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Jerold Wells

Jerold Wells

Actor · Died July 19, 1999, aged 90 · Wallington, Hampshire, England

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Jerold Wells (8 August 1908 - 19 July 1999) was an English actor. He appeared primarily in British comedies. Some of his best-known roles were in Time Bandits, where he played Benson, a mentally disturbed follower to Evil, and in Jabberwocky, where he played a footless man known as Wat Dabney. He also had a career in television, where he appeared in The Two Ronnies, The Old Curiosity Shop, and The Benny Hill Show. He was born in Wallington, Hampshire and died in Bath, Somerset. Description above from the Wikipedia article Jerold Wells, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
August 8, 1908
Died
July 19, 1999 (aged 90)
From
Wallington, Hampshire, England
Works as
Actor
Titles
18 on Motif · 59 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 31% in 30 days

What are Jerold Wells' films like?

Across a limited sample of 3 Motif titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Power and Morality.

Themes

share of theme weight
Power
19%
Morality
19%
Survival
19%
Bonds
17%
Society
17%
Self
9%

What they feel like to watch

their average across 3 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 1 · Stylized 1 · Heightened 1

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

Gentle 0 · Charged 3 · Intense 0

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

Steady 1 · Shifting 1 · Whiplash 1

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

Straight-faced 3 · Some laughs 0 · Funny 0

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 2 · Even-paced 1 · 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 1 · Engaged 1 · Full focus 1

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 2 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 1

Moods and endings

endings shown from 5 titles

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
3
Melancholic
2
Cold
1
Thrilling
1

How their films linger

Unsettling2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

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 Jerold Wells' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 13 of their 18 Motif titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (5).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Jerold Wells' titles on Motif; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Motif 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

59 credits, 18 with a Motif page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • Fighting Back (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1986)

    as Herbert

  • Sword of the Valiant(1984)

    as 1st Torturer

    Motif score: 7th percentile of all films

  • The Element of Crime(1984)

    as Kramer

    Motif score: 69th percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · as Sir Stafford Northcote

  • Time Bandits(1981)

    as Benson

    Motif score: 79th percentile of all films

  • The Best of the Adventures (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1981)

    as Stropper (archive footage) (uncredited)

  • Cribb (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 1 episode · as Manservant

  • The Old Curiosity Shop (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · as Jerry

  • Adventures of a Plumber's Mate (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1978)

    as Stropper

  • Jabberwocky(1977)

    as Wat Dabney

    Motif score: 48th percentile of all films

  • The New Avengers (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · as Barker

  • Dominic (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 8 episodes · as Jenkins

  • Carry On Laughing (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as Black Cowl

  • Barry McKenzie Holds His Own (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1974)

    as Quiz Panel Judge

  • Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell(1974)

    as Landlord

    Motif score: 48th percentile of all films

  • The Death of Glory (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1973)

    as Foulkes

  • Gawain and the Green Knight(1973)

    as Sergeant

    Motif score: 31st percentile of all films

  • The Vault of Horror(1973)

    as Waiter (segment 1 "Midnight Mess")

    Motif score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Never Mind the Quality, Feel the Width (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1973)

    as Tramp

  • Sykes (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Arthur · as Doorman

  • The Black Arrow (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 2 episodes · as Watty

  • Burke & Hare(1972)

    as Landlord

    Motif score: 20th percentile of all films

  • The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Phelps

    Motif score: 60th percentile of all shows

  • Cousin Bette (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Police Superintendent

  • Catweazle (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 1 episode · as Publican

  • Anne of the Thousand Days(1969)

    as Boleyn Axeman (uncredited)

    Motif score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Hark at Barker (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

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

    Show 1 episode · as Landlord

  • The Champions(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Hoad

    Motif score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • The Bells of Hell (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1968)

    as Don Pascoe

  • Late Night Horror (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Don Pascoe

  • Journey Into Darkness (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1968)

    as Mayhew

  • Man in a Suitcase (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • All Gas and Gaiters (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr Tutt

  • A Ghost of a Chance (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1967)

    as Ball and Chain Man

  • Till Death Us Do Part (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1966)

    Show 1 episode · as Policeman

  • Softly, Softly (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1966)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Ghost of Monk's Island (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1966)

    as Convict

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

    Show 1 episode · as Hans

  • 199 Park Lane (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 18 episodes · Actor

  • Masquerade(1965)

    as Brindle (uncredited)

    Motif score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Sergeant Cork (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Fish

  • Maniac(1963)

    as Giles

    Motif score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Moonstrike (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Patrice

  • The Cracksman (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1963)

    as Chief Prison Officer

  • Playback (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1962)

    as Inspector Parkes

  • The Pirates of Blood River(1962)

    as Penal Colony Master

    Motif score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Crooks Anonymous(1962)

    as Sydney

    Motif score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Candidate for Murder (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1962)

    as Police Inspector

  • Dangerous Afternoon(1961)

    as George Burling / Ned Barrett

    Motif score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Maigret(1960)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Motif score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • The Days of Vengeance (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 6 episodes · as Supt. Stabler

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Passport to Shame (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1958)

    as Taxi Driver in Office (uncredited)

  • Tread Softly Stranger (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1958)

    as Constable at Racecourse

  • High Hell (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1958)

    as Charlie Spence

  • Your Past Is Showing(1957)

    as 1st Irishman (uncredited)

    Motif score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Three in One (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1957)

    as Wally

  • Dixon of Dock Green (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Henry Galloway · as Sgt. Muir · as Trotter Kelly

Career shape

Star power in the 85th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 59 titles from 1955 to 1986; peak year 1984.

Biggest box office

The Element of Crime (1984)

$5.7K worldwide

Highest rated

The Element of Crime (1984)

Motif 69th

Most popular right now

Maniac (1963)

Film career

19551986

Peak 1984 · steadily prominent in film for years. 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
Acting59 of 59: 59 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Motif score50th

By decade

1950s7 · acting1960s27 · acting1970s18 · acting1980s7 · acting

Billing

usually 13th · top billed in 0% of 8 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 Motif score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on Motif, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.

How do Jerold Wells' films land?

Their typical Motif film has a Motif score in the 48th percentile, the median of all 15; across a limited sample of 3 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 45th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

45thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 3

Approval · how many liked their films

32ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 3

Reach · how many have seen their films

63rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 3

Motif score across 18 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up3
  • 50th to 74th6
  • 25th to 49th7
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

8 of their 18 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Crowd Pleaser8
  • Broadly Agreed5
  • Mixed4

Most divisive · actor

Sword of the Valiant (1984)

55th percentile spread · 50% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Anne of the Thousand Days (1969)

Motif 91st · 82% liked

Reviewers score the acting 52/100 in their films, across 3 reviewed titles; fans 63, detractors 32. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on Motif; 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 Motif score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their Motif 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 Jerold Wells work with?

People who share at least 2 of Jerold Wells' Motif titles, grouped by what they did on them; Jimmy Sangster shares the most, 2.

Writers

Actors

Editors

Producers