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Kenneth Colley

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Kenneth Colley
Colley in 2010
Born(1937-12-07)7 December 1937
Manchester, England
Died30 June 2025(2025-06-30) (aged 87)
Ashford, England
OccupationActor
Years active1961–2017

Kenneth Colley (7 December 1937 – 30 June 2025) was an English film and television actor whose career spanned over 60 years. He came to wider prominence through his role as Admiral Piett in the Star Wars films The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Return of the Jedi (1983), as well as his roles in the films of Ken Russell and as Jesus in Monty Python's Life of Brian.

Career

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Colley was born in Manchester, Lancashire.[1] One of his early appearances on British television was as Noah Riley in the 1970s police drama The Sweeney, in an episode entitled Trap.[2] He played Jesus in Monty Python's Life of Brian, having also appeared in the earlier Monty Python-related production Ripping Yarns episode "The Testing of Eric Olthwaite" alongside Michael Palin.[1] As a Shakespearean actor he played the Duke of Vienna in the BBC Television Shakespeare production of Measure for Measure in 1979.[3] In 1982 he had the lead role of Horatio Nelson in the TV period drama I Remember Nelson.

Colley worked extensively with British director Ken Russell from the early 1970s to the early 1990s as part of a repertory of actors who appeared across Russell's television and film work.[4] He played the role of Modest Tchaikovsky in the film The Music Lovers (1971). He went on to play the role of LeGrand in Russell's The Devils (also 1971); he played the journalist Krenek in the biopic Mahler (1974); the composer Frédéric Chopin in Lisztomania (1975); Mr Brunt in Russell's adaptation of The Rainbow (1989) by D. H. Lawrence.[1] His last roles for Russell were as Captain Dreyfus in the film Prisoner of Honor (1991), which dealt with the Dreyfus affair,[5] and as the composer John Ireland in The Secret Life of Arnold Bax (1992).

For his work in the Star Wars franchise, Colley's role as Admiral Piett is noted for differing from the other ill-fated Imperial officers who appeared alongside him in The Empire Strikes Back (1980), as Colley was the only actor to play an Imperial officer in a second Star Wars film, reprising his role in Return of the Jedi (1983).[6] Colley reprised his role as Piett in the Cartoon Network animated special Lego Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out in September 2012.[7] Coincidentally, Colley and Darth Vader actor David Prowse had a part in the fantasy film Jabberwocky (1977).[8]

Colley also played a notable role in the 1982 Clint Eastwood film Firefox, where he played a Soviet colonel tasked with the protection of the Firefox and its secrets.[9] He went on to play SS-Standartenführer Paul Blobel in the Second World War drama War and Remembrance.[10]

Colley directed Greetings (2007), a horror film starring Kirsty Cox, Henry Dunn and Ben Shockley.[11]

In 2017, Colley recorded a series of short narrations for inclusion on Pop Wasteland, an album by Folkestone band Phenomenal Cat.[12]

Personal life and death

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Colley lived in Hythe, Kent.[13]

According to comments which Terry Gilliam (who directed him in Jabberwocky and acted with him in Life of Brian) made in the DVD audio commentaries for both films, Colley had a stammer in real life. When he had a role in a film, however, he could recite the lines perfectly. Stuttering is a character trait, however, in his role as the Accordion Man in the 1978 BBC television drama Pennies from Heaven.[14]

