Philip D'Oyly "Pip" Torrens[2] (born 2 June 1960) is an English actor.

Pip Torrens
Torrens at the 2017 San Diego Comic-Con
Born
Philip D'Oyly Torrens[1]

(1960-06-02) 2 June 1960 (age 64)
Bromley, Kent, England
Alma materTrinity College, Cambridge
Drama Studio London
OccupationActor
Years active1984–present

Torrens portrayed courtier Tommy Lascelles in the Netflix drama The Crown, aristocrat Lord Massen in the HBO series The Nevers, Herr Klaus Starr in Preacher, and held leading roles in Poldark and Versailles. His film appearances include The Danish Girl, The Iron Lady, War Horse and Star Wars: The Force Awakens. He has played The Curator in Supermassive Games' Dark Pictures Anthology series of horror video games since 2019, appearing in four entries to date.

Early life and education edit

Son of the Rev. Robert Harrington Torrens, MA, and descendant of the lawyer and colonial official Henry Whitelock Torrens,[3][4] Torrens was born in Bromley, Kent, and educated at Bloxham School. He studied English Literature at Trinity College, Cambridge (BA 1981, MA 1987),[5] and subsequently studied acting at Drama Studio London.[6]

Career edit

Torrens's television appearances include Consenting Adults, two episodes of Jeeves and Wooster,[7] two episodes of Doctor Who ("Human Nature"/"The Family of Blood"),[8] The Brittas Empire,[7] Green Wing,[7] Silk,[7] The Government Inspector (as John Scarlett), The Last Detective and DI Spencer for a few episodes in The Bill in 2001. He has also appeared in a 2008 series of British television advertisements for First Direct, with Matthew King. He appeared alongside Michael Gambon in a 1992 episode of Maigret.[7]

In 2011, Torrens appeared in both episodes of an Outnumbered two-part special.[7] In 2012, he appeared in the first episode of series 8 of Hustle,[7] as Heinz Zimmermann and also presented new gameshow The Devil's Dinner Party.[7] Torrens briefly appeared in an episode of Death in Paradise in 2013,[7] as a museum guide. His film appearances include Tomorrow Never Dies,[7] as the captain of the fictional HMS Bedford, the 2001 film To End All Wars,[7] and voicework for Valiant.[7]

In 2013, Torrens appeared in "The Waldo Moment", an episode of the anthology series Black Mirror.[7] In November 2014, Torrens played the part of Richard Grenville in the BBC Radio 4 drama The Archers.[7] In 2017, he began a starring role on American television series Preacher, on which he appeared in 33 episodes as Herr Klaus Helmut Starr.[7]

Filmography edit

Film edit

YearTitleRoleNotes
1984Oxford BluesIan
1986Lady JaneThomas
1987Little DorritHenry Gowan
1988A Handful of DustJock
1989How to Get Ahead in AdvertisingJonathan
Bearskin: An Urban FairytaleGold-cufflinks
1990Mountains of the MoonLt. Hesketh
Eminent DomainAnton
1991The Object of BeautyArt Evaluator
1992Patriot GamesLord North's 1st Aide
1993The Remains of the DayDoctor Carlisle
1997Tomorrow Never DiesCaptain (HMS Bedford)
IncognitoWhite (defense attorney)
1999Rogue TraderSimon Jones
2001To End All WarsLt. Foxworth
RevelationProfessor Claxton
The Mystic MasseurGovernor
All the Queen's MenBritish Major
2005Pride & PrejudiceNetherfield Butler
ValiantLofty (voice)
2007The Mark of CainColonel Hampton
FloodArmy Liaison Officer Richardson
2008Easy VirtueLord Hurst
2009Dorian GrayVictor
St Trinian's 2: The Legend of Fritton's GoldHeathcoat Parker
2011My Week with MarilynSir Kenneth Clark
War HorseMajor Tompkins
Love's KitchenHealth & Safety Official
The Iron LadyIan Gilmour
Largo Winch IIInvité Plateau CNBC
2012Anna KareninaPrince Shcherbatsky
GambitSavoy Desk Clerk
Bel AmiPaul the Butler
The ScapegoatGeorge
2013The GuestFrankShort film
Drone StrikeWing Commander Ellis
2014Gemma BoveryRankin
Effie GrayRoyal Academy / Times Journalist
2015The Danish GirlDr Hexler
Star Wars: The Force AwakensColonel Kaplan
2016Kids in LoveGraham
2017Darkest HourBBC Producer
2018Down a Dark HallProfessor Farley
2019The AftermathGeneral Brook
TBAVindictaAdnon SvobodaPost-production

