Donald Pelmear

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{{Infobox person

| name = Donald Pelmear

| birth_name = Donald Stanley Morrell Pelmear

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1924|07|06|df=y}}

| birth_place = Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, England

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2025|01|11|1924|07|06|df=y}}

| death_place = Hampstead, London, England

| occupation = Actor

| years_active = 1953–2007 • 2016–2018

}}

Donald Pelmear (6 July 1924 – 11 January 2025) was a British actor on stage and screen. Among his notable performances were Sir Thomas More in A Man for All Seasons in 1961, in Farnham, Salisbury and Southport, and Malvolio in the 1964 production of Twelfth Night which inaugurated the Nuffield Theatre, Southampton. On screen, he may be best known for portraying Professor Joseph Rubeish in the 1973–74 Doctor Who serial The Time Warrior.

Life and career

Pelmear began acting in amateur theatre and then, from 1953, acted in repertory theatre. He did not attend drama school, but learned from watching and listening to other actors. He appeared with theatre companies across England, including the Bristol Old Vic Theatre Company, the Oxford Playhouse Company, and the New Shakespeare Company, and was known for his versatility and flexibility as an actor.

Pelmear enjoyed playing comedy, and critics applauded his comic roles in plays such as The White Sheep of the Family, Separate Rooms and Kafka's Dick, musical comedies such as The Fantasticks and Salad Days. He played various roles in pantomimes, including Aladdin in The Adventures of Aladdin and his Wonderful Lamp and Mole in Toad of Toad Hall.

In the West End, Pelmear played Doc in the 1984/85 revival of West Side Story at Her Majesty's Theatre, and Monsieur Damiens in the 1990/91 production of Anouilh's The Rehearsal at the Almeida Theatre and Garrick Theatre.

He also played many serious roles, including Aslaksen in Ibsen's An Enemy of the People and Lawrence of Arabia in Terence Rattigan's play Ross, a review of which stated "Donald Pelmear is an actor of subtlety and power, who draws a consistent portrait and resists every temptation to overdraw it". His portrayal of Sir Thomas More in A Man for All Seasons was described as "a very sensitive portrayal" and a "warming, human performance of a beautifully realized character", in which "[e]very mood of this great man is faithfully depicted - his gentleness, lowliness, gravity, wit, affability, piety and heroism." Pelmear also appeared in the first play performed at the new Nuffield Theatre, Southampton, playing Malvolio in the Salisbury Arts Theatre Company's production of Twelfth Night; a critic wrote that "Donald Pelmear is an excellent Malvolio who finally leaves his audience torn between pity and aversion."

Pelmear died on 11 January 2025, at the age of 100. {{Cite web |last=Times |first=The |date=23 January 2025 |title=Births, marriages and deaths: January 23, 2025 |url=https://www.thetimes.com/comment/register/article/births-marriages-and-deaths-january-23-2025-mf8z2bnq9 |access-date=24 January 2025 |website=www.thetimes.com |language=en}}