Colley died at his home in Ashford, Kent on 30 June 2025.[15] He had contracted COVID-19 and pneumonia.[16]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1964 Seventy Deadly Pills Covent Garden Porter [17]
1967 The Jokers De Winter [17]
How I Won the War 2nd Replacement [17]
1968 The Blood Beast Terror James [17]
1970 Performance Tony Farrell credited as Ken Colley [17]
1971 The Music Lovers Modest Tchaikovsky [17]
The Devils Legrand [17]
1972 The Triple Echo Provo Corporal credited as Ken Colley [17]
1973 Hitler: The Last Ten Days Boldt Uncredited [17]
1974 Mahler Krenek credited as Ken Colley [17]
Juggernaut Detective Brown [17]
1975 Slade in Flame Tony Devlin [17]
Lisztomania Frédéric Chopin credited as Ken Colley [17]
1977 Jabberwocky 1st Fanatic [17]
1979 Monty Python's Life of Brian Jesus [18]
1980 The Empire Strikes Back Admiral Piett [18]
1981 Peter and Paul Theodotus [17]
1982 Firefox Colonel Kontarsky [17]
Giro City Martin Osborne [17]
1983 The Scarlet and the Black Captain Hirsch credited as Ken Colley [17]
Return of the Jedi Admiral Piett [18]
1984 Return to Waterloo The Traveller [17]
1986 The Whistle Blower Bill Pickett [19]
1988 A Summer Story Jim credited as Ken Colley [17]
1989 The Rainbow Mr. Brunt credited as Ken Colley [17]
1990 The Plot to Kill Hitler Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel [19]
I Hired a Contract Killer The Killer [19]
The Last Island Nick [19][17]
1992 La Vie de bohème Street Sweeper [19]
1996 El último viaje de Robert Rylands Archdale [19]
Brassed Off Greasley credited as Ken Colley [20]
1997 Shadow Run Larcombe [17]
1999 Hold Back the Night Uncle Bob [19]
Holding On Phil [21][22]
2007 Greetings Ken Also director and writer [23]
2013 Scar Tissue Weaver [24]

