John Horsley

John L. Horsley (born 1920) is an English actor. He was born in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, England. His father was a doctor and he made his acting debut at the Theatre Royal in Bournemouth. After appearing in repertory theatres he was called up for military service in the Royal Devon Yeomanry in which he served in Sicily and Italy during World War II. He then contracted hepatitis and become a member of an Army drama company that toured military units. His early acting career saw him playing a succession of doctors and policemen, the former on film in Hell Drivers (1957), the latter on television in Big Breadwinner Hog (1969). He is best known, though, for his role as Doc Morrissey in the BBC sitcom The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin from 1976 to 1979 in which his catchphrase was 'Take two Aspirins'. He reprised the role in The Legacy of Reginald Perrin in 1996. He also had the notable role of Sir Ralph Shawcross in the 1990s BBC sitcom You Rang, M'Lord? He was a contender for the role of Lord President Borusa in the Doctor Who serial Arc of Infinity, but the role went to Leonard Sachs. Horsley married the actress June Marshall in 1948.

Actor