Selected stage performances

Year	Title	Author	Theatre	Role \|\| Notes
class="wikitable sortable"
1953	Will Any Gentleman?	Vernon Sylvaine	Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells	Dr. Smith	Loraine Theatre Company{{cite news \|title=Assembly Hall Rollicking Farce - 'Will any gentleman?' \|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000483/19530807/086/0005 \|access-date=12 April 2025 \|work=Kent & Sussex Courier \|date=7 August 1953 \|page=5}}
1953	Relative Values	Noël Coward	Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells		Loraine Theatre Company{{cite news \|title=Life in Kent - Coward style \|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000483/19530814/076/0005 \|access-date=12 April 2025 \|work=Kent & Sussex Courier \|date=14 August 1953 \|page=5}}
1953	The White Sheep of the Family	Lawrence du Garde Peach and Ian Hay	Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells	Vicar	Loraine Theatre Company{{cite news \|title=Crime's such fun in this comedy \|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000483/19530828/099/0005 \|access-date=12 April 2025 \|work=Kent & Sussex Courier \|date=28 August 1953 \|page=5 \|quote=But probably the hit of the show is Donald Pelmear as a dithering vicar. If police college superintendents object to comic coppers, this is the kind of stage parson that would make a Bishop squirm. It made Tuesday's full house rock with laughter.}}
1953	The Deep Blue Sea	Terence Rattigan	New Pavilion, Redcar	Mr. Miller, ex-doctor	North Riding Theatre Company{{cite news \|title=Repertory. Redcar \|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001179/19531022/085/0012 \|access-date=12 April 2025 \|work=The Stage \|date=22 October 1953 \|page=12 \|quote=An excellent characterisation of Dr. Miller was given by Donald Pelmear}}
1956	The Duke in Darkness	Patrick Hamilton	Southport	The Duke of Latteraine	Southport Repertory Company{{cite news \|title=Hamilton play at Southport \|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001179/19560802/108/0011 \|access-date=12 April 2025 \|work=The Stage \|date=2 August 1956 \|page=11}}{{cite news \|title=Southport Success in 'Heavy Drama' \|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001179/19560719/133/0011 \|access-date=12 April 2025 \|work=The Stage \|date=19 July 1956 \|page=11 \|quote=The performances of Donald Bodley and Donald Pelmear were a triumph. ... Mr. Pelmear never fails to give his best, and his restrained, dignified Duke was no exception. He is an actor with a future.}}
1956	We at the Crossroads	Keith Winter	Southport	Author	Southport Repertory Company{{cite news \|title=Maelstrom of Emotions \|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001179/19560607/120/0011 \|access-date=12 April 2025 \|work=The Stage \|date=7 June 1956 \|page=11 \|quote=Donald Pelmear and Stanley Lloyd had complete control of their scenes and gave memorable performances that showed considerable depth of feeling, as the idealistic, self-pitying author and the confused husband, respectively.}}
1957	Burdalane	Winifred Bannister	Scala, Southport	Hew Kennedy	Southport Repertory Company{{cite news \|title=Pathos of an Old Scots Spinster \|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001179/19570509/111/0010 \|access-date=12 April 2025 \|work=The Stage \|date=9 May 1957 \|page=10 \|quote=An actor of unquestionable talent, Donald Pelmear, gives a sensitive portrayal as Hew Kennedy, the poacher.}}{{cite news \|last1=R.L.W. \|title=Melodrama spiced with Farce. Premiere of "Burdalane" \|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-guardian-melodrama-spiced-with-farce/170172132/ \|access-date=12 April 2025 \|work=The Guardian \|date=May 7, 1957 \|page=5}}
1957	Separate Tables	Terence Rattigan	Scala, Southport	Major Pollock	Southport Repertory Company{{cite news \|title=Southport Far Ahead of Average', Says 'Burdalane' Author \|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001179/19570516/083/0007 \|access-date=12 April 2025 \|work=The Stage \|date=16 May 1957 \|page=7 \|quote=Donald Pelmear [was] impressive in Separate Tables," ... for his complete interpretation of the questionable Major Pollock. In "My Three Angels" Stanley Lloyd, Peter Schofield and Donald Pelmear were artful, appealing, attentive and altogether lovable.}}
1957	My Three Angels	Bella and Samuel Spewack	Scala, Southport		Southport Repertory Company
1958	The Adventures of Aladdin and his Wonderful Lamp	Donald Bodley	Scala, Southport	Aladdin	Southport Repertory Company{{cite news \|title=Southport. 'Aladdin' \|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001179/19580102/159/0027 \|access-date=12 April 2025 \|work=The Stage \|date=2 January 1958 \|page=27 \|quote=In pantomime, we like a hero who is strong, handsome and endearing. and Donald Pelmear is all these things and more, as Aladdin.}}
