Herbert Wise obit

 

Herbert Wise, theatre and TV director - obituary

Director who shocked audiences but delighted critics with his gory Roman soap opera I, Claudius

He was not on the list.

Died  August 5, 2015, London, United Kingdom

Spouse  Fiona Walker (m. 1988), Moira Redmond (m. 1963–1970)

Children  Susannah Wise, Charlie Walker-Wise

Awards  DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Television Film/Miniseries

Movies  The 10th Kingdom, The Woman in Black, Breaking the Code, Skokie, Pope John Paul II

Similar People  David Carson, Fiona Walker, Bernard Hepton, Derek Jacobi, Scott Cohen

Herbert Wise (31 August 1924 – 5 August 2015) was an Austrian-born film and television producer and director.

He was born as Herbert Weisz in Vienna, Austria and began his career as a director at Shrewsbury Repertory Company in 1950. He was at Hull Rep and then as Director of Productions at Dundee Rep (1952–55). He directed So what about Love in the West End at the Criterion Theatre in a 1970 production with Sheila Hancock in the lead.

Wise began his television career in 1956 and directed adaptations of I, Claudius (1976) and Alan Ayckbourn's play cycle The Norman Conquests (1977), the BBC Television Shakespeare production of Julius Caesar (1979), Tales of the Unexpected, 10th Kingdom, The Woman in Black (1989), and episodes of Cadfael and Inspector Morse.

Wise also directed two films, an entry in the Edgar Wallace Mysteries second feature series, a thriller entitled To Have and to Hold (1963), and the film version of the television sit-com The Lovers (1973). He also directed the made-for-TV film Skokie (1981), and other made-for-TV films such as Breaking the Code (1996), adapted from the Hugh Whitemore play about Alan Turing.

He was married twice, firstly to the actress Moira Redmond (1963–1972), and after their divorce to actress Fiona Walker in 1988. Wise and Fiona Walker had two children; Susannah Wise and Charlie Walker-Wise.

Director

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

The Bill

6.7

TV Series

Director

1999–2001

3 episodes

 

The 10th Kingdom (2000)

The 10th Kingdom

8.2

TV Mini Series

Director

2000

10 episodes

 

Noah's Ark (1997)

Noah's Ark

6.8

TV Series

Director

1997

2 episodes

 

Derek Jacobi in Mystery!: Cadfael (1994)

Mystery!: Cadfael

8.1

TV Series

Director

1996–1997

2 episodes

 

Thomas Craig, Pam Ferris, Tony Haygarth, and Sarah Lancashire in Where the Heart Is (1997)

Where the Heart Is

6.9

TV Series

Director

1997

2 episodes

 

John Thaw and Kevin Whately in Inspector Morse (1987)

Inspector Morse

8.2

TV Series

Director

1989–1996

3 episodes

 

Derek Jacobi, Richard Johnson, and Amanda Root in Breaking the Code (1996)

Breaking the Code

7.1

TV Movie

Director

1996

 

Joanna Lumley in Class Act (1994)

Class Act

7.8

TV Series

Director

1994–1995

5 episodes

 

David Jason in A Touch of Frost (1992)

A Touch of Frost

7.9

TV Series

Director

1995

1 episode

 

George Baker, Keith Barron, John Castle, and Amanda Redman in Ruth Rendell Mysteries (1987)

Ruth Rendell Mysteries

6.9

TV Series

Director

1990–1994

7 episodes

 

Ione Skye, Jonathan Firth, Tim Killick, Glenn Quinn, and Nigel Terry in Covington Cross (1992)

Covington Cross

7.6

TV Series

Director

1992

2 episodes

 

Lisa Orgolini in House of Glass (1992)

House of Glass

6.7

TV Movie

Director

1992

 

Barry Foster in Van der Valk (1972)

Van der Valk

7.1

TV Series

Director

1991–1992

2 episodes

 

Renée Asherson, George Cole, and Gudrun Ure in Life After Life (1990)

Life After Life

7.3

TV Movie

Director

1990

 

