Tim Woodward obit

Tim Woodward obituary

Prolific character actor who starred in the dramas Wings and Piece of Cake and enjoyed a busy TV career 

He was not on the list.

Tim Woodward, who has died of cancer aged 70, was an actor well suited to authority roles – detectives, doctors and magistrates – and made his biggest impression when he starred on television as RAF officers in two dramas, Wings and Piece of Cake, set in wartime.

Ironically, in his younger days Woodward had rebelled against Officer Training Corps sessions at Haileybury school and persuaded his parents – the actors Edward Woodward and Venetia Barrett – to take him out of school before he could be expelled.

But Woodward had modified his views slightly by the time he found fame. “I’m a member of CND, but that doesn’t imply I’m a pacifist,” he said in 1988. “Sometimes, one needs to fight for justice and freedom. I’m not interested in the jingoistic attitude towards patriotism, but I love my country just as much as the next man.”

He shot to fame in Wings (1977-78) in the lead role of 2nd Lieutenant Alan Farmer, a blacksmith turned fighter pilot serving in the Royal Flying Corps during the first world war. It gave Woodward the chance to take to the skies in a Tiger Moth. At one point Alan was believed dead after being shot down over France, but by the second series, he had been promoted to sergeant, resented by other officers because of his class and by NCOs for his promotion. When Woodward took one of his three motorcycles to Dublin and broke his leg in “a little accident”, his injury was written into the story, with Alan shot in the leg.

A decade later, the actor was donning flying goggles again to play the charismatic but arrogant Squadron Leader Rex in Piece of Cake (1988). Based on Derek Robinson’s novel about the fictitious Hornet squadron, it covered the first year of the second world war up to the Battle of Britain in 1940. “He brings the squadron together into an effective unit,” said Woodward of his character.

A lack of airworthy Hurricanes, the plane that had featured in the book, meant that Spitfires were used on screen. This time, they were piloted by the former Red Arrows display team leader Ray Hanna and others, although Woodward and fellow cast members simulated flight in a rig spinning round and round, and upside down. “It was strange – very like a hangover!” he recalled. “It’s not easy trying to remember your lines upside down.”

As Wings had done, Piece of Cake portrayed the problems of class divisions and snobbery as the pilots sat through the “phoney war” in France until German bombing hit western Europe.

There was class friction again in the 1987 drama series A Killing on the Exchange, in which Woodward starred as John Field, a comprehensive-educated British merchant banker competing with an American billionaire’s son for a top job.

Starring roles subsequently eluded Woodward, but he became a prolific character actor across British television channels.

He was born in London, the first child of Venetia (nee Collett), who acted under the name Barrett, and Edward Woodward.

Like his siblings, Peter and Sarah, Tim followed his parents into acting. He spent two years as an assistant stage manager at Richmond theatre, Surrey, then trained at Rada. While there, he successfully screen-tested in Italy with Liza Minnelli for a film to be directed by Franco Zeffirelli that was never made. He briefly returned to Rada but left before his final term to join the Citizens theatre company in Glasgow.

He made his screen debut – directed by Joseph Losey – in the film Galileo (1975) as the young noble Ludovico Marsili, one of the scientist and philosopher’s students. In the same year, in a BBC adaptation of Arnold Wesker’s play Chips With Everything, he was Pip Thompson, the national service RAF conscript and privately educated idealist wanting to avoid officer training.

After Wings, Woodward had good starring roles in two miniseries: a 1982 TV version of Elizabeth Gaskell’s novel Cousin Phillis, as Edward Holdsworth, a railway engineer competing for the love of the clergyman-farmer’s daughter of the title; and The File on Jill Hatch, a 1983 racial drama, as a police officer facing misconduct charges after helping his black American niece during the Brixton riots.

Later, he played a detective in Murder City (2004-06); the US army interrogator John Amen in the drama-documentary series Nuremberg: Nazis on Trial (2006); the husband of a woman who dies in a car crash with another man in Without You (2011); Musker, the department store’s financial backer, in the first series of Mr Selfridge (2013); a corrupt police officer in Mad Dogs (2011-13); and Sir Marion Carew in Jekyll and Hyde (2015).

In soap operas, he played John Thompson – an accountant taking charge of his missing brother’s affairs – in the first year of Families (1990-91) and a bishop for a short run in the second Crossroads revival (2003).

Woodward, his son Sam and his father teamed up to play three generations of a gangster family in The Bill in 2008. He had previously appeared alongside his father in a 1989 episode of The Equalizer.

His other film roles included Felix Young in The Europeans (1979).

In 1997, Woodward married Amanda Smith. She and their three children, May, Gabriel and Dylan, survive him, along with Sam, his son from an earlier relationship, with the actor Jan Chappell, Sybil, his daughter from a relationship with Kate Barnwell, and his brother and sister.

Actor

Speed Is Expensive: Philip Vincent and the Million Dollar Motorcycle (2023)

Speed Is Expensive: Philip Vincent and the Million Dollar Motorcycle

7.7

Second Narrator

2023

 

Ashley Jensen in Agatha Raisin (2014)

Agatha Raisin

7.2

TV Series

Fred Instick

2021

1 episode

 

The Codfather

Short

Don

2020

 

The Codfather

Short

Don

2020

 

Casualty (1986)

Casualty

6.1

TV Series

Vincent Millbank

2019

2 episodes

 

Denmark (2019)

Denmark

6.2

Idris

2019

 

Rosamund Pike in Radioactive (2019)

Radioactive

6.3

Alexandre

2019

 

Cillian Murphy, Paul Anderson, Sophie Rundle, Natasha O'Keeffe, Harry Kirton, and Finn Cole in Peaky Blinders (2013)

Peaky Blinders

8.8

TV Series

Lord Suckerby

2019

1 episode

 

Heard From Above (2019)

Heard From Above

Short

Anthony

2019

 

Shawn Michaels, Mike 'The Miz' Mizanin, and Rebecca Quin in The Marine 6: Close Quarters (2018)

The Marine 6: Close Quarters

4.9

Tommy Walker

2018

 

Vera (2011)

Vera

8.1

TV Series

Brian Delaney

2018

1 episode

 

Johnny Flynn and Jessie Buckley in Beast (2017)

Beast

6.8

Fletcher

2017

 

Cynthia Erivo in Genius (2017)

Genius

8.2

TV Series

Magistrate Konig

2017

1 episode

 

Eva Longoria, David Suchet, and Jack Whitehall in Decline and Fall (2017)

Decline and Fall

6.7

TV Mini Series

Prison Medical Officer

2017

1 episode

 

Kevin Costner, Tommy Lee Jones, Gary Oldman, and Gal Gadot in Criminal (2016)

Criminal

6.3

Roderick Armstrong

2016

 

Morgan Freeman, Angela Bassett, Aaron Eckhart, and Gerard Butler in London Has Fallen (2016)

London Has Fallen

5.9

General

2016

 

Tom Bateman in Jekyll and Hyde (2015)

Jekyll and Hyde

6.8

TV Mini Series

Sir Marion Carew

2015

4 episodes

 

Emily Browning and Tom Hardy in Legend (2015)

Legend

6.9

Superintendent Cummings

2015

 

Adrien Brody in Houdini (2014)

Houdini

7.3

TV Mini Series

Sheriff John

2014

1 episode

 

Dominic Cooper and Lara Pulver in Fleming (2014)

Fleming

7.2

TV Mini Series

Air Chief Marshall 'Bomber' Harris

2014

1 episode

 

Max Beesley, Philip Glenister, John Simm, and Marc Warren in Mad Dogs (2011)

Mad Dogs

7.5

TV Series

Dominic

2011–2013

6 episodes

 

Jeremy Piven in Mr Selfridge (2013)

Mr Selfridge

7.7

TV Series

Musker

2013

4 episodes

 

