RH

Robert Hardy
Actor, Producer
Born October 29, 1925Died August 3, 2017 (91 years)
One of England's most successful and enduring character actors, with a prolific screen career on television and in films, Robert Hardy was acclaimed for his versatility and the depth of his performances.
Born in Cheltenham in 1925, he studied at Oxford University and, in 1949, he joined the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre at Stratford-upon-Avon. Television viewers most fondly remember him as the overbearing Siegfried Farnon in All Creatures Great and Small (1978) but his most critically acclaimed performance was as the title character of Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years (1981). His portrayal of Britain's wartime leader was so accurately observed that, in the following years, he was called on to reprise the role in such productions as The Woman He Loved (1988) and War and Remembrance (1988).
Unlike some British character actors, Hardy was not a Hollywood name and his work in films was therefore restricted to appearances in predominantly British-based productions such as The Spy Who Came In from the Cold (1965), Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994) and Sense and Sensibility (1995). However, in the 21st century, Hardy came to the attention of a whole new generation for his performances in the hugely successful Harry Potter films, while also continuing to make regular appearances in British television series. His co-star from All Creatures Great and Small (1978), Peter Davison, quite simply described Hardy as an "extraordinary" actor who would "never do the same thing twice" when he was acting with him. He was awarded the CBE for services to acting. He died in August 2017.
Born in Cheltenham in 1925, he studied at Oxford University and, in 1949, he joined the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre at Stratford-upon-Avon. Television viewers most fondly remember him as the overbearing Siegfried Farnon in All Creatures Great and Small (1978) but his most critically acclaimed performance was as the title character of Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years (1981). His portrayal of Britain's wartime leader was so accurately observed that, in the following years, he was called on to reprise the role in such productions as The Woman He Loved (1988) and War and Remembrance (1988).
Unlike some British character actors, Hardy was not a Hollywood name and his work in films was therefore restricted to appearances in predominantly British-based productions such as The Spy Who Came In from the Cold (1965), Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994) and Sense and Sensibility (1995). However, in the 21st century, Hardy came to the attention of a whole new generation for his performances in the hugely successful Harry Potter films, while also continuing to make regular appearances in British television series. His co-star from All Creatures Great and Small (1978), Peter Davison, quite simply described Hardy as an "extraordinary" actor who would "never do the same thing twice" when he was acting with him. He was awarded the CBE for services to acting. He died in August 2017.
Movies & Shows on Plex
Known For
Filmography
2013 | MR James: Ghost Writer · as Archdeacon Haynes |
2009 | Margaret · as Willie Whitelaw |
2008 | Little Dorrit (TV Series) · as Tite Barnacle Sr. |
2007 | Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix · as Cornelius Fudge |
2006 | Charles De Gaulle (TV Series) · as Franklin D. Roosevelt |
2006 | Lewis (TV Series) · as Sir Arnold Raeburn |
2005 | Lassie · as Judge Murray |
2005 | Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire · as Cornelius Fudge |
2004 | Agatha Christie's Marple (TV Series) · as Winston Churchill |
2004 | Making Waves · as Father Parry |
2004 | Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban · as Cornelius Fudge |
2003 | Death in Holy Orders (TV Series) · as Father Martin |
2003 | The Gathering · as Bishop |
2003 | Lucky Jim · as Professor Neddy Welch |
2002 | Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets · as Cornelius Fudge |
2002 | Foyle's War (TV Series) · as Henry Beaumont |
2002 | Thunderpants · as Doctor |
2002 | Spooks (TV Series) · as Sir John Barry |
2002 | The Falklands Play · as Sir Anthony Parsons |
2002 | Bertie and Elizabeth · as President Roosevelt |
2002 | Shackleton (TV Series) · as Sir James Caird |
2002 | The Lost World · as Prof. Illingworth |
2001 | The Lost World (TV Series) · as Professor Illingworth |
2000 | Animated Tales of the World (TV Series) · as Narrator |
2000 | The 10th Kingdom (TV Series) · as Chancellor Griswold |
1999 | An Ideal Husband · as Lord Caversham |
1999 | Nancherrow (TV Series) |
1998 | Nancherrow · as Viscount Berryan |
1998 | The Barber of Siberia · as Forsten |
1998 | The Tichborne Claimant · as Lord Rivers |
1997 | Mrs Dalloway · as Sir William Bradshaw |
