British Character Actor Edward Hardwicke Dies

Edward Hardwicke (image via Wikipedia)

Edward Hardwicke was well known for playing the role of Dr Watson opposite Jeremy Brett in Granada TV’s Sherlock Holmes series in the 1980’s (reprising the role on the West End stage in The Secret of Sherlock Holmes in 1989). Previous to that, he became a household name for portraying the role of Pat Grant (based on real-life war hero Pat Reid), in the BBC prisoner of war series Colditz, alongside Robert Wagner and David McCallum.

Edward Cedric Hardwicke, was born in London in 1932, the son of actors Sir Cedric Hardwicke and Helena Pickard. His Hollywood career got underway at the age of 10 in Victor Fleming’s film, A Guy Named Joe, where he appeared with Spencer Tracy.

Father – Sir Cedric Hardwicke (Image via Wikipedia)

After his Hollywood appearance, he returned to school in the UK, followed up by service in the Royal Air Force as a Pilot Officer. At the completion of his military duties, he joined the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) to train as an actor.

Hardwicke spent his early thespian years appearing at the likes of The Bristol Old Vic, the Oxford Playhouse and the Nottingham Playhouse, before joining up with Laurence Olivier’s National Theatre in 1964 where he stayed for 7 years, appearing opposite Olivier in Othello and The Master Builder. After a period playing numerous different roles on stage and TV, he returned to the National Theatre in 1977 for a production of Feydeau’s The Lady From Maxim’s.

In 2005, he appeared in Roman Polanski’s adaptation of Oliver Twist.

Hardwicke was twice married, he is survived by his 2nd wife Prim Cotton, his 2 daughters from his 1st marriage and a step-daughter.

Other television credits include:

My Old Man, Holocaust (1978), Oppenheimer (1980), Lovejoy (1992), The Ruth Rendell Mysteries (1997), David Copperfield (2000), Agatha Christie’s Poirot (2004) and Fanny Hill (2007). He also appeared in the final episode of the iconic TV series The Sweeney in 1978 alongside John Thaw and Dennis Waterman. His final TV role was in the series Shameless.

Film credits include:

The Day of the Jackal (1973), The Black Windmill (1974), Shadowlands (1993), Richard III: The Scarlet Letter (1995), Elizabeth (1998), Enigma (2001), The Gathering Storm (2002) and Love Actually (2003).

A Video Tribute to Edward Hardwicke (as Doctor Watson).

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