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Edward Woodward

Edward Woodward
OBE
Edward Woodward 1971.JPG
Woodward in 1971
Born Edward Albert Arthur Woodward
(1930-06-01)1 June 1930
Croydon, Surrey, England
Died 16 November 2009(2009-11-16) (aged 79)
Truro, Cornwall, England
Occupation Actor, singer
Years active 1955–2009
Spouse(s) Venetia Barrett
(1952–1986)
Michele Dotrice
(1987–2009)
Children Tim Woodward
Peter Woodward
Sarah Woodward
Emily Woodward

Edward Albert Arthur Woodward, OBE (1 June 1930 – 16 November 2009) was an English actor and singer.

After graduating from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Woodward began his career on stage. Throughout his career, he appeared in productions in both the West End of London and on Broadway in New York City. He came to wider attention from 1967 in the title role of the British television spy drama Callan, earning him the 1970 British Academy Television Award for Best Actor.

Woodward starred as Police Sergeant Neil Howie in the 1973 cult British horror film The Wicker Man, and in the title role of the 1980 Australian biopic Breaker Morant. From 1985 to 1989, Woodward starred as British ex-secret agent and vigilante Robert McCall in the American television series The Equalizer, earning him the 1986 Golden Globe Award for Best Television Drama Actor.

Woodward was born in Croydon, Surrey, the only child of working class parents Edward Oliver Woodward, a metalworker, and Violet Edith Woodward (née Smith). As a boy, he was bombed out of his home three times during the Blitz. He attended Eccleston Road, Sydenham Road, and E Wallington, as well as Kingston Day Commercial School, all in Surrey. He then attended Kingston College.

In the post-World War II period, Woodward became an associate member of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art while taking amateur roles. Wanting to train as a journalist he eventually took work in a sanitary engineer's office before attending RADA from age 16. He was reputedly torn between becoming an actor or a professional footballer. He was on the books of Leyton Orient FC and Brentford FC, making three appearances in the Football League for the latter; however, a serious knee injury kept him out of the game for over a year.


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