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John Cater

John Cater

Actor · Died March 21, 2009, aged 77 · Hendon, London, England, UK

A masterful character actor who was in the first London season of the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1961 and who became a familiar face in countless television sitcoms and serials, notably as a core cast member in The Duchess of Duke Street in 1976. In The Duchess, he played the enigmatic hall porter Mr Starr, never without his squeaky boots or little dog, Fred - a performance that led to comedy stints with Frankie Howerd, Roy Kinnear and Dick Emery. He was a Cockney dad in Central's The Other 'Arf (1980), opposite Lorraine Chase's Twiggy-like model, and also appeared in the BBC's Sitting Pretty (1992), with Diane Bull as "the Jackie Onassis of Bethnal Green". Cater was a perfectionist, proud of his craft. He said that if you could not cross a stage with a cup of tea, do a half-trip, a double-take on the non-existent pothole and finish the un-spilt cuppa on the other side, you should find something else to do for a living. His timing was immaculate. He was born in Hendon, north London, into a family of florists, though his mother was a violinist in the Piorinos, a musical dance band trio. At the age of four, John was enrolled at the Jean Boggan school of dance and, with the outbreak of the second world war, was evacuated with his entire Hendon prep school to Devon. He completed his education at Shebbear college, near Bideford, before going on to Rada in 1948. This was interrupted by national service in the Royal Army Educational Corps, but on graduation he was employed at the Dundee Rep by Herbert Wise, a lifelong friend with whom he later appeared in three episodes of the BBC's I, Claudius, as Narcissus (1976). Rep and summer seasons followed at Nottingham, Guildford, Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Cork before he joined Peter Hall's first London RSC at the Aldwych, appearing in The Duchess of Malfi, Ondine with Leslie Caron and John Whiting's The Devils. These were heady times, made headier by falling in love with his fellow RSC actor Wendy Gifford, whom he married in 1963. A modest career in films was launched with support roles in Alfie (1966), Loot (1970) and a pair of horror movies which starred Vincent Price, the Abominable Doctor Phibes (1971) and Doctor Phibes Rises Again (1972). His first television appearance was in a 1949 play about the French resistance, broadcast live from Alexandra Palace. Small-screen credits included the landmark Jean-Paul Sartre adaptation Road to Freedom (1970) and snowballed in series such as The Bill, Crossroads, Minder, Casualty and Midsomer Murders. His last BBC series was last year's ill-fated archaeology drama Bonekickers; his last film was Alien Autopsy (2006), starring Ant and Dec. Cater's theatre work picked up again with John Wells's hilarious satire Anyone For Denis? at the Whitehall in 1981 in which he played Denis Thatcher's bankrupt buddy Maurice Picarda. He rejoined the RSC in 1984 to play in Judi Dench's Mother Courage, Corbaccio in Volpone and Kit Carson in William Saroyan's The Time of Your Life. More recently he was at the Almeida in two Jonathan Kent productions, David Hare's version of Pirandello's Rules of the Game in 1992 as a doctor fussing over what one should wear for a duel, and Gangster Number One, starring Peter Bowles in 1995, as a small-time thief. He also featured as a spectacularly suspended Justice Shallow in Terry Hands's beautifully autumnal Merry Wives of Windsor at the National, also in 1995. Cater loved music of all kinds, especially Ravel, Debussy and Mahler, and was not only an avid jazz fan but an accomplished musician himself, playing jazz piano as well as trombone, harp and guitar. He had a rare blood disorder, haemochromatosis, but his life was not seriously affected until arthritis set in. He died of liver cancer. He was survived by his wife Wendy as well as his daughters Harriet and Emma,

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Biography from IMDb.

Born
January 17, 1932
Died
March 21, 2009 (aged 77)
From
Hendon, London, England, UK
Works as
Actor
Titles
29 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 64 days to Oct 27Up 15% in 30 days

What are John Cater's films like?

