Derek Royle (1929—1990), was a British actor born in London, UK. His face was probably better known than his name to British viewers, but he was acting in films and TV from the mid-sixties until he died. He had a supporting role in The Beatles' film Magical Mystery Tour in 1967, as well as a minor one with Cilla Black in the film Work Is A Four-letter Word a year later. Most of his film appearances were however in rather low comedy films.

His big personal success came in a TV comedy series especially for children. Hogg's Back (1975) starred him as an eccentric GP. It was shown in the 'children's hour' early evening slot and was very popular. (Hog's Back is an area in Surrey in Britain). His most famous acting internationally was in an episode of Fawlty Towers. But he had only one short scene in this where he spoke - the rest of the show he played a corpse!

He was in a series of the BBC comedy 'Allo 'Allo, and had a supporting role in a remake of Indiscreet (1988), and in a new BBC version of a Lord Peter Whimsey story. So it is likely he would have continued to act, but he died at the age of 61.

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