Philip D'Oyly "Pip" Torrens[1] (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

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Son of the Rev. Robert Harrington Torrens, MA, and descendant of the lawyer and colonial official Henry Whitelock Torrens,[1][2] Torrens was born in Bromley, Kent, and educated at Bloxham School. He studied English Literature at Trinity College, Cambridge (BA 1981, MA 1987),[1] and subsequently studied acting at Drama Studio London.[3]

Career

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Torrens's television appearances include Consenting Adults, two episodes of Jeeves and Wooster,[4] two episodes of Doctor Who ("Human Nature"/"The Family of Blood"),[5] The Brittas Empire,[4] Green Wing,[4] Silk,[4] 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.[4]

In 2011, Torrens appeared in both episodes of an Outnumbered two-part special.[4] In 2012, he appeared in the first episode of series 8 of Hustle,[4] as Heinz Zimmermann and also presented new gameshow The Devil's Dinner Party.[4] Torrens briefly appeared in an episode of Death in Paradise in 2013,[4] as a museum guide. His film appearances include Tomorrow Never Dies,[4] as the captain of the fictional HMS Bedford, the 2001 film To End All Wars,[4] and voicework for Valiant.[4]

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

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1984 Oxford Blues Ian
1986 Lady Jane Thomas
1987 Little Dorrit Henry Gowan
1988 A Handful of Dust Jock
1989 How to Get Ahead in Advertising Jonathan
Bearskin: An Urban Fairytale Gold-cufflinks
1990 Mountains of the Moon Lt. Hesketh
Eminent Domain Anton
1991 The Object of Beauty Art Evaluator
1992 Patriot Games Lord North's 1st Aide
1993 The Remains of the Day Doctor Carlisle
1997 Tomorrow Never Dies Captain (HMS Bedford)
Incognito White (defense attorney)
1999 Rogue Trader Simon Jones
2001 To End All Wars Lt. Foxworth
Revelation Professor Claxton
The Mystic Masseur Governor
All the Queen's Men British Major
2005 Pride & Prejudice Netherfield Butler
Valiant Lofty (voice)
2007 The Mark of Cain Colonel Hampton
Flood Army Liaison Officer Richardson
2008 Easy Virtue Lord Hurst
2009 Dorian Gray Victor
St Trinian's 2: The Legend of Fritton's Gold Heathcoat Parker
2011 My Week with Marilyn Sir Kenneth Clark
War Horse Major Tompkins
Love's Kitchen Health & Safety Official
The Iron Lady Ian Gilmour
Largo Winch II Invité Plateau CNBC
2012 Anna Karenina Prince Shcherbatsky
Gambit Savoy Desk Clerk
Bel Ami Paul the Butler
The Scapegoat George
2013 The Guest Frank Short film
Drone Strike Wing Commander Ellis
2014 Gemma Bovery Rankin
Effie Gray Royal Academy / Times Journalist
2015 The Danish Girl Dr Hexler
Star Wars: The Force Awakens Colonel Kaplan
2016 Kids in Love Graham
2017 Darkest Hour BBC Producer
2018 Down a Dark Hall Professor Farley
2019 The Aftermath General Brook
TBA Vindicta Adnon Svoboda Post-production
TBA Savage House Mr. Black Post-production

