# David Battley

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{{Short description|British actor (1935–2003)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{more citations needed|date=May 2019}}

{{Infobox person

| name = David Battley
| birth_name = David John Battley
| image = David_Battley.jpg
| caption = 
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1935|11|5|df=y}}
| birth_place = [Battersea](/source/Battersea), [London](/source/London), England
| death_date = {{death date and age|2003|1|20|1935|11|5|df=y}}
| death_place = [Epsom](/source/Epsom), [Surrey](/source/Surrey), England
| occupation  = Actor
| years_active = 1964–2000
| notable_works = ''[Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory](/source/Willy_Wonka_and_the_Chocolate_Factory)''<br>''[Rutland Weekend Television](/source/Rutland_Weekend_Television)''
| spouse      = {{marriage|Sarah Hanrahan|1971}}
| children = 2
}}
'''David John Battley''' (5 November 1935 – 20 January 2003) was an English actor of stage and screen, mainly appearing in comedy roles.

==Early life==
Battley was born at [Battersea](/source/Battersea), [London](/source/London), the elder son of [John Battley](/source/John_Battley), a post-[Second World War](/source/Second_World_War) Labour MP, and his wife Sybill (née Allchurch). Born with a [hole in the heart](/source/hole_in_the_heart), he was initially [home schooled](/source/Homeschooling) before attending a special school. He later enrolled at [Camberwell School of Art](/source/Camberwell_School_of_Art) but left before completing the course. He earned a living working for the family printing firm, Battley Brothers, before applying to [Royal Academy of Dramatic Art](/source/Royal_Academy_of_Dramatic_Art).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rada.ac.uk/profiles/david-battley/|title=David Battley — RADA|website=www.rada.ac.uk|access-date=4 July 2020|archive-date=5 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200705003413/https://www.rada.ac.uk/profiles/david-battley/|url-status=live}}</ref> Battley had one brother, Bernard.

==Career==
Battley used a dry, ironic delivery on television and in films. He found steady work as a character actor and comic stooge. Battley's TV work ranged from the satire show ''[BBC-3](/source/BBC-3_(TV_series))'' and the military police drama ''[Redcap](/source/Redcap_(TV_series))'' in the 1960s through [Eric Sykes](/source/Eric_Sykes)' [BBC](/source/BBC) sitcom, the 1975 TV adaptation of ''[Moll Flanders](/source/Moll_Flanders_(TV_series))'', the 1977 Christmas Special of ''[The Good Life](/source/The_Good_Life_(1975_TV_series))'', and later ''[The Bill](/source/The_Bill)'', ''[Lovejoy](/source/Lovejoy)'', ''[The Beiderbecke Tapes](/source/The_Beiderbecke_Tapes)'' as John the hippy barman, and ''[Mr. Bean](/source/Mr._Bean)''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aveleyman.com/ActorCredit.aspx?ActorID=1125|title=David Battley|website=www.aveleyman.com}}</ref> Battley also appears as the Executioner in the 1966 BBC production of ''[Alice in Wonderland](/source/Alice_in_Wonderland_(1966_TV_play))''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/1065750/credits.html|title=BFI Screenonline: Alice in Wonderland (1966) Credits|website=www.screenonline.org.uk|access-date=4 July 2020|archive-date=25 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200225183522/http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/1065750/credits.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He also appeared in the mid-1970s as a foil to [Eric Idle](/source/Eric_Idle) in the BBC series ''[Rutland Weekend Television](/source/Rutland_Weekend_Television)'' (1975–1976).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/1151085/index.html|title=BFI Screenonline: Rutland Weekend Television (1975-76)|website=www.screenonline.org.uk|access-date=4 July 2020|archive-date=8 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108152237/http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/1151085/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Battley played the [Paul McCartney](/source/Paul_McCartney) role in the original ''RWT'' sketch of [The Rutles](/source/The_Rutles), a parody of [The Beatles](/source/The_Beatles), but did not appear in the American TV film ''[All You Need Is Cash](/source/All_You_Need_Is_Cash)'', based on the sketch.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=W4mUDwAAQBAJ&dq=david+battley+not+in+all+you+need+is+cash&pg=PT427|title=The Routledge Companion to Popular Music and Humor|first1=Thomas M.|last1=Kitts|first2=Nick|last2=Baxter-Moore|date=April 25, 2019|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781351266628|via=Google Books}}</ref>

