Robert Hardy

Robert Hardy

Acting
Born 1925-10-29 - Died 2017-08-03Cheltenham, 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.

Movies (79)

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
7.7

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

2002Movie7.7
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
8.0

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

2004Movie8.0
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
7.8

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

2005Movie7.8
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
7.7

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

2007Movie7.7
Sense and Sensibility
7.4

Sense and Sensibility

1995Movie7.4
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
6.4

Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

1994Movie6.4
The Spy Who Came In from the Cold
7.1

The Spy Who Came In from the Cold

1965Movie7.1
Margaret
5.7

Margaret

2009Movie5.7
Lassie
6.4

Lassie

2005Movie6.4
Young Winston
6.2

Young Winston

1972Movie6.2
The Barber of Siberia
7.0

The Barber of Siberia

1998Movie7.0
The Gathering
5.6

The Gathering

2003Movie5.6
Fothergill

Fothergill

1981Movie
Thunderpants
3.4

Thunderpants

2002Movie3.4
Mrs. Dalloway
5.7

Mrs. Dalloway

1997Movie5.7
Berserk!
5.7

Berserk!

1967Movie5.7
Dark Places
5.5

Dark Places

1973Movie5.5
The Woman He Loved
10.0

The Woman He Loved

1988Movie10.0
The Gathering Storm
8.2

The Gathering Storm

1974Movie8.2
The Master Blackmailer
7.0

The Master Blackmailer

1992Movie7.0
The Slap
6.6

The Slap

1974Movie6.6
The Lost World
6.1

The Lost World

2001Movie6.1
The Demon Lover
7.0

The Demon Lover

1986Movie7.0
In from the Cold? A Portrait of Richard Burton
6.0

In from the Cold? A Portrait of Richard Burton

1988Movie6.0
The Death of the Heart
8.5

The Death of the Heart

1987Movie8.5
Torpedo Run
6.1

Torpedo Run

1958Movie6.1
10 Rillington Place
7.3

10 Rillington Place

1971Movie7.3
Bertie and Elizabeth
6.7

Bertie and Elizabeth

2002Movie6.7
Paris by Night
4.8

Paris by Night

1989Movie4.8
Speed King

Speed King

1979Movie
Jenny's War
6.0

Jenny's War

1985Movie6.0
Twelfth Night
6.8

Twelfth Night

1980Movie6.8
Bomber Harris
7.8

Bomber Harris

1989Movie7.8
Getting In
8.0

Getting In

1971Movie8.0
Northanger Abbey
6.3

Northanger Abbey

1987Movie6.3
The Shooting Party
6.6

The Shooting Party

1985Movie6.6
Black Legend

Black Legend

1949Movie
Gawain and the Green Knight
5.0

Gawain and the Green Knight

1973Movie5.0
The Silent One
7.3

The Silent One

1973Movie7.3
Lucky Jim
7.0

Lucky Jim

2003Movie7.0
The Falklands Play
7.0

The Falklands Play

2002Movie7.0
Demons of the Mind
5.3

Demons of the Mind

1972Movie5.3
Othello
8.7

Othello

1955Movie8.7
How I Won the War
5.6

How I Won the War

1967Movie5.6
James Mason: The Star They Loved to Hate

James Mason: The Star They Loved to Hate

1984Movie
Snapshot Wedding

Snapshot Wedding

2017Movie
The Tichborne Claimant
8.7

The Tichborne Claimant

1999Movie8.7
Ghosts in the Machine

Ghosts in the Machine

2009Movie
The Secret Agent
10.0

The Secret Agent

1975Movie10.0
An Ideal Husband
6.5

An Ideal Husband

1999Movie6.5
Caesar and Claretta
4.0

Caesar and Claretta

1975Movie4.0
The Zany Adventures of Robin Hood
6.8

The Zany Adventures of Robin Hood

1984Movie6.8
Make and Break

Make and Break

1987Movie
Justice in Wonderland

Justice in Wonderland

2000Movie
Nancherrow
6.2

Nancherrow

1999Movie6.2
A Feast at Midnight
6.2

A Feast at Midnight

1994Movie6.2
The Incredible Robert Baldick: Never Come Night
10.0

The Incredible Robert Baldick: Never Come Night

1972Movie10.0
Yellow Dog
4.9

Yellow Dog

1973Movie4.9
Warm Feet, Warm Heart

Warm Feet, Warm Heart

1970Movie
Joseph's Reel
5.0

Joseph's Reel

2015Movie5.0
Psychomania
5.5

Psychomania

1973Movie5.5
Son of Man
10.0

Son of Man

1969Movie10.0
Centenary: The BP Story

Centenary: The BP Story

2009Movie
Goodbye Mr Snuggles
7.0

Goodbye Mr Snuggles

2006Movie7.0
Elementary My Dear Viewer

Elementary My Dear Viewer

2007Movie
Marie Stopes: Sexual Revolutionary

Marie Stopes: Sexual Revolutionary

1970Movie
Paying Guests (Part 2)

Paying Guests (Part 2)

1986Movie
Castle Ghosts of England
6.5

Castle Ghosts of England

1995Movie6.5
The Stalls of Barchester
6.3

The Stalls of Barchester

1971Movie6.3
Marcus Welby, M.D.: A Holiday Affair
9.0

Marcus Welby, M.D.: A Holiday Affair

1988Movie9.0
Old Man's Fancy

Old Man's Fancy

1965Movie
Blat

Blat

1987Movie
Castle Ghosts of Ireland
6.7

Castle Ghosts of Ireland

1996Movie6.7
The Pied Piper of Hamelin
7.0

The Pied Piper of Hamelin

1980Movie7.0
Churchill: 100 Days That Saved Britain

Churchill: 100 Days That Saved Britain

2015Movie
Narnia's Lost Poet: The Secret Lives and Loves of C.S. Lewis
6.9

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

2013Movie6.9
Paying Guests (Part 1)

