Peter Howell (actor) facts for kids

Peter Howell (born October 25, 1919 – died April 20, 2015) was an English actor. He was known for his many roles in TV shows, movies, and radio plays. Peter Howell had a long career, acting for over 50 years!

Early Life and Acting Start

Peter Howell was born in London, England. He went to Winchester College and then started studying law at Christ Church, Oxford university. However, his studies were interrupted in 1939 when World War II began. He joined the army and served as a soldier in the Rifle Brigade. He had to leave the army in 1943 because he became ill during a campaign in North Africa.

After leaving the army, Peter Howell started his acting career. He made his first professional stage appearance with a famous acting group called the Old Vic. He also performed in many plays in London's West End, which is a famous area for theaters. Some of his plays included The Affair and The Doctor's Dilemma.

Famous TV Roles

Peter Howell became very well-known for playing Dr. Peter Harrison in the TV hospital drama Emergency – Ward 10. He was on the show from 1958 to 1964 and even returned for a few guest appearances later.

He also made guest appearances in many other popular TV shows, such as:

• The Avengers
• The Prisoner
• Doctor Who (in an episode called The Mutants)
• Yes Minister

In 1979, he played the prison governor in the movie Scum.

Radio and Other Work

Peter Howell was also a talented radio actor. On BBC Radio 4, he played important characters like Saruman in the 1981 radio version of The Lord of the Rings. He also had a regular role as the Right Reverend Cyril Hood in the long-running radio drama The Archers from 1987 to 2006.

He also appeared in the 1980 BBC TV show Pride and Prejudice, which was based on Jane Austen's famous novel. He played the character of Sir William Lucas.

Family Life

Peter Howell married Susan Cheshire in 1957. They were married for many years until Susan passed away in 1992. They had four children: three daughters named Polly, Tamara, and Camilla, and a son named Benji. Peter Howell was also a close friend of the famous actor Sir Ian McKellen, who was the godfather to his daughter Tamara.

Community Involvement

Besides acting, Peter Howell was also active in his community. He was a member of the Labour Party and supported many social causes. He was also a long-time member of the Marylebone Cricket Club, a famous cricket club. He spoke out against a planned cricket tour to South Africa in 1968-69 because of the country's apartheid system, which was a system of racial segregation. The tour was eventually cancelled. He also helped raise money to build the Watermans Arts Centre near his home in Chiswick, London.

Later Years

Peter Howell passed away on April 20, 2015, at the age of 95. He died at Denville Hall, which is a special home for actors who have retired.

Filmography

Here are some of the movies Peter Howell appeared in: