Edward Woodward Dead at 79: ‘Shoot straight ya’ bastards, don’t make a mess of it…’
by Big Hollywood
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“Edward Woodward, the star of films including “Breaker Morant” and “The Wicker Man,” died Monday. He was 79.
“Woodward, who starred at “The Equalizer” on television, died in a hospital in Cornwall after an illness, said Janet Glass of the Eric Glass Ltd. agency in London.
“He won an Emmy Award in 1990 for “Remembering World War II” and a Golden Globe in 1987 for “The Equalizer,” which ran for 88 episodes from 1985 to 1989 on the U.S. network CBS.
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“In a career that began in 1946 in a regional production of “A Kiss for Cinderella,” Woodward played roles in productions ranging from the popular British soap opera “Eastenders” to productions of Shakespeare, and at least 40 films for theater or television.
“His last film appearances were in “Hot Fuzz” in 2007 and “Congregation of Ghosts,” now in post-production.
“He also recorded several albums including “Love is the Key” in 1977 and “The Jewel that was Ours” in 1994.”
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53 Comments
What a shame. I was such a big fan of The Equalizer. He was so good on that show.
One of the greatest closing scenes in cinema, and perhaps the best Australian film ever made.
Aside from that, Ed Woodward was singularly responsible for my enduring love of Jaguars, and for the ability to give deserving douchebags their comeuppance not with a gun, but with a superior intellect.
A damn fine actor and a classy guy. He was excellent in everything but my favorite was his portrayal of the shifty British cabinet minister and 1930's politician Sir Samuel Hoare in the 1983 series "Churchill – The Wilderness Years." Woodward really shone amidst a knockout cast in a superbly acted political drama. Also, compare his turn as the police inspector in the original version of "The Wicker Man" to that of Nicholas Cage in the remake and you really will understand that, in acting, "less is more." RIP Mr. Woodward.
I didn't realize that was HIM in "Hot Fuzz"!!!
and let us not to forget his sterling bit in the woefully underrated but hugely accurate anti-terrorist film
'The Final Option'. If you haven't seen it it is a MUST view. As is his excellent- and quite chilling- 'The Wicker Man' which is SO much better than the awful Nick Cage version is as not to even compare.
Woodward, a true pro- will be missed…
well put. 'The Equalizer' was not only a good show but far closer to reality than most people would think…
Speaking of The Equalizer, how do people feel about Leverage (a similar or overlapping theme). It's on A&E or USA I think.
[...] (H/T Big Hollywood) [...]
He was a very good actor who was hardly ever ustilized properly for the work he did. I loved the equlaizer series and to this day I still wear the type of gloves he wore most of the time he was "Workig" on a case, but I upgraded to a Kimber .45 CDP.
I met his son, Peter Woodward a few years ago and asked him what his father was up to. He stated he was never quite sure what his dad was going to get into next but he kep busy. Wish I could have met him once.
What a fine actor in movies and TV. I'm so sorry to hear he's gone. 'The Equalizer' was one of my 'must see' programs in the mid '80's. It used to be shown on The Sleuth Channel. I hope they elect to re-run the series.
One of the best endings of any movie, ever.
Wow! very sad to hear this. A man's man. My thoughts go to his family and friends.
One of the few series from the '80s that holds up well today, and he was magnificent — always will remember how my then-four year old son would ask if we were going to watch "The Evaporator." Hollywood, PLEASE don't even think of remaking this series like the redone Prisoner that, Ian McKellen's performance notwithstanding, doesn't compare.
As a child of the 80's I grew up on Equalizer… loved it. Wicker Man is in my top 50 films, an awesome classic everyone should see… and in honor of Woodward's passing, we should finally see to it that Nicholas Cage is publicly executed for making the pathetic re-make. I am sickened by the fact that most Americans hear "Wicker Man" and think "oh the crappy Nick Cage suck-fest…" Abomination.
Actually, he was the Ghost of Christmas Present- one of my favorite parts of the best of the Christmas Carols.
RIP, sir.
Edward Woodward, I will miss him.
He also played Nikita's [Peta Wilson] father in season 5, I think, of La Femme Nikita
Thanks for pointing out my mistake Sal. You are right. And actually thats what I meant….
I am so sad now. He was such a great actor, the Equalizer, Breaker Morant, and as the Ghost of Christmas Present, in the George C. Scott version of a Christmas Carol.
Rest easy Mr. Woodward…..
Yes! He was great in that version of Christmas Carol.
When I saw Hot Fuzz I laughed out loud the first time he was on screen!
I hadn't seen Woodward in anything in so long, I thought he had died, since he had health problems in recent years, or retired from acting.
It was so fun seeing him in that movie.
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A genuine, and welcome, anomaly during his heyday: a class act with old-fashioned movie star quality.
I'm saddened to hear of Edward Woodwards passing. Loved him in Breaker Morant one of the most powerful, gripping war movies that was ever made and I don't believe that's hyperbole either.Check it out. That movie rings as true now as it did as when it first came out an all time classic. "A new kind of warfare for a new Century."a great line. He was also the best thing in King David as Saul. Sleep sweet Pal.
He was marvelous in Breaker Morant, but I'm also a big fan of The Wicker Man. I'm very sorry to read of his passing.