Anna Friel in Without You (2011)

Without You

6.6

TV Mini Series

Hugo Livingstone

2011

3 episodes

 

Peter Firth and Nicola Walker in MI-5 (2002)

MI-5

8.3

TV Series

Peter Reddon

2011

1 episode

 

Any Human Heart (2010)

Any Human Heart

7.8

TV Mini Series

Admiral Godfrey

2010

1 episode

 

Doctors (2000)

Doctors

4.7

TV Series

Inspector Stuart Morten

2010

1 episode

 

Timothy Spall in The Fattest Man in Britain (2009)

The Fattest Man in Britain

7.0

TV Movie

Morley Raisin

2009

 

Casualty 1909 (2009)

Casualty 1909

8.5

TV Series

DSI Hatton

2009

1 episode

 

Janet McTeer and Hugh Bonneville in Hunter (2009)

Hunter

6.7

TV Mini Series

Jim Macaulay

2009

1 episode

 

Stiletto (2008)

Stiletto

5.9

Short

The Executive

2008

 

Nick Berry in Heartbeat (1992)

Heartbeat

6.8

TV Series

James Knight

Walter Gillies

1996–2008

2 episodes

 

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

Roger Hutton

Carl Bassett

1998–2008

3 episodes

 

He Kills Coppers (2008)

He Kills Coppers

6.4

TV Movie

Nipper Reed

2008

 

Lady Jane

Short

Sir John Brydges

2007

 

Tim Woodward, Susannah York, and Chico in Maude (2007)

Maude

Short

Danny

2007

 

Clapham Junction (2007)

Clapham Junction

7.2

TV Movie

Man on Bench

2007

 

Flight of Fury (2007)

Flight of Fury

3.5

Video

Admr. Frank Pendleton

2007

 

Nuremberg: Nazis on Trial (2006)

Nuremberg: Nazis on Trial

7.5

TV Mini Series

John Amen

2006

3 episodes

 

A Midsummer Night's Rewrite

8.7

Short

Shakespeare

2006

 

Vital Signs (2006)

Vital Signs

7.7

TV Series

Dr Delaney

2006

1 episode

 

Murder City (2004)

Murder City

7.1

TV Series

D.C.I. Turner

DCI Turner

2004–2006

10 episodes

 

David Suchet in Poirot (1989)

Poirot

8.6

TV Series

Enoch Arden

Charles

2006

1 episode

 

Pam Ferris and Felicity Kendal in Rosemary & Thyme (2003)

Rosemary & Thyme

7.6

TV Series

Ollie

2006

1 episode

 

Space Race (2005)

Space Race

8.4

TV Series

Nedelin

2005

2 episodes

 

The Importance of Blind Dating (2005)

The Importance of Blind Dating

7.4

Short

Chris Anders

2005

 

Pierrepoint: The Last Hangman (2005)

Pierrepoint: The Last Hangman

7.4

Governor of Holloway

2005

 

James Nesbitt in Murphy's Law (2003)

Murphy's Law

7.7

TV Series

Adcock

2005

1 episode

 

Martin Clunes and Julie Graham in William and Mary (2003)

William and Mary

7.6

TV Series

John Castlemaigne

2005

1 episode

 

Annette Badland, Neil Dudgeon, and Nick Hendrix in Midsomer Murders (1997)

Midsomer Murders

7.9

TV Series

Timothy Webster

2003

1 episode

 

Julia Burchell, Peter Dalton, Joanne Farrell, Jane Gurnett, Neil Grainger, Sherrie Hewson, Cindy Marshall-Day, Jane Rossington, Kathy Staff, Colin Wells, and Rebecca Daniels in Crossroads (2001)

Crossroads

4.4

TV Series

Bishop Black

2003

5 episodes

 

Danielle Cable: Eyewitness (2003)

Danielle Cable: Eyewitness

6.5

TV Movie

Jeff Mundy

2003

 

The Second Coming (2003)

