John woodvine biography
Born in the Simonside area of South Shields, he left the North East when he was five, but went back for holidays with his grandparents. As he grew older he had it in his mind to be an actor, but had no idea how to go about it, so did various jobs before being called up for National Service in the RAF. On being demobbed he still wanted to be an actor, but was still unaware of how to become one, so worked for wool merchants for three years, during which he became a keen amateur actor. When the wool merchant went bankrupt, he managed to get a grant from Essex County Council to go to drama school. On completing the course his first job was with a company that traveled around in a bus doing shows at military camps. He then joined The Old Vic doing walk on parts and small speaking parts then spent 2 years in America and on his return joined the Bristol Old Vic. After about 12 years in the business he went to Newcastle to appear in 'Close the Coalhouse Door' at the Jesmond Playhouse - written by Alan Plater and also featuring fellow North East actors Colin Douglas and Alan Browning - which he considered made him a better actor. He appeared in the TV series 'Z Cars' as a Geordie police inspector but didn't enjoy it. There was then a 90 minute play for Granada Television which was done live.
BornJuly 21, 1929
John Woodvine
British actor (born 1929)
John Woodvine | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1929-07-21) 21 July 1929 (age 95) South Shields, County Durham, England |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1952–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2, including Mary Woodvine |
John Woodvine (born 21 July 1929) is an English actor who has appeared in more than 70 theatre productions, as well as a similar number of television and film roles.
Early life
Woodvine was born in South Shields, the son of Rose (née Kelly) and John Woodvine. He was educated at Lord Williams's School, Thame, Oxfordshire and trained for the stage at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, graduating in 1953.
Career
Woodvine worked with the Old Vic company in the 1950s. In 1957, along with Russell Napier, John Carlisle and Edgar Lustgarten, Woodvine appeared in an installment of the Scotland Yard film series ("The Silent Weapon", 1961). Woodvine also had a long career with the Royal Shakespeare Company, having appeared in 1976 opposite Ian McKellen and Judi Dench as Banquo in the acclaimed Trevor Nunn production of Macbeth, which was later recorded for television. He also appeared in the RSC's 1980 landmark production of The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, starring as the story's primary antagonist, Ralph Nickleby.
Woodvine frequently played police officers from early in his career, including a regular role in the British drama series Z-Cars as Det. Insp. Witty (1968–69) and guest appearances in Softly, Softly in the 1970s. He recreated his role of Inspector Kingdom in the 1970s police drama New Scotland Yard. He is also particularly remembered as the disgruntled former policeman who took the lead character hostage in a 1983 episode of Juliet Bravo. His role as a policeman even extended to playing the traditional village bobby Constable Tedder in the BBC television adaptation of Arthur Ransome's Big Six and Coot Club. Further, it extended to the comedic poli Born July 21, 1929, in Tyne Dock, Durham, Ireland; son of John and Rose (maiden name, Kelly) Woodvine; married Hazel Wright. Addresses: Agent: c/oScott Marshall Ltd., 13 Queen's Gardens, London W2 England. John Woodvine (born 21st July1929 in South Shields) played two roles on Coronation Street: a lorry driver in November 1965; and he returned to the programme some forty-five years later in December 2010 as Alan Hoyle, father of Charlotte Hoyle (the role was then recast with actor Michael McStay appearing in the character's 2011 appearances). He also appeared as Mick and a policeman in separate episodes of the Streetspin-offPardon the Expression in 1966 and as Stefan in an episode of the spin-off Turn out the Lights during the following year. Initially employed in a variety of jobs, he completed his National Service in the RAF and then went on to work in a wool merchants for three years where he was a keen amateur actor. After the merchants went bankrupt, he was awarded a grant and trained at RADA, graduating in 1953. With an acting CV spanning over six decades, his other television credits include Champion Road, Danger Man, Z Cars, The Further Adventures of the Musketeers, New Scotland Yard, An Unofficial Rose, Doctor Who, The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, The Prisoner of Zenda, The Tripods, Edge of Darkness, Knights of God, Runaway Bay, Finney, Peak Practice, Bob & Rose, The Bill, Distant Shores, Emmerdale, Hebburn and The Crown. File roles include Darling, The Walking Stick, The Devils, Young Winston, Assault on Agathon, An American Werewolf in London, Spaghetti House, Wuthering Heights, Dragonworld, Miss Potter and Enys Men. On stage, he has appeared in several productions for the Royal Shakespeare Company including Romeo and Juliet, The Winter's Tale, Macbeth, King Lear, Much Ado About Nothing, The Comedy of Errors, The Alchemist, The Way of the World, Twelfth Night, Julius Caesar, The Hostage, Don Carlos and Hamlet. Other works include The Iron Harp, A Midsummer Night's Dream, New Clothes for the Emperor, Sodom and Gomorrah, Ariel, Rocket to the Moon, Ghetto, Anna Christie and Life After Life. John Woodvine Biography (1929-)
Famous Works
Roles in Co