Tim Woodward

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Tim Woodward
Woodward in 1974
Born
Timothy Oliver Woodward

(1953-04-24)24 April 1953
Kensington, London, England
Died9 November 2023(2023-11-09) (aged 70)
OccupationActor
Years active1974–2023
Parent(s)Edward Woodward
Venetia Barrett
RelativesPeter Woodward (brother)
Sarah Woodward (sister)

Timothy Oliver Woodward (24 April 1953 – 9 November 2023)[1] was an English actor. His credits included Galileo (1975), Piece of Cake (1988), Families, Heartbeat, The Europeans (1979), Tales of the Unexpected (1982), Salomè (1986), Personal Services (1987) The Scarlet Letter (1995), Prime Suspect (1995), Wide-Eye (2003–2022), Pierrepoint: The Last Hangman (2005), Space Race (2005), Agatha Christie's Poirot (2006), Nuremberg: Nazis on Trial (2006), The Fattest Man in Britain (2009), Mad Dogs (2011–2013), Fleming: The Man Who Would Be Bond (2014), Houdini (2014), London Has Fallen (2016), Criminal (2016), Genius (2017), Beast (2017), The Marine 6: Close Quarters (2018), Peaky Blinders (2019), and Radioactive (2019).

Early life and education

Timothy Oliver Woodward,[2] was born in Kensington, London, on 24 April 1953, the son of actors Edward Woodward and Venetia Collett (who used the stage name Barrett).[1] His siblings included Peter Woodward and Sarah Woodward, both also actors.[1]

He was educated at Haileybury and Imperial Service College, Hertford Heath, Hertfordshire,[2] then studied acting at RADA,[3] graduating in 1974 with an Acting (RADA Diploma).[3]

Career

Woodward's career started in 1975, playing Ludovico Marsili in the Joseph Losey film Galileo (1975).[1] His breakthrough role came in 1977 as Royal Flying Corps pilot Sergeant Alan Farmer in the BBC drama Wings (1977).[1] This was followed by his starring as the by-the-book Royal Air Force pilot Squadron Leader Rex in Piece of Cake (1988).[1]

During the 1990s Woodward made an appearance in the Granada Television soap opera Families,[4] as well as taking the role of gamekeeper Walter Gillies in Yorkshire Television's long-running 1960s drama Heartbeat.[2] A further appearance in Heartbeat came in the 2008 episode Out of the Long, Dark Night, in which he played James Knight, a former army officer.[2]

Woodward appeared in the 2000s ITV police drama Murder City,[1] and also portrayed Leonard "Nipper" Read of Scotland Yard in the 2008 ITV adaptation of Jake Arnott's crime novel He Kills Coppers.[4] He guest-starred with his father Edward and son Sam as a London gangster family in a special storyline for The Bill in 2008.[1] Also, he appeared with his father Edward in the American television series The Equalizer, in the season four episode "Prisoners of Conscience" in which he played Robert McCall's father in a flashback scene.[1]

Woodward was also known by younger audiences for his audio narration in the children's television show Wide-Eye.[2]

Personal life and death

Woodward married Amanda Smith in 1997.[1] They had two sons and a daughter. He also had a son from an earlier relationship with the actress Jan Chappell,[1] and a daughter with Kate Barnwell.[1]

Tim Woodward died of cancer on 9 November 2023, at the age of 70.[1] He was survived by his wife and five children.[1]

