David Roger Brierley (2 June 1935 – 23 September 2005) was an English actor. He appeared in dozens of television productions over a forty-year period.
Career Brierley twice appeared in Doctor Who, as Trevor in The Daleks' Master Plan (1965) and as the voice of Drathro in The Mysterious Planet (1986).
Brierley appeared in the biopic Jinnah based on the life of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, in The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin (1976) as Mr. Thoneycroft in episode 6, and in the Granada television series Jeeves and Wooster as Sir Roderick Glossop.
Brierley played the part of "Ozzy" Osborne in the 1977 episode "Suddenly At Home" in the TV series Rising Damp. He was also in an Only Fools and Horses episode in 1982 ("Diamonds Are for Heather").
Brierley portrayed Michael Palin's Latin teacher in a 1979 episode of Ripping Yarns entitled Roger of the Raj. In 1987 he played Reverend Phelps in East of Ipswich, also written by Palin. In 1988 he appeared with Palin and John Cleese in A Fish Called Wanda as Archie Leach's secretary, Davidson.
Brierley worked on several occasions with Victoria Wood such as in her play Nearly a Happy Ending, in the early series Wood and Walters and her 1994 TV film Pat and Margaret. In a nod to her previous work with Brierley, Wood named a character after him in her 2006 television film Housewife, 49.
Brierley's later work also included portraying John Biffen in the TV dramatisation of The Alan Clark Diaries (2004). He also played the hotel manager in "Mr. Bean in Room 426".
Personal life and death Brierley was a supporter of Manchester United and was a founding member of Shareholders United Against Murdoch.
Brierley died of a heart attack on 23 September 2005.
Selected filmography Film YearTitleRoleNotes1980Superman IITerrorist #11983The Wicked LadyClergyman at Tyburn1985Young Sherlock HolmesMr. Holmes1987East of IpswichReverend Phelps1988A Fish Called WandaDavidson1990Killing Dad or How to Love Your MotherHotel Manager1994A Business AffairBarrister1996BeaumarchaisPrinter1998Monk DawsonFr Francis1998JinnahJudge2000The CallingReverend2001BodyworkDistrict judge2002Ali G IndahouseTown Hall Official2002About a BoyMr. Chalmers, the M.C.
Television YearTitleRoleNotes1965The Likely LadsJulianEpisode: "Last of the Big Spenders"1969 Hadleigh Billy HedfordEpisode: "M.Y.O.B."1970His and HersConstableEpisode: "Crime"1971 Kindly Leave the Kerb Episode: "The Collection"1969–1975Z CarsFrancis Headmaster2 episodes1975Out of the TreesVariousPilot1976The SweeneyPsychiatristEpisode: "On The Run"1976Coronation StreetLanky Potts3 episodes1977Rising DampOsborneEpisode: "Suddenly at Home"1974–1978Crown CourtRoy White PC Lakin3 episodes1979Telford's ChangeReverend John Kenton3 episodes1979KidsDr. Benton3 episodes1980The GoodiesPark AttendantEpisode: "U-Friend or UFO?"1982Only Fools and HorsesBrianEpisode: "Diamonds Are for Heather"1983Mr. RightBank manager4 episodes1982–1984Shine on Harvey MoonMr. Compton6 episodes1966–1986Doctor WhoDrathro (voice) Trevor5 episodes1987Screen TwoReverend PhelpsEpisode: "East of Ipswich"1988 A Very British Coup Thomas Andrews MP2 episodes1987–1989FfizzRawlins3 episodes1989First of the Summer WineBucks Free Press. 1 September 1989. Page 64.Uncle FredEpisode: "Quiet Wedding"1990All Creatures Great and SmallMajor WakemanEpisode: "Brotherly Love: Christmas Special" 1990–1991Jeeves and WoosterSir Roderick Glossop3 episodes1991BottomSir Roger Cobham"Apocalypse"1982–1991MinderCyril Donald2 episodes1979–1992Rumpole of the BaileyMr. Cursitor Roach2 episodes1993Mr. BeanHotel ManagerEpisode: "Mr. Bean in Room 426"1989–1994 Screen OneHotel Manager Air Vice-Marshall
Julian Brind 3 episodes1995 Surgical SpiritProfessor of dentistrySeries 7 Episode 6: Kicking against the pricks2000 Innocents Dr. John Roylance Television film2001London's BurningVicarEpisode: #13.11
References
External links
Red Issue MUST, the independent Manchester United supporters trust Obituary in The Guardian Obituary in The Daily Telegraph