David Allister appeared on Coronation Street in two roles: firstly in October 1976 as solicitor Michael Robson, who represented Renee Bradshaw when she went to court to apply to open an off-licence in the corner shop; and he returned to the programme in August 1983 as Peter Bromley, the Deputy Director of Social Services at Weatherfield Metropolitan Borough Council.
His other television credits include roles in Softly Softly: Task Force in the regular role of Richard Jackson, Hell Caesar!, Colditz, Lillie, Kids, Flesh and Blood, Doctor Who, Triangle, One by One, The Monocled Mutineer, The Bill, The Chief, Holding On and The Uninvited.
Film roles include The Statue, The Firefighters, The Jigsaw Man and The Discovery of Heaven.
On stage, he appeared in productions including The Workhouse Donkey, The Little Miss Foster Show, King John, Macbeth, The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, The Elephant Man, Richard II, Taking Steps, Pride and Prejudice, Someone Waiting and The Memorandum.
While on radio, he appeared in several productions of The Saturday Play, The Afternoon Play and The Sunday Play.