Kenneth Colley
Biography
Kenneth Colley, born in Manchester, was a British actor of film and television whose work stretched across some six decades. He took the part of Jesus in Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979) and had an early television part as Noah Riley in the police drama The Sweeney. He belonged to Ken Russell's repertory company, taking roles such as Modest Tchaikovsky in The Music Lovers (1971), LeGrand in The Devils (1971), the journalist Krenek in Mahler (1974) and the composer Chopin in Lisztomania (1975). Widest recognition came as Admiral Piett in The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Return of the Jedi (1983); he was the only Imperial officer actor to appear in a second Star Wars film, and he reprised the part in the animated special Lego Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out (2012). Further credits included Jabberwocky (1977) and Firefox (1982), and he directed the horror film Greetings (2007).
87years old at death
- Born Manchester
- Died Ashford
- Star sign: SagittariusThe sign runs November 22 to December 21
Movie Career
- Films
- 21
- Career span
- 45 years1967 to 2012
Genres
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Beyond film
In 2017, Colley did short narrations that were included on Pop Wasteland, an album by the Folkestone band Phenomenal Cat.
Kenneth Colley movies on Netflix
Lego Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Outas Admiral Piett (voice)
Brassed Offas Greasley
I Hired a Contract Killeras The Killer
The Plot to Kill Hitleras Wilhelm Keitel
The Whistle Bloweras Bill Pickett
Wallenberg: A Hero's Storyas Adolph Eichmann
Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedias Admiral Piett
The Scarlet and the Blackas Capt. Hirsch
Firefoxas Colonel Kontarsky
The Empire Strikes Backas Admiral Piett
Life of Brianas Jesus
Jabberwockyas 1st Fanatic
Lisztomaniaas Frederic Chopin
Juggernautas Detective Brown
Mahleras Krenek
The Triple Echoas Provo Corporal
The Devilsas Legrand
The Music Loversas Modeste Tchaikovsky
Performanceas Tony Farrell
The Blood Beast Terroras James
How I Won the Waras 2nd Replacement
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
- Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi1983 Action, Adventure, Fantasyas Admiral Piett
IMDb rating 8.31.2M votes
Most often with
Ken Russell directed four of these films, Richard Lester two. Five actors appear in three of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.









Films together
Oliver Reed3 films together, 1971 to 1975
Oliver Reed's page Lisztomania1975IMDb rating 6.1Colley as Frederic ChopinReed as Princess Carolyn's Servant
The Triple Echo1972IMDb rating 6.4Colley as Provo CorporalReed as Arthur, the Sergeant
The Devils1971IMDb rating 7.7Colley as LegrandReed as Urbain Grandier
Julian Glover3 films together, 1974 to 2012
Julian Glover's page Lego Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out2012IMDb rating 7.1Colley as Admiral PiettvoiceGlover as General Veersvoice
The Empire Strikes Back1980IMDb rating 8.7Colley as Admiral PiettGlover as General Veers
Juggernaut1974IMDb rating 6.6Colley as Detective BrownGlover as Commander Marder
Anthony Daniels3 films together, 1980 to 2012
Anthony Daniels's page Lego Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out2012IMDb rating 7.1Colley as Admiral PiettvoiceDaniels as C-3POvoice
Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi1983IMDb rating 8.3Colley as Admiral PiettDaniels as C-3PO
The Empire Strikes Back1980IMDb rating 8.7Colley as Admiral PiettDaniels as C-3PO
Andrew Faulds3 films together, 1971 to 1974
Andrew Faulds's page Mahler1974IMDb rating 7.0Colley as KrenekFaulds as Doctor on Train
The Devils1971IMDb rating 7.7Colley as LegrandFaulds as Rangier
The Music Lovers1971IMDb rating 7.2Colley as Modeste TchaikovskyFaulds as Davidov
Imogen Claire3 films together, 1971 to 1990
Imogen Claire's page I Hired a Contract Killer1990IMDb rating 7.1Colley as The KillerClaire as Secretary
Lisztomania1975IMDb rating 6.1Colley as Frederic ChopinClaire as George Sand
The Music Lovers1971IMDb rating 7.2Colley as Modeste TchaikovskyClaire as Lady in White
Mark Hamill2 films together, 1980 to 1983
Mark Hamill's page Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi1983IMDb rating 8.3Colley as Admiral PiettHamill as Luke Skywalker
The Empire Strikes Back1980IMDb rating 8.7Colley as Admiral PiettHamill as Luke Skywalker
Ken RussellDirector, 4 films, 1971 to 1975
All films by Ken Russell Lisztomania1975IMDb rating 6.1Colley as Frederic Chopin
Mahler1974IMDb rating 7.0Colley as Krenek
The Devils1971IMDb rating 7.7Colley as Legrand
The Music Lovers1971IMDb rating 7.2Colley as Modeste Tchaikovsky
Richard LesterDirector, 2 films, 1967 to 1974
All films by Richard Lester Juggernaut1974IMDb rating 6.6Colley as Detective Brown
How I Won the War1967IMDb rating 5.5Colley as 2nd Replacement
Also two films together26 more actors
- Harrison FordStar Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) and The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
- John GielgudThe Whistle Blower (1986) and The Scarlet and the Black (1983)
- Vernon DobtcheffThe Plot to Kill Hitler (1990) and The Scarlet and the Black (1983)
- Carrie FisherStar Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) and The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
- Alec GuinnessStar Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) and The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
- James FoxThe Whistle Blower (1986) and Performance (1970)
- Frank OzStar Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) and The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
- Michael ByrneThe Plot to Kill Hitler (1990) and The Scarlet and the Black (1983)
- Roy KinnearJuggernaut (1974) and How I Won the War (1967)
- Freddie JonesFirefox (1982) and Juggernaut (1974)
- Billy Dee WilliamsStar Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) and The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
- Michael PalinLife of Brian (1979) and Jabberwocky (1977)
- Richard ChamberlainWallenberg: A Hero's Story (1985) and The Music Lovers (1971)
- Ronald LaceyFirefox (1982) and How I Won the War (1967)
- Glenda JacksonThe Triple Echo (1972) and The Music Lovers (1971)
- Murray MelvinLisztomania (1975) and The Devils (1971)
- Lee MontagueMahler (1974) and How I Won the War (1967)
- Kenny BakerStar Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) and The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
- Peter MayhewStar Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) and The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
- Terry GilliamLife of Brian (1979) and Jabberwocky (1977)
- Terry JonesLife of Brian (1979) and Jabberwocky (1977)
- David ProwseStar Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) and The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
- Georgina HaleMahler (1974) and The Devils (1971)
- Jack HedleyThe Plot to Kill Hitler (1990) and How I Won the War (1967)
- Neil InnesLife of Brian (1979) and Jabberwocky (1977)
- Max AdrianThe Devils (1971) and The Music Lovers (1971)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Box office
What Kenneth Colley's films earned in cinemas worldwide.
Combined worldwide box office
$1.2 billion
8 of the 21 films have a worldwide figure.
Of the 21 films: 8 worldwide figure; 1 us gross only; 4 never in cinemas; 8 figure not found.
- 8Worldwide figure
- 1US gross only
- 4Never in cinemas
- 8Figure not found
Highest grossing
The eight biggest films earned 100% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.
- 1$573M46.5% of the total
- 2$538M43.7% of the total
- 3$71M5.7% of the total
- 4$22M1.8% of the total
- 5$21M1.7% of the total
- 6$3.4M0.3% of the total
- 7$2.6M0.2% of the total
- 8$490K0.0% of the total
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.