Across their 10 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
26%
Morality
25%
Survival
19%
Self
15%
Power
12%
Society
3%
Romantic love5 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRevenge2 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception3 titles, browse their movies with this themeClass2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 8 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 4 · Serious 2 · Dark 2

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 3 · Stylized 2 · Heightened 3

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

Gentle 2 · Charged 3 · Intense 3

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

Steady 4 · Shifting 4 · Whiplash 0

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 4 · Some laughs 1 · Funny 3

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 4 · Even-paced 4 · 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 3 · Engaged 5 · Full focus 0

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 5 · Affecting 1 · Heavy 2

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

Resolved 7 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

4 analyzed roles
Ally
1 of 4
Herald
1 of 4
Trickster
1 of 4
Shadow
1 of 4

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
8
Absurd
3
Melancholic
3
Dread
2
Warm
1
Other
7

How their films linger

Bittersweet5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteDevastating2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Happy1
  • Bittersweet5
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous1
  • Cyclical1

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 John Cater's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 18 of their 29 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on BritBox (9).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for John Cater's 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, 29 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • Bonekickers(2008)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all shows

  • Legend of Hammer: Vampires (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Grave robber

  • Dangerous Liaisons (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Grumpy Joe

  • Alien Autopsy(2006)

    as Maurice

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Room 36 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Bert

  • Doctors and Nurses (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as Malcolm

  • Drácula en la Hammer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as John Cater

  • The Residents (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 4 episodes · as George

  • Down to Earth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Bad Girls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Solicitor

  • Midsomer Murders(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Jack Pearce · as Mr Tibbs

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Rasputin(1996)

    as Efim

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Silent Witness(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Captain Rider · as Captain Rider (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Savage Hearts(1995)

    as Bernie

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Wycliffe and the Cycle of Death(1993)

    as Alfred Glynn

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Sitting Pretty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 13 episodes · Actor

  • Anglo Saxon Attitudes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 2 episodes · as Harold Cresset

  • Maigret(1992)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • A Question of Attribution (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Restorer (Robertson)

  • 2Point4 Children (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr Tavener

  • Life After Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Dr. Trump

  • The Upper Hand (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Attendant

  • Jeeves and Wooster (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Clam

  • The Chief (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 5 episodes · as Cllr. Samuel Winstanley

  • One Foot in the Grave (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Woman in Black(1989)

    as Arnold Pepperell

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • The Paradise Club (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Monsignor Flynn

  • Shalom Salaam (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Joe Astler

  • Shalom Salaam (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 5 episodes · Actor

  • Still Crazy Like a Fox(1987)

    as Rockhill

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Inspector Morse(1987)

    Show 1 episode · as The Dean

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Unnatural Causes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Perry

  • Casualty(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Bernard

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all shows

  • Lovejoy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Sam

  • Theatre Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Uncle Titus Dudgeon

  • Home to Roost (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Shady Gray

  • Screen Two (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Old Man

  • The Bill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 5 episodes · Actor

  • Jack Of Diamonds (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 6 episodes · Actor

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

    Show 1 episode · as Alfred Goddard

  • Death of an Expert Witness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 1 episode · as Alfred Goddard

  • Number 10 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 1 episode · as Reverend Stephen Gladstone

  • Anyone for Denis? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Bergerac(1981)

    Show 1 episode · as Skebbins

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • Little Lord Fauntleroy(1980)

    as Thomas

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • The Other 'Arf (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 27 episodes · Actor

  • Rising Damp(1980)

    as Bert

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Minder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · as Tommy

  • The House on Garibaldi Street(1979)

    as Doctor

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Henry VIII (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as 1st Gentleman

  • The Mill on the Floss (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr Poulter

  • Leave it to Charlie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 1 episode · as Bert

  • News from Nowhere (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Richard Grosvenor

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

    Show 3 episodes · as Merv

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

    Show 3 episodes · as Narcissus

  • The Duchess of Duke Street(1976)

    Show 24 episodes · as Starr

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Nobody's House (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr Jacobs

