Robert Hardy

Robert Hardy

1925-10-29

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.

Also appears in

Making Waves

Making Waves

6.0

Paris by Night

Paris by Night

4.5

The Gathering Storm

The Gathering Storm

7.0

Yellow Dog

Yellow Dog

2.2

A Feast At Midnight

A Feast At Midnight

6.1

The Stalls of Barchester

The Stalls of Barchester

6.3

Margaret

Margaret

5.8

Lucky Jim

Lucky Jim

Not yet rated

Black Legend

Black Legend

Not yet rated

An Ideal Husband

An Ideal Husband

6.6

The Zany Adventures of Robin Hood

The Zany Adventures of Robin Hood

5.7

Jenny’s War

Jenny’s War

6.0

Churchill:  100 Days That Saved Britain

Churchill: 100 Days That Saved Britain

Not yet rated

Bomber Harris

Bomber Harris

6.8

Make and Break

Make and Break

Not yet rated

Marcus Welby, M.D.: A Holiday Affair

Marcus Welby, M.D.: A Holiday Affair

Not yet rated

Paying Guests (Part 1)

Paying Guests (Part 1)

Not yet rated

In from the Cold? A Portrait of Richard Burton

In from the Cold? A Portrait of Richard Burton

6.0

Ghosts in the Machine

Ghosts in the Machine

Not yet rated

The Incredible Robert Baldick: Never Come Night

The Incredible Robert Baldick: Never Come Night

Not yet rated