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Bernard Hepton

January 06, 2023

Francis Bernard Heptonstall (19 October 1925 – 27 July 2018)[2] better known by the stage name Bernard Hepton, was an English theatre director and actor. Best known for his stage work and television roles in teleplays and series, he also appeared briefly on radio and in film.[3]

Bernard Hepton
Born
Francis Bernard Heptonstall[1]

(1925-10-19)19 October 1925
Bradford, West Riding of Yorkshire, England
Died27 July 2018(2018-07-27) (aged 92)
United Kingdom
Occupation(s)Actor
Director
Spouse(s)
Nancie Jackson
​
​
(m. 1957; died 1977)​

Hillary Liddell
​
​
(m. 1979; died 2013)​
[2]

Early life and education

Hepton was born in Bradford, West Riding of Yorkshire. His father, Bernard senior, was an electrician, while his mother Hilda (née Berrington) was from a mill-working family. Brought up as a Catholic, he attended St Bede's Grammar School.[1] His short-sight meant he was unable to serve in the British Army during the Second World War. He trained as an aircraft engineer and draughtsman while undertaking firewatching duties.[2]

Theatre

Hepton trained at the Bradford Civic Playhouse under director Esme Church.[4] He had extensive stage experience as an actor in repertory, especially in Scarborough and York. In 1952, he joined Birmingham Rep under Barry Jackson, later himself becoming the theatre's artistic director in 1957.[1][4] Later, for a brief period from 1963, he was director of the Liverpool Playhouse, but resigned during his first season. Productions of the Max Frisch play The Fire Raisers and John Osborne's Luther featured in his effort to move the theatre’s repertoire beyond its standard fare.[1] He was responsible for orchestrating the fight sequences in Laurence Olivier's film version of Richard III (1955) and an Old Vic production of Hamlet with lead Richard Burton in 1953.[1][2]

Television

On television, he played Caiaphas in the 1969 Dennis Potter play Son of Man. He was cast as the Kommandant in Colditz (1972–74) and later appeared for the same production team as Albert Foiret in three series of Secret Army (1977–79).[5] Before that he made a guest appearance in an episode of the first series of Catweazle (1970) where he played a naturalist. Other notable performances included Thomas Cranmer in both The Six Wives of Henry VIII (1970) and Elizabeth R (1971). He reprised the role in the film adaptation of the former, Henry VIII and His Six Wives (1972). Hepton acted in adaptations of John le Carré's novels, as Toby Esterhase in the BBC Television versions of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and Smiley's People, and George Smiley in the radio adaptations. He appeared in I, Claudius (1976) as Pallas and in the comedy series The Squirrels (1974–77).

Having played Inspector Goole in An Inspector Calls (1982) and Sir Thomas Bertram in Mansfield Park (1983), he appeared as Sam Toovey in the 1989 television adaptation of Susan Hill's ghost story The Woman in Black (1989).

Radio and film

On radio, Hepton played the role of Albert, in Stranger in the Home by Alan Dapre, also the role of The Old Man in the Corner, the amateur, and mostly sedentary, sleuth in the BBC Radio 4 dramatic adaption called The Teahouse Detective (1998–2000) by Baroness Orczy. He also starred in Robert Barr's quirky detective radio series "Galbraith" as Inspector Bill Galbraith on BBC radio.

Hepton's appearances in feature films were less frequent, he made his debut in 1949. He made a brief appearance as Thorpey, a gangster, in the classic British film Get Carter (1971), and another small role, as Milton Goldsmith, in Voyage of the Damned (1976).

Personal life and death

Hepton was married to actress Nancie Jackson from 1957 until she died in 1977. Jackson played his wife Alice in the TV movie A Man for All Seasons; Hepton and she settled in Barnes, south-west London. Hepton married Hilary Liddell in 1979; she died in 2013. Hepton died on 27 July 2018, aged 92. He was survived by a niece and nephew.[2]

Filmography

Film credits

Television credits

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Bernard Hepton obituary". The Times. 1 August 2018. Retrieved 1 August 2018. (subscription required)
  2. ^ a b c d e Coveney, Michael (30 July 2018). "Bernard Hepton obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  3. ^ . bfi.org.uk. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
  4. ^ a b Harrie, Kate (6 April 2006). "Interview with Bernard Hepton". Theatre Archive Project. British Library. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
  5. ^ The Daily Telegraph Obituaries p27 "Actor who played Kommandant in Colditz and Toby Esterhase in Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" Issue no 50,760 dated Wednesday 1 August 2018