Nichola McAuliffe and Bill Nighy in Making News (1990)

Making News

4.5

TV Series

Director

1990

1 episode

 

Pauline Moran in The Woman in Black (1989)

The Woman in Black

7.0

TV Movie

Director

1989

 

Saracen (1989)

Saracen

6.1

TV Series

Director

1989

1 episode

 

Made in Spain (1989)

Made in Spain

TV Movie

Director

1989

 

American Playhouse (1980)

American Playhouse

7.3

TV Series

Director

1988

3 episodes

 

The Christmas Tree

TV Movie

Director

1986

 

Unnatural Causes (1986)

Unnatural Causes

6.6

TV Series

Director

1986

1 episode

 

Tony Lo Bianco and Timothy Williams in Welcome Home, Bobby (1986)

Welcome Home, Bobby

6.2

TV Movie

Director

1986

 

Lytton's Diary (1985)

Lytton's Diary

7.1

TV Series

Director

1985

3 episodes

 

Deborah Kerr, Robert Mitchum, and Judi Trott in Reunion at Fairborough (1985)

Reunion at Fairborough

6.7

TV Movie

Director

1985

 

Pope John Paul II (1984)

Pope John Paul II

6.7

TV Movie

Director

1984

 

Death of an Expert Witness (1983)

Death of an Expert Witness

7.4

TV Mini Series

Director

1983

7 episodes

 

Ian Richardson in Number 10 (1983)

Number 10

8.2

TV Mini Series

Director

1983

2 episodes

 

Tales of the Unexpected (1979)

Tales of the Unexpected

7.6

TV Series

Director

1979–1982

9 episodes

 

Skokie (1981)

Skokie

7.2

TV Movie

Director

1981

 

Mick Ford and Günther Maria Halmer in Caleb Williams (1980)

Caleb Williams

7.0

TV Mini Series

Director

1980

4 episodes

 

The BBC Television Shakespeare (1978)

The BBC Television Shakespeare

8.1

TV Series

Director

1979

1 episode

 

So 'ne und so 'ne

TV Series

Director (1979)

1979

 

Rumpole of the Bailey (1978)

Rumpole of the Bailey

8.4

TV Series

Director

1978

3 episodes

 

Today I am a Fountain Pen

TV Movie

Director

1978

 

Richard Briers, Tom Conti, and Penelope Keith in The Norman Conquests (1977)

The Norman Conquests

8.7

TV Mini Series

Director

1977

3 episodes

 

I, Claudius (1976)

I, Claudius

8.8

TV Mini Series

Director

1976

13 episodes

 

Spice Island, Farewell!

TV Movie

Director

1976

 

Play for Today (1970)

Play for Today

7.8

TV Series

Director

1972–1976

3 episodes

 

John Cater in The Secret Agent (1975)

The Secret Agent

9.1

TV Movie

Director

1975

 

Shades of Greene (1975)

Shades of Greene

7.8

TV Series

Director

1975

1 episode

 

Softly Softly: Task Force (1969)

Softly Softly: Task Force

7.4

TV Series

Director

1975

1 episode

 

Churchill's People (1974)

Churchill's People

5.6

TV Series

Director

1975

2 episodes

 

The Gathering Storm (1974)

The Gathering Storm

7.4

TV Movie

Director

1974

 

Julia Foster and Anjula Harman in Masquerade (1974)

Masquerade

TV Series

Director

1974

2 episodes

 

Susan Littler and Robert Stephens in Vienna 1900 (1973)

Vienna 1900

7.2

TV Mini Series

Director

1973–1974

6 episodes

 

Who's Afraid of Opera?

TV Series

Director

1973

2 episodes

 

Alison Fiske and Martin Shaw in Helen: A Woman of Today (1973)

Helen: A Woman of Today

8.3

TV Series

Director

1973

2 episodes

 

Richard Beckinsale and Paula Wilcox in The Lovers! (1973)

The Lovers!

