Alister Williamson, a character actor of Australian birth, made a lasting impact on the British film and television industry during the 1960s and 1970s. Standing tall at 6 feet 2 inches, Williamson's craggy facial features and commanding presence often led him to be cast as gruff police inspectors or henchmen in a variety of adventure series and police dramas.
With a career spanning over four decades, Williamson's television credits include appearances in iconic shows such as Adam Adamant Lives!, The Avengers, Paul Temple, Police Surgeon, Public Eye, The Saint, Softly, Softly, Special Branch, The Third Man, and Z-Cars. Additionally, he made memorable guest appearances in popular sitcoms like Please Sir!, Dad's Army, The Galton and Simpson Playhouse, George and Mildred, The Likely Lads, Man About the House, and That's My Boy.
Williamson's filmography is marked by his frequent appearances in the horror genre, often playing policemen or landlords for esteemed companies such as Hammer Studios, Amicus, and AIP. Some of his notable credits include The Curse of the Werewolf (1961),The Evil of Frankenstein (1963),The Gorgon (1964),and The Deadly Bees (1966). In 1969, he starred alongside Vincent Price and Christopher Lee in Gordon Hessler's The Oblong Box, playing the disfigured Sir Edward Markham in a role that originally belonged to Price.
Despite his impressive performance, Williamson's voice was deemed unsuitable for the film, and he was subsequently redubbed for the final product. However, this setback did not deter him from continuing his career in the horror genre, and he went on to appear in The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971) in a supporting role. Throughout his career, Williamson's versatility and range as an actor have left a lasting legacy in the world of British cinema and television.
