Olaf Pooley

Olaf Krohn Pooley (13 March 1914 – 14 July 2015) was an English actor, screenwriter and painter. As an actor, he appeared as Professor Stahlman in the seven-part Doctor Who serial Inferno (1970).

Olaf Pooley
Born
Ole Krohn Pooley

(1914-03-13)13 March 1914
Parkstone, Dorset, England, UK
Died14 July 2015(2015-07-14) (aged 101)
Santa Monica, California, U.S.
OccupationActor, screenwriter, painter
Years active1948–2005
Spouse(s)Irlin Hall
(m. 1946; div. 19??)
Gabrielle Beaumont
(m. 1982; sep. 20??)
Children2

Early life

Pooley was born of an English father and Danish mother in Parkstone, Dorset. He studied painting at Chelsea College of Arts and at the Académie Colarossi in Paris under the tutelage of Marcel Gromaire, before training at the Architectural Association School of Architecture to enable a more financially secure career option. His paternal uncle Sir Ernest Pooley, the future Chairman of the Arts Council of Great Britain, secured him a job as a set designer at Pinewood Studios. During World War II, Pooley registered as a conscientious objector and volunteered as a fireman; he was subsequently discharged on medical grounds and began his acting career on stage.[1]

Career

He wrote and appeared in the film The Corpse (released in the United States as Crucible of Horror), starring Michael Gough, and wrote, directed and appeared in The Johnstown Monster. He also wrote the screenplay for a film version of Bernard Taylor's novel The Godsend (1980). Beaumont directed the film. Pooley's other writing credits include the television film Falcon's Gold (1982) and being an uncredited writer on the sci-fi horror film Lifeforce (1985).

Pooley's TV guest appearances from the 1950s onwards include Dixon of Dock Green, Paul Temple, Jason King, MacGyver and Star Trek: Voyager.[2] He played Professor Stahlman and his parallel Earth counterpart Director Stahlmann in the Doctor Who serial Inferno (1970). He also played Lars Torvik in the first episode of The Sandbaggers ("First Principles", 1978). His other appearances include the BBC Radio play Ambrose in Paris (1958) and Sebastian in a BBC Television Sunday Night Theatre production of Shakespeare's The Tempest (1956). Pooley had a major career in West End theatre appearing in such notable productions as Noël Coward's Peace in Our Time and revivals of The Tempest and Othello. He was also a member of the BBC Radio repertory company.[1]

Personal life

In 1946 Pooley married actress Irlin Hall and together they had a daughter, the actress Kirstie Pooley (born 1954) and a son, comedian Seyton Pooley. In 1982 he married director Gabrielle Beaumont, although they later separated.[3][4] Pooley moved to the United States in 1986 and lived in Southern California, with an art studio in Santa Monica where he devoted his time to painting. He turned 100 on 13 March 2014.

Death

He died from congestive heart failure on 14 July 2015, aged 101, at his home in Santa Monica, California.[2][5] Pooley was survived by his two children, Seyton and Kirstie, and four grandchildren.[2]

Filmography
n.b. for credit listings reference[6]

Film
Year Title Role Notes ref
1948 Penny and the Pownall Case Von Leicher
1949 The Huggetts Abroad Straker The final film of The Huggetts
The Lost People Milosh Set after the Second World War [7]
1950 She Shall Have Murder Mr. White British drama film [8]
Highly Dangerous Detective-Interrogator British spy film
1951 Hell Is Sold Out Cheri British drama film [9]
1952 The Woman's Angle Fudolf Mansell British drama film [10]
Gift Horse German Interrogation Officer Uncredited
Top Secret Professor Roblettski British comedy film [11]
1956 The Gamma People Bikstein [12]
The Iron Petticoat
Anastasia Zhadanov Uncredited
1957 Windom's Way Colonel Lupat
- 1959 Left Right and Centre TV newscaster
1960 Sink the Bismarck! Officer of the Watch on Sheffield Uncredited
1962 The Password Is Courage German doctor Based on John Castle's 1954 Second World War memoir of the same name
The Battleaxe
1966 Naked Evil Father Goodman British horror film [14][15]
1969 The Assassination Bureau Limited Swiss Cashier
  • Released in North America as The Assassination Bureau
  • A black comedy film
1971 Charlie Muffin Soviet First Secretary
The Corpse Reid
  • Originally known as The Velvet House in the United Kingdom
  • Released as Crucible of Horror in the United States
 [15]