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1987 The Lenny Henry Show PC Monkhouse 6 episodes
1989 The Nightmare Years Major Radford 4 episodes
Voice of the Heart Kim Cunningham Television film
Arms and the Man Bluntschli BBC television play
1991 Chimera Windeler 3 episodes
Performance Nigel Childs Episode: "Absolute Hell"
1991, 2006 Agatha Christie's Poirot Major Rich/Jeremy Cloade Episodes: "The Mystery of the Spanish Chest" (1991) and "Taken at the Flood" (2006)
1992 The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles Howard Carter Episodes: "Young Indiana Jones and the Curse of the Jackal" and "Treasure of the Peacock's Eye"
Van der Valk Michael de Groot Episode: "Still Waters"
Medics Jonathan Witley Episode: "#2.1"
1992–1993 Jeeves and Wooster Bingo Little Episodes: "Comrade Bingo" and "Bridegroom Wanted"
1993 Lovejoy Christian Shotley Episode: "Fly the Flag"
To Play the King Andrew Harding 3 episodes
Minder Muldier Episode: "The Great Trilby"
Maigret Chief Commissioner Episode: "Maigret on the Defensive"
1994 A Dark-Adapted Eye Chad 2 episodes
The Brittas Empire John Rawlinson Episode: "Brussels Calling"
1995 Kavanagh QC Miles Petersham Episode: "Nothing But the Truth"
The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Treasure of the Peacock's Eye Howard Carter Television film
Hamish Macbeth Peter Peterson Episode: "S1.E1 The Great Lochdubh Salt Robbery"
1995–2007 The Bill Various 5 episodes
1996 The Ruth Rendell Mysteries Michael Quin 2 episodes
Tales from the Crypt Gordon Episode: "About Face"
1997 Crime Traveller Carter Episode: "A Death in the Family"
Bodyguards Robert Ferguson 6 episodes
Soldier Soldier Major Lawrence Brownham 2 episodes
1998 The Unknown Soldier Major Stephen Phelps Television film
1999 Murder Most Horrid News Presenter Episode: "Elvis, Jesus and Zack"
Big Bad World Hugh Episode: "Be Nice to Posh People"
Pure Wickedness Dr. Phil Gold 3 episodes
Peak Practice Harry Kenyon 2 episodes
2000 Longitude Captain Lindsay TV series
Lorna Doone Colonel Kirke Television film
Black Cab James Episode: "Busy Body"
2001 Office Gossip Mark Spenser Episode: "Moving On"
2002 Shackleton James McIlroy Television film
Sunday Inquiry lawyer Television film
Ted and Alice Dr. Handford 3 episodes
Believe Nothing Le Fanu Episode: "Get Rich Quick"
Dead Gorgeous Rex Ballard Television film
The Project MoD Official Television film
TLC Mr. Copperfield Episode: "Staying Awake"
Darwin's Daughter Charles Darwin Television film
The Many Lives of Albert Walke Sam Television film
2003 At Home with the Braithwaites Mr. Brondby Episode: "#4.6"
Where the Heart Is Peter Viner - Cardiologist Episode: "My Way"
Trial & Retribution DCS Richard Lawson Episode: "Suspicion: Part 2"
Second Nature Frank Television film
Seven Wonders of the Industrial World Dr. John Snow Episode: "The Sewer King"
Charles II: The Power and the Passion Charles Hart Episode #1.3
Gifted Richard Neilson Television film
2004 Red Cap Major Tim Garvey Episode: "Betrayed"
Casualty Tom Price Episode: "World Gone Wrong: Part 1"
Messiah: The Promise DCI Warmseley 2 episodes
Rosemary & Thyme Donald Westward Episode: "Up the Garden Path"
When I'm 64 Headmaster Television film
My Dad's the Prime Minister Publisher Episode: "Diaries"
Agatha Christie's Marple Noël Coward Episode: "4:50 from Paddington"
2004–2008 Wire in the Blood DI Brennan / Harrison 3 episodes
2005 Rome Lucius Tillius Cimber Episode: "Kalends of February"
Broken News Sam French, Bullet Points Presenter 6 episodes
The Commander DCS Les Branton 2 episodes
A View from a Hill Squire Richards Television film
The Rotters' Club English Master Episode: "The Chick and the Hairy Guy"
The Government Inspector John Scarlett Television film
No Angels Dr. Templar Episode: "#2.8"
The Last Detective Captain Boyden Episode: "Towpaths of Glory"
Ian Fleming: Bondmaker Noël Coward Television film
Class of '76 Supt Flood Television film