  • Mirror, Mirror (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as George

  • The Naked Civil Servant(1975)

    as Psychiatrist

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • The Secret Agent (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as The Professor

  • Madame Bovary(1975)

    Show 3 episodes · as Lheureux

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • If It's a Man – Hang Up! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Murchison

  • Further Up Pompeii (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Pollux

  • The Sweeney(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as Alec Slemen

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

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

    Show 1 episode · as Warren Hastings

  • South Riding (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Actor

  • South Riding (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 13 episodes · as Anthony Snaith

  • Happy Ever After (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr Smith

  • Centre Play (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as George

  • The Stretch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Norman

  • Thriller(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Murchison

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter(1974)

    as Professor Hieronymous Grost

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Seven of One (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Horace the Vet

  • Dr. Phibes Rises Again(1972)

    as Superintendent Waverly

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Alcock and Gander (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 6 episodes · as Ernest

  • Frenzy(1972)

    as Man in Crowd (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • New Scotland Yard (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Henry Blane

  • Budgie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Dinsdale

  • The Abominable Dr. Phibes(1971)

    as Superintendent Waverley

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Play for Today (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 1 episode · as Norman

  • The Roads to Freedom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 13 episodes · as Longin

  • The Black Tulip (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 6 episodes · as Dirk

  • Loot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Meadows

  • Up Pompeii! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Castor Oilus

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

    Show 1 episode · as Charles Banjou

  • Decline and Fall... of a Birdwatcher(1968)

    as Blackall

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Dad's Army (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Private Clarke

  • Virgin of the Secret Service (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 13 episodes · as Fred Doublett

  • Rogues' Gallery (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Ezra

  • Girl in a Black Bikini (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 6 episodes · as Alan Ramsey

  • Doctor Who: The War Machines (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as Professor Krimpton

  • Alfie(1966)

    as Siddie's Husband

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Serjeant Musgrave's Dance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 3 episodes · as The Bargee

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

    Show 1 episode · as Augustus Colpoys

  • Thirty-Minute Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Piggot

  • The Wednesday Thriller (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr Minsky

  • Londoners (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Douglas Rooker

  • A World Of His Own (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Theatre 625 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · as Ailred · as Monk · as Snell

  • Doctor Who(1963)

    Show 4 episodes · as Professor Krimpton

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Dial RIX (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Out of This World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 1 episode · as Fred Smith

  • Z-Cars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

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

    Show 2 episodes · as DISCO · as Olliphant

  • Sunday-Night Play (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 1 episode · as Albert the Atheist

  • Danger Man(1960)

    Show 1 episode · as Man Receptionist

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all shows

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

    Show 5 episodes · Actor

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

    Show 1 episode · as Dalrymple

Career shape

Star power in the 91st percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 107 titles from 1956 to 2008; peak year 1972.

Biggest box office

Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter (1974)

$442 worldwide

Highest rated

The Duchess of Duke Street (1976)

Midcredits 94th

Film career

19562008

Peak 1972 · fewer prominent film roles lately. 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 107: 107 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score80th

By decade

1950s2 · acting1960s23 · acting1970s36 · acting1980s22 · acting1990s15 · acting2000s9 · acting

Billing

usually 12th · top billed in 0% of 9 roles

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.

How do John Cater's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 70th percentile, the median of all 16; across their 8 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 58th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

58thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 8

Approval · how many liked their films

61stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 8

Reach · how many have seen their films

67thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 8

Midcredits score across 29 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up16
  • 50th to 74th6
  • 25th to 49th3
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

16 of their 29 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved7
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser16
  • Mixed5

Most divisive · actor

Alien Autopsy (2006)

53rd percentile spread · 21% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Naked Civil Servant (1975)

Midcredits 96th · 85% liked

Reviewers score the acting 65/100 in their films, across 8 reviewed titles; fans 77, detractors 41. 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.

Who does John Cater work with?

People who share at least 2 of John Cater's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Robert Fuest shares the most, 2.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Editors

Producers