Television edit

YearTitleRoleNotes
1987The Lenny Henry ShowPC Monkhouse6 episodes
1989The Nightmare YearsMajor Radford4 episodes
Voice of the HeartKim CunninghamTelevision film
Arms and the ManBluntschliBBC television play
1991ChimeraWindeler3 episodes
PerformanceNigel ChildsEpisode: "Absolute Hell"
1991, 2006Agatha Christie's PoirotMajor Rich/Jeremy CloadeEpisodes: "The Mystery of the Spanish Chest" (1991) and "Taken at the Flood" (2006)
1992The Young Indiana Jones ChroniclesHoward CarterEpisodes: "Young Indiana Jones and the Curse of the Jackal" and "Treasure of the Peacock's Eye"
Van der ValkMichael de GrootEpisode: "Still Waters"
MedicsJonathan WitleyEpisode: "#2.1"
1992–1993Jeeves and WoosterBingo LittleEpisodes: "Comrade Bingo" and "Bridegroom Wanted"
1993LovejoyChristian ShotleyEpisode: "Fly the Flag"
To Play the KingAndrew Harding3 episodes
MinderMuldierEpisode: "The Great Trilby"
MaigretChief CommissionerEpisode: "Maigret on the Defensive"
1994A Dark-Adapted EyeChad2 episodes
The Brittas EmpireJohn RawlinsonEpisode: "Brussels Calling"
1995Kavanagh QCMiles PetershamEpisode: "Nothing But the Truth"
The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Treasure of the Peacock's EyeHoward CarterTelevision film
Hamish MacbethPeter PetersonEpisode: "S1.E1 The Great Lochdubh Salt Robbery"
1995–2007The BillVarious5 episodes
1996The Ruth Rendell MysteriesMichael Quin2 episodes
Tales from the CryptGordonEpisode: "About Face"
1997Crime TravellerCarterEpisode: "A Death in the Family"
BodyguardsRobert Ferguson6 episodes
Soldier SoldierMajor Lawrence Brownham2 episodes
1998The Unknown SoldierMajor Stephen PhelpsTelevision film
1999Murder Most HorridNews PresenterEpisode: "Elvis, Jesus and Zack"
Big Bad WorldHughEpisode: "Be Nice to Posh People"
Pure WickednessDr. Phil Gold3 episodes
Peak PracticeHarry Kenyon2 episodes
2000LongitudeCaptain LindsayTV series
Lorna DooneColonel KirkeTelevision film
Black CabJamesEpisode: "Busy Body"
2001Office GossipMark SpenserEpisode: "Moving On"
2002ShackletonJames McIlroyTelevision film
SundayInquiry lawyerTelevision film
Ted and AliceDr. Handford3 episodes
Believe NothingLe FanuEpisode: "Get Rich Quick"
Dead GorgeousRex BallardTelevision film
The ProjectMoD OfficialTelevision film
TLCMr. CopperfieldEpisode: "Staying Awake"
Darwin's DaughterCharles DarwinTelevision film
The Many Lives of Albert WalkeSamTelevision film
2003At Home with the BraithwaitesMr. BrondbyEpisode: "#4.6"
Where the Heart IsPeter Viner - CardiologistEpisode: "My Way"
Trial & RetributionDCS Richard LawsonEpisode: "Suspicion: Part 2"
Second NatureFrankTelevision film
Seven Wonders of the Industrial WorldDr. John SnowEpisode: "The Sewer King"
Charles II: The Power and the PassionCharles HartEpisode #1.3
GiftedRichard NeilsonTelevision film
2004Red CapMajor Tim GarveyEpisode: "Betrayed"
CasualtyTom PriceEpisode: "World Gone Wrong: Part 1"
Messiah: The PromiseDCI Warmseley2 episodes
Rosemary & ThymeDonald WestwardEpisode: "Up the Garden Path"
When I'm 64HeadmasterTelevision film
My Dad's the Prime MinisterPublisherEpisode: "Diaries"
Agatha Christie's MarpleNoël CowardEpisode: "4:50 from Paddington"
2004–2008Wire in the BloodDI Brennan / Harrison3 episodes
2005RomeLucius Tillius CimberEpisode: "Kalends of February"
Broken NewsSam French, Bullet Points Presenter6 episodes
The CommanderDCS Les Branton2 episodes
A View from a HillSquire RichardsTelevision film
The Rotters' ClubEnglish MasterEpisode: "The Chick and the Hairy Guy"
The Government InspectorJohn ScarlettTelevision film
No AngelsDr. TemplarEpisode: "#2.8"
The Last DetectiveCaptain BoydenEpisode: "Towpaths of Glory"
Ian Fleming: BondmakerNoël CowardTelevision film
Class of '76Supt FloodTelevision film
2006Ancient Rome: The Rise and Fall of an EmpireOlympiusEpisode: "The Fall of Rome"
Green WingNeurosurgeon2 episodes
The Chatterley AffairMervyn Griffith-JonesTelevision film
The Path to 9/11Paul Kessler2 episodes
RebusAndrew HammillEpisode: "Let It Bleed"
SpooksCharles LeeEpisode: "5.8"
MissingDerek Mailer2 episodes
DresdenSaundbyTelevision film
Pinochet in SuburbiaMichael CaplanTelevision film
2007Waking the DeadDennis Holland2 episodes
Doctor WhoRocastle2 episodes
LewisMalcolm CroftEpisode: "Expiation"