1958	Family on Trial	John Wiles	Scala, Southport	Schoolmaster	Southport Repertory Company{{cite news \|title=Southport's Mayor Sees Outstanding Production \|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001179/19580508/088/0007 \|access-date=12 April 2025 \|work=The Stage \|date=8 May 1958 \|page=7 \|quote=Once again Donald Pelmear lived up to his reputation for acting that is nothing less than real, as the schoolmaster who has to face the suspicions of parents and children alike.}}
1958	Ring for Catty	Patrick Cargill and Jack Beale	Scala, Southport	Len White	Southport Repertory Company{{cite news \|title=Southport Breaks Away from Lancashire Comedy \|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001179/19580717/163/0014 \|access-date=12 April 2025 \|work=The Stage \|date=17 July 1958 \|page=14 \|quote=[This] was one of the company's best productions. ... another performance of deep sincerity came from Donald Pelmear, as Len White.}}
1958	Cuckoo in Clover	Kate Lindsay	Scala, Southport	Richard Cavendish	Southport Repertory Company{{cite news \|title=Comedy with an Irish flavour \|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001179/19581009/124/0014 \|access-date=12 April 2025 \|work=The Stage \|date=9 October 1958 \|page=14 \|quote=The plot concerns an appealing young wife ... of a golf-crazy sportsman ... Donald Pelmear brings out plenty of comedy with his semi-dry approach to the part of the husband.}}
1960	The Father	August Strindberg	Castle Theatre, Farnham	Dr. Ostermark	Castle Theatre Repertory Company{{cite news \|title='The Father' at Farnham \|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001180/19600303/239/0020 \|access-date=12 April 2025 \|work=The Stage \|date=3 March 1960 \|page=20 \|quote=Immediately the curtain rose it had the audience within its grip and held it until the last word was spoken. ... Every artist fitted the character like the proverbial glove. ... The Dr. Ostermark of Donald Pelmear was realistic.}}
1961	The Birthday Party	Harold Pinter	Castle Theatre, Farnham	McCann	Castle Theatre Repertory Company{{cite news \|last1=S.N. \|title=Altogether too much ketchup \|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/aldershot-news-altogether-too-much-ketch/170216620/ \|access-date=13 April 2025 \|work=Aldershot News \|date=May 19, 1961 \|location=Aldershot, Hampshire \|page=11}}
1961	A Man for All Seasons	Robert Bolt	Castle Theatre, Farnham	Sir Thomas More	Castle Theatre Repertory Company{{cite news \|title=These People are Real \|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001180/19610601/177/0016 \|access-date=13 April 2025 \|work=The Stage \|date=1 June 1961 \|page=16 \|quote=The role of Thomas More is a gift to any actor and Donald Pelmear revels in it. Every mood of this great man is faithfully depicted - his gentleness, lowliness, gravity, wit, affability, piety and heroism.}}{{cite news \|title=Castle Players accepted challenge and won \|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001746/19610602/010/0010 \|access-date=14 April 2025 \|work=The Aldershot News \|date=2 June 1961 \|page=10 \|quote=Donald Pelmear, as More, rises to great heights with a very sensitive portrayal. He grasps the essential qualities of the character right from the first, is word perfect, and builds up an authentic picture, which in the end makes a great impact when More, now a tortured soul, faces his accusers for the last time.}}
1961	A Man for All Seasons	Robert Bolt	Kings Theatre, Southsea	Sir Thomas More	Salisbury Arts Theatre{{cite news \|last1=Green \|first1=Charles \|title=A Man for All Seasons a great play \|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001973/19611124/019/0002 \|access-date=14 April 2025 \|work=Hampshire Telegraph \|date=24 November 1961 \|page=2 \|quote=Donald Pelmear plays Sir Thomas More, gentle, witty, kindly, a lover of good wine, a good husband and tender father to his beloved daughter, a man of the law and of God, a faithful son of the old Church, a layman of deeper piety than the worldly clerics. Mr. Pelmear's performance is most moving. We first see him in his family circle, wise, often smiling and jesting, indulgently admiring the dresses of his wife and daughter. We see him confronting Wolsey, polite, urbane, but never shedding his principles, we see him as a loyal subject of his King, knowing how to flatter gently, but still unyielding where principle is concerned. He will not accept divorce, and that is it. Most moving of all, we see him in jail, physically broken and prematurely aged, but still spiritually integrated, taking leave of his loved ones, pathetically praising bis wife's custard that she has brought him, in the midst of heartbreak. We see him confronting his accusers, unruffled mostly, though human enough to have the sudden outburst, and holding fast to his deep religious convictions. A warming, human performance of a beautifully realized character.}}{{cite news \|title=This Play Deserves Much Better Support \|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000736/19611121/130/0011 \|access-date=15 April 2025 \|work=Portsmouth Evening News \|date=21 November 1961 \|page=11 \|quote=Donald Pelmear gives a masterly performance as Sir Thomas More, emphasizing his great capacity for tolerance, and his deep personal conviction which lasts from the days before he was made Lord Chancellor, until his execution.}}
