Derek Ware obit

Derek Ware obituary

This article is more than 8 years old

Actor who founded a stunt team company that provided much of the action on British television in the 1960s and 70s 

He was not on the list.

Derek Ware, who has died of cancer aged 77, was an actor and stuntman and founder of the company Havoc, which was responsible for most of the action sequences that appeared on British television in the 1960s and 70s, including on Doctor Who.

Havoc was formed in 1966 after Ware reasoned that a stunt team of young performers, each of whom specialised in a particular field, would be an ideal package to offer to television companies. He assembled a skilled crew – including the high-fall expert Roy Scammell, the martial artist Alan Chuntz and the gymnast Stuart Fell – and for a time had the monopoly on stunt work at the BBC and on ITV, negotiating good fees for his crew, co-ordinating fights and taking acting roles as required.

He had worked on Doctor Who semi-regularly since it began in 1963, but this relationship blossomed when the programme started to be made in colour and found its central character (then played by Jon Pertwee) exiled to Earth.

Exciting new action scenarios were required and with skilled directors such as Michael Ferguson and Douglas Camfield, Ware devised sequences involving the hijacking of a helicopter in The Ambassadors of Death (1970) and atop a 50ft high gasometer in Inferno (1970). A fine fencer, he stood in for Roger Delgado as The Master in The Sea Devils (1972) during a memorable sword fight with Pertwee. But in getting Terry Walsh to double for the latter, he sealed his own fate. Walsh became the programme’s regular stuntman: a cheaper solo option,that left Havoc surplus to requirements.

Eventually, after complaints from fellow stuntmen that Havoc had cornered the television market, new union rules were imposed that prevented Ware from being an agent as well as a performer. The company was wound up, much to his regret, but he continued working on stage, film and TV, notably doubling for comedy stars in The Two Ronnies (1977-87), The Dick Emery Show (1976), Open All Hours (1976-1985) and Last of the Summer Wine (from 1981).

Derek was born in Manchester to Arthur Ware, a vaudeville performer, and his wife, Margaret. He was beguiled as a child by the comedians and action of Hollywood cinema, and enrolled at Rada to train as an actor. By the time he graduated he was being hired for series such as The Age of Kings (1960) as much for his ability with a weapon as his skills as a character actor.

His other television work included arranging the fights on The Spread of the Eagle (1963), The Changes (1975), Fallen Hero (1978), Jane (1984), EastEnders (1985), and The Bill (1989). He also co-ordinated the seminal The Battle of Culloden (1964) for the director Peter Watkins with whom he also worked on the nuclear holocaust docudrama The War Game (1965). His work as an actor was not exclusively action-orientated and included parts in Dixon of Dock Green (1960, 1975), Z-Cars (numerous episodes from the very first in 1962), Budgie (1971), The Lotus Eaters (1972), The Prisoner of Zenda (1984), The Return of Sherlock Holmes (1988) and Grange Hill (1990).

On the big screen he played Rozzer – one of the robbers – and choreographed the famous chase involving a fleet of Mini Coopers in the crime caper The Italian Job (1969), starring Michael Caine. Other film stunt work included Far from the Madding Crowd (1967), the Morecambe and Wise comedy Night Train to Murder (1983), Willow (1988), and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991).

On stage Ware enjoyed a 30-year association – starting in 1961 – with the Ludlow festival’s open-air Shakespeare productions, staged in the town’s castle. In 1981 he spent a season in charge of fights for Bernard Miles at the Mermaid theatre, London, working on Julius Caesar (in which he also played Casca), Antony and Cleopatra, and Treasure Island. By the 90s he was proving to be a much admired tutor in stage fighting at the Birmingham School of Speech and Drama and latterly the Arts Educational School in London.

He was popular because he provided sensitive encouragement as well as great knowledge, practical ability and a wealth of well-told theatrical anecdotes. He also served as an external examiner. For many years, Rada awarded the Derek Ware prize for the best fight based upon a classical text.

His books on the history of his profession (on which he also gave talks) included Stunting in the Cinema (with Arthur Wise, 1973), and Hollywood Tricks of the Trade (with Alan McKenzie, 1986). In 2007 he fulfilled a lifetime ambition by retracing General Custer’s last journey – in full uniform and kit – before returning home to Eastbourne and his wife, Maureen, whom he married in 1980. She survives him.

