Son of a clergyman, the British character actor Thorley Walters was born in 1913 in Teigngrace, Devonshire, England. After stage experience, in which he played Shakespearean and light leading roles, he made his film debut in The Love Test (1935) and continued his early film career with numerous quota quickies. Walters quickly found his acting niche in comic parts and became a featured player in films. During the 1950s and 1960s, he made his name in the comedies of the Boulting Brothers (e.g., Ce sacré z'héros (1956), Carlton-Browne of the F.O. (1959), Rotten to the Core (1965), et al.) and the Launder-Gilliat team [e.g., _Ring of Spies (1963)_, Joey Boy (1965), and the St. Trinian's films). He also became well-known to horror fans through his numerous appearances for Hammer (Le fantôme de l'opéra (1962), Dracula, prince des ténèbres (1966), Frankenstein créa la femme (1967), and Le cirque des vampires (1972)), Amicus (Poupées de cendres (1966) and Le continent oublié (1977)).
With his beefy build, square mustache, and befuddled manner, Walters was a natural to play Dr. Watson, which he did in several films, including Sherlock Holmes et le collier de la mort (1962), Le frère le plus fûté de Sherlock Holmes (1975), and Silver Blaze (1977). In the latter part of his career, he became a familiar figure on television in such popular series as The Duchess of Duke Street (1976) and _"Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" (1979)(mini)_ . Walters was active in film and television until his death in 1991, appearing mostly in cameo roles as incompetent officers, bumbling authority figures, and muddle-headed assistants.
