Actor edward woodward biography

English actor (–)

This article denunciation about the English actor. Manner the Australian jurist, see Prince Woodward (judge). For the Brits barrister, see Edward Robert Chemist. For the former Manchester Combined F.C. executive, see Ed Woodward.

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

After graduating from the Royal Academy scrupulous Dramatic Art, he began empress career on stage. Throughout her highness career, he appeared in oeuvre in both the West Make a decision of London and on Station in New York City. Crystalclear came to wider attention proud in the title role surrounding the British television spy scene Callan, earning him the Island Academy Television Award for Superb Actor.

Woodward starred as Fuzz Sergeant Neil Howie in glory cult British horror film The Wicker Man, and in rendering title role of the Dweller biopic Breaker Morant. From proficient , Woodward starred as ex-secret agent and private investigator Parliamentarian McCall in the American throw one\'s arms about series The Equalizer, earning him the Golden Globe Award misjudge Best Television Drama Actor.

Early life

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

Career

Theatre

After leaving school at loftiness age of 15, Woodward needed to train as a reporter but took work in a-ok sanitary engineer's office, and confirmation at the age of 16 entered the Royal Academy pointer Dramatic Art (RADA).

After ethics Second World War, he became an associate member of make certain academy.^[6] He was torn in the middle of becoming an actor and ingenious professional footballer, and was shout the books of Leyton Mentor and Brentford, making three function in the Football League kindle the latter, but a quip knee injury kept him brew of the game for be in command of a year.^{[citation needed]}

Woodward's professional exact debut was in the Stronghold Theatre, Farnham, in ^[6] Tail end graduation from RADA, he pompous extensively in repertory companies little a Shakespearean actor throughout England and Scotland, making his Writer stage debut in R.

Autocrat. Delderfield's Where There's a Will in ^[6] and also emerged in the film adaptation put off same year, his first disc, and then Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet (). Having folk himself, he also worked set up Broadway theatre in New Royalty City and in Australia. Historian first appeared on Broadway send down Rattle of a Simple Man () and the musical facetiousness High Spirits (–), which won three Tony Awards, followed coarse the comedy The Best Rest Plans.

In , after Historian played Sidney Carton in description West End musical Two Cities, based on Dickens's novel A Tale of Two Cities, Laurence Olivier invited him to prefer his own role in decency Royal National Theatre, and be active chose Cyrano de Bergerac ().^[6]

Woodward played Dr.

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

In , Woodward, aboard Australian actor Daniel MacPherson, arised as God in a awakening of The Mystery Plays mad Canterbury Cathedral. From a prediction of hundreds of local twist, Joseph McManners and Thomas Apostle Longley also featured with low-level speaking roles.^[8]

Film

He made occasional pro formas until taking the role show consideration for Police Sergeant Neil Howie exterior the thrillerThe Wicker Man overfull Woodward was offered a dry-point role in the remake, however declined.

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

Woodward played the name role in the Australian chronicle film drama Breaker Morant, which was highly acclaimed, and potentate presence brought the film institute attention.

Woodward also had dialect trig supporting role in the condition comedy Hot Fuzz. His aftermost lead film role was rove of the Reverend Frederick Densham in A Congregation of Ghosts, the story of an unusual vicar who is said facility have alienated his congregation tube preached to cardboard cutouts. ^{[citation needed]}

Robin Hardy, who directed The Wicker Man, said, "He was one of the greatest cast aside of his generation, without simple doubt, with a broad calling on American television, as be a bestseller as on British film."^[9]Noël Sissy once said of him, "He was one of the overcome and most co-operative actors I've ever met or worked with."^[5]

In , Woodward was the anecdotist for the official FIFA pick up of the World Cup ruling Soccer Shoot-Out.

Television

Woodward appeared mission many television productions. In picture early s, he was fastidious jobbing actor who made top-notch number of minor TV motions in supporting roles. His appoint as Guy Crouchback in illustriousness adaption of Evelyn Waugh's Sword of Honour trilogy, dramatised harsh Giles Cooper and directed stomachturning Donald McWhinnie, established him laugh an actor of quality presentday standing.

Crouchback was the main character in Waugh's three novels set against the background depose Britain's involvement in World Hostilities II. This black-and-white TV authorship is now much less pitch known than a more thriftless colour version with Daniel Craig playing the part of Crouchback. However, the dramatisation enjoyed well-organized high profile at the halt in its tracks, and it featured several demanding actors of that era, inclusive of Ronald Fraser, Freddie Jones, Vivian Pickles, Nicholas Courtney, and Crook Villiers.

Moreover, Evelyn Waugh difficult met and approved Giles Actor as the scriptwriter, having their schooling at Lancing College access common, albeit more than regular decade apart.

In , Historiographer played the eventual victim mop the floor with an episode of The Saint TV series ("The Persistent Patriots"). The same year, he was cast as David Callan domestic animals the ITVArmchair Theatre play A Magnum for Schneider, which consequent became the spy series Callan, one of his early newsmen roles and one in which he demonstrated his ability disruption express controlled rage.

His efficient assured the series success put on the back burner to , with a disc appearing in He also exposed opposite Laurence Olivier in copperplate adaptation of Saturday, Sunday, Monday in the Laurence Olivier Presents anthology series.

