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Peter Bowles

Peter Bowles

Actor, also producer · Died March 17, 2022, aged 85 · London, England, UK

Peter Bowles (16 October 1936 – 17 March 2022) was an English television and stage actor. He gained prominence for television dramas such as Callan: A Magnum for Schneider and I, Claudius. He is however, best remembered for his roles in sitcoms and television dramadies, including: Rumpole of the Bailey, Only When I Laugh, To the Manor Born, The Bounder, The Irish R.M., Lytton's Diary, Executive Stress and Perfect Scoundrels. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
October 16, 1936
Died
March 17, 2022 (aged 85)
From
London, England, UK
Works as
Actor, also producer
Titles
37 on MovieCove · 108 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 38 days to Oct 27Up 3% in 30 days

What are Peter Bowles' films like?

Across their 21 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Survival.

Genres

Crime6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 60th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Drama6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 65th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 25th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 39th percentile
: browse their Adventure movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
22%
Survival
21%
Bonds
16%
Self
15%
Power
10%
Society
9%
Ideas
7%
Justice5 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival5 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds4 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief4 titles, browse their movies with this themeTruth3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 20 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 8 · Serious 1 · Dark 11

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 13 · Stylized 6 · Heightened 1

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 7 · Charged 7 · Intense 6

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 11 · Shifting 8 · Whiplash 1

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 11 · Some laughs 7 · Funny 2

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 14 · Even-paced 6 · Relentless 0

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 6 · Engaged 10 · Full focus 4

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 9 · Affecting 3 · Heavy 8

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 13 · Open-ended 5 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

2 analyzed roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
14
Dread
7
Warm
7
Melancholic
7
Contemplative
4
Other
22

How their films linger

Feel-good6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 4 with a twist

  • Happy6
  • Bittersweet9
  • Tragic4
  • Ambiguous2

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Peter Bowles' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 24 of their 37 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (13).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Peter Bowles' titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

108 credits, 37 with a MovieCove page; 4 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Off the Rails(2021)

    as Vicar

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Great in Britain: The Movie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Julian

  • Together (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Actor

  • Victoria(2016)

    Show 9 episodes · as Duke of Wellington

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Murder: Lost Weekend (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Greville Cotterall

  • Murder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Show 3 episodes · as Greville Cotterall

  • Peterman(2014)

    as Old Boy

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Lilting(2014)

    as Alan

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Love's Kitchen(2011)

    as Max Templeton

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Ballet Shoes(2007)

    as Sir Donald Houghton

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • The Bank Job(2008)

    as Miles Urquhart

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Freebird (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as The Chairman

  • The Sarah Jane Adventures(2007)

    Show 2 episodes · as Lionel Carson

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all shows

  • Jericho(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Fleming

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • Color Me Kubrick(2005)

    as Cyril

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • One of the Hollywood Ten(2000)

    as Jack Warner

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • In Love and War(2001)

    as Melville

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Gangster No. 1(2000)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased) (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Little White Lies(1998)

    as Oliver

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • The Steal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Lord Childwell

  • Passport to Murder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Inspector Bullion

  • Running Late (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as George Grant

  • Perfect Scoundrels (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 18 episodes · as Guy Buchanan

  • Try This One for Size(1989)

    as Igor

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Screen One (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as George Grant

  • Poirot(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Sir Roderick Horsfield

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Beryl Markham: A Shadow on the Sun(1988)

    as Lord Jack Carberry

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Executive Stress (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 19 episodes · Actor

  • Lytton's Diary (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 12 episodes · Creator · Idea · as Neville Lytton

  • Storyboard (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 1 episode · Writer · as Neville Lytton

  • ITV Christmas Comedy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 15 episodes · Actor

  • The Irish R.M. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 18 episodes · as Major Sinclair Yeates

  • The Bounder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 14 episodes · as Howard Booth

  • Vice Versa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 7 episodes · as Paul Bultitude

  • Rumpole's Return (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Guthrie Featherstone

  • The Masqueraders(1980)

    as Mitchell

  • Only When I Laugh (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 29 episodes · as Archie Glover

  • To the Manor Born (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 21 episodes · as Richard DeVere

  • Tales of the Unexpected(1979)

    Show 1 episode · as Major Haddock

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • Pennies from Heaven (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 1 episode · as Prosecuting Counsel

  • Stigma (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Peter

  • The Disappearance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Jefferies

  • A Roof Over My Head (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • For the Love of Benji(1977)

    as Ronald

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • The Sunday Drama (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Prince Borodski

  • I, Claudius (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · as Caractacus

  • The Crezz (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 12 episodes · as Ken Green

  • Rumpole of the Bailey(1978)

    Show 16 episodes · as Guthrie Featherstone

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Space: 1999(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as Balhor

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

  • Survivors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as David Grant

  • Churchill's People (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Thistlewood

  • Rising Damp(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Hilary

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Good Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 6 episodes · as Colin Peale

