Peter Arne's acting career was marked by a distinctive versatility, as he effortlessly transitioned from playing memorable roles in war movies to assuming the persona of a sinister villain in a string of British films.
Following his early appearances in war movies such as "The Purple Plain" (1954) and "The Cockleshell Heroes" (1955),as well as a Tarzan film, "Tarzan and the Lost Safari" (1957),Arne's breakthrough role came in "Strangers' Meeting" (1957),where he portrayed a compelling villain.
From this point on, Arne consistently played the role of a sinister character, appearing in films such as "The Moonraker" (1958),"Intent to Kill" (1958),"Breakout" (1959),"Conspiracy of Hearts" (1960),"The Hellfire Club" (1961),and "The Secret of Monte Cristo" (1961).
Arne's remarkable range allowed him to convincingly portray a Cromwell officer, an Italian camp commander, or a Nazi officer, and he frequently engaged in sword fights as a cunning and deceitful character.
In 1962, he starred alongside Christopher Lee in "The Pirates of Blood River" (1962),but his role was cut short when a new actor, Oliver Reed, took over midway through the production.
This marked the beginning of a new chapter in Arne's career, as he transitioned to television roles and occasional bit parts in feature films. He continued to work with directors he had previously collaborated with, occasionally reprising his earlier roles.
Arne's career received a welcome boost in 1972 when he starred in the TV movie "The Stallion," alongside a horse, and he also appeared in a couple of films directed by Blake Edwards.
In addition to his acting career, Arne pursued his passion for antiques, running a successful business with his sister.
Tragically, Arne's life was cut short when he was murdered at the age of 63, just before he was set to appear in the popular TV show "Doctor Who" (1963).
