IMDB

Actor

1929-01-17 · Essex, England, UK · Male

14 series in the catalog

Charles Philip Latham (17 January 1929 – 20 June 2020) was an English actor. He was best known for playing Willy Izard in The Troubleshooters (1965–1972) and Plantagenet Palliser in The Pallisers (1974).

Early life

Latham was born 17 January 1929 in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex. He had an identical twin, John, older brother, Barry, and younger brother, David.

Latham was educated at Felsted School. After he graduated from Felsted, he completed his national service in the Royal Artillery and then graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 1951.

Career

In the late 1960s/early 1970s Latham was well known to British television viewers for his portrayal of chief accountant Willy Izard, the "conscience" to hard-nosed oil company industrialist Brian Stead (played by Geoffrey Keen) in the BBC series The Troubleshooters (1965–72). Other credits Jesus of Nazareth (1956), Paul of Tarsus, Danger Man (1960–1962), Maigret, The Treasure Seekers, The Avengers, Love Story, Undermind, UFO, The Saint, Sergeant Cork, Justice, The Cedar Tree, Killers, Hammer House of Horror, The Professionals, No. 10, and Nanny.

One of Latham's horror film roles was as Dracula's sinister servant Klove in Hammer's 1966 film Dracula, Prince of Darkness, and he had previously worked for Hammer in The Devil-Ship Pirates and The Secret of Blood Island (both 1964). His other film roles included appearances in Ring of Spies (1964), Spy Story (1976) and Force 10 from Navarone (1978). On television he played the joint-lead role of Plantagenet Palliser (opposite Susan Hampshire) in the 26-part BBC series The Pallisers. He also played Lord President Borusa in the 20th anniversary episode of Doctor Who, "The Five Doctors" (1983).