William Mervyn

William Mervyn

Known for

Acting

Born

January 3, 1912

Birthplace

Nairobi, Kenya

Died

August 6, 1976 (aged 64)

Biography

William Mervyn Pickwoad (3 January 1912 – 6 August 1976) was an English actor best known for his portrayal of the bishop in the clerical comedy All Gas and Gaiters, the old gentleman in The Railway Children and Inspector Charles Rose in The Odd Man and its sequels.

Mervyn was born in Nairobi, British East Africa, but educated in Britain at Forest School, Snaresbrook, before embarking on a stage career, spending five years in provincial theatre. He made his West End debut in The Guinea Pig at the Criterion Theatre in 1946, before parts in plays such as Lend Me Robin at the Embassy Theatre, the comedy Ring Round the Moon, The Mortimer Touch, A Woman of No Importance by Oscar Wilde at the Savo...

Best known work

Murder Ahoy
Murder Ahoy
1964
The Persuaders!
The Persuaders!
1971
Operation Crossbow
Operation Crossbow
1965
Atlantic Wall
Atlantic Wall
1970
The Railway Children
The Railway Children
1970
The Ruling Class
The Ruling Class
1972
Circus of Horrors
Circus of Horrors
1960
Carry On Henry
Carry On Henry
1971
Carry On Again Doctor
Carry On Again Doctor
1969
The Blue Lamp
The Blue Lamp
1950

Filmography

  1. 1977

    RafflesTV

    as Osborne (1 episode)

  2. 1976

  3. 1976

    The Ghosts of Motley HallTV

    as Mr Brayling (1 episode)

  4. 1975

  5. 1972

    Crown CourtTV

    as The Hon. Mr. Justice Campbell (75 episodes), as Mr. Justice Campbell (4 episodes)

  6. 1972

    Up the Front

    as Lord Twithampton

  7. 1972

    The Ruling Class

    as Sir Charles Gurney

  8. 1971

    The Rivals of Sherlock HolmesTV

    as Sir Hector Drummond (1 episode)

  9. 1971

    The Persuaders!TV

    as Sir Charles Worthington (1 episode)

  10. 1971

    Carry On Henry

    as Dr. Finlay

  11. 1971

    Blood Suckers

    as Marc Honeydew

  12. 1970

    The Railway Children

    as Old Gentleman

  13. 1970

    Atlantic Wall

    as Protestant Bishop, Jeff's father

  14. 1969

    Carry On Again Doctor

    as Lord Paragon

  15. 1969

    The Best House in London

    as Cabinet Minister (uncredited)

  16. 1968

    Hammerhead

    as Walter Perrin

  17. 1968

    Salt & Pepper

    as Prime Minister

  18. 1967

    Follow That Camel

    as Sir Cyril Ponsonby

  19. 1967

    The Jokers

    as Uncle Edward

  20. 1967

    Mr. RoseTV

    as Charles Rose / Marcus Despard (24 episodes)

  21. 1967

    Deadlier Than the Male

    as Chairman of the Phoenician Board

  22. 1967

    All Gas and GaitersTV

    as The Bishop, The Right Reverend Cuthbert Hever (32 episodes)

  23. 1966

    Doctor Who: The War Machines

    as Sir Charles Summer

  24. 1966

    The LiarsTV

    as Sir Gerald (13 episodes)

  25. 1965

    BBC Play of the MonthTV

    as Sir Hector Rose (1 episode)

TMDBThis product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.Streaming availability data provided by JustWatch© 2026 FlickQueue · Privacy · Terms