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John Woodvine, the distinguished British actor known for his memorable role as Dr. Hirsch in An American Werewolf in London, has passed away at the age of 96, as confirmed by his agent Phil Belfield. Woodvine’s career spanned several decades, marked by both stage and screen contributions.
Notably, Woodvine portrayed police officers in iconic British series such as Z Cars (1963-69) and New Scotland Yard (1972-74). He also captivated audiences as the Marshal of Atrios in the 1979 Doctor Who serial “The Armageddon Factor” and delivered a remarkable performance as the Archbishop of York in the Netflix series The Crown in 2016.
His stage career was equally impressive, with over 70 productions at esteemed venues such as the Old Vic, National Theatre, and the Royal Shakespeare Company. In 1970, he portrayed Banquo in Trevor Nunn’s celebrated production of Macbeth, alongside theatrical icons Ian McKellen and Judi Dench, which was also broadcast on television. Additionally, he took on the role of Ralph Nickleby in the 1980 adaptation of The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby.
Woodvine’s performances earned him critical acclaim, including an Olivier Award in 1987 for Best Comedy Performance for his role in The Henrys at the Old Vic.
In An American Werewolf in London (1981), directed by John Landis, Woodvine’s character arrives at the Slaughtered Lamb pub to investigate a mysterious attack on David Kessler (played by David Naughton) and his friend Jack Goodman (Griffin Dunne).
John Woodvine was born on July 21, 1929, in South Shields, County Durham, England. He completed his National Service in the RAF and initially worked as a clerk for a wool merchant before pursuing his passion for acting. He graduated from the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 1953 and joined the Old Vic in 1954, performing in notable titles such as Macbeth, The Taming of the Shrew, and Julius Caesar, with some productions transferring to Broadway.
Following his role as Detective Inspector Witty in Z Cars, he made appearances in Secret Agent and Coronation Street, among various other projects. In 2005, he portrayed Frank Gallagher’s father in Channel 4’s Shameless.
His filmography includes significant works such as Darling (1965), The Devils (1971), Young Winston (1972), Wuthering Heights (1992), Vanity Fair (2004), and Miss Potter (2006), concluding with Enys Men in 2022.
Additionally, Woodvine contributed to numerous BBC Radio productions, including adaptations of An Inspector Calls and The Tempest.
He is survived by his second wife, actress Lynn Farleigh, whom he married in 1996, as well as his two children, including daughter Mary, who is also an actress.
Based on reporting by Hollywood Reporter. Read the full story at Hollywood Reporter.