Skip to content
MovieCove
Bill Kerr

Bill Kerr

Actor · Died August 28, 2014, aged 92 · Cape Town, South Africa

​From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.   William Henry Kerr (10 June 1922 – 28 August 2014) was a British and Australian film and television actor. He was born into a performing arts family in Cape Town, South Africa, but grew up in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia. He began working as a child actor in depression era Australia, taking his first major role in The Silence of Dean Maitland, one of Australia's first talking films. After serving in the Second World War, Kerr moved to England to further his acting career, and during the 1940s he was regularly featured in the BBC radio series Variety Bandbox. His trademark was his catch phrase "I'm only here for 4 minutes..." In the 1950s, he had a recurring role as an Australian lodger in the BBC radio comedy series Hancock's Half Hour. Initially sharper than Hancock's characterisation, it was developed into a more dim-witted character who became the butt of Hancock's jokes. His television appearances in Britain include a 1968 Doctor Who story called The Enemy of the World, with Patrick Troughton, and a long running part in the early 1960s BBC-TV soap, Compact. Bill Kerr had much theatrical success in Britain, playing The Devil in the original West End production of Damn Yankees, directed by Bob Fosse, and Cole. He also worked with Spike Milligan. He appeared in Milligan and John Antrobus's stage play The Bed-Sitting Room, which opened at the Mermaid Theatre on 31 January 1963. A subsequent production opened on 3 May 1967 at the Saville Theatre, and "a cast containing an unusually high proportion of Australian actors including Bill Kerr and David Nettheim." Then in 1972 he co-starred with Anthony Newley in the long running Newley/Bricusse musical, The Good Old Bad Old Days. In 1975, Kerr took the part of Bluey Notts, described as "an Australian bookie's clerk, a crude racialist", in The Melting Pot. This was a sitcom written by Spike Milligan and Neil Shand, which was cancelled by the BBC after just one episode had been broadcast. He also appeared in several British films, including The Dam Busters and The Wrong Arm of the Law, before moving back to Australia. Although probably best known as a comic actor, and especially for his appearances in Hancock's Half Hour, he has since played a number of serious roles, notably in Peter Weir's films Gallipoli (1981) and The Year of Living Dangerously (1982). He also worked on the Australian stage in the 1980s, in musicals such as My Fair Lady, where he received excellent reviews as Alfred Doolittle. In 2001, he appeared in the Australian comedy Let's Get Skase. Kerr also appeared in Glenview High and the 1998 television comedy series Minty. Kerr has also been involved in documentaries, providing the narration for No Survivor - The Mysterious Loss of HMAS Sydney Nine Network Australia (1995), Malice or Mutiny for the ABC Australia 2003 and Animal X Natural Mystery Unit series for Discovery in the US, TV2 Norway and many others. Description above from the Wikipedia article Bill Kerr, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
June 10, 1922
Died
August 28, 2014 (aged 92)
From
Cape Town, South Africa
Works as
Actor
Titles
19 on MovieCove · 62 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 39 days to Oct 28Down 25% in 30 days

What are Bill Kerr's films like?

Across their 13 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Survival.

Genres

Comedy5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 39th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 79th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 54th percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Horror2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 50th percentile
: browse their Horror 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
Self
27%
Survival
21%
Morality
15%
Power
13%
Bonds
11%
Society
8%
Ideas
4%
Coming of age3 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice2 titles, browse their movies with this themeWar3 titles, browse their movies with this themeGreed2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 13 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 5 · Serious 2 · Dark 6

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 6 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 2

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

Gentle 4 · Charged 5 · Intense 4

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

A split, not a type: Steady 6 · Shifting 7 · 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 6 · Some laughs 2 · Funny 5

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

Slow burn 8 · Even-paced 5 · Relentless 0

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

Casual 8 · Engaged 4 · Full focus 1

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 6 · Affecting 3 · Heavy 4

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

Resolved 10 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

4 analyzed roles

Usually the Herald: 2 of 4 analyzed roles.

Herald
2 of 4
Threshold guardian
1 of 4
Mentor
1 of 4

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
6
Absurd
4
Joyful
4
Dread
3
Melancholic
3
Other
13

How their films linger

Bittersweet5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteDevastating2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy6
  • Bittersweet4
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous1

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 Bill Kerr's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 9 of their 19 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (7).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Bill Kerr'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

62 credits, 19 with a MovieCove page; 2 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Peter Pan(2003)

    as Fairy Guide

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Let's Get Skase (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Mitchell Vendieks

  • Changi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 6 episodes · as Older Eddie

  • Animal X (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 32 episodes · Actor

  • Ship to Shore (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Snowy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 13 episodes · as Stuart McLachlan

  • Over the Hill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Maurice

  • The River Kings (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 4 episodes · as Captain Elijah