The Bad Mother's HandbookDoctor GaleTelevision film
The ChaseHubert Bryce-JonesEpisode: "2.10"
Consenting AdultsFrances Graham HarrisonTelevision film
Silent WitnessRichard Tate2 episodes
Miss Austen RegretsEdward Austen KnightTelevision film
2008Queen Victoria's MenCharles GrevilleTelevision film
2009HeartbeatJames MoncrieffEpisode: "Sweet Sorrow"
Breaking the MouldRadio Announcer (voice)Television film
U Be DeadPeter HigginsonTelevision film
CollisionDeputy Commissioner FraserEpisode 1
2010Secret Diary of a Call GirlEdwardEpisode 3.1
2010, 2016Midsomer MurdersGroup Captain Jeremy Ford / Fergal JennerEpisodes: "The Incident at Cooper Hill" (2016) and "Blood on the Saddle" (2010)
2011The PromiseMajor John Arbuthnot4 episodes
OutnumberedArmitage2 episodes
2011–2014SilkHHJ Maikin4 episodes
Law & Order: UKPhilip Nevins5 episodes
2012HustleHeinz ZimmermannEpisode: "Gold Finger"
WhitechapelTravis UnderwoodEpisode: "Case Two (Part 2)"
The Hollow CrownThomas de MowbrayEpisode: "Henry IV, Part 2"
The Fall of Singapore: The Great BetrayalMI5 OfficerTelevision film
One NightMr. Lerner3 episodes
SwitchLord PiermontEpisode: "Summer Solstice Showdown"
SpyCrispinEpisode: "Codename: Double Oh"
2013Yes, Prime MinisterJeremy BurnhamEpisode: "The Poisoned Chalice"
Death in ParadiseGuideEpisode: "A Deadly Curse"
Black MirrorPhilip CraneEpisode: "The Waldo Moment"
The Lady VanishesReverend Kenneth BarnesTelevision film
Father BrownGeoffrey BennettEpisode: "The Devil's Dust"
BreathlessEric SmallwoodEpisode: "#2.1"
2014Fleming: The Man Who Would Be BondEsmond Rothermere4 episodes
Inspector George GentlyBrigadier PhillipsEpisode: "Gently with Honour"
Salting the BattlefieldJock CalderonTelevision film
Playhouse Presents: MarkedSteve BrashTelevision film
2014–2016GrantchesterSir Edward Kendall2 episodes (2014), Christmas Special (2016)
2015The Heavy Water WarJohn Skinner Wilson6 episodes
Up the WomenLawrenceEpisodes: "Vote", "Train" and "Bowls"
2015–2017VersaillesThe Duke of Cassel17 episodes
2015–2019PoldarkCary Warleggan29 episodes
2016War & PeacePrince Bagration2 episodes
Hetty FeatherReverend CranbourneEpisode: "Changes"
2016–2019The CrownTommy Lascelles16 episodes
2017–2019PreacherHerr Klaus Helmut Starr33 episodes
2018Patrick MelroseNicholas PrattMiniseries
Death and NightingalesMaurice FairbrotherEpisode #1.2
2018–2019Deep StateWilliam Kingsley6 episodes
2020DesIvan Lawrence QC1 episode
RoadkillJoe Lapidus1 episode
2021–2023The NeversLord MassenMain cast
SuccessionPeter Munion4 episodes
2022SherwoodCommissioner Charles Dawes6 episodes
2024Mr Bates vs The Post OfficeMr Justice Fraser1 episode
Renegade NellLord BlanchefordRecurring role

Video games edit

YearTitleRoleNotes
2019The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of MedanThe CuratorVoice and motion capture
2020The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope
2021The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes
2022Elden RingRadahn / VarréVoice
The Dark Pictures Anthology: The Devil in MeThe CuratorVoice and motion capture
2023Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of RuinNighthaunt CommanderVoice

References edit

  1. ^ The Cambridge University List of Members up to 31 July 1998, University of Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1998, p. 793
  2. ^ The Cambridge University List of Members up to 31 July 1998, University of Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1998, p. 793
  3. ^ The Cambridge University List of Members up to 31 July 1998, University of Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1998, p. 793
  4. ^ The Territorial Air Force 1925-1927- Officer Recruitment and Class, appendix 2, Frances L. Wilkinson, Univ. of Wolverhampton, 2017, p. 19
  5. ^ The Cambridge University List of Members up to 31 July 1998, University of Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1998, p. 793
  6. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Pip Torrens - A Full and Mixed Career". YouTube.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Pip Torrens Credits". tvguide.com. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
  8. ^ Gavin Fuller; Catherine Gee; Ben Lawrence (19 September 2015). "10 best modern-era Doctor Who episodes". The Telegraph.

External links edit