Wensley Ivan William Frederick Pithey (21 June 1914 – 10 November 1993) was a South African character actor who had a long stage and film career in Britain.

[1][2] Pithey was born in Cape Town, South Africa.

[1] A graduate of the University of Cape Town where he studied music and drama, he travelled to Britain in 1947.

[3] He also directed and produced plays in the West End and appeared in a range of roles on television including the 1976 drama Edward and Mrs Simpson (as Winston Churchill – a role he also played in the miniseries Ike) and Special Branch and Poldark.

Between 1961 and 1976, Pithey appeared in German TV commercials as a fake coffee expert for Tchibo.