Battley also featured in films, including ''[Hotel Paradiso](/source/Hotel_Paradiso_(film))'' (1966), ''[Crossplot](/source/Crossplot_(film))'' (1969), ''[Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory](/source/Willy_Wonka_%26_the_Chocolate_Factory)'' (1971), ''[Up the Chastity Belt](/source/Up_the_Chastity_Belt)'' (1972), ''[Up the Front](/source/Up_the_Front)'' (1972), ''[That's Your Funeral](/source/That's_Your_Funeral)'' (1972), ''[Rentadick](/source/Rentadick)'' (1972), ''[Don't Just Lie There, Say Something!](/source/Don't_Just_Lie_There%2C_Say_Something!)'' (1973), ''[Mister Quilp](/source/Mister_Quilp)'' (1975), ''[S.O.S. Titanic](/source/S.O.S._Titanic)'' (1979), ''[The London Connection](/source/The_London_Connection)'' (1979) and ''[Krull](/source/Krull_(film))'' (1983).<ref name=bfi>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b9ee85c2f|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180414101910/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b9ee85c2f|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 April 2018|title=David Battley|website=BFI}}</ref>

In 1990, he appeared in an early episode of ''[One Foot in the Grave](/source/One_Foot_in_the_Grave)''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/d0b7e8d9e969498890ec5180417f39ea|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024011347/http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/d0b7e8d9e969498890ec5180417f39ea|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 October 2014|title=One Foot in the Grave: The Eternal Quadrangle|date=February 1, 1990|issue=3450|pages=54|via=BBC Genome}}</ref> Among his last roles were a miniature golf course employee in the ''[Mr. Bean](/source/Mr._Bean)'' episode "[Tee Off, Mr. Bean](/source/Tee_Off%2C_Mr._Bean)" (1995), and a doctor examining new regimental recruits in ''[Sharpe's Regiment](/source/Sharpe's_Regiment_(TV_programme))'' (1996).<ref name=bfi/>

==Personal life==
Battley had two daughters, Zoe S. Battley and E. Martha Battley. 

==Death==
He died on 20 January 2003, after suffering a [heart attack](/source/heart_attack), at the age of 67, in [Epsom](/source/Epsom), [Surrey](/source/Surrey), [England](/source/England).

==Filmography==
===Film===
{|class="wikitable sortable"
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| rowspan="2"|1966
| ''[Hotel Paradiso](/source/Hotel_Paradiso_(film))''
| George
|
|-
| ''[Alice in Wonderland](/source/Alice_in_Wonderland_(1966_TV_play))''
| Executioner
| rowspan="3" | TV film
|-
| 1968 
| ''The Franchise Trail''
| Wesley Dagenham
|-
| rowspan="2"|1969
| ''[Mrs Wilson's Diary](/source/Mrs_Wilson's_Diary)''
| David Frost
|-
| ''[Crossplot](/source/Crossplot_(film))''
| Bridegroom
|
|-
| 1971
| ''[Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory](/source/Willy_Wonka_%26_the_Chocolate_Factory)''
| Mr. Turkentine
|
|-
| rowspan="5"|1972
| ''[Up the Chastity Belt](/source/Up_the_Chastity_Belt)''
| Yokel
|
|-
| ''[Rentadick](/source/Rentadick)''
| Desk Sergeant
|
|-
| ''[Up the Front](/source/Up_the_Front)''
| Midgeley the Cook
| 
|-
| ''[Follow Me!](/source/Follow_Me!_(film))''
| Writer
| Uncredited
|-
| ''[That's Your Funeral](/source/That's_Your_Funeral)''
| Percy
|
|-
| 1974
| ''[Don't Just Lie There, Say Something!](/source/Don't_Just_Lie_There%2C_Say_Something!)''
| Country Yokel
|
|-
| rowspan="3"|1975
| ''A Man in the Zoo''
| Collins
| TV film
|-
| ''[Mister Quilp](/source/Mister_Quilp)''
| Codlin
|
|-
| ''[Moll Flanders](/source/Moll_Flanders)''
| Henry Haydock
| rowspan="2" | TV film
|-
| 1976
| ''[The Snow Queen](/source/The_Snow_Queen)''
| Old Woman
|-
| rowspan="2"|1979
| ''[The Omega Connection](/source/The_Omega_Connection)''
| Peters
|
|-
| ''[S.O.S. Titanic](/source/S.O.S._Titanic)''
| Chief Boots: S. Stebbing
| rowspan="2" | TV film
|-
| 1980
| ''Moving Pictures''
| Picture Restorer
|-
| 1983
| ''[Krull](/source/Krull_(film))''
| Ergo
|
|-
| 1998
| ''Vigo: A Passion for Life''
| Cinema Manager
|
|-
| 2000
| ''Out of Depth''
| Donald
|
|}

