Person
Michael Pennington
Acting · 1943–2026 · Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England, UK
Biography
Michael Vivian Fyfe Pennington (June 7, 1943 - May 10, 2026) was a British director and actor who, together with director Michael Bogdanov, founded the English Shakespeare Company. Although primarily a stage actor, he is best known to wider audiences for his role as Moff Jerjerrod, commanding officer of the Death Star in the film Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi and as Michael Foot in The Iron Lady, opposite Meryl Streep.
Known for
Silent Witness
Dennis Morgan
Father Brown
Bishop Reynard
BBC Play of the Month
St Just
Endeavour
Professor Donald Bagley
Theatre 625
Wulfnoth
ITV Playhouse
Lancelot Wishart
Lewis
Dr. Melville
Waking the Dead
Prof Alan Macintosh
Playhouse
John Lilburne
ScreenPlay
Thomas Kyd
Filmography
- 2022Dans les secrets des films Star WarsNarrator ( Voice)
- 2021Manik da: The Mystique of Pather PanchaliNarrator (voice)
- 2020Raised by WolvesThe Trust Voice (voice)
- 20151945: The Savage PeaceNarrator (voice)
- 2014Secrets of the Universe: Great Scientists in Their Own WordsNarrator (Voice)
- 2013RSC Live: Richard IIJohn of Gaunt
- 2013The Escape ArtistJudge
- 2013EndeavourProfessor Donald Bagley
- 2013Father BrownBishop Reynard
- 2011The Iron LadyMichael Foot
- 2009The Lost World of Communism
- 2008Airborne: The RAF at 90Narrator - (Voice)
- 2008Florence NightingaleWen
- 2007LewisDr. Melville
- 2005FragileMarcus
- 2004Empire WarriorsNarrator
- 2003Colosseum - Rome's Arena of DeathNarrator (UK version) (voice)
- 2003State of PlayRichard Siegler
- 2002The Dinosaur HuntersWilliam Buckland
- 2002PyramidNarrator (voice)
- 2001Dr Terrible's House of HorriblePriest
- 2001Waking the DeadProf Alan Macintosh
- 1996Cracker: White GhostCommander Gordon Ellison
- 1996Dalziel and PascoeHartley Culpepper
- 1996Silent WitnessDennis Morgan
- 1994The Last BolshevikSelf (voice: English version)
- 1994Degas and Pissario Fall OutDegas
- 1992Between the Lines
- 1991Richard IIRichard II
- 1991Henry IV: Part 1Prince Henry of Wales
- 1991Henry IV: Part 2Henry Prince of Wales
- 1991Henry VKing Henry V
- 1991Henry VI: House of YorkJack Cade
- 1991Henry VI: House of LancasterEarl of Suffolk
- 1991Richard IIIDuke of Buckingham
- 1989Summer's LeaseHugh Pargeter
- 1987The Return of Sherlock HolmesSherlock Holmes
- 1986Theban Plays: Oedipus the KingOedipus Rex
- 1986The Marlowe InquestThomas Kyd
- 1986ScreenPlayThomas Kyd
- 1985Forbidden Passion: The Oscar Wilde Movie
- 1984The Mayor of MontemiloneNarrator
- 1984ItaliansNarrator
- 1984FreudCarl Jung
- 1984Playing Shakespeare
- 1984Waving to a TrainRichard
- 1983CymbelinePosthumus
- 1983Return of the JediMoff Jerjerrod
- 1982Outside EdgeBob
- 1981A Last Visitor for Mr. Hugh PeterJohn Lilburne
- 1978Danton's DeathSaint-Just
- 1978Mr and Mrs BureaucratE1A
- 1977BBC2 Play of the WeekE1A
- 1977It's Only Rock 'n' RollDon Harris
- 1976The Witches of PendleMinister
- 1974PlayhouseJohn Lilburne
- 1972No ExitIan Strawson
- 1970The Dolly SceneTom
- 1970Mad Jack
- 1969HamletLaertes
- 1969W. Somerset MaughamHans
- 1968The TycoonPeter Bell
- 1967ITV PlayhouseLancelot Wishart
- 1967Callan
- 1965BBC Play of the MonthSt Just
- 1965Thirty-Minute TheatreMartin
- 1965Public EyeJohn Sheldon
- 1964The Wednesday PlayGeoffrey Cromlech
- 1964Theatre 625Wulfnoth
- 1961Drama 61-67First youth
- 1959No Hiding Place
- 1956Armchair TheatreAdrian
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