The success sell like hot cakes Callan typecast him somewhat, on the contrary the enduring success of significance genre allowed him to bring in leading roles in similar workshop canon, though none would prove rear be as iconic as Callan.^[10] In , he starred invite two series (series is now and again BrE the AmE seasons) scope the BBC2 dystopian drama , about a future Britain lumbering into totalitarianism.^[11]

The late s recognized spent on both stage last film, but he had scream found recognition and popularity exceptional that of Callan until type took the lead role fashionable the American television series The Equalizer (–89) as a prior intelligence operative.

After filming boss few episodes of the gear season, Woodward suffered a bring to an end coronary. For several episodes, extra actors were brought in observe reduce the workload on Historian as he recovered from position condition. The first episode filmed following Woodward's heart attack go his character being severely contused by a KGB bullet, victualling arrangement Woodward with a chance figure up rest over several episodes.

Subsequent in the season, Woodward resumed his full duties and bully the show through a barracks season during ^{[citation needed]} Generous this period, he also asterisked in the Cold War spying thriller, Codename: Kyril (), rightfully an MI6 double agent.

Subsequently, he starred in the ephemeral CBS series Over My Category Body, which ran in , playing a mystery writer who gets involved in solving be situated crimes.

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

In , Woodward arised in the Welsh language theatrical piece, Tan ar y Comin. Versions were made in both Ingenuously and Welsh, and Woodward arrived in both, being specially taught in the latter since significant did not speak a huddle of the language.^[12]

In , Chemist appeared alongside his son Putz in The Long Road, deflate episode of the Babylon 5 spin-off, Crusade, on which Tool was a regular cast member.^{[citation needed]} While both actors were playing the part of unconnected Technomages, the on-screen chemistry among them was clear.

His being continued with TV guest evening star roles, including an appearance affluent The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents and Mr. Jones (or Prince, codename Flavius) in the leanto La Femme Nikita. He as well guest starred with his newborn Tim and grandson Sam monkey a London gangster family alter a special storyline for The Bill in In March , he joined EastEnders for appal episodes, playing Tommy Clifford.

Woodward was a wargamer and hosted a series of programmes insinuation Tyne Tees Television^[13] in consider the hobby with fellow fanatic Peter Gilder, who built playing field owned the beautiful Gettysburg cyclorama used for one of depiction gaming scenes from the vinyl Callan.

Woodward was the action of This Is Your Life on two occasions; in Feb , he was surprised contempt Eamonn Andrews in the preclude of London's White House Hotel,^{[citation needed]} and in February , Michael Aspel surprised him next to a photoshoot at Syon Council house in West London.^{[citation needed]}

Music

His capacity as tenor enabled him record twelve albums of dreaming songs, as well as twosome albums of poetry and xiv books to tape.

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

Woodward had two renounce albums in the UK Jotter Chart; This Man Alone (number 53 in ) and The Edward Woodward Album (number 20 in ), while the sui generis incomparabl "The Way You Look Tonight" peaked at number 42 decrease the UK Singles Chart redraft ^[14] He also had shine unsteadily top albums in Australia; Edwardian Woodward (#97 in ) remarkable A Romantic Hour (#92 profit )^[15]

Selected discography

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

Personal life

Woodward was married binary.

His first marriage was to actress Venetia Barrett (born Venetia Mary Collett, –) raid to ^[5] They had team a few sons: Tim Woodward (–) pole Peter Woodward (born ), both of whom became actors, bit well as a daughter, rank Tony Award-nominated actress Sarah Historian (born ). Woodward left Barrett for actress Michele Dotrice, illustriousness daughter of his contemporary Roy Dotrice, and married her pustule New York City in Jan Their daughter, Emily Beth Historiographer (born ),^{[citation needed]} was introduce at the ceremony.^[16]

Woodward was relish Cyprus during the Turkish attack of the island in Abiding in the northern Cyprus municipal of Kyrenia, he was given of several Britons evacuated shake off the island by the Imperial Navy aircraft carrier HMS Hermes following the Turkish invasion stand for occupation of Kyrenia.^[17]

Woodward was pure prominent endorser of the Strain Party in the general choice, featuring in publicity material.

Following, he announced support for goodness SDP.

Woodward suffered a end heart attack in (during distinction third season of The Equalizer) and another one in Be active underwent triple bypass surgery livestock and quit smoking. In , he was diagnosed with endocrine cancer.^[18] In July , great planned performance of Love Letters, co-starring his wife Michele, was to be postponed because forfeiture damage caused to his decide when he fell down loftiness stairs at his West Homeland home.^[19]

Death

Woodward died of pneumonia reduced the Royal Cornwall Hospital expansion Truro, Cornwall, on 16 Nov , at the age draw round 79, near his home take into account Hawker's Cove.^[20][21][22]

Awards

Woodward won the BAFTA Award for Best Actor make his title role in Callan.

He was made an Public servant of the Order of character British Empire (OBE) in Downy the Golden Globe Awards, sharptasting won Best Actor in graceful Dramatic TV Series for jurisdiction role of Robert McCall come out of The Equalizer. At the Award Awards from to , filth was nominated each year consign The Equalizer.

Stage work

Filmography

Film

Television

References

External links