Geoffrey Palmer, a renowned English actor, was born in London to a chartered accountant father. After completing his national service with the Royal Marines, where he became a field training and small arms instructor, Palmer briefly attempted a career in accountancy before his girlfriend encouraged him to join a local amateur dramatics society. He started as an unpaid assistant stage manager at Croydon's Grand Theatre and later spent several years touring in repertory.
In 1955, Palmer transitioned to television, initially appearing in various supporting roles in popular early comedies such as Bootsie and Snudge and The Army Game. During the early and mid-1960s, he took on prolific dramatic roles in seminal crime and mystery shows, often portraying military types, politicians, or medical professionals. Palmer's personal mantra was to never turn down a part.
By the 1970s, Palmer established himself as a supporting actor in British television, making two appearances in Doctor Who and co-starring in popular shows like The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin, Butterflies, and As Time Goes By opposite Judi Dench. He also starred in Fairly Secret Army and had memorable guest spots in The Kipper and the Corpse, Whoops Apocalypse, and Blackadder Goes Forth.
Palmer appeared alongside Judi Dench again in the James Bond thriller Tomorrow Never Dies and in Mrs. Brown as Queen Victoria's chief secretary Sir Henry Ponsonby. In 2007, he returned to Doctor Who as a guest star in the David Tennant era.
As an instantly recognizable actor with a trademark deadpan expression, Palmer's stock-in-trade persona was that of a world-weary, disenchanted, droll, or sarcastic individual. However, in private life, he was known to be more lighthearted and humorous. Palmer once stated, "I'm not grumpy. I just look this way."
In addition to his acting career, Palmer was an avid fly fisherman and a longstanding member of the Garrick Club in London. He was awarded an OBE in December 2004 for his services to drama.
