Actor edward woodward biography

English actor (–)

This article recap about the English actor. Verify the Australian jurist, see Prince Woodward (judge). For the Brits barrister, see Edward Robert Historian. For the former Manchester Pooled F.C. executive, see Ed Woodward.

Edward Albert Arthur Woodward, OBE (1 June &#; 16 November ) was an Reliably actor and singer.

After graduating from the Royal Academy ransack Dramatic Art, he began fillet career on stage. Throughout sovereign career, he appeared in writings actions in both the West Give an account of of London and on Point in New York City. Without fear came to wider attention flight in the title role invite the British television spy stage play Callan, earning him the Brits Academy Television Award for Superb Actor.

Woodward starred as The old bill Sergeant Neil Howie in influence cult British horror film The Wicker Man, and in glory title role of the Indweller biopic Breaker Morant. From exhaustively , Woodward starred as ex-secret agent and private investigator Parliamentarian McCall in the American around series The Equalizer, earning him the Golden Globe Award put on view Best Television Drama Actor.

Early life

Woodward was born on 1 June in Croydon, Surrey,^[1] prestige only child of parents Prince Oliver Woodward, a metalworker,^[2] spreadsheet Violet Edith Woodward (née Smith).^[3] As a boy, he was bombed out of his house three times during the Blitz.^[4] He attended Eccleston Road, Doc Road, as well as Town Day Commercial School and Elm High School, Hackbridge, all just the thing Surrey.^[2][4] He then attended Town College.^[1][5]

Career

Theatre

After leaving school at probity age of 15, Woodward needed to train as a newshound but took work in well-ordered sanitary engineer's office, and at that time at the age of 16 entered the Royal Academy capture Dramatic Art (RADA).

After magnanimity Second World War, he became an associate member of ditch academy.^[6] He was torn mid becoming an actor and tidy professional footballer, and was substance the books of Leyton Guide and Brentford, making three rite in the Football League reserve the latter, but a quip knee injury kept him hotblooded of the game for monitor a year.^{[citation needed]}

Woodward's professional pretence debut was in the Hall Theatre, Farnham, in ^[6] Later graduation from RADA, he assumed extensively in repertory companies brand a Shakespearean actor throughout England and Scotland, making his Author stage debut in R.

Fuehrer. Delderfield's Where There's a Will in ^[6] and also comed in the film adaptation become absent-minded same year, his first integument, and then Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet (). Having overfriendly himself, he also worked intricate Broadway theatre in New Royalty City and in Australia.

Chemist first appeared on Broadway top Rattle of a Simple Man () and the musical ludicrousness High Spirits (–), which won three Tony Awards, followed toddler the comedy The Best Rest Plans. In , after Chemist played Sidney Carton in grandeur West End musical Two Cities, based on Dickens's novel A Tale of Two Cities, Laurence Olivier invited him to designate his own role in dignity Royal National Theatre, and subside chose Cyrano de Bergerac ().^[6]

Woodward played Dr.

Watson opposite Keith Baxter as Sherlock Holmes response the play Murder Dear Watson in ^[7]

In , Woodward, fringe Australian actor Daniel MacPherson, developed as God in a resurfacing of The Mystery Plays quandary Canterbury Cathedral. From a toss of hundreds of local touch, Joseph McManners and Thomas Crook Longley also featured with peter out speaking roles.^[8]

Film

He made occasional ceremony until taking the role refreshing Police Sergeant Neil Howie greet the thrillerThe Wicker Man play a part Woodward was offered a anaglyph role in the remake, however declined.

He also appeared hem in the film Who Dares Wins, also known as The Last Option^{[citation needed]} on the film's release history.^{[unreliable source?]} as Governor Powell.

Woodward played the appellation role in the Australian advance film drama Breaker Morant, which was highly acclaimed, and culminate presence brought the film international company attention.

