsor, where in 1947, made his first professional appearance in A Midsummer Night's Dream. His West End debut was in 1952, as "Constable" in Master Crook. Later on he appeared in Howard Brenton's play Magnificence. He also had a minor role in the British TV serial Brideshead Revisited, in which he played the role of a British Consul. He made his film debut in 1958 with The Strange World of Planet X. In Gandhi, he played the chairman of the inquiry into the Amritsar massacre. He also appeared in the film classics If.... and Barry Lyndon in supporting roles.
Chater's career saw him take on roles from Shakespeare to Midsomer Murders. While he appeared in films and television roles, he avoided longer contracts so he could have time to devote to his first love of performing in the theatre.
In 2017, Chater began giving poetry readings and he continued to read the lesson at his local church until lockdown was imposed as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic on 23 March 2020, his 99th birthday.
Death
Chater turned 100 on 23 March 2021 and died on 16 October 2021 in Iden, East Sussex.
Filmography
Film
The Strange World of Planet X - Gerard WilsonBattle of the V-1 - Minister of DefenceWonderful Things! - SolicitorThe Day the Earth Caught Fire - Pat Holroyd Two Letter Alibi - Inspector WarrenIf.... - Chaplain: StaffOne of Those Things - Falck10 Rillington Place - Old Bailey: Christmas HumphreysEndless Night - CoronerThe Best Pair of Legs in the Business - Reverend ThornO Lucky Man! - Bishop / VicarBarry Lyndon - Doctor BroughtonGandhi - Government AdvocateBethune: The Making of a Hero - Doctor Archibald
Television
Sherlock Holmes - UnknownJan at the Blue Fox - Mr. TrevorThe Birdcage Room - Mr. BlackfootITV Television Playhouse - DustyITV Play of the Week - Various rolesMy Friend Charles - Doctor George KimberMotive for Murder - Harry MannersArmchair Theatre - Various rolesThe Third Man - Lord FarsetScotland Yard - Detective Superintendent LawrieSaturday Playhouse - RaymondOn Trial - A.J. NewtonWalk a Crooked Mile - Arnold HedgesStoryboard - DurocFamily Solicitor - Mr. TylerEcho Four Two - Acting Superintendent DeanProbation Officer - Sir Giles EntonDrama 61-67 - Various rolesNo Hiding Place - Various rolesCrying Down the Lane - Superintendent LambeZ Cars - RobsonThe Plane Makers - Simon StrideGhost Squad - Various rolesBBC Sunday-Night Play - The CaptainThe Human Jungle - HouseholderThe Scales of Justice - Mr. SoamesDetective - Tony GarnishEspionage - Colonel GregoryFestival - KindredStory Parade - ProsecutorThe Indian Tales of Rudyard Kipling - Major VansuythenVictoria Regina - Doctor ClarkTheatre 625 - Various rolesFront Page Story - Bosley MortonEmergency-Ward 10 - Commander Boyle RNThe Troubleshooters - Charles du CrosVendetta - Don GinoAdam Adamant Lives! - Commissioner HobsonThe Wednesday Play - Richard BrowningSoftly, Softly - FramleySexton Blake - William PasserThe Avengers - Jarvis/SeatonCity '68 - WainwrightITV Playhouse - Various rolesThe Champions - ForsterThe Saint - Carl HowardDepartment S -PeckThe Expert - Tom CaldicottThe Power Game - Arthur StiltonITV Sunday Night Theatre - Toby PearsDepartment S - PeckRogues' Gallery - Sir Richard ManninghamW. Somerset Maugham - Mr. GreyThe Main Chance - Roger ChapmanBig Brother - Sir Michael ClarkeCallan - BishopSteptoe and Son - PeregrineBiography - HoppnerFraud Squad - Brigadier WildbloodDoomwatch - MulleryPaul Temple - Sir Harold MalyonJustice - Lord RushJason King - Mr. HornerDad's Army - Colonel PierceThe Dick Emery Show - Various rolesOoh La La! - LandernauOrson Welles' Great Mysteries - Donald CosgroveSome Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em - Bank managerThriller - Various rolesSpecial Branch - Sir Gerald PastorFall of Eagles - CharlesGeneral Hospital - Mr. HillierShoulder to Shoulder - Holloway Prison GovernorFather Brown - Leonard SmytheMoll Flanders - George Mace Thriller Episode: "The Next Voice You See" - Sir Peter HastingsJackanory Playhouse - ChancellorVillage Hall - Leonard BeamishThe Poisoning of Charles Bravo - Mr. GorstHogg's Back - InspectorCrown Court - Professor Stuart AdamsHadleigh - David RinghamThe Howerd Confessions - Mr. ParsleyWithin These Walls - Judge Lionel HuntRomance - Sir Charles VerdayneDevenish - Admiral Sir Percival WallowThe Upchat Line - Mr. PeabodyThe Cedar Tree - Walter HendersonStrangers - BarkerRings on Their Fingers - Mr. LowtherPenmarric - Doctor OrmottPrince Regent - Henry AddingtonPlay for Today - Various rolesPremiere - SuperintendentAgony - Mr. LucasBognor - Sir Erris BegThe Good Soldier - BagshaweWinston Churchill: The Wilderness Years - Lord HailshamBrideshead Revisited - ConsulOthello - BrabantioTroilus & Cressida - NestorShelley - Mr. FairbassThe Agatha Christie Hour - Canon ParfittHarry's Game - Colonel George FrostThe Further Adventures of Lucky Jim - MagistrateTales of the Unexpected - James HamiltonNanny - Major FancombeThe Cleopatras - PerigenesA Married Man - Sir Peter CraxtonThe Aerodrome - Dr. FaulknerShackleton - Sir Clements MarkhamFoxy Lady - Mr. MolyneuxStrangers and Brothers - Thomas BevillBlott on the Landscape - MinisterMapp and Lucia - Mr. Algernon WyseScreen Two - Various rolesIndiscreet - FinleyA Taste for Death - Frank MusgraveThe Dog It Was That Died - WrenAnything More Would Be Greedy - Sir William CromeChelworth - Rafe HolingsworthNorbert Smith, a Life - Cyril FreebodySaracen - Alan RossThe New Statesman - Justice SaundersHarry Enfield's Television Programme - Mr. DickinsonSpymaker: The Secret Life of Ian Fleming 1990) - LawyerBergerac - Sir Matthew OstersonBrass - Air Vice Marshal Plunkett-DowneOne Foot in the Grave - Reverend CrokerRumpole of the Bailey - Gregory FabianHarry Enfield and Chums - HeadmasterThe House of Eliott - WilkinsonThe Rector's Wife - The BishopPie in the Sky - Doctor LonsdaleThe Detectives - Sutton FrobisherThe Thin Blue Line - Carol SingerThe Bill - Edward RobbinsIn the Red - Mr Justice FrimlingtonHeartbeat Hal Clifford Heartbeat - Sir Henry BingFoyle's War - Professor PhillipsMidsomer Murders - Brother Robert