 

Actor

Revenge of Billy the Kid (1991)

Revenge of Billy the Kid

5.4

PC Bob Peel

1991

 

Grange Hill (1978)

Grange Hill

7.1

TV Series

Night Watchman

Nightwatchman

1990

2 episodes

 

Haggard (1990)

Haggard

6.4

TV Series

The Hook

1990

1 episode

 

Screen Two (1985)

Screen Two

6.3

TV Series

Attacker

Officer

Pilkington

1985–1989

3 episodes

 

London's Burning (1988)

London's Burning

7.0

TV Series

Assistant Chef

1988

1 episode

 

Jeremy Brett in The Return of Sherlock Holmes (1986)

The Return of Sherlock Holmes

8.7

TV Series

Hugo Oberstein

1988

1 episode

 

Anthony Valentine, Tim Barlow, Robert Powell, and Gavin Richards in Hannay (1988)

Hannay

7.2

TV Series

Embassy Guard

1988

1 episode

 

Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett in The Two Ronnies (1971)

The Two Ronnies

7.8

TV Series

Train Steward

1977–1987

6 episodes

 

The Bretts (1987)

The Bretts

8.4

TV Series

Vincent Kendall

1987

1 episode

 

Richard Chamberlain in Casanova (1987)

Casanova

5.7

TV Movie

Swordsman (uncredited)

1987

 

God's Outlaw (1986)

God's Outlaw

6.8

Friar Stafford

1986

 

The Pyrates

8.1

TV Movie

Barber

1986

 

Sky Bandits (1986)

Sky Bandits

4.6

Alphonse

1986

 

Bill Owen, Peter Sallis, and Brian Wilde in Last of the Summer Wine (1973)

Last of the Summer Wine

7.1

TV Series

Cyclist

Painter

1985–1986

2 episodes

 

The Kenny Everett Television Show (1981)

The Kenny Everett Television Show

7.2

TV Series

Various

1985

1 episode

 

Dempsey and Makepeace (1985)

Dempsey and Makepeace

7.3

TV Series

Price

1985

1 episode

 

Malcolm Sinclair and Victoria Wicks in The Prisoner of Zenda (1984)

The Prisoner of Zenda

6.7

TV Mini Series

Sergeant

1984

3 episodes

 

Peter Howell in John Wycliffe: The Morning Star (1984)

John Wycliffe: The Morning Star

6.8

Peasant

1984

 

Mark Farmer, Johanna Hargreaves, and Ian Sears in Johnny Jarvis (1983)

Johnny Jarvis

8.4

TV Mini Series

Security Man

1983

1 episode

 

Play for Today (1970)

Play for Today

7.8

TV Series

Man taken by press gang

1983

1 episode

 

Jane (1982)

Jane

7.8

TV Series

Chemist

1982

1 episode

 

Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett in By the Sea (1982)

By the Sea

7.5

TV Movie

Policeman (uncredited)

1982

 

David Kelly, Roy Kinnear, James Wardroper, and Colin Welland in Cowboys (1980)

Cowboys

7.6

TV Series

Man on Boxes

1980

1 episode

 

Moving Pictures

TV Movie

Picture Restorer

1980

 

Alan Dobie in Cribb (1980)

Cribb

7.7

TV Series

2nd Referee

1980

1 episode

 

Armchair Thriller (1978)

Armchair Thriller

7.4

TV Series

O'Brady

1980

2 episodes

 

Steven Grives, Julia Lewis, and Jack Wild in The Ravelled Thread (1979)

The Ravelled Thread

8.6

TV Series

Ruffian

1980

4 episodes

 

Barry Evans in Mind Your Language (1977)

Mind Your Language

8.7

TV Series

Boatman

1979

1 episode

 

Nicholas Ball in Hazell (1978)

Hazell

7.4

TV Series

Jackson

1979

1 episode

 

Room Service (1979)

Room Service

5.6

TV Series

Maintenance Engineer

1979

1 episode

 

Give Us Tomorrow (1978)

Give Us Tomorrow

5.6

2nd Bank Robber

1978

 

King Cinder

8.1

TV Series

Clayton

1977

6 episodes

 

Ben Buckton and Andrew Ashby in The Battle of Billy's Pond (1977)

The Battle of Billy's Pond

6.7

Driver's Mate

1977

 

Get Some In! (1975)

Get Some In!

6.9

TV Series

Mr. Purvis

1977

1 episode

 

Don't Forget to Write! (1977)

Don't Forget to Write!