===Television===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| rowspan="3"|1964
| ''Second City Reports''
| Various roles
| Series regular
|-
| ''[The Protectors](/source/The_Protectors)''
| Wally
| Episode: "The Reluctant Thief"
|-
| ''[The Indian Tales of Rudyard Kipling](/source/Rudyard_Kipling)''
| Private Jones
| Episode: "Only a Subaltern"
|-
| 1964-1965
| ''[Redcap](/source/Redcap_(TV_series))''
| Corporal Metters
| 2 episodes
|-
| 1965
| ''[Public Eye](/source/Public_Eye_(TV_series))''
| Charlie Andrews
| Episode: "You Think It'll Be Marvellous -  But It's Always a Rabbit"
|-
| rowspan="2"|1966
| ''[Sergeant Cork](/source/Sergeant_Cork)''
| James Starkey
| Episode: "The Case of the Crystal Ball"
|-
| ''[Mystery and Imagination](/source/Mystery_and_Imagination)''
| Klaus
| Episode: "Room 13"
|-
| rowspan="3"|1967
| ''[The Wednesday Play](/source/The_Wednesday_Play)''
| Joey
| Episode: "Another Day, Another Dollar"
|-
| ''[Mickey Dunne](/source/Mickey_Dunne)''
| Milkman
| Episode: "No Flowers by Request"
|-
| ''[Theatre 625](/source/Theatre_625)''
| The New Scribe
| Episode: "Lieutenant Tenant"
|-
| 1968
| ''The Jazz Age''
| Hook
| Episode: "Thark"
|-
| rowspan="2"|1969
| ''[Hark at Barker](/source/Hark_at_Barker)''
| 
| Episode: "Rustless in Pigtails"
|-
| ''[The Benny Hill Show](/source/The_Benny_Hill_Show)''
| Russian Officer
| Episode: "Show 1"
|-
| 1970
| ''[Comedy Playhouse](/source/Comedy_Playhouse)''
| Percy
| Episode: "Last Tribute"
|-
| 1970-1971
| ''[That's Your Funeral](/source/That's_Your_Funeral)''
| Percy
| Series regular
|-
| rowspan="2"|1971
| ''The Sinners''
| Olly
| Episode: "One Man, One Boat, One Girl"
|-
| ''[Father, Dear Father](/source/Father%2C_Dear_Father)''
| Sorting Office Clerk
| Episode: "A Book for the Bishop"
|-
| 1972
| ''[Sykes](/source/Sykes_(TV_series))''
| Darlington Porter
| 3 episodes
|-
| rowspan="5"|1973
| ''[The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes](/source/The_Rivals_of_Sherlock_Holmes_(TV_series))''
| Podgers
| Episode: "The Absent-Minded Coterie"
|-
| ''[Bless This House](/source/Bless_This_House_(British_TV_series))''
| Mr. Jones
| Episode: "Watch the Birdie"
|-
| ''Centre Play''
| Dennis
| Episode: "The Museum Attendant"
|-
| ''Sporting Scenes''
| Villager
| Episode: "England, Their England"
|-
| ''[BBC Play of the Month](/source/BBC_Play_of_the_Month)''
| Costar Pearmain
| Episode: "The Recruiting Officer"
|-
| rowspan="3"|1974
| ''[Jackanory Playhouse](/source/Jackanory_Playhouse)''
| Percy Harlow
| Episode: "The Lost Voice"
|-
| ''Funny Ha-Ha''
| Boy Wonder
| Episode: "Commander Badman"
|-
| ''[Bless This House](/source/Bless_This_House_(British_TV_series))''
| Wally
| Episode: "Freedom Is"
|-
| rowspan="2"|1975
| ''[Churchill's People](/source/Churchill's_People)''
| Edwards
| Episode: "Death of Liberty"
|-
| ''[Comedy Playhouse](/source/Comedy_Playhouse)''
| Nigel the Idle
| Episode: "For Richer... For Poorer"
|-
| 1975-1976
| ''[Rutland Weekend Television](/source/Rutland_Weekend_Television)''
| Stig O'Hara - Rutles Bassist
| Series regular
|-
| 1976
| ''[Saturday Night Live](/source/Saturday_Night_Live)''
| Stig O'Hara
| Episode: "Eric Idle/Joe Cocker/Stuff"
|-
| rowspan="4"|1977
| ''[BBC Play of the Month](/source/BBC_Play_of_the_Month)''
| Parson
| Episode: "The Country Wife"