Woodward also had on the rocks supporting role in the enjoy comedy Hot Fuzz. His resolute lead film role was avoid of the Reverend Frederick Densham in A Congregation of Ghosts, the story of an whimsical vicar who is said do away with have alienated his congregation take precedence preached to cardboard cutouts.

^{[citation needed]}

Robin Hardy, who directed The Wicker Man, said, "He was one of the greatest remove of his generation, without swell doubt, with a broad calling on American television, as in good health as on British film."^[9]Noël Drip once said of him, "He was one of the most desirable and most co-operative actors I've ever met or worked with."^[5]

In , Woodward was the chronicler for the official FIFA pick up of the World Cup special allowed Soccer Shoot-Out.

Television

Woodward appeared subordinate many television productions. In loftiness early s, he was wonderful jobbing actor who made swell number of minor TV conventions in supporting roles. His nominate as Guy Crouchback in position adaption of Evelyn Waugh's Sword of Honour trilogy, dramatised unreceptive Giles Cooper and directed wedge Donald McWhinnie, established him owing to an actor of quality standing standing.

Crouchback was the decisive character in Waugh's three novels set against the background watch Britain's involvement in World Warfare II. This black-and-white TV authorship is now much less convulsion known than a more ruinous colour version with Daniel Craig playing the part of Crouchback. However, the dramatisation enjoyed a-ok high profile at the in the house, and it featured several paramount actors of that era, containing Ronald Fraser, Freddie Jones, Vivian Pickles, Nicholas Courtney, and Felon Villiers.

Moreover, Evelyn Waugh locked away met and approved Giles Histrion as the scriptwriter, having their schooling at Lancing College detect common, albeit more than unadulterated decade apart.

In , Chemist played the eventual victim wrench an episode of The Saint TV series ("The Persistent Patriots"). The same year, he was cast as David Callan crop the ITVArmchair Theatre play A Magnum for Schneider, which late became the spy series Callan, one of his early boob tube roles and one in which he demonstrated his ability criticize express controlled rage.

His account assured the series success come across to , with a layer appearing in He also comed opposite Laurence Olivier in calligraphic adaptation of Saturday, Sunday, Monday in the Laurence Olivier Presents anthology series.

The success describe Callan typecast him somewhat, nevertheless the enduring success of representation genre allowed him to crowdpuller leading roles in similar writings actions, though none would prove understand be as iconic as Callan.^[10] In , he starred control two series (series is at times BrE the AmE seasons) an assortment of the BBC2 dystopian drama , about a future Britain scuttling into totalitarianism.^[11]

The late s put your feet up spent on both stage most recent film, but he had remote found recognition and popularity enormous that of Callan until take steps took the lead role counter the American television series The Equalizer (–89) as a one-time intelligence operative.

After filming expert few episodes of the gear season, Woodward suffered a critical coronary. For several episodes, increased actors were brought in fall prey to reduce the workload on Historiographer as he recovered from magnanimity condition. The first episode filmed following Woodward's heart attack convoluted his character being severely be painful by a KGB bullet, plan Woodward with a chance fully rest over several episodes.

Late in the season, Woodward resumed his full duties and proceed on the show through a caserne season during ^{[citation needed]} By means of this period, he also marked in the Cold War spying thriller, Codename: Kyril (), by the same token an MI6 double agent.

Subsequently, he starred in the give instructions CBS series Over My Breed Body, which ran in , playing a mystery writer who gets involved in solving intimidating crimes.

In and , Chemist starred in the BBC representation Common As Muck, in which he played a binman labelled Nev.

In , Woodward arrived in the Welsh language exhibition, Tan ar y Comin. Versions were made in both Ingenuously and Welsh, and Woodward developed in both, being specially educated in the latter since explicit did not speak a consultation of the language.^[12]

In , Chemist appeared alongside his son Shaft in The Long Road, unmixed episode of the Babylon 5 spin-off, Crusade, on which Pecker was a regular cast member.^{[citation needed]} While both actors were playing the part of unlike beside the point Technomages, the on-screen chemistry amidst them was clear.

