Denis Lill was born in Hamilton, a city located in the Waikato region of the northern island of New Zealand. At the tender age of seventeen, he made the decision to enlist as a cadet in his country's air force, where he discovered a natural aptitude for amateur dramatics.
During his time in the air force, Denis developed a fondness for imitating the voices of characters from the BBC's Goon Show on radio, which would later serve as a precursor to his career in acting. He began to take on roles in stage and operatic productions, showcasing his versatility as a performer.
In 1967, Denis made the bold decision to move to Britain, where he would make his professional theatrical London debut at the Old Vic as an extra in William Congreve's play The Way of the World. From 1970 onwards, he became a familiar presence on British television, often sporting his trademark moustache and projecting an air of authority.
As a result, Denis was frequently cast in roles that leveraged his authoritative presence, such as military men, police officers, and aristocrats. His notable roles include Bertie, the Prince of Wales (and later Edward VIII) in the miniseries Lillie, the short-lived German Kaiser Frederick III in the excellent Fall of Eagles, King George VI in The Gathering Storm, and legendary King Pellinore in the lackluster TV movie Arthur the King.
Denis has also had a prolific career in television, playing numerous coppers in shows like Thriller, Z Cars, and The Return of Sherlock Holmes. However, he achieved his greatest popularity as the Cockney businessman and perennial tippler Alan Parry in Only Fools and Horses and the lecherous Dennis Broadley in ITV's sitcom Outside Edge.
In addition to his television work, Denis has also appeared in cult TV series, including Doctor Who, where he played the obsessed scientist Dr. Fendelman in Image of the Fendahl and magistrate Sir George Hutchinson in The Awakening. His personal favorite role has been that of the rogue simulant, leader of the 'Gunmen of the Apocalpypse' (Death) in the Emmy Award-winning so-titled third episode of Red Dwarf.
Denis has also popped up in a small but very funny scene as the sozzled MP for the village of Dunny-on-the-World, Sir Talbot Buxomly, in a classic episode of Blackadder the Third. In addition to his screen work, Denis has continued to work on stage, notably touring Britain with Bill Kenwright's Agatha Christie Company in plays like And Then There Were None, Witness for the Prosecution, and Murder on the Nile.
Right up until 2019, Denis remained a busy screen actor, with a career spanning over five decades.