External links

January 06, 2023
bernard, hepton, francis, stall, october, 1925, july, 2018, better, known, stage, name, english, theatre, director, actor, best, known, stage, work, television, roles, teleplays, series, also, appeared, briefly, radio, film, bornfrancis, stall, 1925, october, . Francis Bernard Heptonstall 19 October 1925 27 July 2018 2 better known by the stage name Bernard Hepton was an English theatre director and actor Best known for his stage work and television roles in teleplays and series he also appeared briefly on radio and in film 3 Bernard HeptonBornFrancis Bernard Heptonstall 1 1925 10 19 19 October 1925Bradford West Riding of Yorkshire EnglandDied27 July 2018 2018 07 27 aged 92 United KingdomOccupation s ActorDirectorSpouse s Nancie Jackson m 1957 died 1977 wbr Hillary Liddell m 1979 died 2013 wbr 2 Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Theatre 3 Television 4 Radio and film 5 Personal life and death 6 Filmography 6 1 Film credits 6 2 Television credits 7 References 8 External linksEarly life and education EditHepton was born in Bradford West Riding of Yorkshire His father Bernard senior was an electrician while his mother Hilda nee Berrington was from a mill working family Brought up as a Catholic he attended St Bede s Grammar School 1 His short sight meant he was unable to serve in the British Army during the Second World War He trained as an aircraft engineer and draughtsman while undertaking firewatching duties 2 Theatre EditHepton trained at the Bradford Civic Playhouse under director Esme Church 4 He had extensive stage experience as an actor in repertory especially in Scarborough and York In 1952 he joined Birmingham Rep under Barry Jackson later himself becoming the theatre s artistic director in 1957 1 4 Later for a brief period from 1963 he was director of the Liverpool Playhouse but resigned during his first season Productions of the Max Frisch play The Fire Raisers and John Osborne s Luther featured in his effort to move the theatre s repertoire beyond its standard fare 1 He was responsible for orchestrating the fight sequences in Laurence Olivier s film version of Richard III 1955 and an Old Vic production of Hamlet with lead Richard Burton in 1953 1 2 Television EditOn television he played Caiaphas in the 1969 Dennis Potter play Son of Man He was cast as the Kommandant in Colditz 1972 74 and later appeared for the same production team as Albert Foiret in three series of Secret Army 1977 79 5 Before that he made a guest appearance in an episode of the first series of Catweazle 1970 where he played a naturalist Other notable performances included Thomas Cranmer in both The Six Wives of Henry VIII 1970 and Elizabeth R 1971 He reprised the role in the film adaptation of the former Henry VIII and His Six Wives 1972 Hepton acted in adaptations of John le Carre s novels as Toby Esterhase in the BBC Television versions of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and Smiley s People and George Smiley in the radio adaptations He appeared in I Claudius 1976 as Pallas and in the comedy series The Squirrels 1974 77 Having played Inspector Goole in An Inspector Calls 1982 and Sir Thomas Bertram in Mansfield Park 1983 he appeared as Sam Toovey in the 1989 television adaptation of Susan Hill s ghost story The Woman in Black 1989 Radio and film EditOn radio Hepton played the role of Albert in Stranger in the Home by Alan Dapre also the role of The Old Man in the Corner the amateur and mostly sedentary sleuth in the BBC Radio 4 dramatic adaption called The Teahouse Detective 1998 2000 by Baroness Orczy He also starred in Robert Barr s quirky detective radio series Galbraith as Inspector Bill Galbraith on BBC radio Hepton s appearances in feature films were less frequent he made his debut in 1949 He made a brief appearance as Thorpey a gangster in the classic British film Get Carter 1971 and another small role as Milton Goldsmith in Voyage of the Damned 1976 Personal life and death EditHepton was married to actress Nancie Jackson from 1957 until she died in 1977 Jackson played his wife Alice in the TV movie A Man for All Seasons Hepton and she settled in Barnes south west London Hepton married Hilary Liddell in 1979 she died in 2013 Hepton died on 27 July 2018 aged 92 He was survived by a niece and nephew 2 Filmography EditFilm credits Edit A Boy a Girl and a Bike 1949 as Cyclist uncredited Richard III 1955 as Soldier uncredited Get Carter 1971 as Thorpe Henry VIII and His Six Wives 1972 as Archbishop Thomas Cranmer Barry Lyndon 1975 as Man selling painting to Barry Voyage of the Damned 1976 as Milton Goldsmith The Plague Dogs 1982 as Stephen Powell voice Gandhi 1982 as G O C British army in India The Holcroft Covenant 1985 as Commander Leighton Shadey 1985 as Captain Amies Stealing Heaven 1988 as Bishop Eminent Domain 1990 as Slovak The Baroness and the Pig 2002 as Soames Television credits Edit A Man for All Seasons 1957 as Sir Thomas More The Life of Henry V 1957 as Chorus Compact 1964 director two episodes Swizzlewick 1964 producer 20 episodes Thursday Theatre 1965 producer two episodes United 1965 1966 producer 28 episodes Play of the Month The Devil s Eggshell 1966 as Lord Portmanteau Great Expectations 1967 as Wemmick The Spanish Farm 1968 as Captain Dormer Out of the Unknown The Fosters 1969 as Harry Gerwyn The Wednesday Play Son of Man 1969 as Caiaphas The Elusive Pimpernel 1969 as Chauvelin W Somerset Maugham Lord Mountdrago 1969 as Dr Audlin Play For Today Robin Redbreast 1970 as Fisher The Six Wives of Henry VIII 1970 in four episodes as Archbishop Thomas Cranmer Elizabeth R 1971 as Archbishop Thomas Cranmer Omnibus Paradise Restored 1971 as Oliver Cromwell The Organisation 1972 as Rodney Spurling Follow the Yellow Brick Road 1972 as Colin Sands Colditz 1972 1974 as Kommandant Play of the Month The Adventures of Don Quixote 1973 as Village Priest A Pin to See the Peepshow 1973 as Herbert Starling Some Mothers Do Ave Em 1973 as Webster The Squirrels 1974 1977 as Mr Fletcher Sadie It s Cold Outside 1975 as Norman Potter Orde Wingate 1976 as Palmer I Claudius 1976 as Pallas Secret Army 1977 1979 as Albert Foiret Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy 1979 as Toby Esterhase Blood Money 1981 as Det Chief Supt Meadows Kessler 1981 as Albert Foiret An Inspector Calls 1982 as Inspector Goole Smiley s People 1982 as Toby Esterhase Mansfield Park 1983 as Sir Thomas Bertram Dear Box Number 1983 as Walter Cartwright Cockles 1984 as Sergeant Naughton A Profile of Arthur J Mason 1984 as Arthur J Mason Bleak House 1985 as Krook Bergerac 1985 as Sir Geoffrey Newton Honour Profit and Pleasure 1985 as Bishop of London The Disputation 1986 as Raymund de Penjaforte The Life and Loves of a She Devil 1986 as Judge Bissop The Lady s Not for Burning 1987 as Hebble Tyson The Charmer 1987 as Donald Stimpson The Contract 1988 as Henry Carter The Woman in Black 1989 as Sam Toovey A Perfect Hero 1991 as Arthur Fleming The Old Devils 1992 as Malcolm Cellan Davies Dandelion Dead 1994 as Mr Davies Emma 1996 as Mr Woodhouse Midsomer Murders Death of a Hollow Man 1998 as Harold Winstanley Heartbeat Bread amp Circuses 2002 as Colonel Barber James BarkerReferences Edit a b c d e Bernard Hepton obituary The Times 1 August 2018 Retrieved 1 August 2018 subscription required a b c d e Coveney Michael 30 July 2018 Bernard Hepton obituary The Guardian Retrieved 30 July 2018 HEPTON Bernard bfi org uk Archived from the original on 22 October 2012 Retrieved 31 July 2013 a b Harrie Kate 6 April 2006 Interview with Bernard Hepton Theatre Archive Project British Library Retrieved 4 June 2011 The Daily Telegraph Obituaries p27 Actor who played Kommandant in Colditz and Toby Esterhase in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Issue no 50 760 dated Wednesday 1 August 2018External links EditBernard Hepton at the British Film Institute Bernard Hepton at IMDb Bernard Hepton at aveleyman com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bernard Hepton amp oldid 1129027762, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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