Manning Whiley

Manning Whiley is a British actor known for his character roles in British films during the 1940s, often portraying nervy villains or Nazi figures. ^[1] Born on 23 January 1915 in London, England, Whiley began his screen career in the late 1930s with films such as Design for Murder (1939) and appeared in numerous supporting parts through the war years and into the early 1950s. ^[1] Notable credits include Bell-Bottom George (1944), Meet Sexton Blake! (1945), The Seventh Veil (1945) as Dr. Irving, and The Inheritance (1947) as Dudley Ruthyn. ^[1] He also served as an associate producer on Children of Chance (1949). ^[1] Whiley died on 29 January 1975 in London, England. ^[1]

Early life

Birth and background

Manning Hedges Whiley was born on 23 January 1915 in Hampstead, London, England. ^[2] As indicated in records verified at the Family Records Centre in London, his birth details confirm his origins in the British capital, establishing him as a British national from the outset. ^[2]

Career

Entry into acting and early roles

Manning Whiley made his screen debut in 1939 with a leading role as the tormented student Bentley in Design for Murder (also released as Trunk Crime), a low-budget British thriller directed by Roy Boulting. ^[3] This was one of his strongest early showings as a character actor. ^[1] In 1940, Whiley appeared in a series of supporting roles across British wartime and pre-war films, often in small but distinct parts. ^[4] These included the credited role of the Manager of 'Mousetrap' in Contraband (released in the US as Blackout), Vogel in Pastor Hall, Ronald Perryman in The Flying Squad, Muller in Pack Up Your Troubles, the Evangelist in Saloon Bar, and a German Commander in Three Cockeyed Sailors (also known as Sailors Three). ^[4] He also played credited parts in the short Miss Grant Goes to the Door as The Officer. ^[4] His work in 1941 and 1942 continued in minor or supporting capacities, with credits such as Bertie Gregson in "Pimpernel" Smith (also known as Mister V), Marko in The Saint's Vacation, Chimp in Old Bill and Son, Stock in The Ghost of St. Michael's, an S.S. Trooper in Freedom Radio (also known as The Voice in the Night), and an O.P. Colonel in Gasbags. ^[4] Uncredited appearances included a naval officer in The Big Blockade, a role in Courageous Mr. Penn, and a French Officer in This Was Paris. ^[4] These early roles predominantly featured Whiley as a character actor in small supporting or bit parts within the British film industry, frequently portraying antagonistic or foreign-accented figures. ^[1] He developed an early specialization in nervy villains and Nazi-associated characters that would become more prominent in his subsequent wartime work. ^[1]

Wartime and mid-1940s roles

During World War II and the mid-1940s, Manning Whiley became a prolific supporting actor in British cinema, frequently typecast as nervy villains, Nazis, or suspicious characters in wartime and postwar productions.^[1] His most active period saw him in a string of roles that capitalized on this persona, beginning with Russell Warren in The Dummy Talks (1943), followed by Church in Bell-Bottom George (1944), Raoul Sudd in Meet Sexton Blake! (1945), Max Borrow in For You Alone (1945), and Dr. Irving in The Seventh Veil (1945).^[1] Among these, The Seventh Veil stood out as a relatively higher-profile psychological drama starring James Mason and Ann Todd.^[5][1]

Post-war films and production work

After World War II, Manning Whiley continued his acting career primarily in supporting roles in British films, often portraying villains or antagonistic characters consistent with his earlier typecasting. ^[6] In 1946, he appeared in the thriller Teheran, playing the villainous Paul Sherek. ^[6] The following year proved particularly active, with Whiley taking the role of Corder Morris in The Shop at Sly Corner (released in some markets as Code of Scotland Yard) (1947), a crime drama centered on an antiques dealer with a hidden past. ^[7] That same year, he portrayed Dudley Ruthyn in Uncle Silas (known as The Inheritance in the United States) (1947), a gothic drama involving family intrigue and suspicion. ^[8] In 1949, Whiley played Don Andrea in Children of Chance, an Italian-British production about former black marketeers managing an orphanage; he also received credit as associate producer on the film. ^{[9] [10]} Whiley's final film role came in 1952 as Mike Connor in Little Big Shot, a comedy-drama about a boy seeking to impress his peers. ^[11] No further verified acting or production credits appear after this film, marking the effective end of his on-screen career. ^[1]

Personal life

Marriage to Wanda Rotha

Manning Whiley was married to the actress Wanda Rotha.^[12][13] The couple attended a guest night dinner at the Screenwriters' Club in London on July 17, 1948, where they were photographed alongside club manager Tommy Gale and director Maurice Elvey.^[14] No further details about the date, duration, or other aspects of their marriage are documented in available sources.

Death

Filmography

Selected credits as actor

Manning Whiley's acting career spanned from 1939 to 1952 and included 32 credits.^[1] Selected credits from this period include Design for Murder (1939) as Bentley,^[1] The Seventh Veil (1945) as Dr. Irving,^[1] Meet Sexton Blake! (1945) as Raoul Sudd,^[1] The Inheritance (1947) as Dudley Ruthyn,^[1] Code of Scotland Yard (1947) as Corder Morris,^[1] Children of Chance (1949) as Don Andrea,^[1] and Little Big Shot (1952) as Mike Connor.^[1]

Production credit

Manning Whiley received a sole production credit as associate producer on the 1949 British-Italian drama film Children of Chance, directed by Luigi Zampa.^[1][15] In this capacity, he was listed alongside producers John Sutro and Ludovico Toeplitz.^[15] Whiley also acted in the film as Don Andrea.^[1] This behind-the-camera role represented his only documented non-acting contribution in film production.^[1]