7.9

TV Series

Horseman

1977

1 episode

 

Dick Emery in The Dick Emery Show (1963)

The Dick Emery Show

6.8

TV Series

1976

1 episode

 

Peter Gilmore and Anne Stallybrass in The Onedin Line (1971)

The Onedin Line

7.6

TV Series

Ernie

1976

1 episode

 

Shout at the Devil (1976)

Shout at the Devil

6.1

German crewman (uncredited)

1976

 

The Picnic (1976)

The Picnic

7.1

TV Movie

Fisherman

1976

 

Rutland Weekend Television (1975)

Rutland Weekend Television

7.4

TV Series

1975

1 episode

 

The Legend of Robin Hood (1975)

The Legend of Robin Hood

7.2

TV Mini Series

Soldier

1975

1 episode

 

Jack Warner in Dixon of Dock Green (1955)

Dixon of Dock Green

6.7

TV Series

Len Miller

Tommy

1960–1975

2 episodes

 

The Changes (1975)

The Changes

7.5

TV Mini Series

Second Robber

1975

1 episode

 

Roy Kinnear and Henry Livings in Jackanory Playhouse (1972)

Jackanory Playhouse

6.8

TV Series

Ruffian

1975

1 episode

 

Doctor at Sea (1974)

Doctor at Sea

7.3

TV Series

Pirate

1974

1 episode

 

James Ellis and John Slater in Z Cars (1962)

Z Cars

7.0

TV Series

Betts

Reg Carter

Cosgrove ...

1962–1973

11 episodes

 

Spike Milligan in Milligan in... (1972)

Milligan in...

TV Series

Various Characters

1973

1 episode

 

Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em (1973)

Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em

7.6

TV Series

Window Cleaner

1973

1 episode

 

Derek Jacobi, Ronald Fraser, Charles Gray, Bernard Hepton, John Thaw, and Douglas Wilmer in The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes (1971)

The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes

7.2

TV Series

Escaping prisoner

1973

1 episode

 

John Carlisle and John Woodvine in New Scotland Yard (1972)

New Scotland Yard

7.3

TV Series

Kidnapper

1972

1 episode

 

Anthony Hopkins in War & Peace (1972)

War & Peace

8.2

TV Series

Coachman

1972

1 episode

 

Robert Wagner, David McCallum, and Hans Meyer in Colditz (1972)

Colditz

8.3

TV Series

Gestapo Man

1972

1 episode

 

Ian Hendry and Wanda Ventham in The Lotus Eaters (1972)

The Lotus Eaters

8.0

TV Series

Bob Machin

1972

1 episode

 

Micheline Presle and Catherine Rouvel in Clochemerle (1972)

Clochemerle

8.1

TV Series

Policeman (uncredited)

1972

1 episode

 

Spyder's Web (1972)

Spyder's Web

6.8

TV Series

Peasant

1972

1 episode

 

Norman Bowler, Stratford Johns, David Lloyd Meredith, and Frank Windsor in Softly Softly: Task Force (1969)

Softly Softly: Task Force

7.6

TV Series

Det. Sgt. Timothy

1972

1 episode

 

Trial

TV Series

Trevor

1971

1 episode

 

Iain Cuthbertson and Adam Faith in Budgie (1971)

Budgie

7.5

TV Series

Shepherd

1971

1 episode

 

Francis Matthews in Paul Temple (1969)

Paul Temple

7.4

TV Series

Greengrocer

1971

1 episode

 

Paul McGann, Colin Baker, Tom Baker, Peter Davison, William Hartnell, Sylvester McCoy, Jon Pertwee, and Patrick Troughton in Doctor Who (1963)

Doctor Who

8.4

TV Series

Private Wyatt

Spaniard

Tuthmos ...

