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

Agatha Christie's Marple

Great Performances

The Saint

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Spooks

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

All Movies (78)

• Snapshot Wedding2017 · as Donald
• Joseph's Reel2015 · as Old Joseph
• Churchill: 100 Days That Saved Britain2015 · as Winston Churchill
• Narnia's Lost Poet: The Secret Lives and Loves of C.S. Lewis2013 · as Self - Interviewee
• Ghosts in the Machine2009 · as Narrator
• Margaret2009 · as Willie Whitelaw
• Centenary: The BP Story2009 · as George Reynolds (voice)
• Elementary My Dear Viewer2007 · as Self
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix2007 · as Cornelius Fudge
• Goodbye Mr Snuggles2006 · as Mr. Stiles
• Lassie2005 · as Judge Murray
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire2005 · as Cornelius Fudge
• Making Waves2004 · as Father Parry
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban2004 · as Cornelius Fudge
• Lucky Jim2003 · as Professor Neddy Welch
• The Gathering2003 · as Bishop
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets2002 · as Cornelius Fudge
• Bertie and Elizabeth2002 · as President Roosevelt
• Thunderpants2002 · as Doctor
• The Falklands Play2002 · as Sir Anthony Parsons
• The Lost World2001 · as Prof. Illingworth
• The Tichborne Claimant1999 · as Lord Rivers
• An Ideal Husband1999 · as Lord Caversham
• Nancherrow1999 · as Viscount Berryan
• The Barber of Siberia1998 · as Forsten
• Castle Ghosts of Wales1997 · as Self
• Mrs. Dalloway1997 · as Sir William Bradshaw
• Castle Ghosts of Ireland1996 · as Self
• Sense and Sensibility1995 · as Sir John Middleton
• Castle Ghosts of England1995 · as Self
• Mary Shelley's Frankenstein1994 · as Prof. Krempe
• A Feast at Midnight1994 · as Headmaster
• The Master Blackmailer1992 · as Charles Augustus Milverton
• Bomber Harris1989 · as Winston Churchill
• Paris by Night1989 · as Adam Gillvray
• Marcus Welby, M.D.: A Holiday Affair1988 · as Dr. Price
• In from the Cold? A Portrait of Richard Burton1988 · as Self
• The Woman He Loved1988 · as Winston Churchill
• Blat1987 · as Sidney Tolland
• The Death of the Heart1987 · as Major Brutt
• Northanger Abbey1987 · as General Tilney
• Make and Break1987 · as John Garrard
• Paying Guests (Part 2)1986 · as Colonel Chase
• Paying Guests (Part 1)1986 · as Colonel Chase
• The Demon Lover1986 · as William Drover
• Jenny's War1985 · as Klein
• The Shooting Party1985 · as Bob, Lord Lilburn
• The Zany Adventures of Robin Hood1984 · as King Richard
• James Mason: The Star They Loved to Hate1984 · as Lord Bob Lilburn (archive footage) (uncredited)
• Fothergill1981 · as John Fothergill
• The Pied Piper of Hamelin1980 · as Narrator (voice)
• Twelfth Night1980 · as Sir Toby Belch
• Speed King1979 · as Dorothy Campbell
• The Secret Agent1975 · as The Assistant Commissioner
• Caesar and Claretta1975 · as Benito Mussolini
• The Gathering Storm1974 · as Joachim von Ribbentrop
• The Slap1974 · as Robert Dickinson
• Yellow Dog1973 · as Alexander
• Gawain and the Green Knight1973 · as Sir Bertilak
• Dark Places1973 · as Edward Foster / Andrew Marr
• Psychomania1973 · as Chief Inspector Hesseltine
• The Silent One1973 · as Assistant
• Demons of the Mind1972 · as Zorn
• The Incredible Robert Baldick: Never Come Night1972 · as Doctor Sir Robert Baldick
• Young Winston1972 · as Prep School Headmaster
• The Stalls of Barchester1971 · as Archdeacon Haynes
• Getting In1971 · as Official
• 10 Rillington Place1971 · as Malcolm Morris
• Warm Feet, Warm Heart1970 · as Albert Purvis
• Marie Stopes: Sexual Revolutionary1970 · as Narrator
• Son of Man1969 · as Pontius Pilate
• Berserk!1967 · as Detective Superintendent Brooks
• How I Won the War1967 · as British General
• The Spy Who Came In from the Cold1965 · as Dick Carlton
• Old Man's Fancy1965 · as Jason
• Torpedo Run1958 · as Lt. Redley
• Othello1955 · as Cassio
• Black Legend1949 · as Mad Thomas

