Robert Hardy
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Timothy Sydney Robert Hardy, CBE (born October 29, 1925) is one of Britain's best-known and most popular actors, and also an acknowledged expert on the longbow.
Early life
He was born in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire where his father was headmaster of Cheltenham College. He attended Rugby School, and began his career as a classical actor, appearing as Shakespeare's Henry V on stage and in television's An Age of Kings (1960), and subsequently played Coriolanus for the BBC.
It was while playing Henry V that Hardy developed an interest in medieval warfare, and he later wrote and presented an acclaimed television documentary on the subject of the Battle of Agincourt. He was one of the experts consulted by the archaeologists responsible for raising the Mary Rose.
Career
Over the years, Hardy has played a huge range of parts on television and film, but has never become widely known outside the UK. His most famous role was as Seigfreid Farnon in the long-running All Creatures Great and Small (1978–1990). A stylish - and much loved - adaptation of James Herriot's novels, Hardy brought just the right touch of eccentricity and belligerence to the part of Seigfreid, who was a lovable old curmudgeon.
He also made a very memorable appearance in the 1987 ITV comedy series Hot Metal, in which he played a duel role, that of a newspaper proprieter, Twiggy Rathbone (who bore more than a passing resemblance to Rupert Murdoch) and his put-upon and harrassed editor, Russell Spam. It showed Hardy's versatility as an actor off perfectly.
He has played former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in several productions, including (1981). He also played Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester in Elizabeth R, and Prince Albert in Edward the Seventh (known as Edward the King to the American audience). He took a leading role in the 1995 film version of Sense and Sensibility. His most recent role was as Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge in the Harry Potter movies.
His performance as the voice of Robin Hood in Tale Spinner's Robin Hood, an LP from the 1960s is considered one of the best Robin Hood renditions of all time.
His ex-wife, Sally Pearson, was the daughter of the late Gladys Cooper and, thus, sister-in-law of the late Robert Morley. Robert Hardy was a close friend of actor Richard Burton.
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