
Michael Elphick
ActingAbout Michael Elphick
Michael John Elphick was an English actor. Elphick was known in the UK for his trademark croaky voice and his work on British television, in particular his roles as the eponymous private investigator in the ITV series Boon and later Harry Slater in BBC's EastEnders. Elphick struggled with a highly publicised addiction to alcohol; at the height of his problem he admitted to consuming two litres of spirits a day, which contributed towards his death from a heart attack in 2002.
Michael Elphick Movies & Career Overview
The filmography of Michael Elphick reflects a career marked by diverse experimentation. Across 50 major appearances, the actor has built a reputation through performances in multiple genres and storytelling styles.
Dominant Genre
A large portion of Michael Elphick's work falls within the Drama genre, where audiences tend to respond most strongly to their on-screen presence.
Success Ratio
Approximately 30% of Michael Elphick's films maintain ratings above 6.5, indicating a consistent level of audience approval.
One of the most highly rated entries in their career remains The Elephant Man, which stands out as a key performance.
Best Michael Elphick Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Michael Elphick's career based on audience ratings.
Full Filmography
Every movie Michael Elphick has appeared in, with audience ratings and verdicts.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Out of Bounds | Lionel Stubbs | Flop | Similar → |
| 1997 | The Fix | Peter Campling | Flop | Similar → |
| 1995 | Richard III | 2nd Murderer | Hit | Similar → |
| 1995 | Treasure Island | Billy Bones | Average | Similar → |
| 1991 | Let Him Have It | Prison Officer Jack | Hit | Similar → |
| 1991 | Buddy's Song | Des | Flop | Similar → |
| 1990 | I Bought a Vampire Motorcycle | Inspector Cleaver | Flop | Similar → |
| 1990 | The Krays | George - Prisoner | Average | Similar → |
| 1987 | Little Dorrit | Mr. Merdle | Average | Similar → |
| 1987 | Withnail & I | Jake | Hit | Similar → |
| 1986 | Valhalla | Udgaardsloki (voice) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1986 | Pirates | Sentry | Average | Similar → |
| 1985 | The Supergrass | Constable Collins | Average | Similar → |
| 1985 | Which Side Are You On? | Narrator (voice) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1985 | Hitler's SS: Portrait in Evil | Ernst Röhm | Flop | Similar → |
| 1985 | Bird Fancier | Joe Desmond | Flop | Similar → |
| 1984 | Much Ado About Nothing | Dogberry | Average | Similar → |
| 1984 | Arthur's Hallowed Ground | Len | Hit | Similar → |
| 1984 | Ordeal by Innocence | Inspector Huish | Flop | Similar → |
| 1984 | Ennenstadt Europa – The Making of The Element of Crime | Self - Actor/Fisher | Flop | Similar → |
| 1984 | The Element of Crime | Fisher | Average | Similar → |
| 1984 | Memed My Hawk | Jabbar | Flop | Similar → |
| 1984 | C.Q. | Norman | Flop | Similar → |
| 1983 | Gorky Park | Pasha | Average | Similar → |
| 1983 | Curse of the Pink Panther | Valencia Police Chief | Flop | Similar → |
| 1983 | Krull | Rhun (voice) (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1983 | Privates on Parade | Sergeant Major Reg Drummond | Flop | Similar → |
| 1980 | The Elephant Man | Night Porter | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1979 | Quadrophenia | Father | Hit | Similar → |
| 1979 | Blue Remembered Hills | Peter | Hit | Similar → |
| 1979 | The Knowledge | Gordon Weller | Hit | Similar → |
| 1979 | Black Island | Jack Daker | Average | Similar → |
| 1978 | The First Great Train Robbery | Burgess | Hit | Similar → |
| 1978 | The Odd Job | Raymonde | Average | Similar → |
| 1978 | Cold Harbour | Barrister at Party | Flop | Similar → |
| 1978 | Red Shift | Thomas Venables | Hit | Similar → |
| 1978 | Saturday, Sunday, Monday | Michel | Flop | Similar → |
| 1975 | Three Men in a Boat | 2nd Porter | Average | Similar → |
| 1974 | Pig Bin | Policeman | Flop | Similar → |
| 1974 | Norma | Norma's Friend | Flop | Similar → |
| 1974 | The Nearly Man | Ron Hibbert | Flop | Similar → |
| 1973 | That Sinking Feeling | Chopper | Flop | Similar → |
| 1973 | O Lucky Man! | Man at Stag Party | Hit | Similar → |
| 1971 | Man Charged | Robert Delmonds | Flop | Similar → |
| 1971 | See No Evil | Gypsy Tom | Hit | Similar → |
| 1970 | The Buttercup Chain | The Driver | Flop | Similar → |
| 1970 | Cry of the Banshee | Burke | Flop | Similar → |
| 1969 | Hamlet | Captain | Average | Similar → |
| 1969 | Where's Jack? | Hogarth | Hit | Similar → |
| 1969 | The Betrayal | Tom | Flop | Similar → |
Michael Elphick - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Michael Elphick?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Michael Elphick is "The Elephant Man" with a rating of 8.0/10.
How many movies has Michael Elphick acted in?
Michael Elphick has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Michael Elphick?
Other notable films include "Red Shift", "Withnail & I", and "Where's Jack?".




