Clifford Earl (29 August 1933 – 30 July 2015) was an English actor who appeared in numerous television programmes and films.
Early years
Earl was born Kenneth Clifford Earl on 29 August 1933 in Romney Marsh, Kent, England.
He carried out his
National Service
National service is the system of voluntary government service, usually military service. Conscription is mandatory national service. The term ''national service'' comes from the United Kingdom's National Service (Armed Forces) Act 1939.
The ...
in a medical role. After leaving the military he embarked on an acting career, often playing policemen and soldiers.
Acting career
Earl appeared in the TV series ''
Doctor Who
''Doctor Who'' is a British science fiction television series broadcast by the BBC since 1963. The series depicts the adventures of a Time Lord called the Doctor, an extraterrestrial being who appears to be human. The Doctor explores the ...
'' twice: as the Station Sergeant in ''
The Daleks' Master Plan
''The Daleks' Master Plan'' is the mostly missing third serial of the third season in the British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who'', which originally aired in twelve weekly parts from 13 November 1965 to 29 January 1966. Thi ...
The Haunted House of Horror
''The Haunted House of Horror'', also titled ''Horror House'' and ''The Dark'', is a 1969 British horror film directed by Michael Armstrong and starring Frankie Avalon and Jill Haworth as young adults looking for a thrill by spending the night ...
'' (1969), ''
Scream and Scream Again
''Scream and Scream Again'' is a 1970 British science fiction conspiracy thriller film starring Vincent Price, Christopher Lee, Alfred Marks, Michael Gothard, and Peter Cushing. It is based on the novel ''The Disorientated Man'' (1967) attribute ...
'' (1970) and ''
The Sea Wolves
''The Sea Wolves'' is a 1980 war film starring Gregory Peck, Roger Moore and David Niven. The film, which is based on the 1978 book ''Boarding Party'' by James Leasor, is a fictionalised account of Operation Creek during the Second World War. In ...
'' (1980).
Personal life
In 1953, aged 19, Earl was among the servicemen who volunteered to take part in experiments at the Porton Down military research centre which he believed were related to the common cold but in fact involved exposure to nerve agents such as
sarin
Sarin (NATO designation GB G-series, "B"">Nerve_agent#G-series.html" ;"title="hort for Nerve agent#G-series">G-series, "B" is an extremely toxic synthetic organophosphorus compound.Ronald Maddison, died soon after exposure to the poison. Much later, in 1999, police began Operation Antler to investigate the experiments; on learning of this, Earl founded the Porton Down Veterans Support Group.
Earl suffered from spinal problems, prostate cancer, and other illnesses.
The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll
''The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll'' is a 1960 British horror film produced by Hammer Film Productions. It was directed by Terence Fisher, and stars Paul Massie as Dr. Jekyll, and co-stars Dawn Addams, Christopher Lee and David Kossoff. The screenp ...
'' (1960) – Young Blood (uncredited)
* ''
Touch of Death
The touch of death (or death-point striking) refers to any martial arts technique reputed to kill using seemingly less than lethal force targeted at specific areas of the body.
The concept known as ''dim mak'' (), alternatively ' () traces its ...
'' (1961) – Mr. Grey
* ''
Clue of the Silver Key
Clue may refer to:
People with the name
* DJ Clue (born 1975), mixtape DJ
* Arthur Clues (1924–1998), Australian rugby league footballer
* Ivan Clues
* Tim Cluess
Arts, entertainment, and media ''Clue'' entertainment franchise
* ''Clued ...
'' (1961) – Detective
* ''
Man Detained
''Man Detained'' is a 1961 British crime film directed by Robert Tronson and starring Bernard Archard, Elvi Hale and Paul Stassino. Part of the long-running series of Edgar Wallace Mysteries films made at Merton Park Studios, it is loosely based ...
'' (1961) – Detective Sergeant Wentworth
* ''
Attempt to Kill
''Attempt to Kill'' is a 1961 British film. It was a rare feature directed by Royston Morley, and based on a story by Edgar Wallace, ''The Lone House Mystery''. It was one of a series of ''Edgar Wallace Mysteries'', British second-features, produ ...
'' (1961) – Sergeant Bennett
* ''
The Pot Carriers
''The Pot Carriers'' is a 1962 British comedy-drama film directed by Peter Graham Scott and produced by Gordon Scott for ABPC. It stars Ronald Fraser, Paul Massie, Carole Lesley and Dennis Price. The film is largely set in Wandsworth pris ...
Incident at Midnight
''Incident at Midnight'' is a 1963 British crime film directed by Norman Harrison and starring Anton Diffring, William Sylvester and Justine Lord. It was made at Merton Park Studios as part of the series of ''Edgar Wallace Mysteries'', in this c ...
'' (1963) – Sergeant
* '' A Stitch in Time'' (1963) – TV Cameraman (uncredited)
* '' Father Came Too!'' (1963) – Motorcycle Policeman
* '' Subterfuge'' (1968) – Policeman
* ''
The Body Stealers
''The Body Stealers'', also known as ''Thin Air'', is a 1969 British science fiction film directed by Gerry Levy, about the disappearance of British armed forces paratroopers in mid-air whilst on a routine jump. Two investigators try to figure ou ...
'' (1969) – Sgt. in Lab
* ''
The Haunted House of Horror
''The Haunted House of Horror'', also titled ''Horror House'' and ''The Dark'', is a 1969 British horror film directed by Michael Armstrong and starring Frankie Avalon and Jill Haworth as young adults looking for a thrill by spending the night ...
'' (1969) – Police Sergeant Pelley
* ''
Scream and Scream Again
''Scream and Scream Again'' is a 1970 British science fiction conspiracy thriller film starring Vincent Price, Christopher Lee, Alfred Marks, Michael Gothard, and Peter Cushing. It is based on the novel ''The Disorientated Man'' (1967) attribute ...
'' (1970) – Detective Sgt. Jimmy Joyce
* '' Diamonds Are Forever'' (1971) – Immigration Officer (uncredited)
* ''Action at Dog Island'' (1972)
* ''
Tales from the Crypt
Tales from the Crypt may refer to:
* ''Tales from the Crypt'' (album), by American rapper C-Bo
* ''Tales from the Crypt'' (comics), published by EC Comics during the 1950s
** ''Tales from the Crypt'' (film), a 1972 Amicus film starring Ralph Ric ...
'' (1972) – Police Sergeant (segment 3 "Poetic Justice")
* '' All Coppers Are...'' (1972) – Police Jailer (uncredited)
* '' Penny Gold'' (1973) – CID Man (uncredited)
* '' The Human Factor'' (1979) – Ferguson
* ''
The Sea Wolves
''The Sea Wolves'' is a 1980 war film starring Gregory Peck, Roger Moore and David Niven. The film, which is based on the 1978 book ''Boarding Party'' by James Leasor, is a fictionalised account of Operation Creek during the Second World War. In ...