  • Sweet Talker(1991)

    as 'Uncle' Cec

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • The Private War of Lucinda Smith (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 2 episodes · as Scotty

  • The New Adventures of Black Beauty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 26 episodes · as Samuel Burton

  • Kokoda Crescent (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Russ

  • Mortuary Academy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Brody

  • The Christmas Visitor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Trevor Watson

  • Running from the Guns (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Actor

  • The Lighthorsemen(1987)

    as Gen. Sir Harry Chauvel

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Rob Roy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Actor

  • Double Sculls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Curly

  • A Fortunate Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 4 episodes · as Narrator (voice)

  • Platypus Cove (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Mr. Anderson

  • Anzacs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 5 episodes · as General Monash

  • The Coca-Cola Kid(1985)

    as T. George McDowell

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Vigil(1984)

    as Birdie

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

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

    as Kearney

  • Razorback(1984)

    as Jake Cullen

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Return to Eden (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 1 episode · as Dave Welles

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

    as Tom Lincoln

  • Great Expectations (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as (Voice)

  • The Year of Living Dangerously(1982)

    as Colonel Henderson

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • The Pirate Movie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Major-General Stanley / Ice Cream Man

  • Deadline (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Willliam Ashby

  • Save the Lady (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as MacDuff

  • Gallipoli(1981)

    as Jack

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Father, Dear Father (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 1 episode · as Customs Man

  • Glenview High (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 39 episodes · Actor

  • The Confessional(1976)

    as Mr. Davey

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Girls Come First (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Hugh Jampton

  • Ghost in the Noonday Sun(1974)

    as Giacomo

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Doctor Who: The Enemy of the World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Giles Kent

  • A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum(1966)

    as Gladiator-in-Training

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Carnaby, M.D.(1966)

    as Digger

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • It's Not Me - It's Them! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 6 episodes · as Len

  • Doctor Who(1963)

    Show 5 episodes · as Giles Kent

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Doctor in Distress(1963)

    as Australian Sailor

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • The Wrong Arm of the Law(1963)

    as Jack Coombes

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • A Pair of Briefs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Victor · as Victor - Club Owner

  • Compact (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 374 episodes · Actor

  • Spike Milligan: A Series of Unrelated Incidents at Current Market Value (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Various

  • Citizen James (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 32 episodes · as William Montmorency Beaumont Kerr / 'Billy the Kerr'

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Garry Halliday (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 51 episodes · Actor

  • The Captain's Table(1959)

    as Bill Coke

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • The Shiralee (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Shopkeeper (uncredited)

  • Hancock's Half Hour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show Actor

  • Port of Escape (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Dinty Missouri

  • The Dam Busters(1955)

    as Flight Lieutenant H. B. Martin, D.S.O., D.F.C., A.F.C.

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • The Night My Number Came Up(1955)

    as Soldier

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Appointment in London (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Bill Brown

  • My Death Is a Mockery (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Hansen

  • Penny Points to Paradise(1951)

    as Digger Graves

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • The Silence of Dean Maitland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Cyril Maitland Jr.

  • Harmony Row (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Leonard

Career shape

Star power in the 93rd percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 62 titles from 1933 to 2003; peak year 1983.

Biggest box office

The Year of Living Dangerously (1982)

$10M worldwide

Highest rated

Gallipoli (1981)

Midcredits 90th

Most popular right now

The Year of Living Dangerously (1982)

Film career

19332003

Peak 1983 · steadily prominent in film for years. Top draw in 2 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.

  • 1955Screen debut· The Night My Number Came Up

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting62 of 62: 62 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score71st

By decade

1930s2 · acting1950s11 · acting1960s11 · acting1970s5 · acting1980s22 · acting1990s8 · acting2000s3 · acting

Billing

usually 5th · top billed in 0% of 11 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 Bill Kerr's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 63rd percentile, the median of all 18; across their 13 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 13

Approval · how many liked their films

51stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Reach · how many have seen their films

64thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Midcredits score across 19 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up7
  • 50th to 74th4
  • 25th to 49th5
  • Below 25th3

Shape of the crowd

10 of their 19 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Divisive1
  • Crowd Pleaser10
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed4

Most divisive · actor

Ghost in the Noonday Sun (1974)

90th percentile spread · 42% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Doctor Who (1963)

Midcredits 93rd · 88% liked

Reviewers score the acting 67/100 in their films, across 13 reviewed titles; fans 76, detractors 42. 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 Bill Kerr's work okay for kids?

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

Their medianMedian of all films
Violence & Gore3 titlesmedian 67 · intenseMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity4 titlesmedian 46 · 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 Bill Kerr work with?

People who share at least 2 of Bill Kerr's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Chris Haywood shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers