PETER BLYTHE

'Peter Blythe' (September 14, 1934-June 27, 2004) was a British character actor, best known as Samuel "Soapy Sam" Ballard on ''Rumpole of the Bailey''.
Blythe, who was born in Yorkshire, studied drama on scholarship at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art after serving in the Royal Air Force. He began his professional career as a repertory player with the Living Theatre Company, the Nottingham Playhouse, and the Royal Shakespeare Company, making his West End debut in Pauline Macaulay's ''The Creeper'' (1965).
At the Royal National Theatre, Blythe appeared in ''Pravda'' with Anthony Hopkins, ''The Government Inspector'', ''Futurists'', ''Flight'', ''Hamlet'' (United States tour), and ''Henry V'' (his final stage appearance). Blythe worked frequently with director Peter Hall, including in Hall's repertory company at the Old Vic and the West End revival of ''The Royal Family'' with Judi Dench. He also appeared regularly in plays by Alan Ayckbourn, including ''Me Times Me'', ''Absurd Person Singular'', and ''Woman In Mind''. (Ayckbourn oversaw the production of Blythe's own play ''Tom, Dick, and Harry'' at Theatre in the Round in 1972.) Blythe's other West End credits included ''The Chairman'' (Clarence Derwent Award), ''Humble Boy'', ''Schweyk in the Second World War'', ''So What About Love?'', Edward Bond's ''Early Morning'', Ian McKellen's production of ''The Clandestine Marriage'', Graham Greene's ''The Return of AJ Raffles'' and ''The Living Room'', ''Sextet'', ''Caught in the Act'', ''The Hard Shoulder'', Harold Pinter's ''The Hothouse'', Noel Coward's'' Hay Fever'', and ''The Bridge''.
Blythe worked on film only rarely and usually in minor roles; his most substantial part was also in his last film appearance, ''The Luzhin Defence'' (2000). Other film credits include two B-movies for Hammer Film Productions, ''A Challenge for Robin Hood'' and ''Frankenstein Created Woman''; his most successful film was ''Carrington'' (1995).
By contrast, Blythe appeared frequently on the small screen. He guest-starred in episodes of ''The Avengers'', ''UFO'', ''Callan'', ''New Scotland Yard'', ''Special Branch'', ''Agatha Christie's Partners in Crime'', ''Poirot'', ''Inspector Morse'', ''Maigret'', ''The Inspector Alleyn Mysteries'', ''Between the Lines'', ''Pie in the Sky'', ''Goodnight Sweetheart'', ''Dalziel and Pascoe'', and ''Foyle's War'' (aired posthumously), among many others. He also featured in many TV movies and miniseries, including ''After the War''.
Blythe lived for eight years with Harriet Walter; the two were planning to marry at the time of his death.

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★ ''Guardian'' obituary

★ Video interview with Peter Blythe about ''Henry V''