Rupert Davies facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rupert Davies
Portrait by Allan Warren of Davies in Maigret, 1962
Born	(1916-05-22)22 May 1916 Liverpool, Lancashire, England
Died	22 November 1976(1976-11-22) (aged 60) London, England
Resting place	Pistyll Cemetery, Gwynedd, Wales
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1940s–1975
Television	Maigret
Spouse(s)	Jessica Isobel Knowles (m. 1946)
Children	2
Awards	British Academy Television Award for Best Actor (1962)

Rupert Davies (born May 22, 1916 – died November 22, 1976) was a British actor. He is best known for playing the main character, Jules Maigret, in the BBC television show Maigret. This popular show in the 1960s was based on the detective novels by Georges Simenon.

Early Life and Military Service

Rupert Davies was born in Liverpool, England. Before he became an actor, he served in the British Merchant Navy. During World War II, he was a Sub-Lieutenant Observer in the Fleet Air Arm, which is part of the Royal Navy.

In 1940, the aircraft he was flying crashed into the sea off the coast of the Netherlands. He was captured and became a prisoner of war (POW) at a camp called Stalag Luft III. While he was a prisoner, he tried to escape three times, but he was not successful. To help pass the time and entertain his fellow prisoners, he started taking part in theatre performances. This was where his acting career truly began.

Becoming a Famous Actor

After the war ended and he was released, Davies quickly returned to acting. He starred in a show called Back Home, which was about former prisoners of war.

In 1959, he played a character called the Colonel in a play named The Rough and Ready Lot. This play was also made into a television show later that year.

Television and Film Roles

Rupert Davies became a very familiar face on British television. He appeared in many different plays and TV series. Some of his well-known roles were in shows like Quatermass II, Ivanhoe, Danger Man, and War and Peace. He also lent his voice to the character of Professor Ian "Mac" McClaine in the animated series Joe 90.

One of his most famous roles was playing Inspector Jules Maigret in the BBC series Maigret. Like his character, Davies enjoyed smoking a pipe. In 1964, he even won the "Pipe Smoker of the Year" award!

He also appeared in many films. He had a small role as George Smiley in The Spy Who Came In from the Cold (1965). He also acted in some horror films in the late 1960s, such as Witchfinder General (1968) and Dracula Has Risen from the Grave (1968). He also appeared in bigger international movies like Waterloo (1970) and Zeppelin (1971).

Later Life and Passing

Rupert Davies passed away in London in 1976 from cancer. He was survived by his wife, Jessica, and their two sons, Timothy and Hoagan. He is buried in Pistyll Cemetery in Wales.

Selected Film Appearances

Selected Television Roles