Robert Hardy

One of England's most enduringly successful character actors, Robert Hardy is noted for his versatility and depth. Born in Cheltenham in 1925, he studied at Oxford University and in 1949 he joined the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre at Stratford-upon-Avon. Television viewers most fondly remember him as the overbearing Siegfried Farnon in All Creatures Great and Small" (1978) but his most critically acclaimed performance was as the title character of Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years (1981). His portrayal of Britain's wartime leader was so accurately observed that in the following years he was called on to reprise the role in such productions as The Woman He Loved (1988) and War and Remembrance (1989). Unlike some British character actors, Hardy has never been recognized by Hollywood and his work in films has therefore been restricted to appearances in predominantly British-based productions such as The Spy Who Came In from the Cold (1965), Frankenstein (1994) and Sense and Sensibility (1995). He has been awarded the CBE for services to acting.

His wife Sally Pearson is Gladys Cooper's daughter.Hardy became an expert on the longbow when he played Henry V at Stratford. He became a longbow/weapons consultant for the Mary Rose Trust when that 16th c. warship was recovered at Portsmouth, England, UK. He was a good friend of actor Richard Burton and appointed CBE in the 1981 Queen's Birthday Honours List. He also spoke at the funeral of "James Herriot". "James Herriot" was the psuedonym of Alf Wight (due to legal requirements of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons) and Hardy and Wight became close friends over the years of the "All Creatures" series, adapted from Wight's books.

If you would like to send Robert Hardy a fan letter, the following addresses handle his fan mail:

Robert Hardy (I)
c/o Chatto & Linnit
Prince Of Wales Conventry Street
London
W1V 7FE
England

Robert Hardy
c/o CHATTO LINNIT LTD
123a Kings Road
London
SW3 4PL
England