Men Of Character Character Actors
Michael Ripper
The Revenge Of Frankenstein/ Kurt
The Plague Of The Zombies/ Sgt. Jack Swift
The Reptile/ Tom Bailey
Dracula Has Risen From The Grave/ Max
Per Quinlan's Character Stars:
Bright, jaunty, fair haired British actor, mostly seen as minor crooks, comedy relief or oppressed little men until the end of the 1950's from which he gradually became the favorite prey of the screen's monsters, particularly those from the Hammer vaults.
Michael Ripper was born at Portsmouth, Hampshire, England in 1913 whose father was a speech therapist and who encouraged him to participate in diction and public speaking competitions.
Ripper's first taste of the stage was through his father's amateur drama company. He won a scholarship to drama school and then began to appear in theater professionally.
He had a thyroid condition that left him unable to project his voice for the stage. He then moved into quota quickie films and then even participated as an assistant director for a production company.
Ripper then began a long association with Hammer Studios whereby his face was known both in England and America. He was a mainstay for many years in the Hammer Studios horror films.
Some of the film roles of Michael Ripper were:
Father And Son (1936) as Minor Role
Busman's Holiday (1937) as Crook
Father Steps Out (1937) as Minor Role
Easy Riches (1938) as Cuthbert
If I Were Boss (1938) as Minor Role
Miracles Do Happen (1938) as Morning Cornet Reporter
Boys In Brown (1947-TV) as Casey
Captain Boycott (1947) as Pat Nolan
Oliver Twist (1948) as Barney
There Is No Escape (1948) as Andy Anderson
The Anatomist (1949-TV) as Hare
The Rocking Horse Winner (1949) as 2nd Chauffeur
Eye Witness (1950) as Sam Baxter
A Case For PC 49 (1951) as George Steele
Jungle Treasure (1951) as Jake
Secret People (1952) as Charlie
Treasure Hunt (1952) as Removal Man
Folly To Be Wise (1953) as Drill Corporal
Her Three Bachelors (1953) as Mike
Gilbert And Sullivan (1953) as Louis
Raiders In The Sky (1953) as BombTechnician
Three Steps To Murder (1953) as Eddie
The Intruder (1953) as Mechanic
The Rainbow Jacket (1953) as Benny Loder
The Belles Of St. Trinian (1954) as Albert Fanning
The Sea Shall Not Have Them (1954) as Botterhill
Tale Of Three Women (1954) as Simkins
Marriage A La Mode (1954) as Left Luggage Attendant
Wee Geordie (1955) as Reporter
Secret Venture (1955) as Bill Rymer
Richard III (1955) as Forrest
The Anatomist (1956-TV) as Hare
1984 (1956) as Outer Party Orator
Blonde Sinner (1956) as Roy
Reach For The Sky (1956) as Warrant Officer West
The Green Man (1956) as Waiter
X: The Unknown (1956) as Sgt. Harry Grymsdyke
The Steel Bayonet (1957) as Pvt. Middleditch
Enemy From Space (1957) as Ernie
Woman In A Dressing Gown (1957) as Pawnbroker
Dangerous Youth (1957) as Pvt Simpson
Not Wanted On Voyage (1957) as Steward Macy
Your Past Is Showing (1957) as J. E. Freeman
Blue Murder At St. Trinians'(1957) as Eric The Liftman
The Camp On Blood Island (1958) as Japanese Driver
Up The Creek (1958) as Decorator
The Revenge Of Frankenstein (1958) as Kurt
Girls At Sea (1958) as Marine
Further Up The Creek (1958) as Ticket Collector
I Only Asked! (1958) as Azim
Quartermass And The Pit (1958-59 TV Miniseries) as Sergeant
The Man Who Could Cheat Death (1959) as Morgue Attendant
Bobbikins (1959) as Naval Petty Officer
The Mummy (1959) as Poacher
The Ugly Duckling (1959) as Benny
Mario (1959-TV) as Jed
Jackpot (1960) as Lenny Lane
Sink The Bismarck (1960) as Able Seaman Lookout
Dead Lucky (1960) as Percy Simpson
The Brides Of Dracula (1960) as Coachman
Not A Hope In Hell (1960) as Sid
Circle Of Deception (1960) as Monsieur Chauvet
Macbeth (1960-TV) as 1st Murderer
The Pure Hell Of St. Trinian's (1960) as Liftman
The Curse Of The Werewolf (1961) as Old Soak
A Matter Of WHO (1961) as Skipper
Petticoat Pirates (1961) as Tug
The Pirates Of Blood River (1962) as Mack
Night Creatures (1962) as Coffin Maker Jeremiah Mipps
The Phantom Of The Opera (1962) as Long Faced Cab Driver
Fog For A Killer (1962) as Tich
A Prize Of Arms (1962) as Cpl. Freeman
The Amorous Mr. Prawn (1962) as Angus
Two Left Feet (1963) as Uncle Reg
The Punch And Judy Man (1963) as Waiter
What A Crazy World (1963) as The Common Man
The Crimson Blade (1963) as Pablo
The Devil Ship Pirates (1964) as Pepe
Seaside Swingers (1964) as George Pullman
The Curse Of The Mummy's Tomb (1964) as Achmed
The Secret Of Blood Island (1964) as Lt. Tojoko
The Spy Who Came In From The Cold (1965) as Lofthouse
The Plague Of The Zombies (1966) as Sgt. Jack Swift
The Reptile (1966) as Tom Bailey
The Great St. Trinian's Train Robbery (1966) as The Liftman
Where The Bullets Fly (1966) as Angel
The Deadly Bees (1966) as David Hawkins
The Mummy's Shroud (1967) as Longbarrow
Torture Garden (1967) as Gordon Roberts
Inspector Clouseau (1968) as Steven Fry
The Lost Continent (1968) as Sea Lawyer
Dracula Has Risen From The Grave (1968) as Max
Journey Into Darkness (1968) as Albert Cole
Moon Zero Two (1969) as 1st Card Player
Girly (1970) as Zoo Attendant
Taste The Blood Of Dracula (1970) as Cobb
Scars Of Dracula (1970) as Landlord
The Shadow Of The Tower (1972-TV Miniseries) as The Guard
That's Your Funeral (1972) as Arthur
The Creeping Flesh (1973) as Carter
No Sex Please: We're British (1973) as Traffic Warden
Legend Of The Werewolf (1975) as Sewer Man
Crossed Swords (1977) as Edith's Servant
Sammy's Super T-Shirt (1978) as Gate Man
Missing From Home (1984-TV Miniseries) as Mr. Reynolds
No Surrender 1985) as Tony Bonaparte
Revenge Of Billy The Kid (1992) as Old Pub Local.
He appeared in more of the Hammer Studio films than any other actor. Many times he was disguised almost beyond recognition. But his raspy voice remained unmistakable. Some of his Hammer Studio parts were no more than glorified cameos but he always made the most of them.
Mr Ripper was very active on British television.
Mr. Ripper was married three times. He had one child from his first wife Jean Bramley. His final marriage was to Cecelia Dodge from 1995 until his death.
Michael Ripper passed away in 2000 at the age of 87.
I enjoyed Mr Ripper in the films X The Unknown, The Belles Of St. Trinian's, The Mummy, The Brides Of Dracula, Night Creatures. The Revenge Of Frankenstein, Plague Of The Zombies, The Curse Of The Mummy's Tomb, The Reptile, The Mummy's Shroud, The Creeping Flesh, 1984 and The Man Who Could Cheat Death.
Louie The Movie Buff