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1963 The Avengers Young Man Episode: "Don't Look Behind You" [17]
Thorndyke Ellis 1 episode
1964 The Other Man Colin Part of the Play of the Week series [25]
1970 Dance of the Seven Veils Hitler TV film [26]
1970–1972 A Family at War Sergeant Jago [27]
1971 The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes Farrish 2 episodes
1974 The Nine Tailors "Potty" Peake TV mini-series (part of Lord Peter Wimsey), Series 1 Episode 3 [17]
Special Branch Oliver TV series, Series 4 Episode 9, "Date of Birth" [17]
Fall of Eagles Father Gapon Episode: "Dearest Nicky" [17]
1975 The Sweeney Noah Riley TV series, Series 2 Episode 6, "Trap" [17]
1977 Ripping Yarns Arthur, The Robber Episode: "The Testing of Eric Outhwaite"
1978 Les Misérables Police Prefect TV film [17]
Pennies from Heaven The Accordion Man 6 episodes, TV mini-series [28]
1979 Measure for Measure Duke TV film, part of the BBC Television Shakespeare series [29]
The Danedyke Mystery Major 6 episodes, TV series [17]
1985 Wallenberg: A Hero's Story Adolf Eichmann TV film [17]
Mussolini: The Untold Story King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy TV mini-series
1982 I Remember Nelson Admiral Lord Nelson
1986 Return to Treasure Island Ben Gunn 10 episodes, credited as Ken Colley [17]
1987 Casanova Le Duc TV film [19]
1988 War and Remembrance SS Standartenführer Paul Blobel 2 episodes, TV mini-series
1990 Agatha Christie's Poirot Mathew Davenheim Episode: "The Disappearance of Mr. Davenheim" [17]
1991 Inspector Morse DCI Patrick Dawson Episode: "Second Time Around" [17]
Prisoner of Honor Captain Alfred Dreyfus TV film [19]
1992 The Secret Life of Arnold Bax John Ireland TV film [17]
1993 Unnatural Causes Inspector Gerry Reckless TV film [17]
Between the Lines Chief Supt. Tattersall Episode: "Manoeuvre 11" [17]
1994–1995 Moving Story Ken Uttley 13 episodes [17]
1995 Solomon & Sheba Nathan TV film [17]
1996 Wycliffe Sam Peploe Episode: "Number of the Beast"
1995–1999 The Bill Various Characters 3 episodes, credited as Ken Colley in 1999
1999 The Last Train Mark Episode Five, credited as Ken Colley
2000 Casualty Clifford Watkins Episode: "The Turning of the Scrooge"
2001 Midsomer Murders Lloyd Kirby Episode: "The Electric Vendetta"
2002 Relic Hunter Professor Lamenza Episode: "Faux Fox"
2003 EastEnders Brian 3 episodes
2005 Like Father Like Son Rawsthorne 2 episodes
2006 Foyle's War Brian Jones Episode: "Bad Blood" [17]
New Tricks Frank Benson Episode: "Dockers"
2009 Casualty 1909 Dr. Frederick Smith 3 episodes
2012 Lego Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out Admiral Piett (voice) TV film, credited as Kenneth Cooley [18]
2013 Vera Ronald Devreux Series 3, Episode 3 Young Gods
Misfits Old Rudy Series 5, Episode 4 [30]
2016 Peaky Blinders Vicente Changretta Series 3, Episodes 2 & 3 [17]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Kenneth Colley". BFI. Archived from the original on 21 April 2017.
  2. ^ "Trap (1975)". BFI. Archived from the original on 30 December 2018.
  3. ^ "BFI Screenonline: Measure For Measure (1979)". screenonline.org.uk. BFI Screenonline. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
  4. ^ "Kenneth Colley | Biography, Movie Highlights and Photos". AllMovie.
  5. ^ "Prisoner of Honour (1991) – Ken Russell | Cast and Crew | AllMovie" – via www.allmovie.com.
  6. ^ Daniel Mumby. "10 Actors Who Weren't Able to Let Star Wars Go – Page 2". whatculture.com. What Culture. Retrieved 8 December 2015. ...since his character is the only Imperial officer to last more than one Star Wars film
  7. ^ Milton, Luke (18 September 2012). "Interview: Writer Michael Price Reveals LEGO Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out!". Fruitless Pursuits. Retrieved 28 September 2012.
  8. ^ "Jabberwocky (1977)". bfi.org.uk. BFI. Archived from the original on 11 March 2016. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
  9. ^ "Firefox (1982) – Clint Eastwood | Cast and Crew | AllMovie" – via www.allmovie.com.
  10. ^ "Kenneth Colley | TV Guide". TVGuide.com.
  11. ^ "Greetings (2007) – Kenneth Colley | Cast and Crew | AllMovie" – via www.allmovie.com.
  12. ^ Werksman, Hans. "Pop Wasteland album review". Here Comes The Flood.
  13. ^ Leclere, Matt (29 October 2015). "Sir Ian McKellen lends a touch of magic to Folkestone's Leas Pavilion campaign". Kent Online. Retrieved 8 December 2015. Ken Colley, from Hythe
  14. ^ "BFI Screenonline: Pennies From Heaven (1978)". screenonline.org.uk. BFI Screenonline. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
  15. ^ Fuller, Christian (3 July 2025). "Star Wars actor Kenneth Colley dies aged 87". BBC News. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  16. ^ Del Fabbro, Lauren (3 July 2025). "Star Wars actor dies after contracting Covid and pneumonia". The Independent. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao "Kenneth Colley - Filmography". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 21 August 2017. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  18. ^ a b c d Yin-Poole, Wesley (3 July 2025). "Star Wars Actor Kenneth Colley, Who Played Admiral Piett in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, Has Died Aged 87 After Contracting Covid and Developing Pneumonia". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 4 July 2025. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  19. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Overview for Kenneth Colley". Turner Classic Movies. Archived from the original on 10 November 2014. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  20. ^ "Brassed Off (1996)". Screenonline. British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 14 November 2009. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  21. ^ "Holding On". British Council. Archived from the original on 4 July 2025. Retrieved 4 July 2025. Principal cast: Kenneth Colley
  22. ^ "Holding On". Missionaries of the Sacred Heart. 18 September 2021. Archived from the original on 4 July 2025. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  23. ^ "Greetings". Apple TV+. Apple Inc. Archived from the original on 19 September 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  24. ^ "Scar Tissue". Apple TV+. Apple Inc. Archived from the original on 15 October 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  25. ^ "Other Man, The (1964) - Full cast and credits". Screenonline. British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 7 September 2009. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  26. ^ "Dance of the Seven Veils (1970)". Screenonline. British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 6 November 2004. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  27. ^ "Family at War, A (1970-72) - Full cast and credits". Screenonline. British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 7 September 2009. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  28. ^ "Pennies From Heaven (1978)". Screenonline. British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 27 March 2004. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  29. ^ "Measure For Measure (1979)". Screenonline. British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 17 May 2006. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  30. ^ "Misfits - Series 5, Episode 4". Apple TV+. Apple Inc. Archived from the original on 11 December 2024. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
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