Edward Woodward
Edward Woodward | |
---|---|
Born | Edward Albert Arthur Woodward 1 June 1930 Croydon, Surrey, England |
Died | 16 November 2009 Truro, Cornwall, England | (aged 79)
Occupation(s) | Actor, singer |
Years active | 1946–2009 |
Spouses | |
Children | 4, including Tim, Peter and Sarah |
Edward Albert Arthur Woodward,
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
Career
Theatre
After leaving school at the age of 15, Woodward wanted to train as a journalist, but took work in a
Woodward's professional acting debut was in the Castle Theatre,
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
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.
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
His career continued with TV guest-star roles, including an appearance in
Woodward was a wargamer and hosted a series of programmes for
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
Woodward had two top-100 albums in the
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.
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
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][22]
Awards
Woodward won the 1970
- 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 – 1978
Stage work
- 1955: Where There's a Will
- 1958: Romeo and Juliet
- 1958: Hamlet
- 1962: Rattle of a Simple Man
- 1964: High Spirits
- 1969: Two Cities
- 1969: Julius Caesar
- 1969: The White Devil
- 1970: Cyrano de Bergerac
- 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 | |
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 | |
Young Winston | Aylmer Haldane | Richard Attenborough | ||
Hunted | John Drummond | Peter Crane | Short | |
1973 | The Wicker Man | Sergeant Neil 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 | ||
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" | |
World Theatre | Titinius | 1.01 "Julius Caesar" | |
ITV Television Playhouse | Joe Murdoch | 4.52 "One a Penny, Two a Penny" | |
Skyport | 6 episodes | ||
1960 | Inside Story | Stanislaw Krasinski | 1.01 "A Touch of Brimstone" |
The True Mistery of the Passion | Peter | Television film | |
Armchair Mystery Theatre | Paul Danek | 1.03 "The Case of Paul Danek" | |
1961 | Emergency-Ward 10
|
Rev. Posset | 1.144 "Episode #1.444" |
Adventure Story | Peter | 1.01 "The Reef" | |
Magnolia Street | John Cooper | 6 episodes | |
BBC Sunday-Night Play | Superintendent Morland | 3.01 "A Clean Kill" | |
You Can't Win | Paul Hayward | 1.01 "Greater Than Fear" | |
1962 | Sir Francis Drake | Spanish Captain | 1.23 "Court Intrigue" |
ITV Play of the Week
|
Adolphus Cusins | 8.08 "Major Barbara" | |
1964 | Sergeant Cork
|
Austen Carew | 1.16 "The Case of the Ormsby Diamonds" |
ITV Play of the Week
|
The Boy's Father | 9.26 "I Can Walk Where I Like Can't I?" | |
The Defenders | H.T. Harris | 4.05 "Conflict of Interests" | |
1965 | Mogul
|
Ron Smith | 1.03 "Safety Man" |
Armchair Mystery Theatre | Anstey | 3.11 "Wake a Stranger" | |
1966 | Thirty-Minute Theatre | Arthur | 1.33 "Ella" |
Dixon of Dock Green | Bruce Paynter | 13.12 "The Accident" | |
1967 | Theatre 625 | Guy Crouchback | 4.09 "Sword of Honour" |
Armchair Theatre | David Callan | 7.02 "A Magnum for Schneider" | |
Thirty-Minute Theatre | Alan | 2.25 "Wanted" | |
The Revenue Men | Bill Murray | 1.02 "Don't Get Conspicuous" | |
The Baron | Arkin Morley | 1.29 "Countdown" | |
The Saint | Jack Liskard | 1.15 "The Persistent Patriots" | |
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" |
ITV Playhouse
|
Ed Lt.-Col. Fox-Lennard |
1.42 "Entertaining Mr. Sloane" 2 "Premiere: The Night of Talavera" | |
Detective | Auguste Dupin
|
2.17 "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" | |
Sherlock Holmes | Mason | 2.13 "Shoscombe Old Place" | |
1969 | BBC Play of the Month
|
Cassius | 4.08 "Julius Caesar" |
The Bruce Forsyth Show | |||
Omnibus
|
F. Scott Fitzgerald | 3.09 "F. Scott Fitzgerald: The Dream Divided" | |
Detective | Commissaire Bignon | 3.09 "The Poisoners" | |
The Root of All Evil? | Designi | 2.02 "A Bit of a Holiday" | |
1971 | Play for Today | Frank | 2.3 "Evelyn" |
BBC Play of the Month | Lopakhin | 7.04 "The Cherry Orchard" | |
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 |
The Bass Player and the Blonde | Mangham | 1.01 "Rondo" | |
1980 | ITV Playhouse | Ian | 12.07 "A Rod of Iron" |
Nice Work | Edwin Thornfield | 6 episodes | |
1981 | Sunday Night Thriller | Alex Logan | 1.04 "Blunt Instrument" |
Chronicle | Narrator (voice) | 1.07 "The Crime of Captain Colthurst" | |
Wet Job | David Callan | Television film | |
Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years | Sir Samuel Hoare | Television miniseries | |
1983 | The Spice of Life
|
Narrator (voice) | 13 episodes |
Love Is Forever | Derek McBracken | Television film | |
1984 | Killer Contract
|
Bill Routledge | |
A Christmas Carol | Ghost of Christmas Present | ||
1985 | Merlin and the Sword | Merlin | |
1985–1989 | The Equalizer | Robert McCall | 88 episodes |
1987 | Uncle Tom's Cabin | Simon Legree | Television film |
1988 | Codename: Kyril | Michael Royston | Television miniseries |
Memories of Manon | Robert McCall | Television film | |
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 | |
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 | |
1996 | Gulliver's Travels | Drunlo | Television miniseries |
Harrison: Cry of the City | Edward "Teddy" Harrison | Television film | |
1999 | Crusade | Alwyn | 1.02 "The Long Road" |
CI5: The New Professionals | Harry Malone | 13 episodes | |
2001 | La Femme Nikita | Mr. Jones | 4 episodes |
The Lone Gunmen | Peanuts' Speech Synthesizer | 1.07 " Planet of the Frohikes "
| |
Dark Realm | Captain Kelly | 1.11 "Emma's Boy" | |
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 |
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
- ^ 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 & 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.
- 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.