6.1

Director

1973

 

Sarah Badel and Stuart Wilson in Between the Wars (1973)

Between the Wars

TV Series

Director

1973

1 episode

 

Colin Blakely in Song at Twilight (1973)

Song at Twilight

TV Movie

Director

1973

 

Thirty-Minute Theatre (1965)

Thirty-Minute Theatre

6.9

TV Series

Director

1965–1973

5 episodes

 

Tom Courtenay in She Stoops to Conquer (1971)

Stage 2

5.4

TV Series

Director

1972

1 episode

 

BBC Play of the Month (1965)

BBC Play of the Month

7.1

TV Series

Director

1968–1972

3 episodes

 

Budgie (1971)

Budgie

7.6

TV Series

Director

1972

1 episode

 

Man of Straw (1972)

Man of Straw

7.7

TV Mini Series

Director

1972

6 episodes

 

Lesley-Anne Down, Angela Baddeley, Christopher Beeny, Joan Benham, Karen Dotrice, Hannah Gordon, Gordon Jackson, David Langton, Jean Marsh, Jonathan Seely, Jenny Tomasin, Jacqueline Tong, Simon Williams, and Anne Yarker in Upstairs, Downstairs (1971)

Upstairs, Downstairs

8.4

TV Series

Director

1972

1 episode

 

Elizabeth R (1971)

Elizabeth R

8.6

TV Mini Series

Director

1971

1 episode

 

Sean Connery, Michael Caine, Paul Scofield, and Anna Calder-Marshall in ITV Saturday Night Theatre (1969)

ITV Saturday Night Theatre

5.9

TV Series

Director

1969–1971

4 episodes

 

The Wednesday Play (1964)

The Wednesday Play

7.3

TV Series

Director

1968–1970

3 episodes

 

Ann Bell and Peter Sallis in Plays of Today (1969)

Plays of Today

TV Series

Director

1969

1 episode

 

The Sky at Night (1957)

The Sky at Night

8.4

TV Series

Director

1969

1 episode

 

The Company of Five (1968)

The Company of Five

6.1

TV Series

Director

1968

1 episode

 

The Soldier's Tale

TV Movie

Director

1968

 

The Gamblers

6.1

TV Series

Director

1967–1968

3 episodes

 

Richard Beckinsale, Freddie Fletcher, Bernard Hepton, Arthur Lowe, Jack Rosenthal, and Paula Wilcox in ITV Playhouse (1967)

ITV Playhouse

7.1

TV Series

Director

1968

2 episodes

 

Der Barbier von Sevilla (1968)

Der Barbier von Sevilla

TV Movie

Director

1968

 

Michael Robbins and Peter Vaughan in The Drummer and the Bloke (1968)

The Drummer and the Bloke

TV Movie

Director

1968

 

Man in a Suitcase (1967)

Man in a Suitcase

7.6

TV Series

Director

1967

1 episode

 

Theatre 625 (1964)

Theatre 625

7.1

TV Series

Director

1965–1967

3 episodes

 

NET Playhouse (1964)

NET Playhouse

6.8

TV Series

Director

1967

2 episodes

 

Out of the Unknown (1965)

Out of the Unknown

7.6

TV Series

Director

1966

1 episode

 

Double Image

TV Mini Series

play director

1966

2 episodes

 

Marius Goring in The Suspect (1966)

Thirteen Against Fate

TV Series

Director

1966

1 episode

 

Susanna's Secret

TV Movie

Director

1966

 

Armchair Mystery Theatre (1960)

Armchair Mystery Theatre

6.6

TV Series

Director

1965

1 episode

 

Pamela Brown and Barry Warren in Six Shades of Black (1965)

Six Shades of Black

TV Series

Director

1965

2 episodes

 

Thursday Theatre

5.5

TV Series

Director

1965

1 episode

 

Armchair Theatre (1956)

Armchair Theatre

7.7

TV Series

Director

1965

1 episode

 

The Little Sweep

TV Movie

Director

1964

 

The Indian Tales of Rudyard Kipling (1963)

The Indian Tales of Rudyard Kipling

7.0

TV Series

Director

1964

1 episode

 