1965–1971

15 episodes

 

Six Dates with Barker (1971)

Six Dates with Barker

7.2

TV Series

Milkman

1971

1 episode

 

Susan Hampshire and John Neville in The First Churchills (1969)

The First Churchills

8.1

TV Mini Series

Austrian Officer

1969

1 episode

 

The Elusive Pimpernel

TV Mini Series

Drunken soldier

Valentin

1969

2 episodes

 

The Italian Job (1969)

The Italian Job

7.2

Rozzer

1969

 

Subterfuge (1968)

Subterfuge

5.2

Shevik's Henchman (uncredited)

1968

 

Vincent Price in Witchfinder General (1968)

Witchfinder General

6.7

Boy at Hoxne Inn

1968

 

Up the Junction (1968)

Up the Junction

6.9

Ted's Friend

1968

 

Ray Barrett, Geoffrey Keen, and Philip Latham in Mogul (1965)

Mogul

7.2

TV Series

Man

1967

1 episode

 

Far from the Madding Crowd (1967)

Far from the Madding Crowd

7.2

Corporal

1967

 

The Wednesday Play (1964)

The Wednesday Play

7.5

TV Series

Gladiator

Motor Cyclist

1966–1967

3 episodes

 

Adam Adamant Lives! (1966)

Adam Adamant Lives!

7.0

TV Series

3rd Judo Man

3rd. Samurai

Security Man in Car ...

1966–1967

5 episodes

 

The Newcomers (1965)

The Newcomers

6.9

TV Series

Stillman

1966

1 episode

 

Ian Hendry and Jean Marsh in The Informer (1966)

The Informer

8.2

TV Series

Metcalf

1966

1 episode

 

Pamela Franklin in Quick Before They Catch Us (1966)

Quick Before They Catch Us

7.2

TV Series

Plummer

1966

4 episodes

 

The Idol (1966)

The Idol

5.3

Laborer

1966

 

Heiress of Garth

TV Mini Series

Thomas

1965

3 episodes

 

ITV Play of the Week (1955)

ITV Play of the Week

7.3

TV Series

Livia's servant

1965

1 episode

 

Treasure Island

TV Movie

Israel Hands

1965

 

Top Deck

6.1

Short

Young Soldier

1962

 

George Roderick in The Primitives (1962)

The Primitives

5.1

Philip

1962

 

Fortune's Fools

TV Movie

Fighter

1962

 

Bob Dylan, David Warner, Ursula Howells, Reg Lye, and Maureen Pryor in The Madhouse on Castle Street (1963)

BBC Sunday-Night Play

8.7

TV Series

John Stanfield

1962

1 episode

 

Spy-Catcher (1959)

Spy-Catcher

8.2

TV Series

De Groot

1961

1 episode

 

An Age of Kings (1960)

An Age of Kings

8.3

TV Mini Series

Gabriel

Groom

Huntsman ...

1960

14 episodes

 

Strife

TV Series

Evans

1960

1 episode

 

BBC Sunday-Night Theatre (1950)

BBC Sunday-Night Theatre

7.8

TV Series

1959

1 episode

 

Such Is Life

TV Series

1950

1 episode

 

Stunts

Kevin Costner in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)

Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves

6.9

stunts

1991

 

The Paradise Club (1989)

The Paradise Club

7.4

TV Series

stunts

1989

 

Colin Blumenau, Nula Conwell, Peter Ellis, Trudie Goodwin, Jon Iles, Gary Olsen, Eric Richard, John Salthouse, Tony Scannell, Jeff Stewart, Mark Wingett, and Delia Swan in The Bill (1984)

The Bill

6.7

TV Series

stunt arranger

1989

1 episode

 

Screen Two (1985)

Screen Two

6.3

TV Series

stunt arranger

1989

1 episode

 

Star Trap

5.4

TV Movie

stunts

1988

 

Val Kilmer, Joanne Whalley, Billy Barty, Warwick Davis, Kevin Pollak, Kate Greenfield, Ruth Greenfield, Jean Marsh, Rick Overton, and Pat Roach in Willow (1988)

Willow

7.2

stunts

1988

 

Anthony Valentine, Tim Barlow, Robert Powell, and Gavin Richards in Hannay (1988)

Hannay

7.2

TV Series

stunt arranger

1988

1 episode

 

The Pyrates

8.1

TV Movie

fight arranger

1986

 

Sky Bandits (1986)

Sky Bandits

4.6

stunts

1986

 

Richard Briers, Peter Egan, and Penelope Wilton in Ever Decreasing Circles (1984)

Ever Decreasing Circles

7.3

TV Series

fight arranger

1986

1 episode

 

Late Starter (1985)

Late Starter

8.1

TV Series

fight arranger

1985

2 episodes

 

EastEnders (1985)

EastEnders

4.7

TV Series

stunts

1985

 

Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise in Night Train to Murder (1984)

Night Train to Murder

5.4

TV Movie

stunt arranger

1984

 