1962	Salad Days	Julian Slade, Dorothy Reynolds	Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury	Ambrose and Police Inspector	Marlowe Theatre Company{{cite news \|title=Marlowe Players Should Pull in Public \|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001180/19620426/180/0016 \|access-date=15 April 2025 \|work=The Stage \|date=26 April 1962 \|page=16 \|quote=Donald Pelmear likewise demonstrated his versatility, his greatest success being as Ambrose, the frustrated dress-designer. As the Poiice Inspector, he was associated with Peter Street (P.C. Boot) in the hilarious dance scene.}}
1962	The Unexpected Guest	Agatha Christie	Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury	Michael Starkwedder	Marlowe Theatre Company{{cite news \|title=Is the "Personal Touch" Filling the Marlowe? \|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003312/19620512/100/0015 \|access-date=15 April 2025 \|work=Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald \|date=12 May 1962 \|page=15 \|quote=Donald Pelmear had one of the meatier parts in the important role of Starkwedder, the "unexpected guest." and he exploited it to the full. Much of the humour in the play was in his lines and he didn't miss a trick.}}
1962	Separate Rooms	Alan Dinehart and Joseph Carole	Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury	Jim Stackhouse	Marlowe Theatre Company{{cite news \|title=The Marlowe - "Crisp and Nutty" Comedy \|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003312/19620602/233/0019 \|access-date=15 April 2025 \|work=Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald \|date=2 June 1962 \|page=19 \|quote=Donald Pelmear was irrepressible as ever in his lively performance as Jim Stackhouse, the columnist with the quick comebacks.}}
1963	Ross	Terence Rattigan	Guildford Theatre, Guildford	Lawrence of Arabia	Guildford Theatre Company{{cite news \|last1=Plain \|first1=Penny \|title=Entertainment Review \|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000727/19630130/003/0003 \|access-date=15 April 2025 \|work=Surrey Advertiser \|date=30 January 1963 \|page=3 \|quote=The burden of the play rests on the central character. Donald Pelmear is an actor of subtlety and power, who draws a consistent portrait and resists every temptation to overdraw it. Perhaps he might on Monday have stressed a little more, in fact, the contrast between the self-confldent conqueror of Akaba and the wrecked personality at Jerusalem. To have robbed the character of basic sincerity - to have suggested that he was revelling in self-humiliation - would, however, have been fatal, and Mr Pelmear’s restraint was highly effective.}}
1964	Twelfth Night	Shakespeare	Nuffield Theatre, Southampton	Malvolio	Salisbury Arts Theatre Company{{cite news \|title=The First Production \|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001180/19640305/140/0017 \|access-date=15 April 2025 \|work=The Stage \|date=5 March 1964 \|page=17 \|quote=Donald Pelmear is an excellent Malvolio who finally leaves his audience torn between pity and aversion,}}
1965	You Never Can Tell	George Bernard Shaw	Phoenix Theatre, Leicester	Walter, the waiter	Phoenix Theatre Company{{cite news \|title=One of the Best from the Phoenix \|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000760/19650303/014/0014 \|access-date=15 April 2025 \|work=Leicester Daily Mercury \|date=3 March 1965 \|page=14 \|quote=Timing Vital. Mr Pelmear's elderly waiter was the most difficult of all. It is he who carries the message "You Never Can Tell." He serves at table, is friendly and tactful, without being familiar, and is only outraged when there is an attempt to remove him from his menial station}}
1965	See How They Run (play)	Philip King	Phoenix Theatre, Leicester	Vicar, Rev. Lionel Toop	Phoenix Theatre Company{{cite news \|last1=D.D. \|title=Holiday Fare At Phoenix \|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000760/19650414/011/0011 \|access-date=15 April 2025 \|work=Leicester Daily Mercury \|date=14 April 1965 \|page=11 \|quote=The vicar whose identity becomes confused in the course of the play was played with well-studied patience and dignity by Donald Pelmear who went to pieces admirably as things got on the move}}
