Robert Hardy
1925-10-29 ( 99 years old ) in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England, UK

One of England's most successful and enduring character actors, with a prolific screen career on television and in films, Robert Hardy was acclaimed for his versatility and the depth of his performances. Born in Cheltenham in 1925, he studied at Oxford University and, in 1949, he joined the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre at Stratford-upon-Avon. Television viewers most fondly remember him as the overbearing Siegfried Farnon in All Creatures Great and Small (1978) but his most critically acclaimed performance was as the title character of Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years (1981). His portrayal of Britain's wartime leader was so accurately observed that, in the following years, he was called on to reprise the role in such productions as The Woman He Loved (1988) and War and Remembrance (1988). Unlike some British character actors, Hardy was not a Hollywood name and his work in films was therefore restricted to appearances in predominantly British-based productions such as The Spy Who Came In from the Cold (1965), Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994) and Sense and Sensibility (1995). However, in the 21st century, Hardy came to the attention of a whole new generation for his performances in the hugely successful Harry Potter films, while also continuing to make regular appearances in British television series. His co-star from All Creatures Great and Small (1978), Peter Davison, quite simply described Hardy as an "extraordinary" actor who would "never do the same thing twice" when he was acting with him. He was awarded the CBE for services to acting. He died in August 2017.

Movies

Joseph's Reel 2015-06-18
Margaret 2009-03-26
Lassie 2005-12-16
Making Waves 2004-07-26
Lucky Jim 2003-04-11
The Gathering 2003-02-23
Thunderpants 2002-05-24
The Lost World 2001-12-25
Nancherrow 1999-01-01
Mrs. Dalloway 1997-09-01
Bomber Harris 1989-09-03
Paris by Night 1989-04-18
Make and Break 1987-01-02
Jenny's War 1985-10-25
Fothergill 1981-01-08
Twelfth Night 1980-01-06
Speed King 1979-12-19
The Slap 1974-10-23
Yellow Dog 1973-08-11
Dark Places 1973-05-01
Psychomania 1973-03-01
The Silent One 1973-02-10
Young Winston 1972-07-20
Son of Man 1969-04-16
Berserk! 1967-11-01
Torpedo Run 1958-10-24
Othello 1955-12-15
Black Legend 1949-01-10