Jane (1982)

Jane

7.8

TV Series

fight arranger

stunt player

1984

5 episodes

 

Krull (1983)

Krull

6.1

stunts (uncredited)

1983

 

Burning an Illusion (1982)

Burning an Illusion

6.9

fight arranger

1982

 

Scarf Jack (1981)

Scarf Jack

7.2

TV Series

fight arranger

1981

1 episode

 

Doom Castle

TV Series

fight arranger

1980

6 episodes

 

Steven Grives, Julia Lewis, and Jack Wild in The Ravelled Thread (1979)

The Ravelled Thread

8.6

TV Series

fight arranger

stunt arranger

1979–1980

2 episodes

 

Fallen Hero (1978)

Fallen Hero

7.5

TV Series

fight arranger

1978

1 episode

 

Dad's Army (1968)

Dad's Army

8.1

TV Series

stunt double: Arthur Lowe & Bill Pertwee (uncredited)

1977

1 episode

 

The Changes (1975)

The Changes

7.5

TV Mini Series

fight arranger

1975

2 episodes

 

The Daredevil Men (1973)

The Daredevil Men

Short

stunt coordinator

1973

 

Paul McGann, Colin Baker, Tom Baker, Peter Davison, William Hartnell, Sylvester McCoy, Jon Pertwee, and Patrick Troughton in Doctor Who (1963)

Doctor Who

8.4

TV Series

fight arranger

stunts

fights arranged by ...

1963–1972

13 episodes

 

Peter Barkworth, Robert Hardy, Cyd Hayman, and Alfred Lynch in Manhunt (1970)

Manhunt

7.1

TV Series

stunts (uncredited)

1970

1 episode

 

Ian Holm, Denholm Elliott, Robert Eddison, Freddie Jones, and Patrick Mower in Mystery and Imagination (1966)

Mystery and Imagination

7.6

TV Series

fight arranger

1970

1 episode

 

The Italian Job (1969)

The Italian Job

7.2

stunt coordinator

stunts (uncredited)

1969

 

Subterfuge (1968)

Subterfuge

5.2

stunt director

1968

 

The Wednesday Play (1964)

The Wednesday Play

7.5

TV Series

fights arranger

1967

1 episode

 

Adam Adamant Lives! (1966)

Adam Adamant Lives!

7.0

TV Series

stunt double: Juliet Harmer (uncredited)

1967

1 episode

 

The War Game (1966)

The War Game

8.0

TV Movie

action sequences

1966

 

Undermind (1965)

Undermind

6.6

TV Series

stunts (uncredited)

1965

1 episode

 

Culloden (1964)

Culloden

7.8

TV Movie

battle coordinator

1964

 

Earl Cameron, Lee Grant, and Fred Sadoff in The Respectful Prostitute (1964)

Festival

7.6

TV Series

fight arranged by

1964

1 episode

 

The Spread of the Eagle (1963)

The Spread of the Eagle

6.7

TV Mini Series

fight arranger

1963

9 episodes

 

James Ellis and John Slater in Z Cars (1962)

Z Cars

7.0

TV Series

fight arranger (uncredited)

1962

1 episode

 

Additional Crew

Doctor Who: The Crusade (1999)

Doctor Who: The Crusade

7.6

Video

fight arranger

1999

 

Richard Chamberlain in Casanova (1987)

Casanova

5.7

TV Movie

swordsman

1987

 

Play for Today (1970)

Play for Today

7.8

TV Series

fights by

1979

1 episode

 

Far from the Madding Crowd (1967)

Far from the Madding Crowd

7.2

swordmaster

1967

 

Privilege (1967)

Privilege

6.8

action sequences

1967

 

Paul McGann, Colin Baker, Tom Baker, Peter Davison, William Hartnell, Sylvester McCoy, Jon Pertwee, and Patrick Troughton in Doctor Who (1963)

Doctor Who

8.4

TV Series

fight arranger

fights arranged by

1963–1967

3 episodes

 

Culloden (1964)

Culloden

7.8

TV Movie

battle coordinator

1964

 

The Wednesday Play (1964)

The Wednesday Play

7.5

TV Series

fight arranger

1964

1 episode

 

Rupert of Hentzau

TV Series

fight arranger

sword play

1964

5 episodes

 

James Ellis and John Slater in Z Cars (1962)

Z Cars

7.0

TV Series

fight arranger

1962