Robert Hardy
Acting • Born 1925-10-29 – Died 2017-08-03
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.
Filmography
149 credits
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Movie • 2005
Cornelius Fudge
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Movie • 2007
Cornelius Fudge
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
Movie • 1994
Prof. Krempe
Sense and Sensibility
Movie • 1995
Sir John Middleton
The Gathering
Movie • 2003
Bishop
James Mason: The Star They Loved to Hate
Movie • 1984
Lord Bob Lilburn (archive footage) (uncredited)
Snapshot Wedding
Movie • 2017
Donald
The Spy Who Came In from the Cold
Movie • 1965
Dick Carlton
Berserk!
Movie • 1967
Detective Superintendent Brooks
Ghosts in the Machine
Movie • 2009
Narrator
Mrs. Dalloway
Movie • 1997
Sir William Bradshaw
Demons of the Mind
Movie • 1972
Zorn
Torpedo Run
Movie • 1958
Lt. Redley
The Incredible Robert Baldick: Never Come Night
Movie • 1972
Doctor Sir Robert Baldick
Castle Ghosts of England
Movie • 1995
Self
Castle Ghosts of Wales
Movie • 1997
Self
Castle Ghosts of Ireland
Movie • 1996
Self
The Silent One
Movie • 1973
Assistant
Bomber Harris
Movie • 1989
Winston Churchill
A Feast at Midnight
Movie • 1994
Headmaster
The Slap
Movie • 1974
Robert Dickinson
Dark Places
Movie • 1973
Edward Foster / Andrew Marr
The Gathering Storm
Movie • 1974
Joachim von Ribbentrop
The Stalls of Barchester
Movie • 1971
Archdeacon Haynes
Nancherrow
Movie • 1999
Viscount Berryan
Speed King
Movie • 1979
Dorothy Campbell
Caesar and Claretta
Movie • 1975
Benito Mussolini
The Pied Piper of Hamelin
Movie • 1980
Narrator (voice)
An Ideal Husband
Movie • 1999
Lord Caversham
The Shooting Party
Movie • 1985
Bob, Lord Lilburn
Jenny's War
Movie • 1985
Klein
Thunderpants
Movie • 2002
Doctor
Twelfth Night
Movie • 1980
Sir Toby Belch
Gawain and the Green Knight
Movie • 1973
Sir Bertilak
Make and Break
Movie • 1987
John Garrard
Making Waves
Movie • 2004
Father Parry
The Barber of Siberia
Movie • 1998
Forsten
Paying Guests (Part 1)
Movie • 1986
Colonel Chase
Paying Guests (Part 2)
Movie • 1986
Colonel Chase
The Woman He Loved
Movie • 1988
Winston Churchill
Marcus Welby, M.D.: A Holiday Affair
Movie • 1988
Dr. Price
The Master Blackmailer
Movie • 1992
Charles Augustus Milverton
Margaret
Movie • 2009
Willie Whitelaw
Old Man's Fancy
Movie • 1965
Jason
Northanger Abbey
Movie • 1987
General Tilney
Warm Feet, Warm Heart
Movie • 1970
Albert Purvis
The Falklands Play
Movie • 2002
Sir Anthony Parsons
Lucky Jim
Movie • 2003
Professor Neddy Welch
The Lost World
Movie • 2001
Prof. Illingworth
Bertie and Elizabeth
Movie • 2002
President Roosevelt
Young Winston
Movie • 1972
Prep School Headmaster
Othello
Movie • 1955
Cassio
Black Legend
Movie • 1949
Mad Thomas
10 Rillington Place
Movie • 1971
Malcolm Morris
Psychomania
Movie • 1973
Chief Inspector Hesseltine
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Movie • 2002
Cornelius Fudge
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Movie • 2004
Cornelius Fudge
Lassie
Movie • 2005
Judge Murray
Paris by Night
Movie • 1989
Adam Gillvray
The Tichborne Claimant
Movie • 1999
Lord Rivers
Churchill: 100 Days That Saved Britain
Movie • 2015
Winston Churchill
How I Won the War
Movie • 1967
British General
Joseph's Reel
Movie • 2015
Old Joseph
Yellow Dog
Movie • 1973
Alexander
The Zany Adventures of Robin Hood
Movie • 1984
King Richard
Narnia's Lost Poet: The Secret Lives and Loves of C.S. Lewis
Movie • 2013
Self - Interviewee
The Death of the Heart
