Early life and education John Edwin Arnatt was born in
Petrograd, Russia on 9 May 1917. His parents were Francis and Ethel Marion (née Jephcott) Arnatt. He attended Epworth College. Arnatt trained for the stage at the
Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.
Career One of Arnatt's most high-profile roles was as "The Deputy Sheriff of Nottingham" in the fourth and final series of 1955-60 TV series
The Adventures of Robin Hood starring
Richard Greene. His character filled in for
Alan Wheatley, who played the regular sheriff. Arnatt's character was introduced and interacted with Wheatley's character in the episode "The Devil You Don't Know". In the 1962 film
Dr Crippen, starring
Donald Pleasence (who also had a recurring role in "The Adventures of Robin Hood" as
Prince John), Arnatt played Chief Inspector
Walter Dew. Arnatt also played an imitation "M" to
Tom Adams' imitation
James Bond in two films,
Licensed to Kill and
Where the Bullets Fly (1966). In 1967, Arnatt got something of a promotion when he played the High Sheriff of Nottingham opposite
Barrie Ingham's Robin in the film
A Challenge for Robin Hood. Never well known, he amassed numerous television credits in programmes such as
Steptoe and Son,
Keeping Up Appearances,
Dangerfield,
Lovejoy,
The Professionals,
House of Cards,
Thriller and
Z-Cars. He had a recurring role in the first two series of the ITV legal drama,
The Main Chance (1969–70) and in
Doctor Who he was the second actor to play
Time Lord Cardinal
Borusa in the serial
The Invasion of Time (1978). Later, in the television film,
Marple: The Moving Finger (1985), he played Reverend Guy Calthrop. As a Freemason, he was elected Master of the Green Room Lodge no. 2957 in 1995.
Personal life and death Arnatt was married twice and had one child. Arnatt died aged 82, on 21 December 1999. ==Filmography==