In fact, it's probably my favorite moder Christmas Carol… with a close second (believe it or not) to Bill Murray in Scrooged. (For a great Scrooge, Alister Simm is wonderful in the old, old version)
Gonna need to watch Woodward in the Scott version this year!
The new Prisoner isn't bad… I expected more trouble. Of course, I might change my tune after tonight or tomorrow.
Damn fine actor. Best Ghost of Christmas Present ever.
I have to agree with you on the ALister Sims version of Scrooge. With the runner up being the one with Woodward.
Aleric,
I was able, as a freelance journalist, to spend the afternoon with Woodward on the set of the Equalizer. A lovely, lovely gentleman. The world is sadder for his loss.
Kit in Ohio
I second that emotion.
I never miss a chance to see "Breaker Morant" when it is on TV. Agreed about the closing scene; for my taste one of my favorite movies no doubt.
RIP Edward!!!
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I was saddened to hear of his passing. <i.>Breaker Morant and The Equalizer were both stand-out work.
Rest well, Mr. Woodward. You will be remebered.
¨I am exactly what I appear to be¨ — The Equalizer
We will all miss him very much.
Too bad there aren't show like The Equalizer anymore. RIP.
A great actor and probably a relative. R.I.P.
Great movie, got it on DVD, it's based on a true story, the poor bastards were scapegoated by the Poms.
I agree that it's a great Australian movie, he was great in it (like everyone actually) and I didn't remember the Equalizer until I watched the Youtube clip and it came rushing back. I'll always remember as a kid that I was fascinated by his name, Edward Woodward, just saying it would make me chuckle. Good memories.
US readers probably aren't familiar with "Callan", but it was the british series that made him a star in the late 60s/early 70s. Only two series have survived the era's butchery of its archives. They're magnificent, and despite the cheap production, superior to Equalizer. Well worth picking up to see the man in full flight.
The Equalizer kicks ass! Er, arse.
"The Equalizer" was the last great drama of the cold war that occasionally explored espionage. Woodward had a great career in Britain but his few years in American television gave us his tremendous talent. "The Equalizer" did rely on formulas like all late 70's early 80's dramas but almost every episode had moments where Woodward or the collection of fantastic character actors found moments of intensity and humor. Woodward gave us Robert McCall a conflicted character who doubted much of what he did in his profession as a spy, but never questioned his own motives to do good in world of gray. Brainwashed Jason Bourne's are free from such choices.
Woodward's great family heritage of artists will mourn his death as anyone who loves acting should.
I remember the first time I saw Breaker Morant was on a double bill with Gallipoli at the Castro Theatre.
Had no idea Woodward was 79. He looked so young.
I met Edward Woodward in 1986 while he was filming a scene for The Equalizer in an alley in Hoboken, NJ.
Also on set was actor Giancarlo Esposito, known mostly from Spike Lee's films, whom Woodward, in the scene, shoved head-first into a car door window making the other 'thugs' in the alley scatter.
Got an autographed photo of Woodward at his trailer. Great guy.
RIP Mr. Woodward.
One of the all-time best films, Breaker Morant. RIP Edward Woodward.
RIP Mr. Woodward.
Uh, guys. The Breaker Morant movie is an ANTI-WAR FILM.
Just sayin
Equalizers never die and they DO! NOT! FORGIVE!
My best to the Woodward Family, especially son Peter who is also a fine actor just like his dad.
First Ken Ober (host of MTV's Remote Control, anyone who's in their 30's/40's knows him) and now Edward Woodward. This week is already depressing enough. I think I'll watch "The Wicker Man" and "Hot Fuzz" instead of that god-awful banal "Prisoner" remake. Godspeed to both.
Breaker Morant wasn't the anti-war film you think it was. It's true that the film draws parallels with Vietnam when it was popular to do so. The real issue in the movie was that the German-supported Boer insurgency was a new type of war where the guerrillas were well-armed and well-motivated and it was going to take total war, not some sort of Gentleman's game like the British were used to, to prevail. The Aussies in the film did what it took to win and were punished for being politically incorrect by firing squad. Later in the war the British would change their own tactics to total war, even to the point of rounding up all of the Boer civilians in concentration camps and holding them hostage until the rebels surrendered or were killed.
The situation in the film should be eerily familiar to us now: change "South Africa" to "Afghanistan" and see how it fits the current situation so well.
R.I.P. Edward.
Woodward's Robert McCall spoke one of the most honest things I have ever heard on tv. Regarding America's role in Vietnam, he said something along the lines of "The problem wasn't in our ability to kill the enemy. The problem was that there were too many of them."
A couple of years ago, one of DirecTV's high-def channels would run old episodes of The Equalizer. Despite having a very dated look and sound, the stories still held up.
Of course, that show was about a well-intentioned man using less than ethical techniques to distribute justice on the streets of New York. Modern Hollywood could only make the show if it was about Robert McCall going to jail for his "crimes".
How sad. I loved him in "The Equalizer". "Breaker Morant" is a fabulous movie. Don't miss it.
Now for several shorts…
Here is some info on the origins of the horrific Goldstone report. See also here for more….
Right you are!
Did anyone see his character portrayal of 'Mr Jones' in La Femme Nikita' opposite Peta Wilson and Roy Dupuis.
He played a character full of sublime power and authority with only a trusty walking sick to help. His pure charisma and acting ability pulled off a classic ending to one of the best tv series EVER!! Rest in peace the real…….Mr Jones!!!
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