Peter Swanwick

Walter Peter Swanwick (29 September 1922 – 14 November 1968) was a British character actor whose career spanned the early 1950s through the late 1960s, leaving an indelible mark on both film and television. Born in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, he entered the acting world after the Second World War, taking small but memorable parts in productions such as The African Queen (1951) where he appeared as the first officer of Fort Shona. Over the next decade he became a familiar face on British screens, appearing in a string of genre pictures and B‑movies, often credited as a policeman, military officer, or bureaucrat. His television work grew steadily and by the mid‑1960s he was a regular presence in popular series like The Avengers and Danger Man, the latter introducing him to future collaborator Patrick McGoohan. In 1967 Swanwick captured the imagination of a cult audience when he was cast as the enigmatic Supervisor—sometimes referred to as the Controller—in the groundbreaking series The Prisoner, a role that cemented his legacy despite his brief screen time. Swanwick’s stage credentials were equally notable; he originated the non‑singing role of Herr Zeller in the original London production of The Sound of Music, demonstrating his versatility beyond screen work. Unfortunately, severe health problems plagued him throughout the 1960s, leading to multiple surgeries and a prognosis of limited remaining years. He continued to work despite his declining condition, contributing to films such as The Devil Rides Out (1968) and completing his final screen appearance in The Looking Glass War (released posthumously). Swanwick died in London on 14 November 1968, aged 46, leaving behind a body of work that continues to be celebrated by aficionados of classic British cinema and television.