Frederick Piper

Biography

Frederick Piper was an English actor whose career in theater, film, and television lasted more than 40 years. Born in London, he worked as a tea merchant before starting on stage in the 1920s, and studied under Elsie Fogerty at the Central School of Speech and Drama. Never a leading player, he became a familiar face in British cinema through dozens of small, sometimes uncredited roles. His first film was The Good Companions (1933), and he appeared in several 1930s Hitchcock films, including the brief but memorable milkman role in The 39 Steps (1935) and Jamaica Inn (1939). From the late 1930s he was associated with Ealing Studios, appearing in films such as Hue and Cry (1947), Passport to Pimlico (1949), and Hunted (1952). His later television work included Danger Man, Dixon of Dock Green, and The Prisoner, and his final credit was Burke & Hare (1971).

76years old at death

Born September 23, 1902London
Died September 22, 1979Berkshire
Star sign: LibraFirst day of the sign, on the Virgo cusp

Movie Career

Films: 12
Career span: 27 years1935 to 1962

Genres

Crime50%, 6 films
Comedy42%, 5 films
Drama42%, 5 films
Thriller42%, 5 films
Adventure17%, 2 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

Early training
Piper learned drama under Elsie Fogerty. At the time, the Central School of Speech and Drama was located at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
Big break
Hitchcock cast Piper as the milkman in The 39 Steps, in the well-known scene with Robert Donat. He appeared for just seconds, yet the scene's iconic nature made it probably his most famous film appearance.
Beyond film
Piper appeared in the original West End runs of plays including Barré Lyndon's The Man in Half Moon Street and Robert Bolt's Flowering Cherry.

Frederick Piper movies on Netflix

Only Two Can Play1962IMDb rating 6.5as Mr. Davies
What a Carve Up!1961IMDb rating 6.3as Hearse Driver
Lease of Life1954IMDb rating 6.8as The Jeweller
Hunted1952IMDb rating 7.3as Mr. Sykes
The Blue Lamp1950IMDb rating 6.8as Alf Lewis
Passport to Pimlico1949IMDb rating 7.1as Garland
Hue and Cry1947IMDb rating 6.7as Mr. Kirby
It Always Rains on Sunday1947IMDb rating 7.1as Det. Sergt. Leech
49th Parallel1941IMDb rating 7.3as David
Jamaica Inn1939IMDb rating 6.3as Sir Humphrey's Agent
Oh, Mr. Porter!1937IMDb rating 7.4as Ledbetter
The 39 Steps1935IMDb rating 7.6as The Milkman

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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Hunted1952 Crime, Drama, Thrilleras Mr. Sykes
IMDb rating 7.31.6K votes
Oh, Mr. Porter!1937 Comedyas Ledbetter
IMDb rating 7.42.0K votes
Hue and Cry1947as Mr. Kirby
IMDb rating 6.72.1K votes
Passport to Pimlico1949as Garland
IMDb rating 7.16.0K votes
The Blue Lamp1950as Alf Lewis
IMDb rating 6.83.0K votes
Jamaica Inn1939as Sir Humphrey's Agent
IMDb rating 6.312K votes
49th Parallel1941as David
IMDb rating 7.38.6K votes
Only Two Can Play1962as Mr. Davies
IMDb rating 6.51.6K votes

Most often with

Alfred Hitchcock directed two of these films, Charles Crichton two. Jack Warner appears in three of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Jack Warner

Dirk Bogarde

Raymond Huntley

Hermione Baddeley

Kay Walsh

Sydney Tafler

Alfred HitchcockDirector, 2 films Charles CrichtonDirector, 2 films

Films together

Jack Warner3 films together, 1947 to 1950
Jack Warner's page
- The Blue Lamp1950IMDb rating 6.8Piper as Alf LewisWarner as PC George Dixon
- Hue and Cry1947IMDb rating 6.7Piper as Mr. KirbyWarner as Nightingale
- It Always Rains on Sunday1947IMDb rating 7.1Piper as Det. Sergt. LeechWarner as Det. Sergt. Fothergill
Dirk Bogarde2 films together, 1950 to 1952
Dirk Bogarde's page
- Hunted1952IMDb rating 7.3Piper as Mr. SykesBogarde as Chris Lloyd
- The Blue Lamp1950IMDb rating 6.8Piper as Alf LewisBogarde as Tom Riley
Raymond Huntley2 films together, 1949 to 1962
Raymond Huntley's page
- Only Two Can Play1962IMDb rating 6.5Piper as Mr. DaviesHuntley as Vernon
- Passport to Pimlico1949IMDb rating 7.1Piper as GarlandHuntley as Mr. Wix
Hermione Baddeley2 films together, 1947 to 1949
Hermione Baddeley's page
- Passport to Pimlico1949IMDb rating 7.1Piper as GarlandBaddeley as Edie Randall
- It Always Rains on Sunday1947IMDb rating 7.1Piper as Det. Sergt. LeechBaddeley as Mrs. Spry
Kay Walsh2 films together, 1952 to 1954
Kay Walsh's page
- Lease of Life1954IMDb rating 6.8Piper as The JewellerWalsh as Vera Thorne
- Hunted1952IMDb rating 7.3Piper as Mr. SykesWalsh as Mrs. Sykes
Sydney Tafler2 films together, 1947 to 1949
Sydney Tafler's page
- Passport to Pimlico1949IMDb rating 7.1Piper as GarlandTafler as Fred Cowan
- It Always Rains on Sunday1947IMDb rating 7.1Piper as Det. Sergt. LeechTafler as Morry Hyams
Alfred HitchcockDirector, 2 films, 1935 to 1939
All films by Alfred Hitchcock
- Jamaica Inn1939IMDb rating 6.3Piper as Sir Humphrey's Agent
- The 39 Steps1935IMDb rating 7.6Piper as The Milkman
Charles CrichtonDirector, 2 films, 1947 to 1952
All films by Charles Crichton
- Hunted1952IMDb rating 7.3Piper as Mr. Sykes
- Hue and Cry1947IMDb rating 6.7Piper as Mr. Kirby
Also two films together9 more actors
- Robert DonatLease of Life (1954) and The 39 Steps (1935)
- Basil RadfordPassport to Pimlico (1949) and Jamaica Inn (1939)
- Meredith EdwardsOnly Two Can Play (1962) and The Blue Lamp (1950)
- Jimmy HanleyThe Blue Lamp (1950) and It Always Rains on Sunday (1947)
- Jane HyltonPassport to Pimlico (1949) and It Always Rains on Sunday (1947)
- Vida HopeLease of Life (1954) and Hue and Cry (1947)
- Betty Ann DaviesThe Blue Lamp (1950) and It Always Rains on Sunday (1947)
- John SlaterPassport to Pimlico (1949) and It Always Rains on Sunday (1947)
- Wylie WatsonJamaica Inn (1939) and The 39 Steps (1935)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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