Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Born
August 6, 1904
Died
January 16, 1988 (age 83)
Place of Birth
Margate, Kent, England, UK
Also Known As
Ballard Blascheck
Ballard Berkeley
Biography
Ballard Berkeley made his professional stage debut in 1928, and performed for many years in London's West End and in New York theatres. He is best remembered as Major Gowen in the British television series "Fawlty Towers" (1975).
Major's best bits
VideoKnown For
TV
Coronation Street
Colonel Cantrill
1960
TV
BBC Play of the Month
Cornford
1965
TV
The Wednesday Play
First Committee Member
1964
TV
United!
Dr. Newkes
1965
TV
No Hiding Place
1959
TV
No Hiding Place
Simmy Knowles
1959
TV
The Adventures of Robin Hood
Count de Waldern
1955
TV
The Adventures of Robin Hood
Tybalt
1955
TV
The Buccaneers
Rafton
1956
TV
Maigret
Dr. Pardon
1960
Film
National Lampoon's European Vacation
English Motorist #2
1985
TV
Are You Being Served?
Angler
1972
TV
Sykes
Lord Plunket-Taylor
1972
TV
Sunday Night Theatre
Bentley
1950
TV
Fawlty Towers
Major Gowen
1975
TV
Story Parade
General Sanctuary
1964
TV
The New Avengers
Colonel Foster
1976
TV
Dixon of Dock Green
Mr. Noakes
1955
TV
Dixon of Dock Green
Mr. Briggs
1955
TV
Dixon of Dock Green
Mac
1955
Filmography
2025FilmBritain and the Blitz2005FilmThe Funny Blokes of British Comedyas Major Gowen (archive footage) (uncredited)1990FilmThe BFGas Head of the Army (voice)1985FilmNational Lampoon's European Vacationas English Motorist #21984TVMe & My Girlas Major D'Arcy Pendleton1984TVFresh Fieldsas Guy Penrose1981TVThat's My Boyas Comm. Buckley1980FilmLittle Lord Fauntleroyas Harry Lorradaile1980FilmThe Wildcats of St Trinian'sas Humphry Wills1979TVKelly Monteith1979TVTerry and Juneas Colonel Culpepper1979TVTo the Manor Bornas Hartley1979FilmQueen of the Bluesas Uncle Fred (as Ballard Barclay)1979TVSpooner's Patchas Bank Manager1979FilmConfessions from the David Galaxy Affairas Judge1978FilmThe Playbirdsas Trainer1976TVMike Yarwood In Persons1976TVThe New Avengersas Colonel Foster1976FilmConfessions of a Driving Instructoras Lord Edgar Snodley1975TVFawlty Towersas Major Gowen1973TVOh, Father!as Dr Grant1972TVSykesas Lord Plunket-Taylor1972TVAre You Being Served?as Angler1971TVBless This Houseas Group Captain1970TVThe Goodiesas Chairman of the British Olympic Committee1970FilmThe Weekend Murdersas Peter, the butler1969TVHadleighas Lord Cranford1969TVThe Main Chanceas Major Dibbyn1968FilmHostile Witnessas Clerk of Court1967TVAll Gas and Gaiters1966TVTill Death Us Do Partas Golfer1965FilmThe Night Calleras Cmdr. Savage1965FilmThe Murder Gameas Sir Colin Chalmers1965TVBBC Play of the Monthas Cornford1965TVUnited!as Dr. Newkes1964TVThe Wednesday Playas First Committee Member1964TVSwizzlewickas Major Lamb1964TVSherlock Holmesas Sir Charles Baskerville1964TVStory Paradeas General Sanctuary1963FilmImpactas Bill MacKenzie1963FilmA Matter of Choiceas Charles Grant1961TVGhost Squad1960TVThe Cheatersas Harry Tyler1960TVCoronation Streetas Colonel Cantrill1960TVMaigretas Dr. Pardon1960FilmCone of Silenceas Commissioner1959TVNo Hiding Place1958FilmFurther Up the Creekas Whacker Payne1958FilmChain of Eventsas Stockman1958FilmThe Man Who Wouldn't Talkas Court Clerk (uncredited)1958TVIvanhoeas Rand the Goldsmith1957FilmJust My Luckas Starter at Goodwood (uncredited)1957FilmNight of the Demon1957FilmAfter the Ballas Andrews1957FilmYangtse Incident: The Story of H.M.S. Amethystas Lieutenant Colonel Dewar-Curie1957FilmThe Betrayalas Lawson1956TVThe Buccaneersas Rafton1956TVThe Adventures of Sir Lancelot1956FilmMy Teenage Daughteras Magistrate1955TVThe Adventures of Robin Hoodas Count de Waldern1955TVDixon of Dock Greenas Mr. Noakes1955FilmThe Stolen Airlineras Mr Head1954FilmThe Men of Sherwood Forestas Walter1954FilmDelayed Actionas Insp. Crane1954FilmForbidden Cargoas Cooper1954FilmDangerous Cargoas Findley1954FilmThe Weak and the Wickedas Police Detective1953FilmOperation Diplomatas Inspector Austin1953Film3 Steps to the Gallowsas Insp. Haley1953FilmThe Blue Parrotas Supt. Chester1952FilmCircumstantial Evidenceas Det. Insp. Hall1952FilmThe Night Won't Talk1952FilmThe Big Frameas Doctor1952FilmThe Frightened Manas Inspector Bligh1951FilmThe Long Dark Hallas Supt. Maxey1951FilmBlackmailedas Dr. McCormick1950FilmStage Frightas Sergeant Mellish1950TVSunday Night Theatreas Bentley1947FilmThey Made Me a Fugitiveas Rockliffe1946FilmQuiet Weekendas Jim Brent1942FilmIn Which We Serveas Engineer Commander1940FilmThe Flying Squadas Smuggler in Airplane1939FilmThe Saint in Londonas Richard Blake1939FilmBlack Eyesas Diner1939FilmThe Gang's All Hereas Detective in Nightclub1937FilmJennifer Haleas Richard Severn1936FilmEast Meets Westas Nazim1934FilmWhite Ensign1930FilmThe Chinese Bungalowas Richard Marquess1930FilmLondon Melodyas Jan Moor