Acting
Robert Hardy
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.
Filmography
Snapshot Wedding
Film · 2017
Churchill: 100 Days That Saved Britain
Film · 2015
Joseph's Reel
Film · 2015
Narnia's Lost Poet: The Secret Lives and Loves of C.S. Lewis
Film · 2013
Ghosts in the Machine
Film · 2009
Margaret
Film · 2009
Centenary: The BP Story
Film · 2009
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Film · 2007
Elementary My Dear Viewer
Film · 2007
The Alan Titchmarsh Show
Series · 2007
Lewis
Series · 2007
Goodbye Mr Snuggles
Film · 2006
Le Grand Charles
Series · 2006
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Film · 2005
Lassie
Film · 2005
Making Waves
Film · 2004
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Film · 2004
Agatha Christie's Marple
Series · 2004
The Gathering
Film · 2003
Lucky Jim
Film · 2003
Death in Holy Orders
Series · 2003
Thunderpants
Film · 2002
The Falklands Play
Film · 2002
Bertie and Elizabeth
Film · 2002
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Film · 2002
Foyle's War
Series · 2002
Spooks
Series · 2002
Shackleton
Series · 2002
The Lost World
Film · 2001
The Lost World
Series · 2001
Justice in Wonderland
Film · 2000
The 10th Kingdom
Series · 2000
Nancherrow
Film · 1999
An Ideal Husband
Film · 1999
The Tichborne Claimant
Film · 1999
Nancherrow
Series · 1999
The Barber of Siberia
Film · 1998
Mrs. Dalloway
Film · 1997
Castle Ghosts of Wales
Film · 1997
Midsomer Murders
Series · 1997
Castle Ghosts of Ireland
Film · 1996
Gulliver's Travels
Series · 1996
Testament: The Bible in Animation
Series · 1996
Sense and Sensibility
Film · 1995
Castle Ghosts of England
Film · 1995
Bramwell
Series · 1995
Bramwell
Series · 1995
Look at the State We're In!
Series · 1995
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
Film · 1994
A Feast at Midnight
Film · 1994
Middlemarch
Series · 1994
The Master Blackmailer
Film · 1992
Bomber Harris
Film · 1989
Paris by Night
Film · 1989
The Woman He Loved
Film · 1988
Marcus Welby, M.D.: A Holiday Affair
Film · 1988
In from the Cold? A Portrait of Richard Burton
Film · 1988
War and Remembrance
Series · 1988
Make and Break
Film · 1987
Northanger Abbey
Film · 1987
The Death of the Heart
Film · 1987
Blat
Film · 1987
Inspector Morse
Series · 1987
Paying Guests (Part 1)
Film · 1986
Paying Guests (Part 2)
Film · 1986
The Demon Lover
Film · 1986
Hot Metal
Series · 1986
ScreenPlay
Series · 1986
Sunday Premiere
Series · 1986
The Shooting Party
Film · 1985
Jenny's War
Film · 1985
Jenny's War
Series · 1985
Screen Two
Series · 1985
Theatre Night
Series · 1985
James Mason: The Star They Loved to Hate
Film · 1984
The Zany Adventures of Robin Hood
Film · 1984
Sherlock Holmes
Series · 1984
The Far Pavilions
Series · 1984
Natural World
Series · 1983
The Cleopatras
Series · 1983
Shades of Darkness
Series · 1983
Countdown
Series · 1982
Fothergill
Film · 1981
Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years
Series · 1981
The Pied Piper of Hamelin
Film · 1980
Twelfth Night
Film · 1980
Speed King
Film · 1979
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century
Series · 1979
All Creatures Great and Small
Series · 1978
The BBC Television Shakespeare
Series · 1978
Raffles
Series · 1977
Supernatural
Series · 1977
The Velvet Glove
Series · 1977
Bill Brand
Series · 1976
Victorian Scandals
Series · 1976
The Duchess of Duke Street
Series · 1976
Caesar and Claretta
Film · 1975
The Secret Agent
Film · 1975
Edward the Seventh
Series · 1975
Private Affairs
Series · 1975
The Slap
Film · 1974
The Gathering Storm
Film · 1974
Playhouse
Series · 1974
Playhouse
Series · 1974
Shoulder to Shoulder
Series · 1974
Churchill's People
Series · 1974
The Silent One
Film · 1973
Dark Places
Film · 1973
Gawain and the Green Knight
Film · 1973
Psychomania
Film · 1973
Yellow Dog
Film · 1973
European Heritage
Series · 1973
Between the Wars
Series · 1973
Demons of the Mind
Film · 1972
The Incredible Robert Baldick: Never Come Night
Film · 1972
Young Winston
Film · 1972
The British Empire: Echoes of Britannia's Rule
Series · 1972
The Stalls of Barchester
Film · 1971
10 Rillington Place
Film · 1971
Getting In
Film · 1971
Elizabeth R
Series · 1971
A Ghost Story for Christmas
Series · 1971
Upstairs, Downstairs
Series · 1971
Great Performances
Series · 1971
Warm Feet, Warm Heart
Film · 1970
Marie Stopes: Sexual Revolutionary
Film · 1970
Manhunt
Series · 1970
Big Brother
Series · 1970
Son of Man
Film · 1969
Strange Report
Series · 1969
ITV Saturday Night Theatre
Series · 1969
Berserk!
Film · 1967
How I Won the War
Film · 1967
ITV Playhouse
Series · 1967
Mystery and Imagination
Series · 1966
The Spy Who Came In from the Cold
Film · 1965
Old Man's Fancy
Film · 1965
The Troubleshooters
Series · 1965
Thirty-Minute Theatre
Series · 1965
The Wednesday Play
Series · 1964
The Wednesday Play
Series · 1964
Theatre 625
Series · 1964
Theatre 625
Series · 1964
Thursday Theatre
Series · 1964
The Spread of the Eagle
Series · 1963
The Saint
Series · 1962
The Dark Island
Series · 1962
Drama 61-67
Series · 1961
Drama 61-67
Series · 1961
An Age of Kings
Series · 1960
An Age of Kings
Series · 1960
Torpedo Run
Film · 1958
The Veil
Series · 1958
The Buccaneers
Series · 1956
The Adventures of Sir Lancelot
Series · 1956
Armchair Theatre
Series · 1956
David Copperfield
Series · 1956
Othello
Film · 1955
General Electric Theater
Series · 1953
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Series · 1951
Sunday Night Theatre
Series · 1950
Sunday Night Theatre
Series · 1950
Sunday Night Theatre
Series · 1950
Black Legend
Film · 1949