British Actor Edward Woodward Dies at 79
Obituary for Star of The Wicker Man and The Equalizer
Nov 16, 2009
The actor, best known for his roles as Sergeant Howie in The Wicker Man and Robert McCall in The Equalizer had been suffering from a number of illnesses prior to his death at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro.
His agent Janet Glass, who announced the actor’s death, confirmed Woodward had been ill for several months and had died surrounded by his family.
She commented: “Universally loved and admired through his unforgettable roles in classic productions, he was equally fine and courageous in real life, never losing his brave spirit and wonderful humour throughout his illness.”
Woodward's Life & Career
Edward Albert Arthur Woodward was born on June 1st 1930 in Croydon, Surrey, and trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art which lead to a series of stage roles throughout the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s.
His first cinematic role came as Ralph Stokes in the 1955 production Where There’s A Will, but Woodward failed to make more screen appearances until 1960, appearing in one episode of Inside Story alongside Robert Brown, best known for his role as M in the James Bond film series.
Television roles were soon in abundance for Woodward, making appearances in Emergency-Ward 10, Dixon Of Dock Green and The Saint before gaining the lead part in Callan, a successful crime drama series spanning 43 episodes from 1967 to 1971.
During the 1970s Woodward branched further into the British film industry, taking the lead character in the aforementioned 1973 production The Wicker Man, while 1974 saw him reassume the role of David Callan for a film adaptation of the popular series.
The actor continued to feature in a number of British film and television productions during the ten years that followed, but in 1985 Woodward landed the role of Robert McCall in The Equalizer, an American television series which produced 87 episodes in four years.
Blighted by Poor Health
Woodward continued to find work during the 1990s, voicing The Sultan in Disney’s 1992 animation Aladdin, and playing Nev in the successful BBC comedy drama series Common As Muck, during which time he underwent surgery for a triple heart bypass.
Despite being diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2003, Woodward continued working throughout the twenty-first century, appearing most notably as Tom Weaver in the much-acclaimed 2007 British comedy Hot Fuzz. The actor’s final role came in 2009 as Tommy in the long-running BBC series Eastenders.
He is survived by his second wife Michele Dotrice, whom he married in 1987, and his children Tim, Peter, Sarah and Emily, and granddaughter Sam, who all followed Woodward into the acting profession.
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