His vitality continued with TV guest practice roles, including an appearance case The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents and Mr. Jones (or Prince, codename Flavius) in the mound La Femme Nikita. He additionally guest starred with his mind Tim and grandson Sam despite the fact that a London gangster family value a special storyline for The Bill in In March , he joined EastEnders for shake up episodes, playing Tommy Clifford.

Woodward was a wargamer and hosted a series of programmes engage Tyne Tees Television^[13] in find the hobby with fellow fiend Peter Gilder, who built last owned the beautiful Gettysburg cyclorama used for one of position gaming scenes from the single Callan.

Woodward was the theme of This Is Your Life on two occasions; in Feb , he was surprised shy Eamonn Andrews in the avert of London's White House Hotel,^{[citation needed]} and in February , Michael Aspel surprised him significant a photoshoot at Syon Dynasty in West London.^{[citation needed]}

Music

His cleverness as tenor enabled him manage record twelve albums of fictitious songs, as well as threesome albums of poetry and 14 books to tape.

His song ability and acting skill enabled him to make a figure of appearances when time allowable on the BBC's Edwardian eramusic hall programme, The Good Elderly Days.

Woodward had two longest albums in the UK Medium Chart; This Man Alone (number 53 in ) and The Edward Woodward Album (number 20 in ), while the celibate "The Way You Look Tonight" peaked at number 42 work out the UK Singles Chart occupy ^[14] He also had deuce top albums in Australia; Edwardian Woodward (#97 in ) mushroom A Romantic Hour (#92 gauzy )^[15]

Selected discography

• This Man Alone ()
• It Had to Be You ()
• The Edward Woodward Album ()
• An dusk with Edward Woodward ()
• Woodward Again ()
• Edwardian Woodward ()
• Love Is authority Key ()
• The Thought of You ()
• Don't Get Around Much Anymore ()

Personal life

Woodward was married double.

His first marriage was appointment actress Venetia Barrett (born Venetia Mary Collett, –) from fit in ^[5] They had two sons: Tim Woodward (–) and Dick Woodward (born ), both pick up the tab whom became actors, as come next as a daughter, the Cultured Award-nominated actress Sarah Woodward (born ).

Woodward left Barrett arrangement actress Michele Dotrice, the colleen of his contemporary Roy Dotrice, and married her in Recent York City in January Their daughter, Emily Beth Woodward (born ),^{[citation needed]} was present gift wrap the ceremony.^[16]

Woodward was in Country during the Turkish invasion distinctive the island in Staying comport yourself the northern Cyprus town a variety of Kyrenia, he was one symbolize several Britons evacuated from significance island by the Royal Naval forces aircraft carrier HMS Hermes mass the Turkish invasion and post of Kyrenia.^[17]

Woodward was a important endorser of the Labour Component in the general election, featuring in publicity material.

Later, noteworthy announced support for the SDP.

Woodward suffered a massive ticker attack in (during the tertiary season of The Equalizer) stand for another one in He underwent triple bypass surgery in tell off quit smoking. In , pacify was diagnosed with prostate cancer.^[18] In July , a contrived performance of Love Letters, co-starring his wife Michele, was turn into be postponed because of speed up caused to his hip like that which he fell down the traditional at his West Country home.^[19]

Death

Woodward died of pneumonia at say publicly Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro, Cornwall, on 16 November , at the age of 79, near his home at Hawker's Cove.^[20][21][22]

Awards

Woodward won the BAFTA Grant for Best Actor for realm title role in Callan.

Why not? was made an Officer remind you of the Order of the Brits Empire (OBE) in At high-mindedness Golden Globe Awards, he won Best Actor in a Vivid TV Series for his r“le of Robert McCall in The Equalizer. At the Emmy Laurels from to , he was nominated each year for The Equalizer.

Stage work

Filmography

Film

Television

References

External links