Television
Year Title Role Notes ref
1952 Dial M for Murder Captain Lesgate Original production BBC Television, 23 March 1952 20.30
1958 Colonel March of Scotland Yard Carlmeddy Episode: "The Abominable Snowman" (S 1:Ep 3)
1958 The Invisible Man Casino Manager Episode: "Odds Against Death" (S 1:Ep 12)
1960 The Four Just Men Lorenzo Episode: "The Rietti Group" (S 1:Ep 21)
1963 Ghost Squad Kobelik Episode: "The Menacing Mazurka" (S 2:Ep 10)
Hancock Ron Roberts Episode: "The Reporter" (S 1:Ep 11)
1965 Sherlock Holmes Lascar Episode: "The Man with the Twisted Lip" (S 1:Ep 7)
1966 The Master The Master Southern Television six-part adaptation of T. H. White novel
1967 The Troubleshooters Aircraft Captain Episode: "Think Big (S 2:Ep 6)
1968 Detective Mr. Nash Episode: "Crime of Passion" (S 2:Ep 14) [16]
The Expert Adams Episode: "He's Good for It" (S 1:Ep 10)
Dixon of Dock Green Captain Bailey Episode: "Berserk" (S 15:Ep 16)
1969 Paul Temple John Blight Episode: "Who Dies Next" (S 1:Ep 1)
1970 Codename Istov Episode: "The Quickness of the Hand" (S 1:Ep 8)
Doctor Who Professor Stahlman Serial: Inferno (7 episodes)
1971 Doomwatch Ensor Episode: "By the Pricking of My Thumbs..." (S 2:Ep 5)
Jason King Gorini Episode: "A Page Before Dying" (S 1:Ep 2)
1973 Pathfinders Leidig Episode: "Operation Pickpocket" (S 1: Ep 11)
The Protectors Commissioner Braun Episode: "WAM, Part Two" (S 2:Ep 9)
1974 Special Branch Eastry Senior Episode: "Jailbait" (S 1:Ep 1)
The Zoo Gang Inspector Episode: "The Twisted Cross" (S 1:Ep 6)
1978 The Sandbaggers Lars Torvik Episode: "First Principles" (S 1:Ep 1)
1984 Scarecrow and Mrs. King Claude Episode: "The Artful Dodger" (S 1:Ep17)
1985 MacGyver Dr. Sidney Marlow Episode: "Pilot" (S 1:Ep 1)
1986 Hill Street Blues Jaeger Episode: "Suitcase" (S 7:Ep 1)
1992 L.A. Law Dr. Stanley Schulan Episode: "Great Balls Afire" (S 6:Ep 15)
1996 Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman Judge Episode: "Eye for an Eye" (S 4:Ep 20)
2000 Star Trek: Voyager Cleric Episode: "Blink of an Eye" (S 6:Ep 12) [2]

See also

References
  1. Farquhar, Simon (6 September 2015). "Olaf Pooley: Versatile character actor, especially adept at portraying restrained menace, who also wrote, directed and painted". The Independent. London. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  2. "Remembering Olaf Pooley, 1914–2015". startrek.com. 16 July 2015. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  3. Scott, Vernon (21 July 1986). "Woman director faces screen barrier". UPI Arts & Entertainment. Retrieved 28 June 2015
  4. "Gabrielle Beaumont". filmreference.com. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
  5. "Olaf PooleRIP". tobyhadoke.com. 15 July 2015. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  6. "Olaf Pooley : Credit Listings". TV.com. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  7. "The Lost People". BFI. Archived from the original on 13 January 2009. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  8. "She Shall Have Murder". Archived from the original on 13 January 2009. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  9. "Hell is Sold Out". Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  10. "The Woman's Angle". Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  11. O. A. G. (3 September 1953). "Movie Review – Mr Potts Goes to Moscow – 'Mr. Potts Goes to Moscow,' an Import". The New York Times. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  12. F Maurice Speed, Film Review 1956–57, Macdonald & Co 1956
  13. STEPHEN WATTS (23 June 1957). "BRITISH SCREEN SCENE.: Televised Feature Results in Lawsuit --New Projects—Bright Inventory Work in Progress "Comeback" Rebuttal". New York Times. p. 93.
  14. "BFI – Film & Television Database – Naked Evil (1966)". Archived from the original on 16 January 2009. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  15. John Hamilton, The British Independent Horror Film 1951–70 Hemlock Books 2013 p 203-207. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  16. "Detective (TV series) Crime of Passion (1968) Full Cast & Crew". IMDb. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
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