Olaf Pooley was born in Parkstone, Dorset, England, to an English father and a Danish mother. He pursued his passion for architecture at the Architectural Association in London and painting at the Chelsea School of Art.
Pooley's artistic endeavors took him to Paris, where he studied under the tutelage of Marcel Grommaire at the Académie Colorossi. His work has been exhibited in various European galleries, including the London Group, the Bloomsbury Gallery, Gallerie d'Alsace, Centre Culturel Saint-Severin, L'Imagerie, La Residencia, and Galleria Ortez.
Alongside his work as a painter, Pooley has been a working actor since his early days in England. He began his career in the Design Department at Pinewood Film Studios and later worked in Theatre Décor. He was a member of the BBC Radio Drama Reparatory Company and has had successful stints in London's West End Theatre and alternative media.
Upon immigrating to the United States in 1986, Pooley continued his acting career while his second wife, Gabrielle Beaumont, pursued a successful TV Director career. He gained a recurring role as Professor Stahlman in the Doctor Who television series, making him one of only 25 actors to have speaking roles in both the "Star Trek" and "Doctor Who" franchises.
Pooley has written numerous screenplays and was a close friend of Sir Alec Guinness for many years. He still receives mail from fans around the world who admire his work in the Doctor Who series.
Today, Pooley's studio is located at the Santa Monica Art Studios in Santa Monica, California. For more information about his paintings, fans can email [email protected].