|-
| ''[Beryl's Lot](/source/Beryl's_Lot)''
| Mr. Biggleswade
| 2 episodes
|-
| ''The Cost of Loving''
| Desmond Waterhouse
| Episode: "Albert's Part"
|-
| ''[The Good Life](/source/The_Good_Life_(1975_TV_series))''
| Bill, Tradesman
| Episode: "Silly, But It's Fun"
|-
| 1978
| ''[In the Looking Glass](/source/In_the_Looking_Glass)''
| 
| Episode: "Fading Away"
|-
| 1979
| ''The Dawson Watch''
| 
| 2 episodes
|-
| rowspan="3"|1981
| ''[Crown Court](/source/Crown_Court_(TV_series))''
| Paul Flood
| 3 episodes
|-
| ''Thicker than Water''
| Harry Fishwick
|
|-
| ''Roger Doesn't Live Here Anymore''
| Porter
| 1 episode
|-
| 1982
| ''Don't Rock the Boat''
| Eric
| 2 episodes
|-
| 1983
| ''The Climber''
| Ted
|
|-
| 1984
| ''[The Gentle Touch](/source/The_Gentle_Touch)''
| Reginald Loon
| 2 episodes
|-
| 1985
| ''[Super Gran](/source/Super_Gran)''
| Police Sergeant
| Episode: "Supergran and the Day at the Sea"
|-
| 1985-1987
| ''[Relative Strangers](/source/Relative_Strangers_(TV_series))''
| Gerald
| Series regular
|-
| rowspan="2"|1986
| ''[Comrade Dad](/source/Comrade_Dad)''
| Cliff
| Episode: "Cars That Pass in the Night"
|-
| ''[Dramarama](/source/Dramarama_(TV_series))''
| Arthur Crouchley
| Episode: "Last Days of Black Berts"
|-
| 1987
| ''[The Beiderbecke Tapes](/source/The_Beiderbecke_Tapes)''
| John the Barman
| Miniseries
|-
| 1989
| ''[Close to Home](/source/Close_to_Home_(1989_TV_series))''
| Mr. Barnes
| Episode: "A Matter of Decree"
|-
| 1990
| ''[One Foot in the Grave](/source/One_Foot_in_the_Grave)''
| Carpet-Fitter
| Episode: "The Eternal Quadrangle"
|-
| 1992
| ''[The Darling Buds of May](/source/The_Darling_Buds_of_May_(TV_series))''
| Norman
| Episode: "Oh! To Be in England"
|-
| rowspan="3"|1994
| ''[The Bill](/source/The_Bill)''
| Banwell
| Episode: "No Job for an Amateur"
|-
| ''[Minder](/source/Minder_(TV_series))''
| Potter
| Episode: "Bring Me the Head of Arthur Daley"
|-
| ''[Lovejoy](/source/Lovejoy)''
| Norman Ebersley
| Episode: "Holding the Baby"
|-
| rowspan="2"|1995
| ''[As Time Goes By](/source/As_Time_Goes_By_(TV_series))''
| Ted Pringle
| Episode: "The Anniversary Party"
|-
| ''[Mr. Bean](/source/Mr._Bean)''
| Golf Attendant
| Episode: "Tee Off, Mr. Bean"
|-
| rowspan="2"|1996
| ''Annie's Bar''
| Gus James
| 3 episodes
|-
| ''[Sharpe](/source/Sharpe_(TV_series))''
| Doctor
| Episode: "Sharpe's Regiment"
|-
| 1997
| ''[Grange Hill](/source/Grange_Hill)''
| Cab Driver
| 1 episode
|-
| 1999
| ''[Murder Most Horrid](/source/Murder_Most_Horrid)''
| Mr. Gaunt
| Episode: "Frozen"
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb name|0061543}}

{{The Rutles}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Battley, David}}
Category:1935 births
Category:2003 deaths
Category:20th-century English male actors
Category:Alumni of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
Category:English male film actors
Category:English male television actors
Category:Male actors from London
Category:Actors from the London Borough of Wandsworth
Category:The Rutles members
Category:People from Battersea

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [David Battley](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Battley) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Battley?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.