1965	The Fantasticks	Harvey Schmidt, Tom Jones	Phoenix Theatre, Leicester	Father	Phoenix Theatre Company{{cite news \|last1=D.D. \|title=The show with everything ... yet leaves a void \|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000760/19650623/020/0020 \|access-date=16 April 2025 \|work=Leicester Daily Mercury \|date=23 June 1965 \|page=20 \|quote=Most Rewarding. The two fathers, in the light clown category, were a joy to see. Richard Curnock and Donald Pelmear make their wall seem a really bright idea, and don’t lose the humour when the idea goes sour.}}
1967	Next Time I'll Sing To You	James Saunders	Swan Theatre, Worcester	The Hermit	Worcester Repertory Company{{cite news \|last1=V.M.H. \|title='Next Time I'll Sing to You' ... at the Swan Theatre, Worcester \|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002135/19670802/335/0014 \|access-date=15 April 2025 \|work=Birmingham Daily Post \|date=2 August 1967 \|page=14 \|quote=Donald Pelmear is a wonderfully misunderstood and frustrated "actor hermit".}}
1968	Juno and the Paycock	Seán O'Casey	Little Theatre, Bristol	Joxer Daly	Bristol Old Vic Theatre Company
1968	Loot	Joe Orton	Little Theatre, Bristol	Inspector Truscott	Bristol Old Vic Theatre Company{{cite news \|last1=Eyres \|first1=Christine \|title=Fun - but don't take offence \|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-post-fun-but-dont-take-offenc/170218355/ \|access-date=13 April 2025 \|work=Evening Post \|date=March 6, 1968 \|location=Bristol, Avon, England \|page=27}}{{cite news \|last1=Coe \|first1=John \|title=LISTEN - if you want to want to enjoy this lesson in language \|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-post-listen-if-you-want-to-wan/170218758/ \|access-date=13 April 2025 \|work=Evening Post \|date=Mar 2, 1968 \|location=Bristol, Avon, England \|page=7}}
1968	A Day in the Death of Joe Egg	Peter Nichols	Little Theatre, Bristol	Freddie	Bristol Old Vic Theatre Company{{cite news \|last1=Coe \|first1=John \|title=Your chance to question local dramatist \|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004769/19680427/007/0007 \|access-date=16 April 2025 \|work=Bristol Evening Post \|date=27 April 1968 \|page=7}}
1969	An Enemy of the People	Henrik Ibsen	Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford	Aslaksen	Oxford Playhouse Company{{cite news \|last1=J.W.P. \|title=Timeless Ibsen \|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000727/19690214/006/0006 \|access-date=16 April 2025 \|work=Surrey Advertiser \|date=14 February 1969 \|page=6 \|quote=There is excellent work too, by Leonard Sachs as the mayor, by Tony Anholt ... as the editor, by Donald Pelmear, as the personification of all ratepayers, and by Georgine Anderson and Celia Bannerman as the wife and daughter. It is an outstanding production of a play all too rarely staged.}}{{cite news \|last1=B.J.D. \|title=Ibsen Years Ahead of his Time \|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001925/19690214/087/0006 \|access-date=16 April 2025 \|work=West Sussex County Times \|date=14 February 1969 \|page=6 \|quote=It is the lesser roles of this virile production which make this Guildford presentation a theatrical event, particularly those of ... Donald Pelmear as the local printer and leader of the residents’ association, who is humble and asks for restraint in all things.}}
1970	Toad of Toad Hall	A. A. Milne, Kenneth Grahame	Oxford Playhouse	Mole	Oxford Playhouse Company{{cite news \|title='Toad of Toad Hall' \|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001180/19700108/222/0026 \|access-date=16 April 2025 \|work=The Stage \|date=8 January 1970 \|page=26 \|quote=As Toad, Bill Wallis is in effectively rumbustious form ... The Badger of David Nettheim is ... a brilliant comic characterization. Donald Pelmear's Mole, kindly, ultra-sensitive and infinitely likeable ... [is] also very well-drawn and never merely clowned.}}
1970	Cat on a Hot Tin Roof	Tennessee Williams	Phoenix Theatre, Leicester	Doctor Baugh	Phoenix Theatre Company{{cite news \|title='Cat on a Hot Tin Roof' \|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003135/19700213/148/0023 \|access-date=16 April 2025 \|work=Leicester Chronicle \|date=13 February 1970 \|page=23}}
1970	In Celebration	David Storey	Phoenix Theatre, Leicester	Mr Shaw	Phoenix Theatre Company{{cite news \|title=T' Phoenix muckies its feathers with a fine result \|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003135/19700306/115/0022 \|access-date=16 April 2025 \|work=Leicester Chronicle \|date=6 March 1970 \|page=22}}{{cite news \|title=Donald Pelmear \|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000760/19700224/012/0012 \|access-date=16 April 2025 \|work=Leicester Daily Mercury \|date=24 February 1970 \|page=12}}
