Peter Nigel Terry (15 August 1945 – 30 April 2015) was an English stage, film, and television actor, typically in historical and period roles. He played Prince John in Anthony Harvey's film The Lion in Winter (1968) and King Arthur in John Boorman's Excalibur (1981).
Early life Terry was born on 15 August 1945England & Wales, Birth Index: 1916–2005 [database online] in Bristol, the son of Frank Albert Terry OBE, DFC,Supplement to The London Gazette. 31 December 1976. a pilot in the Royal Air Force, and his wife, Doreen. The family soon moved to Truro, Cornwall, where his father worked as a probation officer. Terry attended Truro School in Truro, where he developed an interest in acting and became skilled at drawing and painting.
His parents encouraged him to go on the stage, and after working briefly in forestry and as a petrol pump attendant, he joined the National Youth Theatre.Films and Filming. Volume 21. Hanson Books, 1985.Wilkes, Angela. "Terry gives more than his Pound of Flesh". The Stage. 2 October 1986. p. 6. He enrolled at London's Central School of Speech and Drama in 1963, working both on stage and behind the scenes. He joined the Oxford Meadow Players in 1966, working initially as assistant stage manager.
Career Theatre Terry worked mostly in theatre. After training with repertory companies like the Oxford Meadow Players and Bristol Old Vic, Terry appeared in many productions with the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Round House Theatre and the Royal Court Theatre. Among his roles was Daniel de Bosola in the 1989 Royal Shakespeare Company production of John Webster's The Duchess of Malfi. In the same year he played Pericles in David Thacker's production of Pericles, Prince of Tyre.
Films Terry appeared in about 20 films, most notably as John in The Lion in Winter (1968) with Katharine Hepburn, Peter O'Toole and Anthony Hopkins; King Arthur in John Boorman's Excalibur (1981); and the title character in Derek Jarman's Caravaggio (1986). He worked with Jarman on four more films: The Last of England (1988), War Requiem (1989), Edward II (1991) and Blue (1993).
His last film role was in Troy in 2004, playing the Trojan high priest.
Television An early television appearance was as the agoraphobic Harry Mandrake in the Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) episode "Somebody Just Walked Over My Grave" (1970).
His main US and British television appearances include Covington Cross, a series set in medieval times. He also appeared in Casualty as Denny, as General Cobb in the Doctor Who episode "The Doctor's Daughter" and as Gabriel Piton in Highlander: The Series. He also played Sam Jacobs in a two-part Waking the Dead episode entitled "Anger Management". He appeared in a third-series Pie in the Sky episode, "Irish Stew", as Byron de Goris. He also appeared in an episode of Foyle's War.
Personal life and death In 1993, after 30 years of living in London, Terry moved back to Cornwall. He was a very private person. Terry died of emphysema in Newquay, Cornwall, on 30 April 2015, at the age of 69. In the absence of any surviving close family, his memorial service was organised by close friends Maggie Steed and David Horovitch in Truro on 19 May 2015, attended by fellow actors and friends.
Selected filmography +YearTitleRoleNotes1968The Lion in WinterPrince John1975Slade in Flame Assistant Disc JockeyUncredited1981Excalibur King Arthur1985SylviaAden MorrisDéjà VuMichael/Greg1986Caravaggio CaravaggioOn Wings of FireZarathustra1987The Last of England Narrator1989War RequiemAbraham1991Edward IIMortimer1992Christopher Columbus: The DiscoveryRoldan1993BlueNarrator2001The Emperor's New Clothes MontholonThe Search for John GissingAlan Jardeen2002FeardotComTurnbull2003The Tulse Luper Suitcases Sesame Esau2004Troy Archeptolemus2005Red Mercury Lindsey
Television +YearTitleRoleNotes1967ITV Play of the WeekPhilipEpisode: "The Man who Understood Women"Theatre 625GeneralovEpisode: "The Single Passion"1968Sherlock HolmesHarold LatimerEpisode: "The Greek Interpreter"1969Thirty-Minute TheatrePeterEpisode: "Remote Control"BBC Play of the MonthJacquesEpisode: "The Marquise"1970Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)HarryEpisode: "Somebody Just Walked Over My Grave"1986Screen TwoRailway PolicemanEpisode: "Song of Experience"1988The Ruth Rendell MysteriesDenys VilliersSerial: "A Guilty Thing Surprised"1990South of the Border Eddie2 episodes1991The BillBaileyEpisode: "Furthers"The Orchid House MasterMiniseriesZorroJorge VenturaEpisode: "A Woman Scorned"1992SpenderMcDonnaEpisode: "Fee"Covington CrossSir Thomas GreyMiniseries1993Highlander: The SeriesGabriel PitonEpisode: "Eye of the Beholder"1994In Suspicious CircumstancesLieutenant Colonel Frank CrozierEpisode: "To Encourage the Others"Wycliffe Lawrence VinterEpisode: "The Last Rites"1995JackanoryStorytellerStory: A Wizard of EarthseaResort to MurderKepler4 episodes1996Pie in the Sky Byron de Goris/James JacksonEpisode: "Irish Stew"1997The HunchbackKing Louis XITV film1998Mortimer's LawPeter Frampton1 episodeFar From the Madding Crowd Mr. BoldwoodTV film1999Silent WitnessJim ThornEpisode: "Gone Tomorrow"2000Holby CityNigel TurrallEpisode: "Moving On"2002Crime and PunishmentSvidrigailovMiniseries2003The Vice Ted BascombeEpisode: "Untouchable"2004Cutting ItDexter Berkowicz1 episodeWaking the Dead Sam JacobsEpisode: "Anger Management"Foyle's WarHugh JacksonEpisode: "They Fought in the Fields"2005Sea of SoulsProfessor Michael Holloway3 episodesSpooks Professor Stephen Curtis (uncredited)Episode: "The Special"2006BlackbeardCalico BillyMiniseries2007The Time of Your LifeJackMiniseriesCasualty Denny Davidson2 episodes2008Doctor WhoCobbEpisode: "The Doctor's Daughter"2009Agatha Christie's MarpleChristian GulbrandsenEpisode: "They Do It with Mirrors"
References
External links
"Profile". filmreference.com. Retrieved 26 January 2016.