Robert Hardy

Robert Hardy

Known for
Acting
Born
October 29, 1925
Died
August 3, 2017 (aged 91)
Birthplace
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England, UK

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

Photos

Robert Hardy photoRobert Hardy photo

Filmography

2017
Snapshot Wedding

Snapshot Wedding

Movie · as Donald

2015
Churchill:  100 Days That Saved Britain poster

Churchill: 100 Days That Saved Britain

Movie · as Winston Churchill

2015
Joseph's Reel poster

Joseph's Reel

Movie · as Old Joseph

2013
Narnia's Lost Poet: The Secret Lives and Loves of C.S. Lewis poster

Narnia's Lost Poet: The Secret Lives and Loves of C.S. Lewis

Movie · as Self - Interviewee

2009
Ghosts in the Machine

Ghosts in the Machine

Movie · as Narrator

2009
Margaret poster

Margaret

Movie · as Willie Whitelaw

2009
Centenary: The BP Story poster

Centenary: The BP Story

Movie · as George Reynolds (voice)

2007
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix poster

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Movie · as Cornelius Fudge

2007
Elementary My Dear Viewer

Elementary My Dear Viewer

Movie · as Self

2007
The Alan Titchmarsh Show

The Alan Titchmarsh Show

TV · as Self · 1 ep

2007
Lewis poster

Lewis

TV · as Sir Arnold Raeburn · 1 ep

2006
Goodbye Mr Snuggles poster

Goodbye Mr Snuggles

Movie · as Mr. Stiles

2006
Le Grand Charles poster

Le Grand Charles

TV · as Franklin D. Roosevelt · 2 eps

2005
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire poster

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Movie · as Cornelius Fudge

2005
Lassie poster

Lassie

Movie · as Judge Murray

2004
Making Waves poster

Making Waves

Movie · as Father Parry

2004
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban poster

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Movie · as Cornelius Fudge

2004
Agatha Christie's Marple poster

Agatha Christie's Marple

TV · as Winston Churchill · 1 ep

2003
The Gathering poster

The Gathering

Movie · as Bishop

2003
Lucky Jim poster

Lucky Jim

Movie · as Professor Neddy Welch

2003
Death in Holy Orders poster

Death in Holy Orders

TV · as Father Martin Petrie · 2 eps

2002
Thunderpants poster

Thunderpants

Movie · as Doctor

2002
The Falklands Play poster

The Falklands Play

Movie · as Sir Anthony Parsons

2002
Bertie and Elizabeth poster

Bertie and Elizabeth

Movie · as President Roosevelt

2002
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets poster

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Movie · as Cornelius Fudge

2002
Foyle's War poster

Foyle's War

TV · as Henry Beaumont · 1 ep

2002
Spooks poster

Spooks

TV · as Sir John Barry · 1 ep

2002
Shackleton poster

Shackleton

TV · as Sir James Caird · 1 ep

2001
The Lost World poster

The Lost World

Movie · as Prof. Illingworth

2001
The Lost World poster

The Lost World

TV · as Professor Illingworth · 2 eps

2000
Justice in Wonderland

Justice in Wonderland

Movie · as Mr. Justice Morland

2000
The 10th Kingdom poster

The 10th Kingdom

TV · as Chancellor Griswold · 5 eps

1999
Nancherrow poster

Nancherrow

Movie · as Viscount Berryan

1999
An Ideal Husband poster

An Ideal Husband

Movie · as Lord Caversham

1999
The Tichborne Claimant poster

The Tichborne Claimant

Movie · as Lord Rivers

1999
Nancherrow poster

Nancherrow

TV · 2 eps

1998
The Barber of Siberia poster

The Barber of Siberia

Movie · as Forsten

1997
Mrs. Dalloway poster

Mrs. Dalloway

Movie · as Sir William Bradshaw

1997
Castle Ghosts of Wales poster

Castle Ghosts of Wales

Movie · as Self

1997
Midsomer Murders poster

Midsomer Murders

TV · as Robert Cavendish · 1 ep

1996
Castle Ghosts of Ireland poster

Castle Ghosts of Ireland

Movie · as Self

1996
Gulliver's Travels poster

Gulliver's Travels

TV · as Dr. Parnell · 2 eps

1996
Testament: The Bible in Animation poster

Testament: The Bible in Animation

TV · as Abraham (voice) · 1 ep

1995
Sense and Sensibility poster

Sense and Sensibility

Movie · as Sir John Middleton

1995
Castle Ghosts of England poster

Castle Ghosts of England

Movie · as Self

1995
Bramwell poster

Bramwell

TV · as Sir Herbert Hamilton, Sir Herbert Hamilton · 1 ep

1995
Look at the State We're In!

Look at the State We're In!

