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Last updated on the 31 March 2024 by Maeve
Mini Biography
Born: 29 October 1925, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire,England.Â
Robert Hardy was a distinguished English actor, renowned for his extensive career spanning theatre, film and television. He was the son of Henry Harrison Hardy, MBE, and Edith Jocelyn, whose lineage traced back to the gentry family of Wroxall Abbey, Warwickshire.
Robert Hardy’s early life was marked by education at prestigious institutions. He attended Rugby School before moving on to Magdalen College, Oxford. His academic pursuits were interrupted by World War II, during which he served in the Royal Air Force. Part of his pilot training took place in Terrell, Texas, as part of the British Flying Training School Program. Despite a brief visit to Los Angeles during his leave from flight training, Hardy’s acting career would later flourish predominantly in the United Kingdom.
After the war, Hardy returned to Oxford and completed his BA (Hons) in English. He cherished the time spent under the tutelage of literary giants C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, despite describing his degree as “shabby” on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs.
Robert Hardy’s acting career began in the classical realm. His first significant break came in 1959 when he performed as The King of France in “All’s Well That Ends Well,” directed by Tyrone Guthrie at Stratford-upon-Avon. This was followed by a role as Sicinius opposite Laurence Olivier in “Coriolanus,” directed by Peter Hall. Hardy’s Shakespearean prowess was further showcased in productions like “Henry V” and “Twelfth Night,” where he played Sir Toby Belch for the BBC Television Shakespeare production.
The actor gained widespread recognition for his portrayal of Siegfried Farnon in the BBC television series “All Creatures Great and Small” and as Cornelius Fudge in the Harry Potter film series. His depiction of Winston Churchill in several productions, starting with the Southern Television series “Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years” was particularly acclaimed. Hardy’s performances earned him BAFTA nominations for Best Actor for both “All Creatures Great and Small” in 1980 and “Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years” in 1982.
Beyond acting, Hardy was an acknowledged expert on the medieval English longbow and authored two books on the subject. His passion for history was evident in his work, and he presented documentaries on historical figures such as Henry V and Gordon of Khartoum.
On a personal note, Robert Hardy was married twice, first to Elizabeth Fox from 1952 to 1956 and then to Sally Pearson from 1961 to 1986. His legacy is not only in the memorable characters he brought to life but also in his contributions to historical knowledge and the arts.
Robert Hardy passed away on August 3, 2017, at the age of 91, leaving behind a rich tapestry of artistic and scholarly work that continues to inspire.
Suggested viewing
All Creatures Great and Small (1978)
Bftv 9.0 / IMDb 8.4 This heartwarming series follows a young veterinarian named James Herriot in the 1930s Yorkshire Dales. Fresh out of vet school, James joins a practice in a rural community. The show explores the challenges and rewards of treating a wide variety of animals, from large farm animals to cherished pets. As James builds relationships with both the animals and their owners, he also experiences the eccentricities of his colleagues and the beauty of the Yorkshire countryside. Top cast: Robert Hardy, Christopher Timothy, Peter Davison, Lynda Bellingham, Carol Drinkwater, Mary Hignett, John McGlynn, Andrea Gibb, Jean Heywood. Alternative version
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Winston Churchill:
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Churchill: 100 Days That
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Full filmography (@Wikipedia)
Robert Hardy Gallery
