Peter Vere-Jones
New Zealand actor (1939–2021)
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Peter Vere-Jones ONZM (21 October 1939 – 26 January 2021) was a New Zealand actor. He was known for his collaborations with director Peter Jackson, appearing in four of his films. He was also known for starring in the New Zealand television series Shortland Street.[2]
Personal life
Vere-Jones was born in Cheshire, England, on 21 October 1939,[3] the son of Isabel (née Wyllie) and Noel Vere-Jones, a biochemist and chemical engineer.[4][5][6] The family emigrated to New Zealand in 1949, settling in the Wellington area.[4][5]
Vere-Jones lived with his wife Sue and his two children, Benjamin and Emma. In 1989, he was diagnosed with bowel cancer, which was documented in a television documentary called Crisis: One Man's Fight. He later made a full recovery.[7] He died in Waikanae on 26 January 2021.[8][9]
Honours
In the 2002 Queen's Birthday and Golden Jubilee Honours, Vere-Jones was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to writing and acting.[10]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | The Alpha Plan | Edward Harris | Television series |
| 1970 | The Crown in New Zealand | Narrator | Documentary |
| 1971 | The Killing of Kane | Kimble Bent | Television film |
| 1972 | Rangi's Catch | Mr. Murray | |
| 1972 | Pukemanu | Mark Gold | Television series 6 episodes |
| 1974 | The Hum | Narrator | Documentary |
| 1977 | The Mackenzie Affair | Highlander | Television mini-series |
| 1979 | Children of Fire Mountain | James Gregory | Television mini-series |
| 1981 | Pictures | Walter Burton | |
| 1982 | Bad Blood | Mr. Ogier | |
| 1982 | Casualties of Peace | Bill | Television film |
| 1983 | Nate and Hayes | Gunboat Captain | |
| 1984 | Mortimer's Patch | Lionel Foster | Television series 1 episode |
| 1985 | Roche | Jim Donaldson | Television series 1 episode |
| 1986 | Dangerous Orphans | Handesman | |
| 1987 | Bad Taste | Lord Crumb | Voice |
| 1988 | Good Taste Made Bad Taste | Narrator | Documentary |
| 1989 | Meet the Feebles | Bletch/Arthur/Various | Voice |
| 1989 | Crisis: One Man's Fight | Himself | Documentary |
| 1990 | The Grasscutter | Kepple | Television film |
| 1992 | Shortland Street | Laurence Buchanan | Television series |
| 1992 | Braindead | Undertaker | |
| 1992 | Secrets | Jock | Television film |
| 1993 | Typhon's People | Bank manager | Television film |
| 1995 | Fallout | Gerald Hensley | Television mini-series |
| 1996 | Xena: Warrior Princess | King Silvus | Television series 1 episode |
| 1997 | Hercules: The Legendary Journeys | Zeus | Television series 1 episode |
| 1997 | Duggan | Arthur Jamieson | Television series 1 episode |
| 1997 | The Enid Blyton Secret Series | Uncle Henry | Television series 1 episode |
| 1998 | The Adventures of Swiss Family Robinson | Captain Blacker | Television series 3 episodes |
| 1998 | The Legend of William Tell | The Master | Television series 1 episode |
| 1999 | A Twist in the Tale | Grandad | Television series 1 episode |
| 2000 | Dark Knight | Abbot Goodwin | Television series 1 episode |
| 2002 | Revelations – The Initial Journey | Buchanan | Television series |
| 2002 | Der Liebe entgegen | Anwalt Alan Smith | Television series 1 episode |
| 2005 | The Knock | Psychiatrist | Short film Uncredited |
| 2010 | Legend of the Seeker | Carraticus Zorander | Television series 1 episode |
| 2013 | The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug | Spider | Voice |