2006 Ancient Rome: The Rise and Fall of an Empire Olympius Episode: "The Fall of Rome"
Green Wing Neurosurgeon 2 episodes
The Chatterley Affair Mervyn Griffith-Jones Television film
The Path to 9/11 Paul Kessler 2 episodes
Rebus Andrew Hammill Episode: "Let It Bleed"
Spooks Charles Lee Episode: "5.8"
Missing Derek Mailer 2 episodes
Dresden Saundby Television film
Pinochet in Suburbia Michael Caplan Television film
2007 Waking the Dead Dennis Holland 2 episodes
Doctor Who Rocastle 2 episodes
Lewis Malcolm Croft Episode: "Expiation"
The Bad Mother's Handbook Doctor Gale Television film
The Chase Hubert Bryce-Jones Episode: "2.10"
Consenting Adults Frances Graham Harrison Television film
Silent Witness Richard Tate 2 episodes
Miss Austen Regrets Edward Austen Knight Television film
2008 Queen Victoria's Men Charles Greville Television film
2009 Heartbeat James Moncrieff Episode: "Sweet Sorrow"
Breaking the Mould Radio Announcer (voice) Television film
U Be Dead Peter Higginson Television film
Collision Deputy Commissioner Fraser Episode 1
2010 Secret Diary of a Call Girl Edward Episode 3.1
2010, 2016 Midsomer Murders Group Captain Jeremy Ford / Fergal Jenner Episodes: "The Incident at Cooper Hill" (2016) and "Blood on the Saddle" (2010)
2011 The Promise Major John Arbuthnot 4 episodes
Outnumbered Armitage 2 episodes
2011–2014 Silk HHJ Maikin 4 episodes
Law & Order: UK Philip Nevins 5 episodes
2012 Hustle Heinz Zimmermann Episode: "Gold Finger"
Whitechapel Travis Underwood Episode: "Case Two (Part 2)"
The Hollow Crown Thomas de Mowbray Episode: "Henry IV, Part 2"
The Fall of Singapore: The Great Betrayal MI5 Officer Television film
One Night Mr. Lerner 3 episodes
Switch Lord Piermont Episode: "Summer Solstice Showdown"
Spy Crispin Episode: "Codename: Double Oh"
2013 Yes, Prime Minister Jeremy Burnham Episode: "The Poisoned Chalice"
Death in Paradise Guide Episode: "A Deadly Curse"
Black Mirror Philip Crane Episode: "The Waldo Moment"
The Lady Vanishes Reverend Kenneth Barnes Television film
Father Brown Geoffrey Bennett Episode: "The Devil's Dust"
Breathless Eric Smallwood Episode: "#2.1"
2014 Fleming: The Man Who Would Be Bond Esmond Rothermere 4 episodes
Inspector George Gently Brigadier Phillips Episode: "Gently with Honour"
Salting the Battlefield Jock Calderon Television film
Playhouse Presents: Marked Steve Brash Television film
2014–2016 Grantchester Sir Edward Kendall 2 episodes (2014), Christmas Special (2016)
2015 The Heavy Water War John Skinner Wilson 6 episodes
Up the Women Lawrence Episodes: "Vote", "Train" and "Bowls"
2015–2017 Versailles The Duke of Cassel 17 episodes
2015–2019 Poldark Cary Warleggan 29 episodes
2016 War & Peace Prince Bagration 2 episodes
Hetty Feather Reverend Cranbourne Episode: "Changes"
2016–2019 The Crown Tommy Lascelles 16 episodes
2017–2019 Preacher Herr Klaus Helmut Starr 33 episodes
2018 Patrick Melrose Nicholas Pratt Miniseries
Death and Nightingales Maurice Fairbrother Episode #1.2
2018–2019 Deep State William Kingsley 6 episodes
2020 Des Ivan Lawrence QC 1 episode
Roadkill Joe Lapidus 1 episode
2021–2023 The Nevers Lord Massen Main cast
Succession Peter Munion 4 episodes
2022 Sherwood Commissioner Charles Dawes 6 episodes
2024 Mr Bates vs The Post Office Mr Justice Fraser 1 episode
Renegade Nell Lord Blancheford Recurring role

Video games

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Year Title Role Notes
2019 The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan The Curator Voice and motion capture
2020 The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope
2021 The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes
2022 Elden Ring Radahn / Varré Voice
The Dark Pictures Anthology: The Devil in Me The Curator Voice and motion capture
2023 Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin Nighthaunt Commander Voice
2024 Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree Radahn Voice

References

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