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Kenneth Colley

Kenneth Colley

Actor · Died June 30, 2025, aged 87 · Manchester, England, UK

Kenneth Colley (7 December 1937 — 30 June 2025) was an English actor. A long-time character actor, he came to wider prominence through his role as Admiral Piett in Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. Colley was born in Manchester. He played Jesus (very briefly indeed) in Life of Brian (1979), having also appeared in the earlier Python-related production Ripping Yarns episode "The Testing of Eric Olthwaite" alongside Michael Palin. As a Shakespearean actor, he played the Duke of Vienna in the BBC Television Shakespeare production of Measure for Measure (also 1979). Colley also held an important role in the Clint Eastwood film Firefox, as a Soviet Colonel tasked with the protection of the Firefox and its secrets. Colley portrayed SS-Standartenführer Paul Blobel in the World War II drama War and Remembrance. His character was charged with hiding the evidence of the Holocaust, and putting dead victims through "Economic Processing". According to comments Terry Gilliam (who directed him in Jabberwocky and co-starred with him in Life of Brian) made in the DVD audio commentaries for both films, Colley is a terrible stutterer in real life. When he had a role in a film, however, he could recite the lines perfectly. Stuttering is a character trait, however, in his role as the "Accordion Man" in the BBC television drama Pennies from Heaven (1978). He has also recently starred in BBC's HolbyBlue as a drunk and violent father, grandfather and father-in-law. Description above from the Wikipedia article Kenneth Colley, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
December 7, 1937
Died
June 30, 2025 (aged 87)
From
Manchester, England, UK
Works as
Actor
Titles
50 on MovieCove · 120 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 4% in 30 days

What are Kenneth Colley's films like?

Across their 18 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Self.

Genres

Drama6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 53rd percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 86th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 45th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 38th percentile
: browse their Crime 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
30%
Self
28%
Bonds
12%
Society
12%
Survival
7%
Power
6%
Ideas
5%
Identity6 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival3 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFaith3 titles, browse their movies with this themeDuty2 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice2 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 17 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 3 · Dark 10

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 10 · Stylized 4 · Heightened 3

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

Gentle 3 · Charged 8 · Intense 6

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

A split, not a type: Steady 7 · Shifting 6 · Whiplash 4

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

Straight-faced 12 · Some laughs 2 · Funny 3

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

A split, not a type: Slow burn 9 · Even-paced 7 · Relentless 1

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

Casual 5 · Engaged 9 · Full focus 3

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 5 · Heavy 7

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

Resolved 9 · Open-ended 7 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

3 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 3 of 3 analyzed roles.

Shadow
3 of 3

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
12
Melancholic
8
Contemplative
6
Absurd
3
Romantic
4
Other
16

How their films linger

Thought-provoking7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 4 with a twist

  • Happy4
  • Bittersweet6
  • Tragic4
  • Ambiguous4

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 Kenneth Colley's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 37 of their 50 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (15).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Kenneth Colley'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

120 credits, 50 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • The Institute(2025)

    Show 1 episode · as Gate Guard #5

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows

  • Dan Hawk Psychic Detective (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    as Thaddeus Moncrief

  • Peaky Blinders(2013)

    Show 2 episodes · as Vicente Changretta

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • Scar Tissue (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Weaver

  • Lego Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out(2012)

    as Admiral Piett (voice)

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Vera(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Ronald Devreux

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • The Queen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 5 episodes · Actor

  • Misfits(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Old Rudy

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Greetings (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Director · Producer · Writer · as Ken

  • The Secret Life of Brian(2007)

    as Jesus

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Like Father Like Son(2005)

    as Rawsthorne

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • New Tricks(2003)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • The Royal(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Bernard Hussey

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Foyle's War(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Brian Jones

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Relic Hunter(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Professor Lamenza

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all shows

  • Hold Back the Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Uncle Bob

  • Always and Everyone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Joseph

  • The Last Train (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Mrs. Bradley Mysteries(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Archie Burlington

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Shadow Run(1998)

    as Larcombe

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Midsomer Murders(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Lloyd Kirby

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Brassed Off(1996)

    as Greasley

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Robert Rylands' Last Journey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Archdale

  • Solomon & Sheba(1995)

    as Nathan

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Wycliffe(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Sam Peploe

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • Peak Practice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Stan Jordan

  • Unnatural Causes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Inspector Gerry Reckless

  • The Secret Life of Arnold Bax (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as John Ireland

  • Between the Lines (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Chief Supt. Tattersall

  • Heartbeat(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Clive Harris

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • The Bohemian Life(1992)

    as Street Sweeper

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Prisoner of Honor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Capt. Dreyfus

  • The Last Island(1990)

    as Nick

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • I Hired a Contract Killer(1990)

    as The Killer

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Kremlin Farewell (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Sergej

  • The Plot to Kill Hitler(1990)

    as Wilhelm Keitel

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • The Rainbow(1989)

    as Mr. Brunt

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • A Master of the Marionettes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Inspector Tennyson

  • Poirot(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Mathew Davenheim

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • War and Remembrance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 2 episodes · as Paul Blobel

  • A Summer Story(1988)

    as Jim

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • The Play on One (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 1 episode · as DI Tennyson

  • The Modern World: Ten Great Writers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 1 episode · as Chief Inspector Heat

  • Casanova(1987)

    as Le Duc

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Inspector Morse(1987)

    Show 1 episode · as DCI Patrick Dawson

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • The Whistle Blower(1986)

    as Bill Pickett

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Casualty(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Arthur Cobb · as Clifford Watkins · as Paddy

