Robert Hardy
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
Midsomer Murders
1997
Great Performances
1971
The Wednesday Play
1964
The Wednesday Play
1964
Lewis
2007
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
2002
Spooks
2002
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
2004
Natural World
1983
Screen Two
1985
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
2005
The Saint
1962
Filmography
Midsomer Murders
as Robert Cavendish · 1997
Great Performances
as Self · 1971
The Wednesday Play
as Nick Prockter · 1964
The Wednesday Play
as Pontius Pilate · 1964
Lewis
as Sir Arnold Raeburn · 2007
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
as Cornelius Fudge · 2002
Spooks
as Sir John Barry · 2002
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
as Cornelius Fudge · 2004
Natural World
as Narrator · 1983
Screen Two
as General Tilney · 1985
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
as Cornelius Fudge · 2005
The Saint
as Walter Faber · 1962
Sherlock Holmes
as Charles Augustus Milverton · 1984
ITV Playhouse
as Ray Malcolm · 1967
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
as Cornelius Fudge · 2007
Agatha Christie's Marple
as Winston Churchill · 2004
Playhouse
as John Fothergill · 1974
Playhouse
as Sir Malcolm Campbell · 1974
Foyle's War
as Henry Beaumont · 2002
Inspector Morse
as Andrew Baydon · 1987
Thirty-Minute Theatre
as The Official · 1965
Theatre Night
as John Garrard · 1985
All Creatures Great and Small
as Siegfried Farnon · 1978
Theatre 625
· 1964
Theatre 625
as Adriano · 1964
The Alan Titchmarsh Show
as Self · 2007
ScreenPlay
as Colonel Chase · 1986
ITV Saturday Night Theatre
as Christopher Moore · 1969
Sunday Night Theatre
as Orsino · 1950
Sunday Night Theatre
as Admetus · 1950
Sunday Night Theatre
as William Herndon · 1950
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century
as Clayton · 1979
Upstairs, Downstairs
as Sir Guy Paynter · 1971
Thursday Theatre
as Anatol · 1964
The BBC Television Shakespeare
as Sir Toby Belch · 1978
Sense and Sensibility
as Sir John Middleton · 1995
Churchill's People
as King Oswy · 1974
War and Remembrance
as Winston Churchill · 1988
Drama 61-67
as Adam Irwin · 1961
Drama 61-67
as Philip Weathers · 1961
The Troubleshooters
as Alec Stewart · 1965
The Duchess of Duke Street
as George Duggan · 1976
The Adventures of Sir Lancelot
as Sir Rupert · 1956
An Age of Kings
as Henry, Prince of Wales · 1960
An Age of Kings
as Henry V · 1960
The Buccaneers
as Lord Hinch · 1956
Bramwell
as Sir Herbert Hamilton · 1995
Bramwell
as Sir Herbert Hamilton · 1995
The 10th Kingdom
as Chancellor Griswold · 2000
A Ghost Story for Christmas
as Archdeacon Haynes · 1971
Manhunt
as Abwehr Sergeant Gratz · 1970
Countdown
· 1982
Mystery and Imagination
as William Oke · 1966
Bill Brand
as Mr. Marples · 1976
Middlemarch
as Arthur Brooke · 1994
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
as Prof. Krempe · 1994
Elizabeth R
as Robert Dudley · 1971
Testament: The Bible in Animation
as Abraham (voice) · 1996
Supernatural
as Adrian Gall · 1977
Gulliver's Travels
as Dr. Parnell · 1996
Raffles
· 1977
Strange Report
as Doctor Michael Sanders · 1969
Victorian Scandals
as Arthur Munby · 1976
David Copperfield
as David Copperfield · 1956
The Cleopatras
as Julius Caesar · 1983
Hallmark Hall of Fame
as Joachim von Ribbentrop · 1951
Shackleton
as Sir James Caird · 2002
The Far Pavilions
as The Commandant · 1984
The Veil
· 1958
Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years
as Winston Churchill · 1981
Edward the Seventh
as Prince Albert · 1975
Big Brother
as John Edge · 1970
Death in Holy Orders
as Father Martin Petrie · 2003
Shades of Darkness
as William Drover · 1983
Private Affairs
as Benito Mussolini · 1975
General Electric Theater
· 1953
The Spy Who Came In from the Cold
as Dick Carlton · 1965
Armchair Theatre
as Albert Purvis · 1956
The Spread of the Eagle
as Caius Martius Coriolanus · 1963
The Lost World
as Professor Illingworth · 2001
The Dark Island
· 1962
Hot Metal
as Twiggy Rathbone / Russell Spam · 1986
The Barber of Siberia
as Forsten · 1998
Look at the State We're In!