1997 | Midsomer Murders (TV Series) · as Robert Cavendish |
1996 | Testament: The Bible in Animation (TV Series) · as Abraham (voice) |
1996 | Gulliver's Travels (1996) (TV Series) · as Dr. Parnell |
1995 | Sense and Sensibility · as Sir John Middleton |
1995 | |
1994 | Mary Shelley's Frankenstein · as Prof. Krempe |
1994 | A Feast at Midnight · as Headmaster |
1994 | Middlemarch (TV Series) · as Arthur Brooke |
1992 | The Master Blackmailer · as Charles Augustus Milverton |
1991 | The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes (1991) (TV Series) · as Charles Augustus Milverton |
1989 | Bomber Harris · as Winston Churchill |
1988 | Paris by Night · as Adam Gillvray |
1988 | Marcus Welby, M.D.: A Holiday Affair · as Dr. Price |
1988 | War and Remembrance (TV Series) · as Winston Churchill |
1988 | The Woman He Loved · as Winston Churchill |
1987 | The Death of the Heart · as Major Brutt |
1987 | Inspector Morse (TV Series) · as Andrew Baydon |
1986 | Northanger Abbey · as General Tilney |
1986 | Screenplay (1986) (TV Series) · as Colonel Chase |
1986 | Hot Metal (TV Series) |
1985 | Theatre Night (TV Series) · as John Garrard |
1985 | Bulman (TV Series) · as Lord Jonathan Fairfax |
1985 | Jenny's War (TV Series) · as Klein |
1985 | The Shooting Party · as Bob, Lord Lilburn |
1984 | Screen Two (TV Series) · as General Tilney |
1984 | The Zany Adventures of Robin Hood · as King Richard |
1984 | Sherlock Holmes (1984) (TV Series) · as Charles Augustus Milverton |
1984 | The Far Pavilions (TV Series) · as The Commandant |
1984 | James Mason: The Star They Loved to Hate · as Lord Bob Lilburn (archive Footage) (uncredited) |
1983 | Natural World (TV Series) · as Narrator |
1983 | Shades of Darkness (1983) (TV Series) · as William Drover |
1983 | The Cleopatras (TV Series) · as Julius Caesar |
1982 | Countdown (TV Series) |
1981 | Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years (TV Series) · as Winston Churchill |
1981 | The Pied Piper of Hamelin · as Narrator (voice) |
1980 | Between the Covers · as Bruce Baxter |
1980 | Twelfth Night · as Sir Toby Belch |
1979 | Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (TV Series) · as Clayton |
1979 | Mrs. Columbo (TV Series) · as Stuart |
1978 | BBC Television Shakespeare (TV Series) |
1978 | All Creatures Great and Small (TV Series) · as Siegfried Farnon |
1977 | Supernatural (1977) (TV Series) |
1976 | The Duchess of Duke Street (TV Series) |
1976 | Bill Brand (TV Series) · as Mr. Marples |
1975 | Raffles (TV Series) |
1975 | Edward the Seventh (TV Series) |
1974 | The Gathering Storm · as Joachim Von Ribbentrop |
1974 | The Slap · as Robert Dickinson |
1974 | Shoulder to Shoulder (TV Series) · as Asquith |
1974 | Dark Places · as Edward Foster / Andrew Marr |
1973 | Playhouse (TV Series) · as Sir Malcolm Campbell |
1973 | Yellow Dog · as Alexander |
1973 | Gawain and the Green Knight · as Sir Bertilak |
1973 | The Death Wheelers · as Chief Inspector Hesseltine |
1973 | Escape to Nowhere · as Assistant |
1972 | Demons of the Mind · as Zorn |
1972 | Young Winston · as Prep School Headmaster |
1971 | The Stalls of Barchester · as Archdeacon Haynes |
1971 | A Ghost Story for Christmas (TV Series) · as Archdeacon Haynes |
1971 | Upstairs, Downstairs (TV Series) · as Sir Guy Paynter |
1971 | Elizabeth R (TV Series) · as Robert Dudley |
1971 | 10 Rillington Place · as Malcolm Morris |
1970 | Manhunt (TV Series) · as Abwehr Sergeant Gratz |
1969 | Strange Report (TV Series) · as Doctor Michael Sanders |
1969 | ITV Saturday Night Theatre (TV Series) · as Christopher Moore |
1967 | Berserk · as Detective Superintendent Brooks |
1967 | How I Won the War · as British General |
1967 | ITV Playhouse (TV Series) · as Ray Malcolm |
1966 | Mystery and Imagination (TV Series) |
1966 | The Baron (TV Series) · as Curt Hoffman |
1965 | The Spy Who Came in from the Cold · as Dick Carlton |
1965 | Thirty-Minute Theatre (TV Series) · as The Official |
1965 | The Troubleshooters (TV Series) · as Alec Stewart |
1964 | The Wednesday Play (TV Series) · as Pontius Pilate |
1964 | Theatre 625 (TV Series) · as Adriano |
1963 | Love Story (1963) (TV Series) · as Alec |
1962 | |
1961 | Drama 61-67 (TV Series) · as Adam Irwin |
1960 | An Age of Kings (TV Series) · as Henry, Prince Of Wales |
1959 | A Midsummer Night's Dream · as Oberon |
1958 | Torpedo Run · as Lt. Redley |
1958 | Buckskin (TV Series) · as Sir Nagel |
1958 | Boris Karloff's The Veil (TV Series) |
1958 | |
1956 | The Buccaneers (TV Series) · as Lord Hinch |
1956 | The Adventures of Sir Lancelot (TV Series) · as Sir Rupert |
1956 | Armchair Theatre (TV Series) · as Albert Purvis |
1955 | Othello · as Cassio |
1955 | Matinee Theater (TV Series) · as Col. Girard |
1953 | General Electric Theater (TV Series) |
1951 | Hallmark Hall Of Fame (TV Series) · as Joachim Von Ribbentrop |
1950 | Sunday Night Theatre (TV Series) · as Orsino |
1948 | Studio One (TV Series) · as Cast |