David Battley (born, 5 November 1935, died 20 January 2003) was a British actor specialising in laconic, lugubrious comedy roles. He was born in Battersea, London, the son of Labour Member of Parliament John Battley. After a spell at Camberwell Art College and the family printing business, he studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and worked subsequently in repertory theatre in Liverpool.
His dry, ironical delivery became very familiar on television and cinema. He never had any notable leading roles, but as a character actor and comic stooge he was much in demand. TV work ranged from the satire show BBC 3 and the military police drama Redcap in the sixties through Eric Sykes' BBC sitcom and The Good Life in the 70s, and later The Bill, Lovejoy and Mr Bean in a busy and prolific career.
His best known work in the mid-70s was as comic foil to Monty Python team member Eric Idle in the BBC series Rutland Weekend Television (RWT). Idle praised Battley's dry, poker-faced style, but overlooked him when casting the American TV movie of RWT spin-off The Rutles' All You Need Is Cash, about a rock group based on The Beatles.
Battley also made many films, including Crossplot (1969), That's Your Funeral (1970) and Rentadick (1972), but his best-known big-screen roles are as Mr Turkentine in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971), and Ergo the Magnificent in Krull (1983).
Battley, who had been born with a hole in the heart, died of a heart attack on 20 January 2003.
Son of John Battley, the first Labour MP for Clapham (1945-50).
Father of actress Zoe S. Battley.
