Geoffrey Chater facts for kids

Geoffrey Michael Chater Robinson (born March 23, 1921 – died October 16, 2021) was an English actor who appeared in many films, TV shows, and plays. You might know him from popular crime dramas like Callan, Foyle's War, and Midsomer Murders. He had a long career, acting for over 50 years!

Who Was Geoffrey Chater?

Early Life and Inspiration

Geoffrey Michael Chater Robinson was born in Barnet, Hertfordshire, England, on March 23, 1921. His family had a creative background: his father, Lawrence Chater Robinson, wrote music for dance bands, and his mother, Peggy, was an actress. When Geoffrey was just 11 years old, he watched his mother perform at a theatre in London. This experience made him want to become an actor too!

Serving His Country

Geoffrey went to Marlborough College for his education. In 1940, he joined the British Army, specifically the Royal Fusiliers. He served as a captain in places like India and Burma during World War II. Even during his time off from military duties, he found ways to perform by writing and acting in shows for the troops. He served in the army from 1940 to 1946.

Starting His Acting Career

After World War II ended, Geoffrey decided to focus on his dream of acting. He started as an assistant stage manager at the Theatre Royal in Windsor. In 1947, he made his first professional appearance in a play called A Midsummer Night's Dream.

His first big performance in London's famous West End theatre district was in 1952. He played a "Constable" in a play called Master Crook. He loved performing in the theatre and often chose roles that allowed him to spend more time on stage, even if it meant turning down longer TV or film contracts.

Notable Roles in Film and TV

Geoffrey Chater made his first film appearance in 1958 in The Strange World of Planet X. Over his career, he acted in many well-known movies. For example, he was in If.... (1968) and Barry Lyndon (1975). He also played an important role in the movie Gandhi (1982), where he was the chairman of an investigation into a historical event called the Amritsar massacre.

On television, he appeared in a wide variety of shows. He had a small role in the British TV series Brideshead Revisited. He was also a familiar face in popular crime dramas like Callan, Foyle's War, and Midsomer Murders. His career showed his amazing range, from serious plays by William Shakespeare to modern TV mysteries.

Later Years

In 2017, Geoffrey started giving poetry readings, sharing his love for words with others. He also continued to read lessons at his local church. He kept doing this until March 23, 2020, which was his 99th birthday, when lockdowns began due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Geoffrey Chater lived to be 100 years old, celebrating his century birthday on March 23, 2021. He passed away on October 16, 2021, in Iden, East Sussex.

Film Appearances

Geoffrey Chater acted in many films, including:

• The Strange World of Planet X (1958) - Gerard Wilson
• The Day the Earth Caught Fire (1961) - Pat Holroyd
• If.... (1968) - Chaplain: Staff
• 10 Rillington Place (1971) - Christmas Humphreys
• Barry Lyndon (1975) - Doctor Broughton
• Gandhi (1982) - Government Advocate

Television Appearances

Geoffrey Chater had roles in a huge number of TV shows, here are some of them:

• Sherlock Holmes (1951)
• ITV Play of the Week (1955-1963) - Various roles
• Armchair Theatre (1958-1971) - Various roles
• Z Cars (1963) - Robson
• The Avengers (1967-1968) - Jarvis/Seaton
• Callan (1970-1972) - Bishop
• Dad's Army (1972) - Colonel Pierce
• Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em (1973) - Bank manager
• Thriller (1973-1975) - Various roles
• Brideshead Revisited (1981) - Consul
• Tales of the Unexpected (1982) - James Hamilton
• Mapp and Lucia (1985-1986) - Mr. Algernon Wyse
• One Foot in the Grave (1990) - Reverend Croker
• Pie in the Sky (1994) - Doctor Lonsdale
• The Bill (1998) - Edward Robbins
• Heartbeat (1999, 2003) - Hal Clifford, Sir Henry Bing
• Foyle's War (2003) - Professor Phillips
• Midsomer Murders (2005) - Brother Robert