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all shows

  • John Silver's Return to Treasure Island (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 10 episodes · as Ben Gunn

  • Mussolini: The Untold Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 4 episodes · as King Vittorio Emmanuele

  • Function Room (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Wallenberg: A Hero's Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 2 episodes · as Adolf Eichmann

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

    Show 1 episode · as Sergej

  • Return to Waterloo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as The Traveller

  • Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi(1983)

    as Admiral Piett

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • The Scarlet and the Black(1983)

    as Capt. Hirsch

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Giro City (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Martin

  • Firefox(1982)

    as Colonel Kontarsky

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • I Remember Nelson (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Vice-Adm. Horatio Viscount Nelson

  • I Remember Nelson (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 4 episodes · as ice-Adm. Horatio Viscount Nelson

  • Peter and Paul (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 2 episodes · as Theodotus

  • Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back(1980)

    as Admiral Piett

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · as Ron

  • Monty Python's Life of Brian(1979)

    as Jesus

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • The Danedyke Mystery (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as The Major

  • Measure for Measure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Duke Vincentio

  • Les Miserables(1978)

    as Police Prefect

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • One Bummer News Day (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Frank Benyon

  • The BBC Television Shakespeare (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 1 episode · as Duke Vincentio

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

    Show 6 episodes · as The Accordion Man

  • Come the Revolution (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Bruce Tetley

  • The Testing of Eric Olthwaite (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Robber

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

    Show 1 episode · as Jessal

  • Jabberwocky(1977)

    as 1st Fanatic

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Dickens of London (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · as Robert Seymour

  • Three Days in Szczecin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Edmund Bałuka

  • The Chester Mystery Plays (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Actor

  • Ripping Yarns (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · as Robber

  • Lisztomania(1975)

    as Frederic Chopin

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

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

    as Tony Devlin

  • The Love School (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 3 episodes · as Edward Burne-Jones

  • The Sweeney(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as Noah Riley

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

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

    Show 1 episode · as Ancient Beau

  • Juggernaut(1974)

    as Detective Brown

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Mahler(1974)

    as Krenek

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Fall of Eagles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Father Gapon

  • Black and Blue (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Schultz

  • Hitler: The Last Ten Days(1973)

    as Boldt

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • The Triple Echo(1972)

    as Provo Corporal

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

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

    Show 2 episodes · as Stanley Meredith

  • The Protectors(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Devlin

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows

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

    Show 1 episode · as Peter Elliot

  • The Boy Friend(1971)

    as King in fantasy sequence (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes(1971)

    Show 2 episodes · as Farrish

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all shows

  • The Devils(1971)

    as Legrand

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • The Music Lovers(1971)

    as Modeste Tchaikovsky

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · as Bruce Tetley · as Frank Benyon

  • Performance(1970)

    as Tony Farrell

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Dance of the Seven Veils (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Actor

  • Dear Mother... ...Love Albert (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Judge Dee (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Cause of Death (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Dr. Emil Justin

  • The Expert (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Foreman · as Munt

  • The Blood Beast Terror(1968)

    as James

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Who Pays? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Corbett

  • City '68 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Corbett

  • How I Won the War(1967)

    as 2nd Replacement

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Omnibus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Hitler

  • The Jokers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    as De Winter

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

    Show 1 episode · as Slater

  • Macbeth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as Macbeth's servant

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

    Show 1 episode · as Yolinichev

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

    Show 1 episode · as Adolf Hitler · as Charles I · as Dr. Emil Justin · as Paddy

  • Three Clear Sundays (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    as Nick

  • Redcap (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · as Private Bolt

  • The Wednesday Play (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · as Bethold Florenberg

  • It's Dark Outside (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · as Hammond

  • Seventy Deadly Pills (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    as Covent Garden porter

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

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

    Show 1 episode · as Jimmy

Career shape

Star power in the 97th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 119 titles from 1956 to 2025; peak year 1979.

Biggest box office

Firefox (1982)

$47M worldwide

Highest rated

Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979)

Midcredits 98th

Film career

19562025

Peak 1979 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 5 MovieCove titles. 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.

  • 1967Screen debut· How I Won the War
  • 1979Career best· Life of Brian

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting119 of 119: 118 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score78thDirecting1 of 119: 0 only directing, 1 with another roleWriting1 of 119: 0 only writing, 1 with another roleProducing1 of 119: 0 only producing, 1 with another role

By decade

1950s2 · acting1960s20 · acting1970s37 · acting1980s25 · acting1990s22 · acting2000s7 · 7 acting · 1 crew2010s4 · acting2020s2 · acting

Billing

usually 12th · top billed in 0% of 26 roles
67727787

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 Kenneth Colley's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 74th percentile, the median of all 32; across their 17 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 53rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

53rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 17

Approval · how many liked their films

67thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 17

Reach · how many have seen their films

60thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 17

Midcredits score across 50 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up26
  • 50th to 74th10
  • 25th to 49th11
  • Below 25th3

Shape of the crowd

19 of their 50 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved17
  • Universally Panned1
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser19
  • Broadly Agreed4
  • Mixed7

Most divisive · actor

Solomon & Sheba (1995)

85th percentile spread · 28% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Midcredits 99th · 93% liked

Reviewers score the acting 68/100 in their films, across 15 reviewed titles; fans 79, detractors 43. 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 Kenneth Colley's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 4 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Sex & Nudity4 titlesmedian 54 · moderateMedian of all films: 32

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Kenneth Colley work with?

People who share at least 2 of Kenneth Colley's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Glenda Jackson shares the most, 3.

Directors

Actors

Editors

Producers