All TV Shows (81)

• The Alan Titchmarsh Show2007 · as Self
• Lewis2007 · as Sir Arnold Raeburn
• Le Grand Charles2006 · as Franklin D. Roosevelt
• Agatha Christie's Marple2004 · as Winston Churchill
• Death in Holy Orders2003 · as Father Martin Petrie
• Foyle's War2002 · as Henry Beaumont
• Spooks2002 · as Sir John Barry
• Shackleton2002 · as Sir James Caird
• The Lost World2001 · as Professor Illingworth
• The 10th Kingdom2000 · as Chancellor Griswold
• Nancherrow1999
• Midsomer Murders1997 · as Robert Cavendish
• Testament: The Bible in Animation1996 · as Abraham (voice)
• Gulliver's Travels1996 · as Dr. Parnell
• Look at the State We're In!1995 · as Judge Sutcliffe
• Bramwell1995 · as Sir Herbert Hamilton
• Bramwell1995 · as Sir Herbert Hamilton
• Middlemarch1994 · as Arthur Brooke
• War and Remembrance1988 · as Winston Churchill
• Inspector Morse1987 · as Andrew Baydon
• ScreenPlay1986 · as Colonel Chase
• Hot Metal1986
• Jenny's War1985 · as Klein
• Screen Two1985 · as General Tilney
• Sherlock Holmes1984 · as Charles Augustus Milverton
• The Far Pavilions1984 · as The Commandant
• Natural World1983 · as Narrator
• Shades of Darkness1983 · as William Drover
• The Cleopatras1983 · as Julius Caesar
• Countdown1982
• Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years1981 · as Winston Churchill
• Buck Rogers in the 25th Century1979 · as Clayton
• The BBC Television Shakespeare1978 · as Sir Toby Belch
• All Creatures Great and Small1978 · as Siegfried Farnon
• Supernatural1977 · as Adrian Gall
• Raffles1977
• The Velvet Glove1977 · as Charles Bradlaugh
• The Duchess of Duke Street1976 · as George Duggan
• Victorian Scandals1976 · as Arthur Munby
• Bill Brand1976 · as Mr. Marples
• Private Affairs1975 · as Benito Mussolini
• Edward the Seventh1975 · as Prince Albert
• Churchill's People1974 · as King Oswy
• Shoulder to Shoulder1974 · as Asquith
• Playhouse1974 · as John Fothergill
• Playhouse1974 · as Sir Malcolm Campbell
• European Heritage1973 · as Narrator (voice)
• Between the Wars1973 · as Col. Tonge
• A Ghost Story for Christmas1971 · as Archdeacon Haynes
• Upstairs, Downstairs1971 · as Sir Guy Paynter
• Elizabeth R1971 · as Robert Dudley
• Great Performances1971 · as Self
• Big Brother1970 · as John Edge
• Manhunt1970 · as Abwehr Sergeant Gratz
• Strange Report1969 · as Doctor Michael Sanders
• ITV Saturday Night Theatre1969 · as Christopher Moore
• ITV Playhouse1967 · as Ray Malcolm
• Mystery and Imagination1966 · as William Oke
• Thirty-Minute Theatre1965 · as The Official
• The Troubleshooters1965 · as Alec Stewart
• Thursday Theatre1964 · as Anatol
• The Wednesday Play1964 · as Nick Prockter
• The Wednesday Play1964 · as Pontius Pilate
• Theatre 6251964
• Theatre 6251964 · as Adriano
• The Spread of the Eagle1963 · as Caius Martius Coriolanus
• The Saint1962 · as Walter Faber
• The Dark Island1962
• Drama 61-671961 · as Adam Irwin
• Drama 61-671961 · as Philip Weathers
• An Age of Kings1960 · as Henry, Prince of Wales
• An Age of Kings1960 · as Henry V
• The Veil1958
• The Buccaneers1956 · as Lord Hinch
• The Adventures of Sir Lancelot1956 · as Sir Rupert
• Armchair Theatre1956 · as Albert Purvis
• General Electric Theater1953
• Hallmark Hall of Fame1951 · as Joachim von Ribbentrop
• Sunday Night Theatre1950 · as Orsino
• Sunday Night Theatre1950 · as Admetus
• Sunday Night Theatre1950 · as William Herndon