TV · as Judge Sutcliffe · 1 ep

1994
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein poster

Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

Movie · as Prof. Krempe

1994
A Feast at Midnight poster

A Feast at Midnight

Movie · as Headmaster

1994
Middlemarch poster

Middlemarch

TV · as Arthur Brooke · 6 eps

1992
The Master Blackmailer poster

The Master Blackmailer

Movie · as Charles Augustus Milverton

1989
Bomber Harris poster

Bomber Harris

Movie · as Winston Churchill

1989
Paris by Night poster

Paris by Night

Movie · as Adam Gillvray

1988
The Woman He Loved poster

The Woman He Loved

Movie · as Winston Churchill

1988
Marcus Welby, M.D.: A Holiday Affair poster

Marcus Welby, M.D.: A Holiday Affair

Movie · as Dr. Price

1988
In from the Cold? A Portrait of Richard Burton poster

In from the Cold? A Portrait of Richard Burton

Movie · as Self

1988
War and Remembrance poster

War and Remembrance

TV · as Winston Churchill · 12 eps

1987
Make and Break poster

Make and Break

Movie · as John Garrard

1987
Northanger Abbey poster

Northanger Abbey

Movie · as General Tilney

1987
The Death of the Heart poster

The Death of the Heart

Movie · as Major Brutt

1987
Blat poster

Blat

Movie · as Sidney Tolland

1987
Inspector Morse poster

Inspector Morse

TV · as Andrew Baydon · 1 ep

1986
Paying Guests (Part 2) poster

Paying Guests (Part 2)

Movie · as Colonel Chase

1986
Paying Guests (Part 1) poster

Paying Guests (Part 1)

Movie · as Colonel Chase

1986
The Demon Lover poster

The Demon Lover

Movie · as William Drover

1986
Hot Metal poster

Hot Metal

TV · as Twiggy Rathbone / Russell Spam · 13 eps

1986
ScreenPlay poster

ScreenPlay

TV · as Colonel Chase · 2 eps

1986
Sunday Premiere

Sunday Premiere

TV · as Sidney Tolland · 1 ep

1985
The Shooting Party poster

The Shooting Party

Movie · as Bob, Lord Lilburn

1985
Jenny's War poster

Jenny's War

Movie · as Klein

1985
Jenny's War poster

Jenny's War

TV · as Klein · 4 eps

1985
Screen Two poster

Screen Two

TV · as General Tilney · 1 ep

1985
Theatre Night poster

Theatre Night

TV · as John Garrard · 1 ep

1984
James Mason: The Star They Loved to Hate poster

James Mason: The Star They Loved to Hate

Movie · as Lord Bob Lilburn (archive footage) (uncredited)

1984
The Zany Adventures of Robin Hood poster

The Zany Adventures of Robin Hood

Movie · as King Richard

1984
Sherlock Holmes poster

Sherlock Holmes

TV · as Charles Augustus Milverton · 1 ep

1984
The Far Pavilions poster

The Far Pavilions

TV · as The Commandant · 3 eps

1983
Natural World poster

Natural World

TV · as Narrator · 1 ep

1983
The Cleopatras poster

The Cleopatras

TV · as Julius Caesar · 3 eps

1983
Shades of Darkness poster

Shades of Darkness

TV · as William Drover · 1 ep

1982
Countdown poster

Countdown

TV · 5 eps

1981
Fothergill poster

Fothergill

Movie · as John Fothergill

1981
Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years poster

Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years

TV · as Winston Churchill · 8 eps

1980
The Pied Piper of Hamelin poster

The Pied Piper of Hamelin

Movie · as Narrator (voice)