Filmography

Film

Television

Tim Woodward television credits
YearTitleRoleNotes Ref.
1975 Play for Today Storyteller Episode: “By Common Consent” [4]
Within These Walls Richard Wiltshire Episode: “Mother's Girl [4]
Prometheus: The Life of Balzac Eugene Surville TV miniseries, 2 episodes
1975-1976 Play of the Month Kit Neilan / Pip Thompson 2 episodes
1976The ExpertDet. Sgt. HalletBBC, Episode: “Suspicious Death
1977 The Cost of Loving Harry West Episode: “The Human Element”
1977–1978WingsSgt. Alan FarmerBBC, 24 episodes[1]
1981 BBC2 Playhouse William Patrick Episode: “Journal of Bridget Hitler”
1982 Q.E.D. Harry Owsley Episode: “The Great Motor Race” [4]
Tales of the UnexpectedTimothy BurtonEpisode: "Decoy"[4]
Frost in May Richard Crayshaw Episode: “Beyond the Glass”
Cousin PhillisEdward Holdsworth4 episodes
East Lynne Frances Levison TV movie
1983 The Irish R.M. Bernard Shute Episode: “A Misdeal [4]
American Playhouse Billy 3 episodes [4]
Spooky Peter Episode: “The Keeper”
Agatha Christie's Partners in Crime Lawrence St. Vincent Episode: “The Affair of the Pink Pearl” [4]
The Case of the Frightened Lady Lord Willie Lebanon TV movie [4]
1984 Crown Court Brian Bass 3 episodes [4]
All the World's a Stage Quotations Reader Episode: “The Actors Do Not Understand” [4]
Pope John Paul II Juliusz Kydrynski TV movie [4]
Father's Day Rex Ferguson Episode: “Affairs in Order”
1985-1990 Theatre Night Lord Windermere / Menelaos 2 episodes
1987 A Killing on the Exchange John Field TV miniseries [4]
1988Piece of CakeSquadron Leader RexTV miniseries[2]
1989Passion and ParadiseGodfrey HiggsTV miniseries[4]
The Equalizer William McCall Episode: "Prisoners of Conscience"
1990 Traitors Thomas Percy TV movie
1990-1991 Families John Thompson 4 episodes [4]
1992Absolutely FabulousHeadmaster TonyBBC, Episode: "ISO Tank[4]
1993 The Good Guys Peter Henderson Episode: "All That Sparkles”
Closing NumbersKeithTV movie[4]
1994 Pie in the Sky D.C. Ken Shipley Episode: "The Truth Will Out [4]
MacGyver: Lost Treasure of Atlantis Col. Petrovic TV movie [4]
1995 Go Back Out Dad TV movie
Prime Suspect George Marlow Episode: "The Scent of Darkness"
1996HeartbeatWalter GilliesEpisode: "Old Colonials"[2]
The Governor Mr. Turnbull 3 episodes [4]
1997 The Ruth Rendell Mysteries Nick Hawthorne 2 episodes [4]
David Angry Lieutenant TV movie [4]
Bramwell Aubrey Savier Episode #3.2 [4]
Holding On Ken 6 episodes [4]
1998 Heat of the Sun Lord Harry Ellesmere Episode: “Private Lives [4]
Space Island One Mr. Hawkspur Episode: “Sarcophagus [4]
Vanity Fair Mr. John Osborne TV miniseries, 4 episodes [4]
1999 The Colour of Justice Conor Taafe / Ian Johnston TV movie [4]
RKO 281Jack L. WarnerTV movie[4]
2000–2001Yoho AhoyAudiobooks Narrator
2003New TricksDonald Bevan1 episode
2003Wide-EyeAudiobooks Narrator[2]
2003Midsomer MurdersTimothy Webster1 episode
2005Space RaceMitrofan Nedelin2 episodes[4]
2006Agatha Christie's PoirotEnoch Arden / Charles1 episode[4]
2006Nuremberg: Nazis on TrialJohn AmenTV miniseries[1]
2007Rosemary and Thyme OllieEpisode: "Three Legs Good"
2008HeartbeatJames KnightEpisode: "Out of the Long, Dark Night"[2]
2009The Fattest Man in BritainMorley RaisinTV movie[4]
2011–2013Mad DogsDominic6 episodes[1]
2014Fleming: The Man Who Would Be BondAir Chief Marshal 'Bomber' HarrisTV miniseries[4]
2014HoudiniSheriff JohnTV miniseries[4]
2017GeniusMagistrate König1 episode[4]
2019Peaky BlindersLord Suckerby1 episode[2]
2019CasualtyVincent Millbank2 episodes[2]

References

  1. Hayward, Anthony (17 November 2023). "Tim Woodward obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  2. "Tim Woodward (C 67) – actor in Wings and A Piece of Cake". thehaileyburysociety.org. 20 November 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  3. "Rada Student & graduate profiles Timothy Woodward". rada.ac.uk. Retrieved 26 March 2025.
  4. "Timothy Woodward Credits". tvguide.com. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
  5. "One Way To Denmark". British Board of Film Classification. Retrieved 1 May 2026.