Bill Wallis

Who was Bill Wallis?

William Wallis was a British character actor and comedian who appeared in numerous radio and television roles, as well as in the theatre.

He attended Farnham Grammar School from 1948 to 1955, where he was head boy. He gained a State Scholarship to St John's College, Cambridge, and while at Cambridge University met Peter Cook and David Frost. When Cook and the team took Beyond the Fringe to Broadway, Wallis took over the roles played by Alan Bennett.

Wallis appeared in a number of television programmes including Chelmsford 123, Doctor at Large, ITV's production of The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, the first series of Blackadder, Blackadder II, Blackadder Goes Forth, Just Good Friends and Yes, Prime Minister. In 1988 he appeared as Gestapo-man Werner Beck in award-winning War and Remembrance. He also appeared briefly in the first episode of ITV's Midsomer Murders, apparently driving a Morgan sports car. In fact this was pushed by other cast members, as he did not hold a driving licence. He appeared in Not Only...