John Rolfe (actor)

British actor (1935–2020)

John Richard Rolfe (1935 – 12 August 2020) was a British actor. He was named after the colonist who married Pocahontas in Jamestown, Virginia. His stage work includes appearances at the Bristol Old Vic and with the RSC. His television credits include: Z Cars, Dixon of Dock Green, Adam Adamant Lives!, The First Lady, Softly, Softly, Doctor Who (in the serials The War Machines, The Moonbase and The Green Death), Paul Temple, The Troubleshooters, Out of the Unknown, The Regiment, Spy Trap, Warship, Oil Strike North, Survivors, Blake's 7, Minder, Secret Army, The Enigma Files, Yes Minister, One by One, Howards' Way and The House of Eliott. He did the first, moustached and spectacled postman in "Mr. Bean Rides Again" (he played the postman seen before Mr. Bean got locked in the letterbox after he stole a lady's stamp for his own letter). He also played Graham in the 1980 film McVicar, starring Roger Daltrey. In 1994 he guest starred in The Bill.

Television Year Title Role Notes 1962 Emergency Ward 10 Paul Wright 3 episodes The River Flows East Gordon Episode 3 Maigret Receptionist Series 3, episode 10: "Death in Mind" 1962 1963 The Old Curiosity Shop Jacob Owl Miniseries 3 episodes Suspense Reporter 2 episodes 1962 1974 Z Cars George Smethurst / Tom Ballard / Various 6 episodes 1963 Moonstrike Anton 2 episodes 1963 1975 Dixon of Dock Green Robson / Frank Wilson / Jackson / Joe Gillespie / John Baldwin / Various 10 episodes 1964 Compact Studio Manager Episode 223: "In the Air" Detective Constable Barker Series 1, episode 2: "The Drawing" 1964 1965 Play of the Week First gentleman / Radner 2 episodes Cluff Detective Constable Barker 19 episodes 1966 Adam Adamant Lives! Kelvin Series 1, episode 2: "Death Has a Thousand Faces" 1966 1973 Doctor Who Sam / Fell / Captain 8 episodes 1968 1976 The Expert Dr. Muir / Tom Fanshaw 2 episodes 1969 Softly, Softly Irons Series 4, episode 17: "Departure" The First Lady Walker Series 2, episode 16: "The Whips Are Out" Counterstrike Dr. Ferris Episode 7: "The Lemming Syndrome" 1969 1970 Paul Temple Jenkins / Sergeant Dashford 2 episodes 1970 Special Branch Shelby Series 2, episode 2: "Dinner Date" 1971 A Family at War R. E. Officer Series 2, episode 11: "Hazard" Shadows of Fear Man Episode 7: "The Lesser of Two" Out of the Unknown Rawlinson Series 4, episode 3: "This Body Is Mine" The Troubleshooters Tanker Officer Series 7, episode 6: "A Touch of the Nelsons" 1972 The Man Outside Codron Episode 12: "Mandala" The Man Who Was Hunting Himself Detective Inspector Pearson Episode 2 The Regiment Captain Robins Series 2, episode 6: "Cholera" 1972 1973 Spy Trap Harvey / Doctor 2 episodes 1973 Sykes Newspaper Reporter Series 2, episode 8: "Window Smasher" 1974 Hunter's Walk John Dix Series 2, episode 3: "Villain" Masquerade Host Episode 4: "Something Down There Is Crying" Playhouse Daniels Series 8, episode 1: "The Gift of Friendship" The Brothers Haughton Series 4, episode 9: "The Race" The Chinese Puzzle Bill Jameson 6 episodes 1975 The Fight Against Slavery Counsel Miniseries Episode 3: "A Matter of Insurance" Oil Strike North Burton Episode 7: "It Depends Where You Stand" Poldark Magistrate Episode #1.5 1976 Hadleigh Thompson Series 4, episode 13: "Broke" The Crezz Airline Man Episode 6: "Voices from the Past" Brensham People Solicitor Episode 3: "William Hart, Wainwright" 1976 