The Second Coming

7.5

TV Mini Series

Chief Constable Richard Tanner

2003

2 episodes

 

Alun Armstrong, James Bolam, Amanda Redman, and Dennis Waterman in New Tricks (2003)

New Tricks

8.0

TV Series

Donald Bevan

2003

1 episode

 

Harrison Ford in K-19: The Widowmaker (2002)

K-19: The Widowmaker

6.7

Partonov

2002

 

Outside the Rules (2002)

Outside the Rules

6.7

TV Series

Martin Tindal

2002

 

Murder Rooms: Mysteries of the Real Sherlock Holmes (2000)

Murder Rooms: Mysteries of the Real Sherlock Holmes

7.9

TV Mini Series

Rhodes

2001

1 episode

 

Amanda Burton, Emilia Fox, Sam Barnard, David Caves, and Genesis Lynea in Silent Witness (1996)

Silent Witness

7.9

TV Series

Howard Considine

2001

2 episodes

 

In Defence

6.9

TV Series

Tom Downing

2000

1 episode

 

Blue Murder (2000)

Blue Murder

8.3

TV Movie

Francombe

2000

 

The Vice (1999)

The Vice

7.6

TV Series

Trevor Nashe

2000

2 episodes

 

RKO 281 (1999)

RKO 281

7.0

TV Movie

Jack Warner

1999

 

Michael Culver in The Colour of Justice (1999)

The Colour of Justice

6.8

TV Movie

Conor Taafe

Ian Johnston

1999

 

Frances Grey and Natasha Little in Vanity Fair (1998)

Vanity Fair

7.7

TV Mini Series

Mr. John Osborne

1998

4 episodes

 

B. Monkey (1998)

B. Monkey

5.9

Frank Rice

1998

 

Space Island One (1998)

Space Island One

7.5

TV Series

Mr. Hawkspur

1998

1 episode

 

Heat of the Sun (1998)

Heat of the Sun

7.9

TV Mini Series

Lord Harry Ellesmere

1998

1 episode

 

Victor Burke in Homeboy (1997)

Homeboy

8.2

Short

Father

1997

 

Edward Woodward and Peter Woodward in The House of Angelo (1997)

The House of Angelo

6.9

William Angelo

1997

 

Holding On (1997)

Holding On

8.4

TV Mini Series

Ken

1997

6 episodes

 

Bramwell (1995)

Bramwell

7.9

TV Series

Aubrey Savier

1997

1 episode

 

Nathaniel Parker in David (1997)

David

6.9

TV Mini Series

Angry Lieutenant

1997

1 episode

 

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

Ruth Rendell Mysteries

6.8

TV Series

Nick Hawthorne

1997

2 episodes

 

Some Mother's Son (1996)

Some Mother's Son

7.2

Harrington

1996

 

Janet McTeer in The Governor (1995)

The Governor

7.3

TV Series

Mr. Turnbull

1996

3 episodes

 

Demi Moore and Gary Oldman in The Scarlet Letter (1995)

The Scarlet Letter

5.3

Brewster Stonehall

1995

 

Prime Suspect: The Scent of Darkness (1995)

Prime Suspect: The Scent of Darkness

7.8

TV Movie

George Marlow

1995

 

Go Back Out

TV Movie

Dad

1995

 

MacGyver: Lost Treasure of Atlantis (1994)

MacGyver: Lost Treasure of Atlantis

6.3

TV Movie

Col. Petrovic

1994

 

Richard Griffiths in Pie in the Sky (1994)

Pie in the Sky

7.7

TV Series

D.C. Ken Shipley

1994

1 episode

 

Closing Numbers (1993)

Closing Numbers

6.7

Keith

1993

 

The Good Guys

8.2

TV Series

Peter Henderson

1993

1 episode

 

Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Saunders in Absolutely Fabulous (1992)

Absolutely Fabulous

8.2

TV Series

Headmaster Tony Simmonds

1992

1 episode

 

Families

7.8

TV Series

John Thompson

1990–1991

4 episodes

 

