Terrence Hardiman obit

The Demon Headmaster actor Terrence Hardiman dies aged 86

Hardiman played the chilling title role in CBBC series and also appeared in The Crown and Doctor Who 

He was not on the list.

The actor Terrence Hardiman, who terrified a generation of children in the titular role of the CBBC series The Demon Headmaster in the 1990s, has died aged 86.

His death was announced “with great sadness” by his agents Scott Marshall Partners, which said he was a “beloved client and much-loved stage and screen actor”.

Hardiman’s chilling performance in The Demon Headmaster was based on the children’s books of the same name by Gillian Cross.

Cross led tributes to the actor, tweeting: “Very sad to hear that Terrence Hardiman has died. He was a wonderful actor on television, stage and screen and a great Demon Headmaster. Sending deepest sympathy to his family and friends.”

The drama was first broadcast between 1996 and 1998. Hardiman’s imposing figure hid his piercing green eyes behind dark glasses – only removing them to hypnotise his victims. He reprised his role for a cameo when the series was rebooted by CBBC in 2019.

The stage and screen star also appeared in TV series such as The Crown, Wallander, Doctor Who and Prime Suspect. He also had roles in Colditz, Secret Army, Bergerac and Minder.

Hardiman is survived by his wife, Rowena, and his two children.

Tributes have been posted on social media. The TV critic and broadcaster Scott Bryan tweeted: “He terrified an entire generation of children in The Demon Headmaster. What an icon.”

Morgan Jeffery, the executive editor of Radio Times online, tweeted: “Awfully sad news about Terrence Hardiman, who has passed away aged 86. Terrified a generation as the Demon Headmaster, but could not have been more of a good-natured gentleman in real life.”

The TV blogger Elliot Gonzalez said: “He terrified me when I was a child in The Demon Headmaster! Sad to hear that Terrence Hardiman has passed away at the age of 86.”

 

Actor

The Demon Headmaster (2019)

The Demon Headmaster

Original Headmaster

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2019

1 episode

 

Ein Sommer in Oxford (2018)

Ein Sommer in Oxford

John Addington

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2018

 

Imelda Staunton, Dominic West, and Elizabeth Debicki in The Crown (2016)

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2017

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Cynthia Erivo in Genius (2017)

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Professor Griesel

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2017

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Ashley Jensen in Agatha Raisin (2014)

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Mr Green

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2016

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Kenneth Branagh in Wallander (2008)

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Hakan von Enke

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2015

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Guy Henry in Holby City (1999)

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2015

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Angela Lonsdale, Eva Alexander, and Tom Frederic in Doctors (2000)

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Philip BurkeMajor Robert PilmerRaymond Shelley ...

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2003–2015

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2014

 

Daniel Morrisey in For George (2012)

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2012

 

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2011

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Bradley Walsh, Jodie Whittaker, Tosin Cole, and Mandip Gill in Doctor Who (2005)

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Hawthorne

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2010

1 episode

 

The Fairy Queen (2009)

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2009

 

Brendan Gleeson in Into the Storm (2009)

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Captain Pim

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2009

 

Radio Mania: An Abandoned Work

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Short

2009

 

Kelly Brook in Fishtales (2007)

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Professor Ratcher

2007

 

The Slavery Business (2005)

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2005

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2005

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2005

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The Courtroom (2004)

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2004

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2004

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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)

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Judge

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2003

3 episodes

 

Urban Gothic (2000)

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Severin

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2001

3 episodes

 

The Worst Witch (1998)

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1998–2001

5 episodes

 

Distant Shadow (2000)

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The Svit

2000

 

Alan Davies in Jonathan Creek (1997)

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Andre Masson

TV Series

1999

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Barry Chuckle and Paul Chuckle in ChuckleVision (1987)

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TV Series

1999

1 episode

 

Derek Jacobi in Mystery!: Cadfael (1994)

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Abbot Radulfus

TV Series

1994–1998

10 episodes

 

Verdict

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TV Series

1998

1 episode

 

Wogan's Web (1998)

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Teacher

TV Series

1998

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1996–1998

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Nick Berry in Heartbeat (1992)

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TV Series

1998

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TV Movie

1997

 

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1997

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McLibel! (1997)

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TV Mini Series

1997

1 episode

 

Chloë Annett and Michael French in Crime Traveller (1997)

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1997

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The Moonstone (1996)

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1996

 

Circles of Deceit: Kalon (1996)

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TV Movie

1996

 

Beck

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TV Series

1996

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Ellington

Stuart Graham

TV Series

1996

1 episode

 

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Mr. Prunt

TV Series

1995

1 episode

 

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TV Series

1995

1 episode

 

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Wilson

TV Series

1995

1 episode

 

Magic Grandad (1993)

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School Governor

TV Series

1994

1 episode

 

Law and Disorder (1994)

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TV Series

1994

1 episode

 

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Michael Gilbert

TV Series

1994

1 episode

 

Helen Mirren and Tom Bell in Prime Suspect 3 (1993)

