We were very sad here at TV Today to hear of the death of film and TV actor Edward Woodward a few days ago, at the age of 79. Through major roles on television on both sides of the Atlantic, and, of course, The Wicker Man, Woodward was a true star in every sense of the word.
Despite illness, Woodward had continued to work up until shortly before his death, performing a guest role in several episodes of EastEnders earlier this year. The many obituaries that have been written in the last few days have drawn a picture of a hard-working, multi-talented actor who charmed everybody he worked with. I had no idea he’d recorded 12 albums and made several appearances on The Good Old Days!
The Wicker Man aside, the movie which assured him a cult following, he was best known for two roles of particular note to readers of TV Today.
In the ABC Armchair Theatre presentation, A Magnum for Schneider (1967), Woodward, by this time an established theatre actor, made his first appearance as the complex secret agent, David Callan. The play struck enough of a chord with the audience for a six episode series, Callan), to be commissioned to air later in 1967.
The series was noted for its claustrophobic sense of tension, a welcome side effect of a relatively low budget that led to a largely studio-bound series shot in close quarters. But it was Woodward’s portrayal of Callan, turning a character that was essentially a cold-blooded killer into a sympathetic, human character that made the series special. The series also provided one of the great television partnerships as Callan relied on the help of wayward accomplice Lonely, an equally memorable performance from Russell Hunter.
After four series, Callan would be treated to that 1970s vogue for big screen adaptations in a 1974 movie that riffed on the plot of the original pilot. But even then, the character was not quite finished, with a 1981 made-for-TV play, Wet Job, which reunited Callan and Lonely for one last job.
In the mid-1980s, Woodward made the move to America where he was cast as another secret agent, the avenging Robert McCall in CBS’s The Equalizer. The show was a huge hit and made Woodward a star in America (and it had a cracking theme tune…)
McCall had some of the same qualities as Callan - a reluctant, now retired agent, who helped ordinary people who had been wronged. He despised the methods he was forced to use, resented still being in thrall to his former employers, and yet was an efficient and skilled killer.
The Equalizer, while criticised for its violent overtones, was not only a hit with the audience, it was a critical success, too. Woodward was nominated for an Emmy every year the show was in production, and in 1987 he won a Golden Globe.
The Equalizer was made in an era when top US shows were imported and given prime time airings on British TV, making Woodward just as visible a star in his native country in the 80s as he was in the 70s.
Edward Woodward never stopped working - his CV following his time in America is just as packed as the first half of his career, including the fondly remembered Common as Muck. Surely that’s the greatest testament to a great actor who will be very sadly missed.
Just found this excellent tribute to one of my all time favourites. Not only do I know about his albums I have copies of most of them and he was a fantastic singer of ballads. I was lucky enough to have seen him on The Good Old Days being amazed to see 'Callan' on stage singing Champagne Charlie with style and panache! You can still find his vinyl albums on Ebay for a reasonable price including the first one This Man Alone which includes a superb vocal version of the Callan theme. He has left many many happy memories of wonderful performances as actor and singer.