1980
Twelfth Night poster

Twelfth Night

Movie · as Sir Toby Belch

1979
Speed King

Speed King

Movie · as Dorothy Campbell

1979
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century poster

Buck Rogers in the 25th Century

TV · as Clayton · 1 ep

1978
All Creatures Great and Small poster

All Creatures Great and Small

TV · as Siegfried Farnon · 87 eps

1978
The BBC Television Shakespeare poster

The BBC Television Shakespeare

TV · as Sir Toby Belch · 1 ep

1977
Raffles poster

Raffles

TV · 1 ep

1977
Supernatural poster

Supernatural

TV · as Adrian Gall · 1 ep

1977
The Velvet Glove

The Velvet Glove

TV · as Charles Bradlaugh · 1 ep

1976
Bill Brand poster

Bill Brand

TV · as Mr. Marples · 1 ep

1976
Victorian Scandals poster

Victorian Scandals

TV · as Arthur Munby · 1 ep

1976
The Duchess of Duke Street poster

The Duchess of Duke Street

TV · as George Duggan · 1 ep

1975
Caesar and Claretta poster

Caesar and Claretta

Movie · as Benito Mussolini

1975
The Secret Agent

The Secret Agent

Movie · as The Assistant Commissioner

1975
Edward the Seventh poster

Edward the Seventh

TV · as Prince Albert · 4 eps

1975
Private Affairs

Private Affairs

TV · as Benito Mussolini · 1 ep

1974
The Slap poster

The Slap

Movie · as Robert Dickinson

1974
The Gathering Storm poster

The Gathering Storm

Movie · as Joachim von Ribbentrop

1974
Playhouse poster

Playhouse

TV · as John Fothergill, Sir Malcolm Campbell · 1 ep

1974
Shoulder to Shoulder poster

Shoulder to Shoulder

TV · as Asquith · 2 eps

1974
Churchill's People poster

Churchill's People

TV · as King Oswy · 1 ep

1973
The Silent One poster

The Silent One

Movie · as Assistant

1973
Dark Places poster

Dark Places

Movie · as Edward Foster / Andrew Marr

1973
Gawain and the Green Knight poster

Gawain and the Green Knight

Movie · as Sir Bertilak

1973
Psychomania poster

Psychomania

Movie · as Chief Inspector Hesseltine

1973
Yellow Dog poster

Yellow Dog

Movie · as Alexander

1973
European Heritage

European Heritage

TV · as Narrator (voice) · 1 ep

1973
Between the Wars

Between the Wars

TV · as Col. Tonge · 1 ep

1972
Demons of the Mind poster

Demons of the Mind

Movie · as Zorn

1972
The Incredible Robert Baldick: Never Come Night poster

The Incredible Robert Baldick: Never Come Night

Movie · as Doctor Sir Robert Baldick

1972
Young Winston poster

Young Winston

Movie · as Prep School Headmaster

1972
The British Empire: Echoes of Britannia's Rule

The British Empire: Echoes of Britannia's Rule

TV · as Narrator (voice) · 13 eps

1971
The Stalls of Barchester poster

The Stalls of Barchester

Movie · as Archdeacon Haynes

1971
10 Rillington Place poster

10 Rillington Place

Movie · as Malcolm Morris

1971
Getting In

Getting In

Movie · as Official

1971
Elizabeth R poster

Elizabeth R

TV · as Robert Dudley · 3 eps

1971
A Ghost Story for Christmas poster

A Ghost Story for Christmas

TV · as Archdeacon Haynes · 1 ep

1971
Upstairs, Downstairs poster

Upstairs, Downstairs

TV · as Sir Guy Paynter · 1 ep

1971
Great Performances poster

Great Performances

TV · as Self · 1 ep

1970
Warm Feet, Warm Heart

Warm Feet, Warm Heart

Movie · as Albert Purvis

1970
Marie Stopes: Sexual Revolutionary poster

Marie Stopes: Sexual Revolutionary

Movie · as Narrator

1970
Manhunt poster

Manhunt

TV · as Abwehr Sergeant Gratz · 10 eps

1970
Big Brother

Big Brother

TV · as John Edge · 1 ep

1969
Son of Man poster

Son of Man

Movie · as Pontius Pilate

1969
Strange Report poster

Strange Report

TV · as Doctor Michael Sanders · 1 ep

1969
ITV Saturday Night Theatre poster

ITV Saturday Night Theatre

TV · as Christopher Moore · 1 ep

1967
Berserk! poster

Berserk!

Movie · as Detective Superintendent Brooks

1967
How I Won the War poster

How I Won the War

Movie · as British General

1967
ITV Playhouse poster

ITV Playhouse

TV · as Ray Malcolm · 1 ep

1966
Mystery and Imagination poster

Mystery and Imagination

TV · as William Oke · 1 ep

1965
The Spy Who Came In from the Cold poster

The Spy Who Came In from the Cold

Movie · as Dick Carlton

1965
Old Man's Fancy

Old Man's Fancy

Movie · as Jason

1965
The Troubleshooters poster

The Troubleshooters

TV · as Alec Stewart · 91 eps

1965
Thirty-Minute Theatre poster

Thirty-Minute Theatre

TV · as The Official · 1 ep

1964
The Wednesday Play poster

The Wednesday Play

TV · as Nick Prockter, Pontius Pilate · 1 ep

1964
Theatre 625 poster

Theatre 625

TV · as Adriano · 1 ep

1964
Thursday Theatre

Thursday Theatre

TV · as Anatol · 1 ep

1963
The Spread of the Eagle poster

The Spread of the Eagle

TV · as Caius Martius Coriolanus · 3 eps

1962
The Saint poster

The Saint

TV · as Walter Faber · 1 ep

1962
The Dark Island

The Dark Island

TV · 6 eps

1961
Drama 61-67

Drama 61-67

TV · as Adam Irwin, Philip Weathers · 1 ep

1960
An Age of Kings poster

An Age of Kings

TV · as Henry, Prince of Wales, Henry V · 4 eps

1958
Torpedo Run poster

Torpedo Run

Movie · as Lt. Redley

1958
The Veil poster

The Veil

TV · 1 ep

1956
The Buccaneers poster

The Buccaneers

TV · as Lord Hinch · 1 ep

1956
The Adventures of Sir Lancelot poster

The Adventures of Sir Lancelot

TV · as Sir Rupert · 1 ep

1956
Armchair Theatre poster

Armchair Theatre

TV · as Albert Purvis · 1 ep

1956
David Copperfield

David Copperfield

TV · as David Copperfield · 13 eps

1955
Othello poster

Othello

Movie · as Cassio

1953
General Electric Theater poster

General Electric Theater

TV · 1 ep

1951
Hallmark Hall of Fame poster

Hallmark Hall of Fame

TV · as Joachim von Ribbentrop · 1 ep

1950
Sunday Night Theatre poster

Sunday Night Theatre

TV · as Orsino, Admetus, William Herndon · 1 ep

1949
Black Legend poster

Black Legend

Movie · as Mad Thomas