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1993

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Casualty (1986)

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Carlisle

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1993

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TV Series

1993

1 episode

 

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1993

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1993

 

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Douglas Endicott

TV Series

1993

1 episode

 

George Armstrong, Todd Carty, Rudi Davies, Mark Eadie, Robert Craig-Morgan, Terry Sue-Patt, and Michelle Herbert in Grange Hill (1978)

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Mr. Cresswell

TV Series

1993

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Poirot (1989)

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1993

1 episode

 

Chris Barrie in The Brittas Empire (1991)

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Prosecutor

TV Series

1993

1 episode

 

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Herbert Bolland

TV Series

1992

1 episode

 

Cliff Twemlow in Lethal Impact (1991)

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Bill Donovan

Video

1991

 

George Cole in Minder (1979)

Minder

Dr. Hardman

TV Series

1991

1 episode

 

Anthony Perkins in A Demon in My View (1991)

A Demon in My View

Inspector

1991

 

This Is David Harper

Supt. Carter

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1990

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Julian Glover, Jane Asher, Kate Buffery, and Suzanna Hamilton in Wish Me Luck (1987)

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1990

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Crying Freeman (1988)

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1988

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1988

 

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1988

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Harman

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1988

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The Bretts (1987)

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1987

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Home to Roost

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1987

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The Charmer

Sawyer

TV Mini Series

1987

1 episode

 

All in Good Faith (1985)

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1987

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1987

 

God's Outlaw (1986)

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Thomas Cromwell

1986

 

Terence Alexander, Sean Arnold, Annette Badland, Deborah Grant, Lindsay Heath, Celia Imrie, David Kershaw, Geoffrey Leesley, Thérèse Liotard, Nancy Mansfield, Tony Melody, John Nettles, Cécile Paoli, John Telfer, and Mela White in Bergerac (1981)

Bergerac

Nigel Ripley (as Terence Hardiman)

TV Series

1985

1 episode

 

Storyboard (1983)

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1985

1 episode

 

Late Starter (1985)

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1985

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Fresh Fields (1984)

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1984

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Natural World (1983)

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TV Series

1984

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Sahara (1983)

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Browne

1983

 

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1983

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1972–1983

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1982

 

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1982

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1982

 

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1981

 

Lady Killers (1980)

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TV Series

1981

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TV Mini Series

1981

5 episodes

 

Loophole (1981)

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David

1981

 

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TV Movie

1981

 

Bernard Hepton, Angela Richards, and Clifford Rose in Secret Army (1977)

Secret Army

Major Hans Dietrich Reinhardt

TV Series

1979

12 episodes

 

Terrence Hardiman in Diary of a Nobody (1979)

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Charles Pooter

TV Series

1979

9 episodes

 

Diana Rigg in Oresteia (1979)

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Aegisthus

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1979

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TV Mini Series

1979

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TV Series

1978

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TV Series

1978

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TV Series

1978

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TV Series

1977

1 episode

 

Everyman (1977)

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TV Series

1977

1 episode

 

Wings (1977)

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TV Series

1977

1 episode

 

Stratford Johns and Frank Windsor in Second Verdict (1976)

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Dominic Mancini

TV Series

1976

1 episode

 

BBC2 Playhouse (1973)

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Raymond

TV Series

1976

1 episode

 

Timothy Bottoms in The Story of David (1976)

The Story of David

Uriah

TV Movie

1976

 

When the Boat Comes In (1976)

When the Boat Comes In

Captain Leslie

TV Series

1976

1 episode

 

I'll Think About It

Video

1975

 

Edward the King (1975)

Edward the King

F. W. Gibbs

TV Mini Series

1975

1 episode

 

Churchill's People (1974)

Churchill's People

Richard Calle

TV Series

1975

1 episode

 

Horizon (1964)

Horizon

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TV Series

1974

1 episode

 

The Carnforth Practice (1974)

The Carnforth Practice

James Railton

TV Series

1974

1 episode

 

BBC Play of the Month (1965)

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TV Series

1973

1 episode

 

Late Night Theatre (1972)

Late Night Theatre

Capt. Doughty

TV Series

1973

1 episode

 

Anthony Valentine, Margaret Lockwood, and John Stone in Justice (1971)

Justice

Higson

TV Series

1973

1 episode

 

Dead of Night (1972)

Dead of Night

Piers Wickett

TV Series

1972

1 episode

 

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

Colditz

Gestapo Officer Two

TV Series

1972

1 episode

 

Pope Joan (1972)

Pope Joan

Cardinal Anastasius

1972

 

Running Scared (1972)

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Doctor

1972

 

A Family at War (1970)

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Tim Bernard

TV Series

1971

1 episode

 

Softly Softly: Task Force (1969)

Softly Softly: Task Force

Insp. Armstrong

TV Series

1971

7 episodes

 

Love's Labour's Lost

Boyet

TV Movie

1965

 

Thursday Theatre

The Valet

TV Series

1965

1 episode