  • Napoleon and Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 8 episodes · as Captain Joachim Murat

  • Lord Peter Wimsey Mysteries: Murder Must Advertise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Major Todd Milligan

  • The Legend of Hell House(1973)

    as Hanley

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Chéri (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 5 episodes · as Patron

  • Thriller(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Supt. Lucas

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • The Offence(1973)

    as Detective Inspector Cameron

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • A Thinking Man as Hero (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Frank Cordroy

  • Crown Court (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 3 episodes · as Gerald Somerville

  • Endless Night(1972)

    as Reuben

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • The Protectors(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Gregor Kofax

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows

  • Shelley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Byron

  • A Day in the Death of Joe Egg (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Freddie

  • A Ghost Story for Christmas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Peter

  • The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Inspector Saunders

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all shows

  • The Persuaders!(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Mitchell

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • The Ten Commandments (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Tommy Radd

  • Sudden Terror(1970)

    as Victor Grazzini

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Happy Ever After (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Michael · as Tony Bulstrode

  • Taste of Excitement (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Guardi

  • Department S (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Borowitsch

  • The Main Chance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Roger Lamb

  • W. Somerset Maugham (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Robert Crosbie

  • Laughter in the Dark (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Paul

  • The Assassination Bureau(1969)

    as Jealous lover at 'La Belle Amie' (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • ITV Saturday Night Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Jack Campbell-Barnes

  • The Charge of the Light Brigade(1968)

    as Paymaster Capt. Duberly

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • The Prisoner(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as 'A'

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Callan(1967)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • A Magnum for Schneider (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    as Toby Meres

  • Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Harry Deacon

  • Blow-Up(1966)

    as Ron

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • NET Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Show 1 episode · as Razumikhin

  • The Informer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Show 2 episodes · as Jack Hart

  • Don't Utter a Note (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as Sgt. Howlett

  • The Quarry (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as Melville

  • Isadora Duncan, the Biggest Dancer in the World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as Paris Singer

  • Some Lapse of Time (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    as Policeman

  • Dead Man's Chest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    as Joe

  • BBC Play of the Month (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Insp. Hounslow

  • Out of the Unknown (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Policeman

  • Public Eye (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Croxley

  • Three Hats for Lisa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    as Pepper

  • The Protectors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr Fothergill

  • The Crunch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as Captain Buckley

  • The Informers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    as Peter The Pole (uncredited)

  • Crane (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Nikkolai Drax

  • The Saint (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 1 episode · as Maurice Kerr · as Serge

  • Drama 61-67 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · as Capt. Buckley

  • The Avengers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 2 episodes · as Ezdorf · as Neil Anstice · as Thyssen

  • Danger Man(1960)

    Show 1 episode · as Gamal

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all shows

  • No Hiding Place (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Edgar Wallace Mysteries (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Joe

  • Armchair Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · as Dermot Llewelyn · as Morgan · as Pete · as Sgt. Howlett · as Simpson · as Toby Meres

  • Hallmark Hall of Fame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · as Melville

Career shape

Star power in the 94th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 108 titles from 1951 to 2021; peak year 2007.

Biggest box office

The Bank Job (2008)

$65M worldwide

Highest rated

Rumpole of the Bailey (1978)

Midcredits 92nd

Film career

19512021

Peak 2007 · steadily prominent in film for years. Top draw in 1 MovieCove title. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting107 of 108: 105 only acting, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score65thWriting2 of 108: 0 only writing, 2 with another roleProducing1 of 108: 1 only producing, 0 with another roleOther crew1 of 108: 0 only other crew, 1 with another role

By decade

1950s4 · acting1960s33 · acting1970s34 · acting1980s13 · 13 acting · 2 crew1990s5 · acting2000s10 · 9 acting · 1 crew2010s8 · acting2020s1 · acting

Billing

usually 8th · top billed in 0% of 12 roles
6676

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Peter Bowles' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 50th percentile, the median of the 21 of 22 with a score; across their 20 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 49th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

49thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 20

Approval · how many liked their films

45thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 20

Reach · how many have seen their films

68thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 20

Midcredits score across 36 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up13
  • 50th to 74th12
  • 25th to 49th10
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

17 of their 36 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved7
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser17
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed9

Most divisive · actor

Little White Lies (1998)

85th percentile spread · 32% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Victoria (2016)

Midcredits 92nd · 91% liked

Reviewers score the acting 71/100 in their films, across 17 reviewed titles; fans 78, detractors 47. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Peter Bowles' work okay for kids?

Across up to 5 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore5 titles38–80 · median 64 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity5 titles36–69 · median 51 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity5 titles34–86 · median 56 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs5 titles36–66 · median 43 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense5 titles43–83 · median 65 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Peter Bowles work with?

People who share at least 2 of Peter Bowles' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Tony Richardson shares the most, 2.

Directors

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors