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Edward Woodward

Edward Albert Arthur Woodward, OBE (1 June 1930 – 16 November 2009) was an English actor and singer. After graduating from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, he began his career on stage. Throughout his career, he appeared in productions in both the West End of London and on Broadway in New York City. He came to wider attention from 1967 in the title role of the British television spy drama Callan, earning him the 1970 British Academy Television Award for Best Actor.

Edward Woodward

Woodward in 1971
Born
Edward Albert Arthur Woodward

(1930-06-01)1 June 1930
Croydon, Surrey, England
Died16 November 2009(2009-11-16) (aged 79)
Truro, Cornwall, England
Resting placePadstow Cemetery, Padstow, Cornwall, England
Occupation(s)Actor, singer
Years active1946–2009
Spouse
Venetia Barrett
(m. 1952; div. 1986)
(m. 1987)
Children4

Woodward starred as Police Sergeant Neil Howie in the 1973 cult British horror film The Wicker Man, and in the title role of the 1980 Australian biopic Breaker Morant. From 1985 to 1989, Woodward starred as ex-secret agent and private investigator Robert McCall in the American television series The Equalizer, earning him the 1986 Golden Globe Award for Best Television Drama Actor.

Early life

Woodward was born on 1 June 1930 in Croydon, Surrey,[1] the only child of parents Edward Oliver Woodward, a metalworker,[2] and Violet Edith Woodward (née Smith).[3] As a boy, he was bombed out of his home three times during the Blitz.[4] He attended Eccleston Road, Sydenham Road, and E Wallington, as well as Kingston Day Commercial School and Elmwood High School, Hackbridge, all in Surrey.[2][4] He then attended Kingston College.[1][5]

Career

Theatre

After leaving school at the age of 15, Woodward wanted to train as a journalist, but took work in a sanitary engineer's office and then at the age of 16 entered the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA). After the Second World War, he became an associate member of that academy.[6] He was torn between becoming an actor and a professional footballer, and was on the books of Leyton Orient FC and Brentford FC, making three appearances in the football league for the latter, but a serious knee injury kept him out of the game for over a year.[citation needed]

Woodward's professional acting debut was in the Castle Theatre, Farnham, in 1946.[6] After graduation from RADA, he worked extensively in repertory companies as a Shakespearean actor throughout England and Scotland, making his London stage debut in R. F. Delderfield's Where There's a Will in 1955[6] and also appeared in the film adaptation that same year, his first film, and then Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet (1955). Having established himself, he also worked in Broadway theatre in New York City and in Australia. Woodward first appeared on Broadway in Rattle of a Simple Man (1963) and the musical comedy High Spirits (1964–1965), which won three Tony Awards, followed by the 1966 comedy The Best Laid Plans. In 1970, after Woodward played Sidney Carton in the West End musical Two Cities, based on Dickens's novel, Laurence Olivier invited him to choose his own role in the Royal National Theatre, and he chose Cyrano de Bergerac (1971).[6]

Woodward played Dr. Watson opposite Keith Baxter as Sherlock Holmes in the play Murder Dear Watson in 1983.[7]

In 2004, Woodward, alongside Australian actor Daniel MacPherson, appeared as God in a revival of The Mystery Plays at Canterbury Cathedral. From a cast of hundreds of local actors, Joseph McManners and Thomas James Longley also featured with smaller speaking roles.[8]

Film

He made occasional appearances until taking the role of Police Sergeant Neil Howie in the thriller The Wicker Man in 1973. Woodward was offered a cameo role in the 2005 remake, but declined. He also appeared in the 1982 film Who Dares Wins, also known as The Final Option[citation needed] on the film's release history.[unreliable source?] as Commander Powell.

Woodward played the title role in the 1980 Australian biographical film drama Breaker Morant, which was highly acclaimed, and his presence brought the film worldwide attention. Woodward also had a supporting role in the 2007 action comedy Hot Fuzz. His last lead film role was that of the Reverend Frederick Densham in A Congregation of Ghosts, the story of an eccentric vicar who is said to have alienated his congregation and preached to cardboard cut-outs.[citation needed]

Robin Hardy, who directed The Wicker Man, said, "He was one of the greatest actors of his generation, without a doubt, with a broad career on American television, as well as on British film."[9] Noël Coward once said of him, "He was one of the nicest and most co-operative actors I've ever met or worked with."[5]

In 1990, Woodward was the narrator for the official FIFA film of the 1990 World Cup entitled Soccer Shoot-Out.

Television

Woodward appeared in many television productions. In the early 1960s, he was a jobbing actor who made a number of minor TV appearances in supporting roles. His casting as Guy Crouchback in the 1967 adaption of Evelyn Waugh's Sword of Honour trilogy, dramatised by Giles Cooper and directed by Donald McWhinnie, established him as an actor of quality and standing. Crouchback was the central character in Waugh's three novels set against the background of Britain's involvement in World War II. This black-and-white TV dramatisation is now much less well known than a more lavish 2001 colour version with Daniel Craig playing the part of Crouchback. However, the 1967 dramatisation enjoyed a high profile at the time, and it featured several leading actors of that era, including Ronald Fraser, Freddie Jones, Vivian Pickles, Nicholas Courtney, and James Villiers. Moreover, Evelyn Waugh had met and approved Giles Cooper as the scriptwriter, having their schooling at Lancing College in common, albeit more than a decade apart.

In 1967, Woodward played the eventual victim in an episode of The Saint TV series ("The Persistent Patriots"). The same year, he was cast as David Callan in the ITV Armchair Theatre play A Magnum for Schneider, which later became the spy series Callan, one of his early television roles and one in which he demonstrated his ability to express controlled rage. His performance assured the series success from 1967 to 1972, with a film appearing in 1974. He also appeared opposite Laurence Olivier in a 1978 adaptation of Saturday, Sunday, Monday in the Laurence Olivier Presents anthology series.

The success of Callan typecast him somewhat, but the enduring success of the genre allowed him to gain leading roles in similar productions, though none would prove to be as iconic as Callan.[10] In 1977, he starred in two series of the BBC2 dystopian drama 1990, about a future Britain lurching into totalitarianism.[11]

The late 1970s he spent on both stage and film, but he had not found recognition and popularity exceeding that of Callan until he took the lead role in the American television series The Equalizer (1985–89) as a former intelligence operative. After filming a few episodes of the third season, Woodward suffered a massive coronary. For several episodes, additional actors were brought in to reduce the workload on Woodward as he recovered from the condition. The first episode filmed following Woodward's heart attack involved his character being severely injured by a KGB bullet, providing Woodward with a chance to rest over several episodes. Later in the season, Woodward resumed his full duties and carried the show through a fourth season during 1988-1989.[citation needed] During this period, he also starred in the Cold War espionage thriller, Codename: Kyril (1988), as an MI6 double agent.

Subsequently, he starred in the short-lived CBS series Over My Dead Body, which ran in 1990, playing a mystery writer who gets involved in solving real crimes. In 1994 and 1997, Woodward starred in the BBC drama Common As Muck, in which he played a binman called Nev.

In 1993, Woodward appeared in the Welsh language drama, Tan ar y Comin. Versions were made in both English and Welsh, and Woodward appeared in both, being specially coached in the latter since he did not speak a word of the language.[12]

In 1999, Woodward appeared alongside his son Peter in The Long Road, an episode of the Babylon 5 spin-off, Crusade, on which Peter was a regular cast member.[citation needed] While both actors were playing the part of unrelated Technomages, the on-screen chemistry between them was clear.

His career continued with TV guest-star roles, including an appearance in The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents and Mr. Jones (or Philip, codename Flavius) in the series La Femme Nikita. He also guest-starred with his son Tim and grandson Sam as a London gangster family in a special storyline for The Bill in 2008. In March 2009, he joined EastEnders for six episodes, playing Tommy Clifford.

Woodward was a wargamer and hosted a series of programmes for Tyne Tees Television[13] in 1978 about the hobby with fellow enthusiast Peter Gilder, who built and owned the beautiful Gettysburg diorama used for one of the gaming scenes from the 1974 film Callan.

Woodward was the subject of This Is Your Life on two occasions; in February 1971, he was surprised by Eamonn Andrews in the bar of London's White House Hotel,[citation needed] and in February 1995, Michael Aspel surprised him during a photoshoot at Syon House in West London.[citation needed]

Music

His capability as tenor enabled him to record 12 albums of romantic songs, as well as three albums of poetry and 14 books to tape. His vocal ability and acting skill enabled him to make a number of appearances when time allowed on the BBC's Edwardian era music hall programme, The Good Old Days.

Woodward had two top-100 albums in the UK Album Chart; This Man Alone (number 53 in 1970) and The Edward Woodward Album (number 20 in 1972), while the single "The Way You Look Tonight" peaked at number 42 on the UK Singles Chart in 1971.[14] He also had two top 100 albums in Australia; Edwardian Woodward (#97 in 1975) and A Romantic Hour (#92 in 1980)[15]

Selected discography

  • This Man Alone (1970)
  • It Had to Be You (1971)
  • The Edward Woodward Album (1972)
  • An evening with.... Edward Woodward (1974)
  • Woodward Again (1974)
  • Edwardian Woodward (1975)
  • Love Is the Key (1977)
  • The Thought of You (1978)
  • Don't Get Around Much Anymore (1979)

Personal life

Woodward was married twice. His first marriage was to actress Venetia Barrett (born Venetia Mary Collett, 1928-2016) from 1952 to 1986.[5] They had two sons: Tim Woodward (born 1953) and Peter Woodward (born 1956), both of whom became actors, as well as a daughter, the Tony Award-nominated actress Sarah Woodward (born 1963). Woodward left Barrett for actress Michele Dotrice, the daughter of his contemporary Roy Dotrice, and married her in New York City in January 1987. Their daughter, Emily Beth Woodward (born 1983),[citation needed] was present at the ceremony.[16]

Woodward was in Cyprus during the Turkish invasion of the island in 1974. Staying in the northern Cyprus town of Kyrenia, he was one of several Britons evacuated from the island by the Royal Navy aircraft carrier, HMS Hermes following the Turkish invasion and occupation of Kyrenia.[17]

Woodward was a prominent endorser of the Labour Party in the 1970 general election, featuring in publicity material. Later, he announced support for the SDP.

Woodward suffered a massive heart attack in 1987 (during the third season of The Equalizer) and another one in 1994. He underwent triple bypass surgery in 1996 and quit smoking. In 2003, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer.[18] In July 2009, a planned performance of Love Letters, co-starring his wife Michele, was to be postponed because of damage caused to his hip when he fell down the stairs at his West Country home.[19]

Death

Woodward died at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro, Cornwall, on 16 November 2009, at the age of 79, near his home at Hawker's Cove.[20][21] He was buried at Padstow Cemetery[citation needed] and was survived by his wife, their daughter, and three children from his first marriage.[22]

Awards

Woodward won the 1970 BAFTA Award for Best Actor for his title role in Callan. He was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1978. At the 1987 Golden Globe Awards, he won Best Actor in a Dramatic TV Series for his role of Robert McCall in The Equalizer. At the Emmy Awards from 1986 to 1990, he was nominated each year for The Equalizer.

Stage work

  • 1955: Where There's a Will
  • 1958: Romeo and Juliet
  • 1958: Hamlet
  • 1962: Rattle of a Simple Man
  • 1964: High Spirits
  • 1968: Two Cities
  • 1969: Julius Caesar
  • 1971: Cyrano de Bergerac
  • 1971: The White Devil
  • 1973: The Wolf
  • 1975: Male of the Species
  • 1976: On Approval
  • 1978: The Dark Horse
  • 1980: The Beggar's Opera (also as director)
  • 1980: Private Lives
  • 1982: The Assassin
  • 1982: Richard III
  • 1992: The Dead Secret

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Director Notes
1955 Where There's a Will Ralph Stokes Vernon Sewell
1960 Inn for Trouble C.M. Pennington-Richards Uncredited
1964 Becket Clement Peter Glenville Uncredited
1969 The File of the Golden Goose Arthur Thompson Sam Wanamaker
1971 Incense for the Damned Dr. Holstrom Michael Burrowes
1972 Sitting Target Inspector Milton Douglas Hickox
1972 Young Winston Aylmer Haldane Richard Attenborough
1972 Hunted John Drummond Peter Crane Short
1973 The Wicker Man Sergeant Howie Robin Hardy
1974 Callan David Callan Don Sharp
1975 Three for All Roadsweeper Martin Campbell
1977 Stand Up, Virgin Soldiers Sgt. Wellbeloved Norman Cohen
1980 Breaker Morant Lt. Harry Harbord "Breaker" Morant Bruce Beresford Singing over the end credits
1981 The Appointment Ian Lindsey Vickers
1982 Who Dares Wins Commander Powell Ian Sharp
1984 Champions Josh Gifford John Irvin
1985 King David Saul Bruce Beresford
1990 Mister Johnson Sargy Gollup Bruce Beresford
1990 Soccer Shootout: 1990 World Cup Narrator Mario Morra
1992 Aladdin The Sultan Timothy Forder Voice
1993 Tân ar y Comin David Hemmings
1994 Deadly Advice Maj. Herbert Armstrong Mandie Fletcher
1997 The House of Angelo Dominic Angelo Jim Goddard Also producer
2000 Marcie's Dowry Gus Wise David Mackenzie Short
2002 The Abduction Club Lord Fermoy Stefan Schwartz
2007 Hot Fuzz Tom Weaver Edgar Wright
2009 A Congregation of Ghosts Reverend Frederick Densham Mark Collicott (final film role)

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1956 A Girl Called Jo John Brooke Television film
1957 The Telescope John Mayfield Television film
1959 Armchair Theatre 3.25 "The Fabulous Money Maker"
1959 World Theatre Titinius 1.01 "Julius Caesar"
1959 ITV Television Playhouse Joe Murdoch 4.52 "One a Penny, Two a Penny"
1959 Skyport 6 episodes
1960 Inside Story Stanislaw Krasinski 1.01 "A Touch of Brimstone"
1960 The True Mistery of the Passion Peter Television film
1960 Armchair Mystery Theatre Paul Danek 1.03 "The Case of Paul Danek"
1961 Emergency-Ward 10 Rev. Posset 1.144 "Episode #1.444"
1961 Adventure Story Peter 1.01 "The Reef"
1961 Magnolia Street John Cooper 6 episodes
1961 BBC Sunday-Night Play Superintendent Morland 3.01 "A Clean Kill"
1961 You Can't Win Paul Hayward 1.01 "Greater Than Fear"
1962 Sir Francis Drake Spanish Captain 1.23 "Court Intrigue"
1962 ITV Play of the Week Adolphus Cusins 8.08 "Major Barbara"
1964 Sergeant Cork Austen Carew 1.16 "The Case of the Ormsby Diamonds"
1964 ITV Play of the Week The Boy's Father 9.26 "I Can Walk Where I Like Can't I?"
1964 The Defenders H.T. Harris 4.05 "Conflict of Interests"
1965 Mogul Ron Smith 1.03 "Safety Man"
1965 Armchair Mystery Theatre Anstey 3.11 "Wake a Stranger"
1966 Thirty-Minute Theatre Arthur 1.33 "Ella"
1966 Dixon of Dock Green Bruce Paynter 13.12 "The Accident"
1967 Theatre 625 Guy Crouchback 4.09 "Sword of Honour"
1967 Armchair Theatre David Callan 7.02 "A Magnum for Schneider"
1967 Thirty-Minute Theatre Alan 2.25 "Wanted"
1967 The Revenue Men Bill Murray 1.02 "Don't Get Conspicuous"
1967 The Baron Arkin Morley 1.29 "Countdown"
1967 The Saint Jack Liskard 1.15 "The Persistent Patriots"
1967 Conflict Othello 2.16 "Othello"
1967–1972 Callan David Callan 43 episodes
1967 Trapped Mark Frazier 2.01 "Trapped: Au Pair Swedish Style"
1968 Mystery and Imagination Reeve 3.02 "The Listener"
1968 ITV Playhouse Ed
Lt.-Col. Fox-Lennard
1.42 "Entertaining Mr. Sloane"
2 "Premiere: The Night of Talavera"
1968 Detective Auguste Dupin 2.17 "The Murders in the Rue Morgue"
1968 Sherlock Holmes Mason 2.13 "Shoscombe Old Place"
1969 BBC Play of the Month Cassius 4.08 "Julius Caesar"
1969 The Bruce Forsyth Show
1969 Omnibus F. Scott Fitzgerald 3.09 "F. Scott Fitzgerald: The Dream Divided"
1969 Detective Commissaire Bignon 3.09 "The Poisoners"
1969 The Root of All Evil? Designi 2.02 "A Bit of a Holiday"
1971 Play for Today Frank 2.3 "Evelyn"
1971 BBC Play of the Month Lopakhin 7.04 "The Cherry Orchard"
1971 The Edward Woodward Hour Host
1973 Whodunnit? Himself (host) 6 episodes
1975 Armchair Cinema Philip Warne 1.04 "When Day Is Done"
1977 ITV Playhouse George Mangham 9.08 "The Bass Player and the Blonde"
1977–1978 1990 Jim Kyle 16 episodes
1978 Saturday, Sunday, Monday Luigi Television film
1978 The Bass Player and the Blonde Mangham 1.01 "Rondo"
1980 ITV Playhouse Ian 12.07 "A Rod of Iron"
1980 Nice Work Edwin Thornfield 6 episodes
1981 Sunday Night Thriller Alex Logan 1.04 "Blunt Instrument"
1981 Chronicle Narrator (voice) 1.07 "The Crime of Captain Colthurst"
1981 Wet Job David Callan Television film
1981 Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years Sir Samuel Hoare Television miniseries
1983 The Spice of Life Narrator (voice) 13 episodes
1983 Love Is Forever Derek McBracken Television film
1984 Killer Contract Bill Routledge Television film
1984 A Christmas Carol Ghost of Christmas Present Television film
1985 Merlin and the Sword Merlin Television film
1985–1989 The Equalizer Robert McCall 88 episodes
1987 Uncle Tom's Cabin Simon Legree Television film
1988 Codename: Kyril Michael Royston Television miniseries
1988 Memories of Manon Robert McCall Television film
1988 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Drummond 3.20 "The Hunted"
1989 The Man in the Brown Suit Sir Eustace Pedler Television film
1990 Hands of a Murderer Sherlock Holmes Television film
1990–1991 Over My Dead Body Maxwell Beckett 11 episodes
1991–1996 In Suspicious Circumstances Storyteller 39 episodes
1991–1992 America at Risk Host Television documentary
1994–1997 Common As Muck Nev 12 episodes
1994 A Christmas Reunion Colonel Phillips Television film
1995 The Shamrock Conspiracy Edward Harrison Television film
1996 Gulliver's Travels Drunlo Television miniseries
1996 Harrison: Cry of the City Edward "Teddy" Harrison Television film
1999 Crusade Alwyn 1.02 "The Long Road"
1999 CI5: The New Professionals Harry Malone 13 episodes
2001 La Femme Nikita Mr. Jones 4 episodes
2001 The Lone Gunmen Peanuts' Speech Synthesizer 1.07 "Planet of the Frohikes"
2001 Dark Realm Captain Kelly 1.11 "Emma's Boy"
2001 Messiah Rev. Stephen Hedges Television miniseries
2002 Night Flight Vic Green Television film
2004 Murder in Suburbia Reg 1.06 "Noisy Neighbours"
2005 Where the Heart Is Jack Bishop 9.09 "So Long"
2007 Five Days Victor Marsham Television miniseries
2007 First Landing Older Nathaniel Peacock / Narrator (voice) Television film
2008 The Bill Johnnie Jackson 24.27 "Sins of the Father"
2009 EastEnders Tommy Clifford 6 episodes

References

  1. ^ a b "Actor's roots 'were important to him'". The Croydon Post. Northcliffe Media. 25 November 2009. p. 7.
  2. ^ a b "Edward Woodward". The Sunday Independent (Ireland). 22 November 2009.
  3. ^ "Edward Woodward Biography". Filmreference.com. Retrieved 20 December 2012.
  4. ^ a b "Veteran actor best known as "Equalizer"". The Irish Times. 21 November 2009. p. 14.
  5. ^ a b c "Obituary: Edward Woodward". The Daily Telegraph. London. 16 November 2009. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 16 November 2009.
  6. ^ a b c d . BBC News. 16 November 2009. Archived from the original on 19 November 2009. Retrieved 17 November 2009.
  7. ^ . University of Minnesota Libraries. Archived from the original on 12 September 2020. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  8. ^ "Revival of medieval mystery plays". BBC News. 5 August 2004. Retrieved 14 August 2010.
  9. ^ Shaw, Vicky (16 November 2009). "Actor Edward Woodward dies aged 79". The Independent. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  10. ^ "Woodward, Edward (1930-2009) Biography". screenonline. 4 February 1967. Retrieved 20 December 2012.
  11. ^ . 9 May 2006. Archived from the original on 9 May 2006. Retrieved 20 December 2012.
  12. ^ . Peakviewing. Archived from the original on 1 March 2012. Retrieved 20 December 2012.
  13. ^ . Ftvdb.bfi.org.uk. Archived from the original on 17 October 2012. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
  14. ^ "Edward Woodward's Official UK Chart History". Official Charts.
  15. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 343. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  16. ^ Hunter, Colonel (16 November 2009). . Thisisplymouth.co.uk. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 20 December 2012.
  17. ^ "When I Got Caught Up in the Turkish Invasion of Cyprus". Ozy.com. 4 April 2018. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  18. ^ Barker, Dennis (16 November 2009). "Edward Woodward obituary". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
  19. ^ Mirror.co.uk (9 July 2009). "Edward Woodward breaks hip in stair fall". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  20. ^ . News.sky.com. Archived from the original on 1 March 2010. Retrieved 20 December 2012.
  21. ^ "Actor Edward Woodward dies at 79". BBC. 16 November 2009. Retrieved 16 November 2009.
  22. ^ Barker, Dennis (16 November 2009). "Edward Woodward obituary". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 1 May 2010.

External links

  • Edward Woodward at IMDb
  • The Museum of Broadcast Communications 14 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  • The Washington Post - 17 November 2009: "Edward Woodward: British leading man personified 'the actor's life'"

edward, woodward, this, article, about, english, actor, australian, jurist, judge, british, barrister, edward, robert, woodward, executive, vice, chairman, manchester, united, woodward, edward, albert, arthur, woodward, june, 1930, november, 2009, english, act. This article is about the English actor For the Australian jurist see Edward Woodward judge For the British barrister see Edward Robert Woodward For the executive vice chairman of Manchester United F C see Ed Woodward Edward Albert Arthur Woodward OBE 1 June 1930 16 November 2009 was an English actor and singer After graduating from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art he began his career on stage Throughout his career he appeared in productions in both the West End of London and on Broadway in New York City He came to wider attention from 1967 in the title role of the British television spy drama Callan earning him the 1970 British Academy Television Award for Best Actor Edward WoodwardOBEWoodward in 1971BornEdward Albert Arthur Woodward 1930 06 01 1 June 1930Croydon Surrey EnglandDied16 November 2009 2009 11 16 aged 79 Truro Cornwall EnglandResting placePadstow Cemetery Padstow Cornwall EnglandOccupation s Actor singerYears active1946 2009SpouseVenetia Barrett m 1952 div 1986 wbr Michele Dotrice m 1987 wbr Children4Woodward starred as Police Sergeant Neil Howie in the 1973 cult British horror film The Wicker Man and in the title role of the 1980 Australian biopic Breaker Morant From 1985 to 1989 Woodward starred as ex secret agent and private investigator Robert McCall in the American television series The Equalizer earning him the 1986 Golden Globe Award for Best Television Drama Actor Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 2 1 Theatre 2 2 Film 2 3 Television 2 4 Music 3 Personal life 4 Death 5 Awards 6 Stage work 7 Filmography 7 1 Film 7 2 Television 8 References 9 External linksEarly life EditWoodward was born on 1 June 1930 in Croydon Surrey 1 the only child of parents Edward Oliver Woodward a metalworker 2 and Violet Edith Woodward nee Smith 3 As a boy he was bombed out of his home three times during the Blitz 4 He attended Eccleston Road Sydenham Road and E Wallington as well as Kingston Day Commercial School and Elmwood High School Hackbridge all in Surrey 2 4 He then attended Kingston College 1 5 Career EditTheatre Edit After leaving school at the age of 15 Woodward wanted to train as a journalist but took work in a sanitary engineer s office and then at the age of 16 entered the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art RADA After the Second World War he became an associate member of that academy 6 He was torn between becoming an actor and a professional footballer and was on the books of Leyton Orient FC and Brentford FC making three appearances in the football league for the latter but a serious knee injury kept him out of the game for over a year citation needed Woodward s professional acting debut was in the Castle Theatre Farnham in 1946 6 After graduation from RADA he worked extensively in repertory companies as a Shakespearean actor throughout England and Scotland making his London stage debut in R F Delderfield s Where There s a Will in 1955 6 and also appeared in the film adaptation that same year his first film and then Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet 1955 Having established himself he also worked in Broadway theatre in New York City and in Australia Woodward first appeared on Broadway in Rattle of a Simple Man 1963 and the musical comedy High Spirits 1964 1965 which won three Tony Awards followed by the 1966 comedy The Best Laid Plans In 1970 after Woodward played Sidney Carton in the West End musical Two Cities based on Dickens s novel Laurence Olivier invited him to choose his own role in the Royal National Theatre and he chose Cyrano de Bergerac 1971 6 Woodward played Dr Watson opposite Keith Baxter as Sherlock Holmes in the play Murder Dear Watson in 1983 7 In 2004 Woodward alongside Australian actor Daniel MacPherson appeared as God in a revival of The Mystery Plays at Canterbury Cathedral From a cast of hundreds of local actors Joseph McManners and Thomas James Longley also featured with smaller speaking roles 8 Film Edit He made occasional appearances until taking the role of Police Sergeant Neil Howie in the thriller The Wicker Man in 1973 Woodward was offered a cameo role in the 2005 remake but declined He also appeared in the 1982 film Who Dares Wins also known as The Final Option citation needed on the film s release history unreliable source as Commander Powell Woodward played the title role in the 1980 Australian biographical film drama Breaker Morant which was highly acclaimed and his presence brought the film worldwide attention Woodward also had a supporting role in the 2007 action comedy Hot Fuzz His last lead film role was that of the Reverend Frederick Densham in A Congregation of Ghosts the story of an eccentric vicar who is said to have alienated his congregation and preached to cardboard cut outs citation needed Robin Hardy who directed The Wicker Man said He was one of the greatest actors of his generation without a doubt with a broad career on American television as well as on British film 9 Noel Coward once said of him He was one of the nicest and most co operative actors I ve ever met or worked with 5 In 1990 Woodward was the narrator for the official FIFA film of the 1990 World Cup entitled Soccer Shoot Out Television Edit Woodward appeared in many television productions In the early 1960s he was a jobbing actor who made a number of minor TV appearances in supporting roles His casting as Guy Crouchback in the 1967 adaption of Evelyn Waugh s Sword of Honour trilogy dramatised by Giles Cooper and directed by Donald McWhinnie established him as an actor of quality and standing Crouchback was the central character in Waugh s three novels set against the background of Britain s involvement in World War II This black and white TV dramatisation is now much less well known than a more lavish 2001 colour version with Daniel Craig playing the part of Crouchback However the 1967 dramatisation enjoyed a high profile at the time and it featured several leading actors of that era including Ronald Fraser Freddie Jones Vivian Pickles Nicholas Courtney and James Villiers Moreover Evelyn Waugh had met and approved Giles Cooper as the scriptwriter having their schooling at Lancing College in common albeit more than a decade apart In 1967 Woodward played the eventual victim in an episode of The Saint TV series The Persistent Patriots The same year he was cast as David Callan in the ITV Armchair Theatre play A Magnum for Schneider which later became the spy series Callan one of his early television roles and one in which he demonstrated his ability to express controlled rage His performance assured the series success from 1967 to 1972 with a film appearing in 1974 He also appeared opposite Laurence Olivier in a 1978 adaptation of Saturday Sunday Monday in the Laurence Olivier Presents anthology series The success of Callan typecast him somewhat but the enduring success of the genre allowed him to gain leading roles in similar productions though none would prove to be as iconic as Callan 10 In 1977 he starred in two series of the BBC2 dystopian drama 1990 about a future Britain lurching into totalitarianism 11 The late 1970s he spent on both stage and film but he had not found recognition and popularity exceeding that of Callan until he took the lead role in the American television series The Equalizer 1985 89 as a former intelligence operative After filming a few episodes of the third season Woodward suffered a massive coronary For several episodes additional actors were brought in to reduce the workload on Woodward as he recovered from the condition The first episode filmed following Woodward s heart attack involved his character being severely injured by a KGB bullet providing Woodward with a chance to rest over several episodes Later in the season Woodward resumed his full duties and carried the show through a fourth season during 1988 1989 citation needed During this period he also starred in the Cold War espionage thriller Codename Kyril 1988 as an MI6 double agent Subsequently he starred in the short lived CBS series Over My Dead Body which ran in 1990 playing a mystery writer who gets involved in solving real crimes In 1994 and 1997 Woodward starred in the BBC drama Common As Muck in which he played a binman called Nev In 1993 Woodward appeared in the Welsh language drama Tan ar y Comin Versions were made in both English and Welsh and Woodward appeared in both being specially coached in the latter since he did not speak a word of the language 12 In 1999 Woodward appeared alongside his son Peter in The Long Road an episode of the Babylon 5 spin off Crusade on which Peter was a regular cast member citation needed While both actors were playing the part of unrelated Technomages the on screen chemistry between them was clear His career continued with TV guest star roles including an appearance in The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents and Mr Jones or Philip codename Flavius in the series La Femme Nikita He also guest starred with his son Tim and grandson Sam as a London gangster family in a special storyline for The Bill in 2008 In March 2009 he joined EastEnders for six episodes playing Tommy Clifford Woodward was a wargamer and hosted a series of programmes for Tyne Tees Television 13 in 1978 about the hobby with fellow enthusiast Peter Gilder who built and owned the beautiful Gettysburg diorama used for one of the gaming scenes from the 1974 film Callan Woodward was the subject of This Is Your Life on two occasions in February 1971 he was surprised by Eamonn Andrews in the bar of London s White House Hotel citation needed and in February 1995 Michael Aspel surprised him during a photoshoot at Syon House in West London citation needed Music Edit His capability as tenor enabled him to record 12 albums of romantic songs as well as three albums of poetry and 14 books to tape His vocal ability and acting skill enabled him to make a number of appearances when time allowed on the BBC s Edwardian era music hall programme The Good Old Days Woodward had two top 100 albums in the UK Album Chart This Man Alone number 53 in 1970 and The Edward Woodward Album number 20 in 1972 while the single The Way You Look Tonight peaked at number 42 on the UK Singles Chart in 1971 14 He also had two top 100 albums in Australia Edwardian Woodward 97 in 1975 and A Romantic Hour 92 in 1980 15 Selected discography This Man Alone 1970 It Had to Be You 1971 The Edward Woodward Album 1972 An evening with Edward Woodward 1974 Woodward Again 1974 Edwardian Woodward 1975 Love Is the Key 1977 The Thought of You 1978 Don t Get Around Much Anymore 1979 Personal life EditWoodward was married twice His first marriage was to actress Venetia Barrett born Venetia Mary Collett 1928 2016 from 1952 to 1986 5 They had two sons Tim Woodward born 1953 and Peter Woodward born 1956 both of whom became actors as well as a daughter the Tony Award nominated actress Sarah Woodward born 1963 Woodward left Barrett for actress Michele Dotrice the daughter of his contemporary Roy Dotrice and married her in New York City in January 1987 Their daughter Emily Beth Woodward born 1983 citation needed was present at the ceremony 16 Woodward was in Cyprus during the Turkish invasion of the island in 1974 Staying in the northern Cyprus town of Kyrenia he was one of several Britons evacuated from the island by the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Hermes following the Turkish invasion and occupation of Kyrenia 17 Woodward was a prominent endorser of the Labour Party in the 1970 general election featuring in publicity material Later he announced support for the SDP Woodward suffered a massive heart attack in 1987 during the third season of The Equalizer and another one in 1994 He underwent triple bypass surgery in 1996 and quit smoking In 2003 he was diagnosed with prostate cancer 18 In July 2009 a planned performance of Love Letters co starring his wife Michele was to be postponed because of damage caused to his hip when he fell down the stairs at his West Country home 19 Death EditWoodward died at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro Cornwall on 16 November 2009 at the age of 79 near his home at Hawker s Cove 20 21 He was buried at Padstow Cemetery citation needed and was survived by his wife their daughter and three children from his first marriage 22 Awards EditWoodward won the 1970 BAFTA Award for Best Actor for his title role in Callan He was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire OBE in 1978 At the 1987 Golden Globe Awards he won Best Actor in a Dramatic TV Series for his role of Robert McCall in The Equalizer At the Emmy Awards from 1986 to 1990 he was nominated each year for The Equalizer Golden Globe Award for Best Actor Television Series Drama 1987 British Academy Television Award for Best Actor 1970 RTS Television Actor of the Year 1969 1970 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series nominated 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series nominated 1989 Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire 1978Stage work Edit1955 Where There s a Will 1958 Romeo and Juliet 1958 Hamlet 1962 Rattle of a Simple Man 1964 High Spirits 1968 Two Cities 1969 Julius Caesar 1971 Cyrano de Bergerac 1971 The White Devil 1973 The Wolf 1975 Male of the Species 1976 On Approval 1978 The Dark Horse 1980 The Beggar s Opera also as director 1980 Private Lives 1982 The Assassin 1982 Richard III 1992 The Dead SecretFilmography EditFilm Edit Year Title Role Director Notes1955 Where There s a Will Ralph Stokes Vernon Sewell1960 Inn for Trouble C M Pennington Richards Uncredited1964 Becket Clement Peter Glenville Uncredited1969 The File of the Golden Goose Arthur Thompson Sam Wanamaker1971 Incense for the Damned Dr Holstrom Michael Burrowes1972 Sitting Target Inspector Milton Douglas Hickox1972 Young Winston Aylmer Haldane Richard Attenborough1972 Hunted John Drummond Peter Crane Short1973 The Wicker Man Sergeant Howie Robin Hardy1974 Callan David Callan Don Sharp1975 Three for All Roadsweeper Martin Campbell1977 Stand Up Virgin Soldiers Sgt Wellbeloved Norman Cohen1980 Breaker Morant Lt Harry Harbord Breaker Morant Bruce Beresford Singing over the end credits1981 The Appointment Ian Lindsey Vickers1982 Who Dares Wins Commander Powell Ian Sharp1984 Champions Josh Gifford John Irvin1985 King David Saul Bruce Beresford1990 Mister Johnson Sargy Gollup Bruce Beresford1990 Soccer Shootout 1990 World Cup Narrator Mario Morra1992 Aladdin The Sultan Timothy Forder Voice1993 Tan ar y Comin David Hemmings1994 Deadly Advice Maj Herbert Armstrong Mandie Fletcher1997 The House of Angelo Dominic Angelo Jim Goddard Also producer2000 Marcie s Dowry Gus Wise David Mackenzie Short2002 The Abduction Club Lord Fermoy Stefan Schwartz2007 Hot Fuzz Tom Weaver Edgar Wright2009 A Congregation of Ghosts Reverend Frederick Densham Mark Collicott final film role Television Edit Year Title Role Notes1956 A Girl Called Jo John Brooke Television film1957 The Telescope John Mayfield Television film1959 Armchair Theatre 3 25 The Fabulous Money Maker 1959 World Theatre Titinius 1 01 Julius Caesar 1959 ITV Television Playhouse Joe Murdoch 4 52 One a Penny Two a Penny 1959 Skyport 6 episodes1960 Inside Story Stanislaw Krasinski 1 01 A Touch of Brimstone 1960 The True Mistery of the Passion Peter Television film1960 Armchair Mystery Theatre Paul Danek 1 03 The Case of Paul Danek 1961 Emergency Ward 10 Rev Posset 1 144 Episode 1 444 1961 Adventure Story Peter 1 01 The Reef 1961 Magnolia Street John Cooper 6 episodes1961 BBC Sunday Night Play Superintendent Morland 3 01 A Clean Kill 1961 You Can t Win Paul Hayward 1 01 Greater Than Fear 1962 Sir Francis Drake Spanish Captain 1 23 Court Intrigue 1962 ITV Play of the Week Adolphus Cusins 8 08 Major Barbara 1964 Sergeant Cork Austen Carew 1 16 The Case of the Ormsby Diamonds 1964 ITV Play of the Week The Boy s Father 9 26 I Can Walk Where I Like Can t I 1964 The Defenders H T Harris 4 05 Conflict of Interests 1965 Mogul Ron Smith 1 03 Safety Man 1965 Armchair Mystery Theatre Anstey 3 11 Wake a Stranger 1966 Thirty Minute Theatre Arthur 1 33 Ella 1966 Dixon of Dock Green Bruce Paynter 13 12 The Accident 1967 Theatre 625 Guy Crouchback 4 09 Sword of Honour 1967 Armchair Theatre David Callan 7 02 A Magnum for Schneider 1967 Thirty Minute Theatre Alan 2 25 Wanted 1967 The Revenue Men Bill Murray 1 02 Don t Get Conspicuous 1967 The Baron Arkin Morley 1 29 Countdown 1967 The Saint Jack Liskard 1 15 The Persistent Patriots 1967 Conflict Othello 2 16 Othello 1967 1972 Callan David Callan 43 episodes1967 Trapped Mark Frazier 2 01 Trapped Au Pair Swedish Style 1968 Mystery and Imagination Reeve 3 02 The Listener 1968 ITV Playhouse EdLt Col Fox Lennard 1 42 Entertaining Mr Sloane 2 Premiere The Night of Talavera 1968 Detective Auguste Dupin 2 17 The Murders in the Rue Morgue 1968 Sherlock Holmes Mason 2 13 Shoscombe Old Place 1969 BBC Play of the Month Cassius 4 08 Julius Caesar 1969 The Bruce Forsyth Show1969 Omnibus F Scott Fitzgerald 3 09 F Scott Fitzgerald The Dream Divided 1969 Detective Commissaire Bignon 3 09 The Poisoners 1969 The Root of All Evil Designi 2 02 A Bit of a Holiday 1971 Play for Today Frank 2 3 Evelyn 1971 BBC Play of the Month Lopakhin 7 04 The Cherry Orchard 1971 The Edward Woodward Hour Host1973 Whodunnit Himself host 6 episodes1975 Armchair Cinema Philip Warne 1 04 When Day Is Done 1977 ITV Playhouse George Mangham 9 08 The Bass Player and the Blonde 1977 1978 1990 Jim Kyle 16 episodes1978 Saturday Sunday Monday Luigi Television film1978 The Bass Player and the Blonde Mangham 1 01 Rondo 1980 ITV Playhouse Ian 12 07 A Rod of Iron 1980 Nice Work Edwin Thornfield 6 episodes1981 Sunday Night Thriller Alex Logan 1 04 Blunt Instrument 1981 Chronicle Narrator voice 1 07 The Crime of Captain Colthurst 1981 Wet Job David Callan Television film1981 Winston Churchill The Wilderness Years Sir Samuel Hoare Television miniseries1983 The Spice of Life Narrator voice 13 episodes1983 Love Is Forever Derek McBracken Television film1984 Killer Contract Bill Routledge Television film1984 A Christmas Carol Ghost of Christmas Present Television film1985 Merlin and the Sword Merlin Television film1985 1989 The Equalizer Robert McCall 88 episodes1987 Uncle Tom s Cabin Simon Legree Television film1988 Codename Kyril Michael Royston Television miniseries1988 Memories of Manon Robert McCall Television film1988 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Drummond 3 20 The Hunted 1989 The Man in the Brown Suit Sir Eustace Pedler Television film1990 Hands of a Murderer Sherlock Holmes Television film1990 1991 Over My Dead Body Maxwell Beckett 11 episodes1991 1996 In Suspicious Circumstances Storyteller 39 episodes1991 1992 America at Risk Host Television documentary1994 1997 Common As Muck Nev 12 episodes1994 A Christmas Reunion Colonel Phillips Television film1995 The Shamrock Conspiracy Edward Harrison Television film1996 Gulliver s Travels Drunlo Television miniseries1996 Harrison Cry of the City Edward Teddy Harrison Television film1999 Crusade Alwyn 1 02 The Long Road 1999 CI5 The New Professionals Harry Malone 13 episodes2001 La Femme Nikita Mr Jones 4 episodes2001 The Lone Gunmen Peanuts Speech Synthesizer 1 07 Planet of the Frohikes 2001 Dark Realm Captain Kelly 1 11 Emma s Boy 2001 Messiah Rev Stephen Hedges Television miniseries2002 Night Flight Vic Green Television film2004 Murder in Suburbia Reg 1 06 Noisy Neighbours 2005 Where the Heart Is Jack Bishop 9 09 So Long 2007 Five Days Victor Marsham Television miniseries2007 First Landing Older Nathaniel Peacock Narrator voice Television film2008 The Bill Johnnie Jackson 24 27 Sins of the Father 2009 EastEnders Tommy Clifford 6 episodesReferences Edit a b Actor s roots were important to him The Croydon Post Northcliffe Media 25 November 2009 p 7 a b Edward Woodward The Sunday Independent Ireland 22 November 2009 Edward Woodward Biography Filmreference com Retrieved 20 December 2012 a b Veteran actor best known as Equalizer The Irish Times 21 November 2009 p 14 a b c Obituary Edward Woodward The Daily Telegraph London 16 November 2009 Archived from the original on 12 January 2022 Retrieved 16 November 2009 a b c d Obituary Edward Woodward BBC News 16 November 2009 Archived from the original on 19 November 2009 Retrieved 17 November 2009 USH Volume 4 Section X K Actors Performances and Recordings Plays continued University of Minnesota Libraries Archived from the original on 12 September 2020 Retrieved 31 December 2020 Revival of medieval mystery plays BBC News 5 August 2004 Retrieved 14 August 2010 Shaw Vicky 16 November 2009 Actor Edward Woodward dies aged 79 The Independent Retrieved 26 January 2019 Woodward Edward 1930 2009 Biography screenonline 4 February 1967 Retrieved 20 December 2012 Action TV 1990 episode guide 9 May 2006 Archived from the original on 9 May 2006 Retrieved 20 December 2012 Peakviewing Peakviewing Archived from the original on 1 March 2012 Retrieved 20 December 2012 BFI Film amp TV Database BATTLEGROUND Ftvdb bfi org uk Archived from the original on 17 October 2012 Retrieved 30 April 2012 Edward Woodward s Official UK Chart History Official Charts Kent David 1993 Australian Chart Book 1970 1992 illustrated ed St Ives N S W Australian Chart Book p 343 ISBN 0 646 11917 6 Hunter Colonel 16 November 2009 Edward Woodward dies aged 79 Thisisplymouth co uk Archived from the original on 4 June 2011 Retrieved 20 December 2012 When I Got Caught Up in the Turkish Invasion of Cyprus Ozy com 4 April 2018 Retrieved 1 August 2020 Barker Dennis 16 November 2009 Edward Woodward obituary The Guardian London Retrieved 1 May 2010 Mirror co uk 9 July 2009 Edward Woodward breaks hip in stair fall Daily Mirror Retrieved 21 January 2020 Equalizer Star Dies News sky com Archived from the original on 1 March 2010 Retrieved 20 December 2012 Actor Edward Woodward dies at 79 BBC 16 November 2009 Retrieved 16 November 2009 Barker Dennis 16 November 2009 Edward Woodward obituary The Guardian London Retrieved 1 May 2010 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Edward Woodward Biography portal Cornwall portalEdward Woodward at IMDb The Museum of Broadcast Communications Archived 14 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine The Washington Post 17 November 2009 Edward Woodward British leading man personified the actor s life Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Edward Woodward amp oldid 1129779910, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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