Bernard Hepton

Bernard Hepton (born Francis Bernard Heptonstall, 19 October 1925) is a British actor and director of stage, film and television.

Biography and career

Hepton was born in Bradford, West Riding of Yorkshire. He trained at Bradford Civic Theatre school under Esme Church along with actors such as Robert Stephens. He has extensive stage experience as an actor, under Sir Barry Jackson in addition to a spell as Artistic Director of Birmingham Rep and Liverpool Playhouse.

On television, he played Caiaphas in the 1969 Dennis Potter play Son of Man, Toby Esterhase in the BBC Television adaptations of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and Smiley's People, and George Smiley in the radio adaptations. He also played the Kommandant in Colditz (1972–74), and later appeared for the same production team as Albert Foiret in three seasons of Secret Army (1977–79) as well as appearing as Pallas in I Claudius. Before that he made a guest appearance in an episode of the first series of Catweazle in 1970 where he played a naturalist. Other notable performances included Thomas Cranmer in both The Six Wives of Henry VIII (1970) and Elizabeth R (1971).