1983 Rentaghost Mr. Saunders / Mr. Green 2 episodes 1977 The Phoenix and the Carpet Policeman Episode 5: "The Phoenix and the Carpet" Warship Lodge Series 4, episode 6: "A Matter of History" Survivors Summers Series 3, episode 1: "Manhunt" Seven Faces of Woman Director Series 2, episode 2: "She: Sight Unseen" Don't Forget to Write! Vegetable Judge Series 1, episode 3: "The Tasting of the Wine" 1978 BBC2 Play of the Week Other Man Series 1, episode 11: "Mr. & Ms. Bureaucrat" Blake's 7 Terloc Series 1, episode 9: "Project Avalon" The Onedin Line Mr. Andrews Series 6, episode 3: "Double Dealers" The Sweeney Det. Chief Supt. Brookford Series 4, episode 3: "Drag Act" Return of the Saint Doland Episode 7: "Yesterday's Hero" Lillie Mr. O'Brien Episode 11: "Mr. Jersey" Secret Army Weikmann Series 2, episode 13: "Day of Wrath" 1979 Danger UXB Fire Officer Episode 2: "Unsung Heroes" Dick Barton: Special Agent Whiteson 3 episodes Last of the Summer Wine Man in Pub Series 5, episode 5: "Earnshaw Strikes Again" Angels Mr. Johnson 2 episodes 1980 Enemy at the Door Unterwachtmeister Klaas Series 2, episode 2: "Reception for the General" Play for Today Doctor Series 10, episode 15: "Murder Rap" A Question of Guilt Vicar Episode 1: "Constance Kent: Part 1" Time of My Life Edward Episode 6 The Gentle Touch Police Doctor Series 1, episode 4: "Shock" The Enigma Files Charles Higgins Episode 6: "The Charity Man" Escape Sweet Episode 4: "Alfred Hinds" Terry and June Arthur Series 2, episode 12: "Only Two Can Play" A Tale of Two Cities Bank Clerk 2 episodes Minder Collin Series 2, episode 12: "Caught in the Act, Fact" A Little Silver Trumpet Policeman Miniseries 2 episodes To Serve Them All My Days Raunce Episode 10: "Part Ten" 1981 Sunday Night Thriller Biologist Episode 2: "Dark Secret: Part 2" Partners Bill Episode 1: "Partnership" The Jail Diary of Albie Sachs Colonel McIntyre TV movie BBC2 Playhouse Teacher Series 7, episode 16: "Days" Coming Home Deputy Head Episode #1.6 Yes Minister Committee Member Series 2, episode 7: "A Question of Loyalty" Kessler Inspector Miniseries Episode 2 1982 Nancy Astor Maitre d'hotel Episode 7: "Scandals" The Chinese Detective Special Branch Man Series 2, episode 8: "Secret State" 1983 Jemima Shore Investigates Mr. Lewis Episode 9: "A Promising Death" 1985 By the Sword Divided Mr. John Downes Series 2, episode 2: "Cruel Necessity" One by One Arthur Carter 3 episodes Mapp & Lucia Milkman Series 1, episode 5: "The Owl and the Pussycat" Drummonds Mr. Rogers Series 1, episode 7: "A Breath of Fresh Air" Bergerac Bank Manager Series 4, episode 1: "The Last Interview" 1985 1986 Howards' Way James Sinclair 8 episodes 1986 Masterpiece Theatre: Lord Mountbatten The Last Viceroy Attlee / Clement Attlee Miniseries 6 episodes 1987 Teresa Driving Instructor TV movie 1988 Wish Me Luck Conducting Officer Episode #1.2 Hannay Ross Series 1, episode 6: "The Hazard of the Die" 1988 1994 The Bill Hugh Cardwell / Chas Baker / Mr. Covington 3 episodes 1990 EastEnders Carter 1 episode 1992 Moon and Son Mr. Thorpe Episode 3: "G. I. Joe is Missing" Mr. Bean The Postman Episode 6: "Mr. Bean Rides Again" 1993 Poirot Registrar Series 5, episode 7: "Dead Man's Mirror" 1994 Moving Story Aubrey Standfast Series 1, episode 5: "Charlotte, Emma, Bamber & Anne" 1995 Joking Apart Alison's Father Episode #2.4 The World of Lee Evans Station Manager Episode 2: "Off the Rails"