Born in 1942, David Warner was a British actor with an impressive number of credits to his name. Beginning his time as a performer in 1962, Warner went on to have a fantastic career, working with several legendary figures in television and film.
David Warner’s passing in July 2022 was met with a great deal of sadness by genre fans of all ages: such was the scope of his acting range and the roles he tackled. This list is a glimpse at some of Warner’s finest genre performances, surely securing his legacy as one of the best actors of his generation.
10 Sir Andrew Pike – Inside No. 9
David Warner was a huge fan of Inside No. 9, having worked with Reece Shearsmith before (more on that later). He relished the chance to guest-star in their second series, in the episode “The Trial of Elizabeth Gadge.”
Warner plays Sir Andrew Pike, a local magistrate keen on rooting out suspected witches and, more importantly, bringing tourists to the village. He gives a hilarious performance, showing impeccable comic timing and holding his own against Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton.
9 Old Percy Judd – The Secret Of Crickley Hall
The Secret of Crickley Hall was a BBC adaptation of the James Herbert novel of the same name, a haunting tale of ghosts, torture, and lost love.
David Warner plays Percy Judd, an older version of a groundskeeper looking after the imposing Hall of the title. Judd fell in love with a teacher at Crickley Hall back in the 1940s, but she disappeared in tragic circumstances. Warner gives one of his most heartfelt performances here, a man who never quite let go of the woman he loved and lost all those years ago.
8 Dr. Erasmus Pea – The League Of Gentlemen's Apocalypse
In a meta-movie adaptation of the iconic British black comedy series The League of Gentlemen, David Warner was called upon to lend a bit of villainous grandeur to this twisted adventure.
Dr. Erasmus Pea sees Warner at his campiest, hamming up the villainy of Pea to no end as he creates a grotesque creature in his spooky home. He’s a perfect fit for the ghoulish tale, and it’s no wonder that Mark Gatiss, Reece Shearsmith, and co. wanted him to be a part of their cinematic venture.
7 Jack The Ripper – Time After Time
Famously inspiring the title of the Cyndi Lauper hit, Time After Time saw two genre greats go head-to-head in a thrilling science fantasy adventure.
David Warner plays John Stevenson, otherwise known as Jack the Ripper, who manages to take control of a time machine invented by none other than H.G. Wells (Malcolm McDowell). The pair travel from Victorian London to 1970s San Francisco, where Stevenson finds the violence of the future to be most satisfying. Warner delivers the line "Ninety years ago, I was a freak. Today, I'm an amateur" with absolute relish.
6 The Doctor – Doctor Who: Unbound
As every Whovian knows, Jon Pertwee played the third incarnation of the Doctor back in the 1970s. However, Big Finish Productions took a trip into the multiverse back in 2003 to deliver various glimpses into what might have been…
Warner’s version is very different from Pertwee’s. He’s not much of a dandy and has a far friendlier relationship with his old friend, Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart. He’s still very much the Doctor though and was so popular with fans that David Warner would return to the role again in the future, including a special appearance alongside Christopher Eccleston for the 60th anniversary.
5 Ra's Al Ghul – Batman: The Animated Series & Batman Beyond
Ra’s Al Ghul has forever been one of the wisest and most deadly of foes in Batman’s Rogues Gallery, and David Warner was the perfect choice to bring the dastardly enemy to life.
He voiced Al Ghul in many episodes of the landmark Batman: The Animated Series in the 1990s, bringing layers of emotion and complexity to the criminal mastermind. Such was Warner’s presence that he returned to the role in an episode of Batman Beyond.
4 Ed Dillinger – Tron
Tron is a visual feast, with lavish special effects and some iconic set-pieces. Taking place (mostly) inside a virtual world, Warner’s machinations as the ruthless Ed Dillinger on the outside set off a dangerous chain of events.
David Warner essentially plays three villains in the original Tron movie, both mortal and digital. As well as Ed Dillinger, he also provides the voice for his Master Control Program creation and the commander of said Program’s army, the sadistic Sark.
3 Keith Jennings – The Omen
Otherwise known as “the one who gets his head chopped off.” In the horror classic The Omen, Warner plays Keith Jennings, a photographer who begins to notice some very disturbing details in the pictures of people he develops, especially those connected to a young boy called Damien...
Much like John Hurt in Alien, Warner’s role here is best remembered for his grisly end at the sharp edge of a sheet of glass. It’s a gloriously gruesome moment, and the head spin after Jennings is decapitated was purely accidental.
2 Evil – Time Bandits
David Warner is at his camp best in Time Bandits, playing a character with a name that leaves no doubt as to his modus operandi.
Surrounded by an impressive guest cast of highly regarded comedians, Warner more than holds his own as the evil...Evil, chewing up the scenery every time he appears on the screen. Evil’s legacy as a loathsome villain was secured after the scene in which he kills a dog.
1 Madred – Star Trek: The Next Generation
In addition to his various brushes with Doctor Who, David Warner also appeared in Star Trek over the years, playing three different characters. His most memorable turn was as the truly nasty Madred in two episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation.
A particularly unpleasant Cardassian, Madred captured Captain Picard and deployed some extremely cruel torture techniques on him. A far cry from the campy Evil, Warner’s performance as Madred is cold, chilling, and believable.