Paying Guests (Part 1)

1986Movie
Castle Ghosts of Wales
7.0

Castle Ghosts of Wales

1997Movie7.0
Making Waves
6.8

Making Waves

2004Movie6.8

TV Shows (75)

Midsomer Murders
7.5

Midsomer Murders

1997Series7.5
Great Performances
6.1

Great Performances

1971Series6.1
Natural World
7.4

Natural World

1983Series7.4
Agatha Christie's Marple
7.8

Agatha Christie's Marple

2004Series7.8
Lewis
7.6

Lewis

2007Series7.6
Spooks
7.7

Spooks

2002Series7.7
Screen Two
7.1

Screen Two

1985Series7.1
The Saint
7.4

The Saint

1962Series7.4
Sherlock Holmes
8.2

Sherlock Holmes

1984Series8.2
The Wednesday Play
5.2

The Wednesday Play

1964Series5.2
Inspector Morse
7.9

Inspector Morse

1987Series7.9
Foyle's War
7.9

Foyle's War

2002Series7.9
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century
7.0

Buck Rogers in the 25th Century

1979Series7.0
ITV Playhouse
7.0

ITV Playhouse

1967Series7.0
ITV Saturday Night Theatre
7.0

ITV Saturday Night Theatre

1969Series7.0
Playhouse
7.0

Playhouse

1974Series7.0
Theatre 625
7.2

Theatre 625

1964Series7.2
Thirty-Minute Theatre
4.3

Thirty-Minute Theatre

1965Series4.3
Upstairs, Downstairs
7.8

Upstairs, Downstairs

1971Series7.8
The Alan Titchmarsh Show
4.5

The Alan Titchmarsh Show

2007Series4.5
All Creatures Great and Small
7.8

All Creatures Great and Small

1978Series7.8
The Duchess of Duke Street
8.0

The Duchess of Duke Street

1976Series8.0
Sunday Night Theatre
3.5

Sunday Night Theatre

1950Series3.5
Churchill's People
5.0

Churchill's People

1974Series5.0
The BBC Television Shakespeare
6.0

The BBC Television Shakespeare

1978Series6.0
The Troubleshooters
7.3

The Troubleshooters

1965Series7.3
ScreenPlay
6.0

ScreenPlay

1986Series6.0
War and Remembrance
7.9

War and Remembrance

1988Series7.9
An Age of Kings
5.3

An Age of Kings

1960Series5.3
The Buccaneers
6.4

The Buccaneers

1956Series6.4
Thursday Theatre

Thursday Theatre

1964Series
Drama 61-67

Drama 61-67

1961Series
The Adventures of Sir Lancelot
7.0

The Adventures of Sir Lancelot

1956Series7.0
Elizabeth R
7.5

Elizabeth R

1971Series7.5
Bramwell
4.2

Bramwell

1995Series4.2
The 10th Kingdom
7.6

The 10th Kingdom

2000Series7.6
Countdown
6.0

Countdown

1982Series6.0
A Ghost Story for Christmas
7.4

A Ghost Story for Christmas

1971Series7.4
Shackleton
7.2

Shackleton

2002Series7.2
Strange Report
7.7

Strange Report

1969Series7.7
Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years
6.3

Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years

1981Series6.3
The Lost World
7.5

The Lost World

2001Series7.5
Manhunt
6.8

Manhunt

1970Series6.8
Gulliver's Travels
7.3

Gulliver's Travels

1996Series7.3
Edward the Seventh
6.6

Edward the Seventh

1975Series6.6
Shades of Darkness
7.7

Shades of Darkness

1983Series7.7
Supernatural
7.2

Supernatural

1977Series7.2
Death in Holy Orders
6.9

Death in Holy Orders

2003Series6.9
Mystery and Imagination
5.8

Mystery and Imagination

1966Series5.8
Middlemarch
7.9

Middlemarch

1994Series7.9
Sunday Premiere
7.0

Sunday Premiere

1986Series7.0
Big Brother

Big Brother

1970Series
Testament: The Bible in Animation
7.0

Testament: The Bible in Animation

1996Series7.0
The Veil
7.8

The Veil

1958Series7.8
Hot Metal
5.4

Hot Metal

1986Series5.4
General Electric Theater
6.8

General Electric Theater

1953Series6.8
Raffles
8.4

Raffles

1977Series8.4
David Copperfield

David Copperfield

1956Series
Bill Brand
7.3

Bill Brand

1976Series7.3
Nancherrow
8.0

Nancherrow

1999Series8.0
Shoulder to Shoulder
6.5

Shoulder to Shoulder

1974Series6.5
The Far Pavilions
7.4

The Far Pavilions

1984Series7.4
Private Affairs

Private Affairs

1975Series
Hallmark Hall of Fame
8.8

Hallmark Hall of Fame

1951Series8.8
Look at the State We're In!

Look at the State We're In!

1995Series
Victorian Scandals
10.0

Victorian Scandals

1976Series10.0
Between the Wars
9.0

Between the Wars

1973Series9.0
The Spread of the Eagle

The Spread of the Eagle

1963Series
The Cleopatras
3.8

The Cleopatras

1983Series3.8
Armchair Theatre
6.0

Armchair Theatre

1956Series6.0
Le Grand Charles
10.0

Le Grand Charles

2006Series10.0
Jenny's War
6.7

Jenny's War

1985Series6.7
The Velvet Glove

The Velvet Glove

1977Series
The Dark Island
6.5

The Dark Island

1962Series6.5
European Heritage

European Heritage

1973Series