1970	Narrow Road to the Deep North	Edward Bond	York Theatre Royal	Basho	York Theatre Royal Company{{cite news \|title=On this week at ... York \|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001180/19700618/135/0016 \|access-date=16 April 2025 \|work=The Stage \|date=18 June 1970 \|page=16}}
1972	The Tempest	Shakespeare	Hull New Theatre		New Shakespeare Company{{cite news \|last1=P.C. \|title=Re-creating the magic of the Bard's last play \|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/hull-daily-mail-re-creating-the-magic-of/170431601/ \|access-date=16 April 2025 \|work=Hull Daily Mail \|date=May 9, 1972 \|location=Hull, Humberside, England \|page=8}}
1972	Twelfth Night	Shakespeare	York Theatre Royal		New Shakespeare Company{{cite news \|last1=Kluz \|first1=Andy \|title=Let's have more \|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-northern-echo-north-yorkshire-ed/170431843/ \|access-date=16 April 2025 \|work=The Northern Echo \|date=October 4, 1972 \|location=Darlington, Durham, England \|page=9}}
1980	The Caretaker	Harold Pinter	The Capitol Theatre, Horsham	Davies the tramp	New Shakespeare Company{{cite news \|last1=Day \|first1=Christine \|title=Deeply Disturbing Play \|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001925/19801010/065/0005 \|access-date=16 April 2025 \|work=West Sussex County Times \|date=10 October 1980 \|page=5}}
1981	Much Ado About Nothing	Shakespeare	Theatre Royal, Lincoln	Leonato, governor of Messina	New Shakespeare Company{{cite news \|title=Living Shakespeare \|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lincolnshire-echo-living-shakespeare/170431270/ \|access-date=16 April 2025 \|work=Lincolnshire Echo \|date=March 31, 1981 \|location=Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England \|page=7}}
1984-1985	West Side Story	Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim	Her Majesty's Theatre, London	Doc	{{cite web \|title=West Side Story - 1984 London Revival \|url=https://www.sondheimguide.com/wss.html#1984UK \|website=The Stephen Sondheim Reference Guide \|access-date=21 April 2025}}
1986	Tristram Shandy	Laurence Sterne, adapted by Peter Buckman	Oxford Playhouse	Uncle Toby	Oxford Playhouse Company{{cite news \|last1=PT \|title=A far from bitter Shandy \|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-independent-a-far-from-bitter-shandy/170427033/ \|access-date=16 April 2025 \|work=The Independent \|date=November 7, 1986 \|location=London, England \|language=11}}
1989	Habeas Corpus	Alan Bennett	Thorndike Theatre, Leatherhead	Dr Arthur Wicksteed	{{cite news \|last1=RTE \|title=Lie back and think of Alan Bennett \|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/esher-news-and-mail-lie-back-and-think-o/170220140/ \|access-date=13 April 2025 \|work=Esher News and Mail \|date=24 May 1989 \|location=Esher, Surrey, England \|page=5}}
1990	Pack of Lies	Hugh Whitemore	Belgrade Theatre, Coventry	MI5 Officer	{{cite news \|title=Spy drama actor is told to mind his language. Expert help for star to play. \|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/coventry-evening-telegraph-spy-drama-act/170219566/ \|access-date=13 April 2025 \|work=Coventry Evening Telegraph \|date=February 16, 1990 \|location=Coventry, West Midlands, England \|page=23}}{{cite news \|last1=FitzGerald \|first1=Ann \|title=Regional Reviews. Coventry: Pack of Lies \|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001180/19900329/086/0016 \|access-date=15 April 2025 \|work=The Stage \|date=29 March 1990 \|page=16 \|quote=Donald Pelmear as Mr Stewart has the patrician style of the Whitehall mandarin. He is overwhelming in this small, tidy home, and diminishes the Jackson's [sic] by his confident presence, making an unspoken point about the English class system.}}
1990 - 1991	The Rehearsal	Jean Anouilh	Almeida Theatre, London, then Garrick Theatre, London	Monsieur Damiens	Theatre Division{{cite news \|last1=Loriggio \|first1=Pauline \|title=Play Reviews: The Garrick. The Rehearsal \|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001180/19901129/086/0018 \|access-date=15 April 2025 \|work=The Stage \|date=29 November 1990 \|page=18}}{{cite news \|title=Production News \|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001180/19910502/061/0011 \|access-date=15 April 2025 \|work=The Stage \|date=2 May 1991 \|page=11}}
1998	Kafka's Dick	Alan Bennett	Nottingham Playhouse	Father	{{cite news \|last1=Robinson \|first1=Denis \|title=REViEW ‘Kafka’s Dick,’ Nottingham Playhouse \|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0005314/19980227/203/0021 \|access-date=15 April 2025 \|work=Hucknall Dispatch \|date=27 February 1998 \|page=21 \|quote=Geriatric dad (Donald Pelmear) [ ] is given the play’s funniest one-liners.}}

