Timothy Oliver Woodward (24 April 1953 – 9 November 2023) was an English actor.

Tim Woodward
Woodward in 1974
Born
Timothy Oliver Woodward

(1953-04-24)24 April 1953
Kensington, London, England
Died9 November 2023(2023-11-09) (aged 70)
NationalityBritish
OccupationActor
Years active1974–2023
Parent(s)Edward Woodward
Venetia Barrett
RelativesPeter Woodward (brother)
Sarah Woodward (sister)

Early life and education

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Timothy Oliver Woodward was born in Kensington, London, on 24 April 1953, the son of actors Edward Woodward and Venetia Collett (who used the stage name Barrett). His siblings included Peter Woodward and Sarah Woodward, both also actors.

He was educated at Haileybury and Imperial Service College, and then trained at RADA in London.

Career

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Woodward was probably best known for his audio narration in the children's television show Wide-Eye.

One of his earliest starring roles was as Royal Flying Corps pilot Sergeant Alan Farmer in the 1970s BBC drama Wings. This was followed by his starring as the by-the-book Royal Air Force pilot Squadron Leader Rex in Piece of Cake (1988).

During the 1990s Woodward made an appearance in the Granada Television soap opera Families as well as taking the role of gamekeeper Walter Gillies in Yorkshire Television's long-running 1960s drama Heartbeat. A further appearance in Heartbeat came in the 2008 episode Out of the Long, Dark Night, in which he played James Knight, a former army officer.

Woodward appeared in the 2000s ITV police drama Murder City and also portrayed Leonard "Nipper" Read of Scotland Yard in the 2008 ITV adaptation of Jake Arnott's crime novel He Kills Coppers. He guest-starred with his father Edward and son Sam as a London gangster family in a special storyline for The Bill in 2008. Also, he appeared with his father Edward in an episode of American TV's The Equalizer, in which he played Robert McCall's father in a flashback scene. He is the brother of actors Peter Woodward and Sarah Woodward.

Woodward's other television credits include: The Irish R.M., Tales of the Unexpected, Pie in the Sky, Absolutely Fabulous, Prime Suspect, The Ruth Rendell MysteriesBribery and Corruption with James D'Arcy, New Tricks, Bramwell, Midsomer Murders, Murphy's Law, Heat of the Sun, Rosemary & Thyme and Agatha Christie's Poirot.

Woodward had a cameo role in William Mager's short film Stiletto, completed in June 2008.

Personal life and death

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Woodward married Amanda Smith in 1997. They had two sons and a daughter. He also had a son from an earlier relationship with the actress Jan Chappell, and a daughter with Kate Barnwell.

Tim Woodward died of cancer on 9 November 2023, at the age of 70. He was survived by his wife and five children.[1]

Film and television

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References

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  1. ^ Hayward, Anthony (17 November 2023). "Tim Woodward obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
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