Traitors

TV Movie

Thomas Percy

1990

 

Theatre Night (1985)

Theatre Night

7.2

TV Series

Menelaos

Lord Windermere

1985–1990

2 episodes

 

Edward Woodward in The Equalizer (1985)

The Equalizer

7.8

TV Series

William McCall

1989

1 episode

 

Armand Assante and Catherine Mary Stewart in Passion & Paradise: Part 2 (1989)

Passion & Paradise: Part 2

6.5

Godfrey Higgs

1989

 

Uncle Silas (1989)

Uncle Silas

7.2

TV Mini Series

Dudley Ruthyn

1989

3 episodes

 

Piece of Cake (1988)

Piece of Cake

8.1

TV Mini Series

Squadron Leader Rex

1988

4 episodes

 

A Killing on the Exchange

7.2

TV Mini Series

John Field

1987

6 episodes

 

Personal Services (1987)

Personal Services

6.3

Timms

1987

 

Salomé (1986)

Salomé

5.9

Nerva

1986

 

Richard Gere in King David (1985)

King David

5.3

Joab

1985

 

Father's Day

6.8

TV Series

Rex Ferguson

1984

1 episode

 

Pope John Paul II (1984)

Pope John Paul II

6.6

TV Movie

Juliusz Kydrynski

1984

 

All the World's a Stage (1984)

All the World's a Stage

TV Mini Series

Quotations Reader

1984

1 episode

 

Don Henderson, Diane Keen, Peter Sallis, and Don Warrington in Crown Court (1972)

Crown Court

7.3

TV Series

Brian Bass

1984

3 episodes

 

The Case of the Frightened Lady (1983)

The Case of the Frightened Lady

6.4

TV Movie

Lord Willie Lebanon

1983

 

Partners in Crime (1983)

Partners in Crime

7.4

TV Mini Series

Lawrence St. Vincent

1983

1 episode

 

Spooky (1983)

Spooky

7.5

TV Series

Peter

1983

1 episode

 

American Playhouse

American Playhouse

7.3

TV Series

Billy

1983

3 episodes

 

Peter Bowles in The Irish R.M. (1983)

The Irish R.M.

7.7

TV Series

Bernard Shute

1983

1 episode

 

East Lynne (1982)

East Lynne

6.9

TV Movie

Francis Levison

1982

 

Cousin Phillis

TV Series

Edward Holdsworth

1982

4 episodes

 

Frost in May (1982)

Frost in May

7.8

TV Mini Series

Richard Crayshaw

1982

1 episode

 

Tales of the Unexpected (1979)

Tales of the Unexpected

7.6

TV Series

Timothy Burton

1982

1 episode

 

Q.E.D. (1982)

Q.E.D.

7.9

TV Series

Harry Owsley

1982

1 episode

 

BBC2 Playhouse (1973)

BBC2 Playhouse

6.8

TV Series

William Patrick

1981

1 episode

 

The Europeans (1979)

The Europeans

6.2

Felix Young

1979

 

Wings (1977)

Wings

7.7

TV Series

2nd Lt. Alan Farmer

Sgt. Alan Farmer

Alan Farmer

1976–1978

24 episodes

 

The Cost of Loving

TV Series

Harry West

1977

1 episode

 

The Expert (1968)

The Expert

8.2

TV Series

Det. Sgt. Hallett

1976

1 episode

 

BBC Play of the Month (1965)

BBC Play of the Month

6.9

TV Series

Kit Neilan

Pip Thompson

1975–1976

2 episodes

 

Prometheus: The Life of Balzac

TV Mini Series

Eugene Surville

1975

2 episodes

 

Googie Withers in Within These Walls (1974)

Within These Walls

7.6

TV Series

Richard Wiltshire

1975

1 episode

 

Play for Today (1970)

Play for Today

7.8

TV Series

Storyteller

1975

1 episode

 

Galileo (1975)

Galileo

6.6

Ludovico Marsili

1975