Cast & creator
David Quilter
Best known for Doctor Who, Agatha Christie's Poirot, Silent Witness
David Quilter is an English actor who has made numerous appearances in British television plays and series since the mid-1960s. He was born in Northwood, London, and attended Bryanston School, Dorset. "My first inkling that it was possible to be a professional actor was when a boy at school got a scholarship to RADA," remembered Quilter. "I never did any acting at school, which I slightly regret, but seeing him actually go off and train to be an actor, it made me realise that it was what I wanted to do." Quilter trained at Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in South Kensington and then joined weekly rep at Chesterfield in 1963. "We did seven plays in eight weeks," he recalled. "I then joined the RSC in 1964 to play very small parts in the complete history cycle." Quilter's grandfather, Lawrence Beesley, was a survivor of the sinking of RMS Titanic and wrote an account of his experience called The Loss of the SS Titanic. Quilter made three 15-minute films based on Beesley's story, and in 2012 gave a reading of Beesley's account at the Aldeburgh Lighthouse Station for the 100th anniversary of the sinking. His television appearances include; Softly, Softly: Taskforce (1967), Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em (1973), Get Some In! (1975–78), The Bill (1990–97), Grange Hill (2000) as Mr Arnold, Silent Witness (2001–03) and Doctor Who (2008). He also appeared in the film The Battle of Britain (1969) as a pilot, All Creatures Great and Small (1988), Goldeneye (1989), Charles and Diana: Unhappily Ever After (1992) as the Duke of Edinburgh, and Jinnah (1998).
22
film credits
40
television credits
62
1961–2025 · acting roles
6.7
average across scored titles
Signature credits
Known for
Across film & television
Filmography (62)
Showing 62 of 62 credits
Doctor Who
Greeves
2005
Agatha Christie's Poirot
Mr. Shaw
1989
Silent Witness
1996
The Avengers
Wilson
1961
The Bill
1984
Bergerac
Fairfax
1981
All Creatures Great and Small
Andrew Bruce
1978
Rumpole of the Bailey
Captain Orde
1975
The Expert
Shaw
1968
Blake's 7
The Tracer
1978
Secret Army
Prosecuting Officer
1977
BBC2 Play of the Week
Captain Richard
1977BBC2 Play of the Week
John Forbes
1977
The Chief
Tresilian
1990
Crossbow
1987
The Play on One
Minister
1988
Shine on Harvey Moon
Victor
1982
Space Precinct
Sergeant Thorald Fredo
1994Space Precinct
Kalamandro
1994Space Precinct
Sandoff
1994Space Precinct
Vinny Artak
1994
Utopia
Danny Gorsand
2013
Bread
Mr. Masefield
1986
Murder in Mind
Reverend Robert Fraser
2001
War and Peace
Tikhon
2016
Agatha Christie's Partners in Crime
1983Agatha Christie's Partners in Crime
Major Laidlaw
1983
Manhunt
German Officer
1970Together
RSPCA Inspector
1980
Messiah
Brian Herd
2001
Brass
Commanding Officer
1983
Mr. Palfrey of Westminster
John McNair
1984
Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years
Wing-Commander Torr Anderson
1981
Battle of Britain
'A' Station Pilot (uncredited)
1969
White Mischief
Poppy
1987
A Dorothy L. Sayers Mystery
Chief Inspector Parker
1987Buccaneer
Harper
1980
Morgan's Boy
Tom Duncan
1984
The Long Chase
Police Observer
1972
Clochemerle
Bernard Samothrace
1972
The Deadly Affair
Nobleman (in Edward II)
1967
Bat Out of Hell
Vince
1966
The Lost World
Businessman 1
2001
The Secret Life of Ian Fleming
Chute
1990
The Man Who Had Power Over Women
Floor Manager
1970
Heartland
Minister
1989
Last Love
Peter Fox
1983
Space Precinct: The Fire Within
Kalamandro
2025Follow the Yellow Brick Road
Jack Black
1991
True Blue
Cambridge Coach
1996
Innes Lloyd: The Producer
Innes Lloyd (voice)
2025
Space Precinct: Deathwatch
Sergeant Thorald Fredo
2025
The Sinking of the HMS Victoria
Captain Richard
1977
Paying Guests (Part 1)
The Rev. Banks
1986
Wilt
Boffin
1989
Charles and Diana: Unhappily Ever After
Prince Philip
1992Union Castle
1982
Richard Wilson - Both Feet In the Army
(archive footage)
2013
Blue Money
Rick Skinner
1985
Paying Guests (Part 2)
The Rev. Banks
1986
Bomber Harris
Principal Medical Officer
1989
No Defence
John Helps
1980