Robert Hardy
- Acting
- October 29, 1925 · Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England, UK
- August 3, 2017
Biography
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.
Known for
Filmography
- Snapshot Wedding · Donald
- Joseph's Reel · Old Joseph
- Churchill: 100 Days That Saved Britain · Winston Churchill
- Narnia's Lost Poet: The Secret Lives and Loves of C.S. Lewis · Self
- Ghosts in the Machine · Narrator
- Margaret · Willie Whitelaw
- Centenary: The BP Story · George Reynolds (Voice)
- Elementary My Dear Viewer · Self
- The Alan Titchmarsh Show · Self
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix · Cornelius Fudge
- Lewis · Sir Arnold Raeburn
- Goodbye Mr Snuggles · Mr. Stiles
- Le Grand Charles · Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Lassie · Judge Murray
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire · Cornelius Fudge
- Agatha Christie's Marple · Winston Churchill
- Making Waves · Father Parry
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban · Cornelius Fudge
- Death in Holy Orders · Father Martin Petrie
- Lucky Jim · Professor Neddy Welch
- The Gathering · Bishop
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets · Cornelius Fudge
- Foyle's War · Henry Beaumont
- Bertie and Elizabeth · President Roosevelt
- Thunderpants · Doctor
- Spooks · Sir John Barry
- The Falklands Play · Sir Anthony Parsons
- Shackleton · Sir James Caird
- The Lost World · Prof. Illingworth
- The Lost World · Professor Illingworth
- Justice in Wonderland · Mr. Justice Morland
- The 10th Kingdom · Chancellor Griswold
- The Tichborne Claimant · Lord Rivers
- An Ideal Husband · Lord Caversham
- Nancherrow
- Nancherrow · Viscount Berryan
- The Barber of Siberia · Forsten
- Castle Ghosts of Wales · Self
- Mrs. Dalloway · Sir William Bradshaw
- Midsomer Murders · Robert Cavendish
- Testament: The Bible in Animation · Abraham (Voice)
- Castle Ghosts of Ireland · Self
- Gulliver's Travels · Dr. Parnell
- Sense and Sensibility · Sir John Middleton
- Castle Ghosts of England · Self
- Look at the State We're In! · Judge Sutcliffe
- Bramwell · Sir Herbert Hamilton, Sir Herbert Hamilton
- Mary Shelley's Frankenstein · Prof. Krempe
- A Feast at Midnight · Headmaster
- Middlemarch · Arthur Brooke
- The Master Blackmailer · Charles Augustus Milverton
- Bomber Harris · Winston Churchill
- Paris by Night · Adam Gillvray
- Marcus Welby, M.D.: A Holiday Affair · Dr. Price
- War and Remembrance · Winston Churchill
- In from the Cold? A Portrait of Richard Burton · Self
- The Woman He Loved · Winston Churchill
- Blat · Sidney Tolland
- The Death of the Heart · Major Brutt
- Northanger Abbey · General Tilney
- Inspector Morse · Andrew Baydon
- Make and Break · John Garrard
- Paying Guests (Part 2) · Colonel Chase
- Paying Guests (Part 1) · Colonel Chase
- Sunday Premiere · Sidney Tolland
- ScreenPlay · Colonel Chase
- The Demon Lover · William Drover
- Hot Metal · Twiggy Rathbone / Russell Spam
- Jenny's War · Klein
- Theatre Night · John Garrard
- Jenny's War · Klein
- The Shooting Party · Bob, Lord Lilburn
- Screen Two · General Tilney
- The Zany Adventures of Robin Hood · King Richard
- Sherlock Holmes · Charles Augustus Milverton
- The Far Pavilions · The Commandant
- James Mason: The Star They Loved to Hate · Lord Bob Lilburn (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Natural World · Narrator
- Shades of Darkness · William Drover
- The Cleopatras · Julius Caesar