# Arthur Pentelow > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Arthur_Pentelow > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Arthur_Pentelow.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Pentelow > Source revision: 1348119135 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) British actor (1924-1991) This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (March 2013) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Arthur Pentelow Born Arthur William Pentelow (1924-02-14)14 February 1924 Rochdale, Lancashire, England Died 6 August 1991(1991-08-06) (aged 67) Birmingham, England Occupation Actor Years active 1963–1991 Spouse Jacqueline Pentelow Children 2 **Arthur William Pentelow** (14 February 1924 – 6 August 1991) was an English [actor](/source/Actor) who was best known for playing [Henry Wilks](/source/Henry_Wilks) in *[Emmerdale Farm](/source/Emmerdale)*, appearing from the first episode in 1972 until 1991. ## Early career Born in [Rochdale](/source/Rochdale), [Lancashire](/source/Lancashire), Pentelow's love of drama began while he was studying [Shakespeare](/source/Shakespeare) at grammar school, but he started his working life as a cadet [clerk](/source/Clerk_(position)) in the local [police](/source/Police) force. He later served in [World War II](/source/World_War_II) in the [Royal Navy](/source/Royal_Navy) and did radar work in [Normandy](/source/Normandy). After peace was declared, Pentelow returned to Rochdale, where he became a student teacher. He started acting as an amateur with the Curtain Theatre Company, before becoming a member of the [Bradford Civic Playhouse](/source/Bradford_Playhouse) Theatre School.[1] Between his theatre work he sold ice-cream and delivered laundry. He later went on to work in repertory theatre at the [Bristol Old Vic](/source/Bristol_Old_Vic),[1] [Guildford](/source/Guildford) and [Northampton](/source/Northampton), before joining the company at [Birmingham](/source/Birmingham), where his fellow actors included [Derek Jacobi](/source/Derek_Jacobi), [Rosemary Leach](/source/Rosemary_Leach) and [Albert Finney](/source/Albert_Finney). ## Film and television career Pentelow appeared in a number of films during his career, these included, *[Charlie Bubbles](/source/Charlie_Bubbles)*, *Privilege*, and *The Peace Game*. He also made appearances in popular television programmes, such as, *[Z-Cars](/source/Z-Cars)*,[1] *[The Troubleshooters](/source/The_Troubleshooters_(British_TV_series))*,[1] *[Emergency Ward 10](/source/Emergency_Ward_10)* and *[Hadleigh](/source/Hadleigh_(TV_series))*. Prior to appearing in the soap opera *[Emmerdale Farm](/source/Emmerdale)* when it began in 1972, he had already appeared in *[Coronation Street](/source/Coronation_Street)* as an old friend of [Hilda Ogden](/source/Hilda_Ogden), played by the actress [Jean Alexander](/source/Jean_Alexander),[1] as well as a sporting serial called *[United!](/source/United!)* as the [football](/source/Association_football) supporters' club chairman. Pentelow also appeared in 1969's notorious gangland series for Granada "[Big Breadwinner Hog](/source/Big_Breadwinner_Hog)" as the unflappable Detective Inspector Walker, one of the CID team on the trail of the trendy, up-and-coming gangland boss Hogarth of the title. The character of [Henry Wilks](/source/Henry_Wilks) in *Emmerdale Farm* was a retired Bradford wool merchant who became a director of *Emmerdale Farm* when it became a limited company. He also became a joint-owner of the village public house, the Woolpack. After Pentelow's unexpected death, the programme had Wilks die off-screen; due to the advanced schedule of production this was not aired until October 1991. ## Personal life Pentelow was married to Jacqueline, whom he had met when they were both studying acting. They had two sons - Nicholas and Simon. Their son Nick was one of the [saxophone](/source/Saxophone) players for glam-rock band [Wizzard](/source/Wizzard). ## Death Pentelow died from a heart attack in 1991, at the age of 67, whilst driving from his family home in [Birmingham](/source/Birmingham) to commence filming *Emmerdale* in [Bradford](/source/Bradford) and [Leeds](/source/Leeds). He died in the ambulance on the way to hospital. ## Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1965 Compact Langley 3 episodes 1965 Gideon's Way 'The Prowler' Mr Lewis 1965 The Man in Room 17 Dr. Probyn 1 episode 1967 Privilege Leo Stanley [1] 1967 The Newcomers Morton-Hyde 3 episodes 1968 Charlie Bubbles Man With Car [1] 1969 The Gladiators British General [1] 1971 Bel Ami[2] Tattle 4 episodes ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-IBA_1986_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-IBA_1986_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-IBA_1986_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-IBA_1986_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-IBA_1986_1-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-IBA_1986_1-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-IBA_1986_1-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-IBA_1986_1-7) Melaniphy, Mike; Eaglestone, Roger, eds. (1986). [*Television & Radio 1986 - IBA Yearbook of Independent Broadcasting*](https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Television-&-Radio-ITV/IBA-Yearbook-1986.pdf) (PDF). Independent Broadcasting Authority. p. 36. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-900485-50-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-900485-50-7). {{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: |website= ignored ([help](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:CS1_errors#periodical_ignored)) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Bel Ami: Part 1: Georges"](https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/ce1afa839e704851a5f9fe797895b568). [BBC Genome Project](/source/BBC_Genome_Project). 8 May 1971. Retrieved 28 March 2026. ## External links - [Arthur Pentelow](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0672372/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier)) Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF WorldCat National United States France BnF data Other IdRef --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Arthur Pentelow](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Pentelow) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Pentelow?action=history)). 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