Movie • 1987
Major Brutt
Goodbye Mr Snuggles
Movie • 2006
Mr. Stiles
In from the Cold? A Portrait of Richard Burton
Movie • 1988
Self
Fothergill
Movie • 1981
John Fothergill
The Demon Lover
Movie • 1986
William Drover
Son of Man
Movie • 1969
Pontius Pilate
Elementary My Dear Viewer
Movie • 2007
Self
Marie Stopes: Sexual Revolutionary
Movie • 1970
Narrator
The Secret Agent
Movie • 1975
The Assistant Commissioner
Blat
Movie • 1987
Sidney Tolland
Centenary: The BP Story
Movie • 2009
George Reynolds (voice)
Getting In
Movie • 1971
Official
Midsomer Murders
TV • 1997
Robert Cavendish
Elizabeth R
TV • 1971
Robert Dudley
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century
TV • 1979
Clayton
Countdown
TV • 1982
Inspector Morse
TV • 1987
Andrew Baydon
Foyle's War
TV • 2002
Henry Beaumont
The Saint
TV • 1962
Walter Faber
Hallmark Hall of Fame
TV • 1951
Joachim von Ribbentrop
Raffles
TV • 1977
The Dark Island
TV • 1962
The Buccaneers
TV • 1956
Lord Hinch
The Adventures of Sir Lancelot
TV • 1956
Sir Rupert
Gulliver's Travels
TV • 1996
Dr. Parnell
The Veil
TV • 1958
The Alan Titchmarsh Show
TV • 2007
Self
Middlemarch
TV • 1994
Arthur Brooke
An Age of Kings
TV • 1960
Henry, Prince of Wales
Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years
TV • 1981
Winston Churchill
Hot Metal
TV • 1986
War and Remembrance
TV • 1988
Winston Churchill
Death in Holy Orders
TV • 2003
Father Martin Petrie
Natural World
TV • 1983
Narrator
All Creatures Great and Small
TV • 1978
Siegfried Farnon
Bramwell
TV • 1995
Sir Herbert Hamilton
A Ghost Story for Christmas
TV • 1971
Archdeacon Haynes
Upstairs, Downstairs
TV • 1971
Sir Guy Paynter
Sherlock Holmes
TV • 1984
Charles Augustus Milverton
Agatha Christie's Marple
TV • 2004
Winston Churchill
The 10th Kingdom
TV • 2000
Chancellor Griswold
Nancherrow
TV • 1999
Manhunt
TV • 1970
Abwehr Sergeant Gratz
The Lost World
TV • 2001
Professor Illingworth
Bill Brand
TV • 1976
Mr. Marples
Spooks
TV • 2002
Sir John Barry
Lewis
TV • 2007
Sir Arnold Raeburn
The Wednesday Play
TV • 1964
Nick Prockter
Playhouse
TV • 1974
John Fothergill
Le Grand Charles
TV • 2006
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Sunday Night Theatre
TV • 1950
Orsino
Testament: The Bible in Animation
TV • 1996
Abraham (voice)
Jenny's War
TV • 1985
Klein
The Far Pavilions
TV • 1984
The Commandant
General Electric Theater
TV • 1953
Playhouse
TV • 1974
Sir Malcolm Campbell
Strange Report
TV • 1969
Doctor Michael Sanders
Screen Two
TV • 1985
General Tilney
Great Performances
TV • 1971
Self
The Troubleshooters
TV • 1965
Alec Stewart
Thirty-Minute Theatre
TV • 1965
The Official
The Wednesday Play
TV • 1964
Pontius Pilate
Armchair Theatre
TV • 1956
Albert Purvis
Sunday Night Theatre
TV • 1950
Admetus
Sunday Night Theatre
TV • 1950
William Herndon
Shackleton
TV • 2002
Sir James Caird
An Age of Kings
TV • 1960
Henry V
The Spread of the Eagle
TV • 1963
Caius Martius Coriolanus
Bramwell
TV • 1995
Sir Herbert Hamilton
Shoulder to Shoulder
TV • 1974
Asquith
Edward the Seventh
TV • 1975
Prince Albert
Theatre 625
TV • 1964
Theatre 625
TV • 1964
Adriano
Churchill's People
TV • 1974
King Oswy
The Cleopatras
TV • 1983
Julius Caesar
Look at the State We're In!
TV • 1995
Judge Sutcliffe
European Heritage
TV • 1973
Narrator (voice)
Drama 61-67
TV • 1961
Adam Irwin
Drama 61-67
TV • 1961
Philip Weathers
Mystery and Imagination
TV • 1966
William Oke
Supernatural
TV • 1977
Adrian Gall
Victorian Scandals
TV • 1976
Arthur Munby
The Duchess of Duke Street
TV • 1976
George Duggan