as Judge Sutcliffe · 1995
Lassie
as Judge Murray · 2005
10 Rillington Place
as Malcolm Morris · 1971
Shoulder to Shoulder
as Asquith · 1974
Thunderpants
as Doctor · 2002
Sunday Premiere
as Sidney Tolland · 1986
The Velvet Glove
as Charles Bradlaugh · 1977
Le Grand Charles
as Franklin D. Roosevelt · 2006
Between the Wars
as Col. Tonge · 1973
European Heritage
as Narrator (voice) · 1973
The Gathering
as Bishop · 2003
How I Won the War
as British General · 1967
Young Winston
as Prep School Headmaster · 1972
Torpedo Run
as Lt. Redley · 1958
The Woman He Loved
as Winston Churchill · 1988
The Lost World
as Prof. Illingworth · 2001
Berserk!
as Detective Superintendent Brooks · 1967
Nancherrow
· 1999
Demons of the Mind
as Zorn · 1972
Northanger Abbey
as General Tilney · 1987
Bertie and Elizabeth
as President Roosevelt · 2002
The Master Blackmailer
as Charles Augustus Milverton · 1992
Mrs. Dalloway
as Sir William Bradshaw · 1997
The Slap
as Robert Dickinson · 1974
The Silent One
as Assistant · 1973
Jenny's War
as Klein · 1985
The Falklands Play
as Sir Anthony Parsons · 2002
Speed King
as Dorothy Campbell · 1979
Elementary My Dear Viewer
as Self · 2007
James Mason: The Star They Loved to Hate
as Lord Bob Lilburn (archive footage) (uncredited) · 1984
Justice in Wonderland
as Mr. Justice Morland · 2000
A Feast at Midnight
as Headmaster · 1994
Dark Places
as Edward Foster / Andrew Marr · 1973
An Ideal Husband
as Lord Caversham · 1999
The Zany Adventures of Robin Hood
as King Richard · 1984
Marcus Welby, M.D.: A Holiday Affair
as Dr. Price · 1988
Marie Stopes: Sexual Revolutionary
as Narrator · 1970
In from the Cold? A Portrait of Richard Burton
as Self · 1988
Getting In
as Official · 1971
The Gathering Storm
as Joachim von Ribbentrop · 1974
Gawain and the Green Knight
as Sir Bertilak · 1973
The Stalls of Barchester
as Archdeacon Haynes · 1971
The Shooting Party
as Bob, Lord Lilburn · 1985
Paris by Night
as Adam Gillvray · 1989
Old Man's Fancy
as Jason · 1965
The Death of the Heart
as Major Brutt · 1987
Yellow Dog
as Alexander · 1973
Paying Guests (Part 1)
as Colonel Chase · 1986
Psychomania
as Chief Inspector Hesseltine · 1973
Warm Feet, Warm Heart
as Albert Purvis · 1970
Black Legend
as Mad Thomas · 1949
Caesar and Claretta
as Benito Mussolini · 1975
The Incredible Robert Baldick: Never Come Night
as Doctor Sir Robert Baldick · 1972
Jenny's War
as Klein · 1985
Make and Break
as John Garrard · 1987
Twelfth Night
as Sir Toby Belch · 1980
The Tichborne Claimant
as Lord Rivers · 1999
Centenary: The BP Story
as George Reynolds (voice) · 2009
Snapshot Wedding
as Donald · 2017
Ghosts in the Machine
as Narrator · 2009
The Pied Piper of Hamelin
as Narrator (voice) · 1980
The Demon Lover
as William Drover · 1986
Churchill: 100 Days That Saved Britain
as Winston Churchill · 2015
Castle Ghosts of Ireland
as Self · 1996
Nancherrow
as Viscount Berryan · 1999
Castle Ghosts of England
as Self · 1995
Lucky Jim
as Professor Neddy Welch · 2003
Son of Man
as Pontius Pilate · 1969
Othello
as Cassio · 1955
The Secret Agent
as The Assistant Commissioner · 1975
Paying Guests (Part 2)
as Colonel Chase · 1986
Margaret
as Willie Whitelaw · 2009
Bomber Harris
as Winston Churchill · 1989
Goodbye Mr Snuggles
as Mr. Stiles · 2006
Castle Ghosts of Wales
as Self · 1997
Narnia's Lost Poet: The Secret Lives and Loves of C.S. Lewis
as Self - Interviewee · 2013
Joseph's Reel
as Old Joseph · 2015
Fothergill
as John Fothergill · 1981
Blat
as Sidney Tolland · 1987
Making Waves
as Father Parry · 2004