Drama 61-67 (1961)

Drama 61-67

7.5

TV Series

Director

1961–1964

5 episodes

 

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

Festival

6.3

TV Series

Director

1964

1 episode

 

To Have and to Hold (1963)

To Have and to Hold

6.2

Director

1963

 

John Gregson in First Night (1963)

First Night

7.8

TV Series

Director

1963

2 episodes

 

David Kossoff and Francis Matthews in A Little Big Business (1963)

A Little Big Business

5.8

TV Series

2 episodes

1963–1965

 

ITV Play of the Week (1955)

ITV Play of the Week

6.6

TV Series

Director

1959–1963

4 episodes

 

Geoffrey Bayldon and Charles Kay in The Victorians (1963)

The Victorians

TV Mini Series

Director

1963

2 episodes

 

The Edgar Wallace Mystery Theatre (1959)

The Edgar Wallace Mystery Theatre

7.8

TV Series

Director

1963

1 episode

 

Reginald Marsh, Barbara Murray, and Patrick Wymark in The Plane Makers (1963)

The Plane Makers

7.7

TV Series

Director

1963

1 episode

 

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

BBC Sunday-Night Play

8.5

TV Series

Director

1963

1 episode

 

Z Cars (1962)

Z Cars

7.1

TV Series

Director

1962

4 episodes

 

On Trial

TV Series

Director

1960

1 episode

 

ITV Television Playhouse (1955)

ITV Television Playhouse

8.2

TV Series

Director

1957–1960

6 episodes

 

Kay Callard and John Turner in Knight Errant Limited (1959)

Knight Errant Limited

5.8

TV Series

Director

1959–1960

3 episodes

 

Skyport (1959)

Skyport

4.7

TV Series

Director

1959

1 episode

 

Peter Williams in Shadow Squad (1957)

Shadow Squad

5.6

TV Series

Director

1957–1958

11 episodes

 

Granada Workshop

TV Series

Director

1957

1 episode

 

Hour of Mystery (1957)

Hour of Mystery

TV Series

Director

1957

1 episode

 

Producer

Julia Foster and Anjula Harman in Masquerade (1974)

Masquerade

TV Series

producer

1974

5 episodes

 

Sean Connery, Michael Caine, Paul Scofield, and Anna Calder-Marshall in ITV Saturday Night Theatre (1969)

ITV Saturday Night Theatre

5.9

TV Series

producer

1970

2 episodes

 

Drama 61-67 (1961)

Drama 61-67

7.5

TV Series

producer

1961–1963

10 episodes

 

ITV Television Playhouse (1955)

ITV Television Playhouse

8.2

TV Series

producer

1960

1 episode

 

Actor

Made in Spain (1989)

Made in Spain

TV Movie

Taxi driver (as Teris Hebrew)

1989

 

Tales of the Unexpected (1979)

Tales of the Unexpected

7.6

TV Series

Dealer (as Teris Hebrew)

1980

1 episode

 

The Magic of Marcarella

TV Movie

Cho-sen

1952

 

Thanks

Dinotopia (2002)

Dinotopia

6.5

TV Mini Series

special thanks to

2002

1 episode

 

Self

Russell T. Davies in The 50 Greatest Television Dramas (2007)

The 50 Greatest Television Dramas

6.4

TV Movie

Self

2007

 

Drama Connections (2005)

Drama Connections

TV Series

Self

2005

1 episode

 

I Claudius: A Television Epic (2002)

I Claudius: A Television Epic

7.9

Video

Self

2002

 

The John Thaw Story

9.2

TV Movie

Self

2002

 

The 10th Kingdom: The Making of 'The 10th Kingdom' (2000)

The 10th Kingdom: The Making of 'The 10th Kingdom'

8.3

Video

Self

2000

 

Pebble Mill at One (1972)

Pebble Mill at One

6.2

TV Series

Self

1994

1 episode

 

Danny Kaye: Nobody's Fool (1994)

Danny Kaye: Nobody's Fool

TV Movie

Self

1994