Partial filmography

= Film =

class="wikitable"

!Year

!Title

!Role

!Notes

1987

|Little Dorit

|Mr. Clive

1998

|Elizabeth

|Third bishop

2017

|Edie

|George

| {{cite news |last1=Robey |first1=Tim |title=Edie review: late-life drama loses Sheila Hancock in the hills |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/edie-review-late-life-drama-loses-sheila-hancock-hills/ |access-date=21 April 2025 |work=The Telegraph |date=24 May 2018}}

2018

|The Curse of Shalott

|Malcolm

|Short film

= Television =

class="wikitable"

!Year

!Title

!Role

!Notes

1959

|ITV Play of the Week

|Mr. Green

|Episode: "A Man Involved"

rowspan="2" |1960

|BBC Sunday-Night Play

|Unknown

The World of Tim Frazer

|Projectionist

|1 episode

1961

|Gamble for a Throne

|Richard Whiteacre

|Miniseries - 5 of 6 episodes{{cite web |title=Gamble for a Throne |url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/search/0/20?order=first&q=Gamble+for+a+Throne |website=BBC Programme Index |access-date=21 April 2025}}

1966

|Ransom for a Pretty Girl

|Willis

|Miniseries - 3 of 6 episodes{{cite web |title=Ransom for a Pretty Girl |url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/search/0/20?order=first&q=Ransom+for+a+Pretty+Girl#top |website=BBC Programme Index |access-date=21 April 2025}}

1967

|Coronation Street

|Mr. Fitch

|Episode: "Episode: #1.684"

1969

|Special Branch

|William Arthur Cowley

|Season 1, Episodes 1 + 2

1970

|UFO

|Estate agent

|Episode: "The Square Triangle"

1973–74

|Doctor Who

|Professor Joseph Rubeish

|Serial: The Time Warrior{{cite book |last1=Muir |first1=John Kenneth |title=A Critical History of Doctor Who on Television |date=2015 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=9781476604541 |page=214 |url=https://www.google.com.au/books/edition/A_Critical_History_of_Doctor_Who_on_Tele/qMKSCgAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1 |access-date=21 April 2025}}{{cite news |last1=Mulkern |first1=Patrick |title=The Time Warrior |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/doctor-who-guide/the-time-warrior/ |access-date=21 April 2025 |work=Radio Times |date=20 February 2010}}

1976

|The Duchess of Duke Street

|Major Gutch

|Episode: "Plain Sailing"

1981

|The Day of the Triffids

|University Gateman

|Episode: "Part Three"

1982

|Yes Minister

|Permanent Secretary, DHSS

|Episode: "Equal Opportunities"