
Robert Hardy
Known for Acting · 145 credits
- Born
- 1925-10-29
- Died
- 2017-08-03
- Place of birth
- Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England, UK
- Also known as
- Timothy Sydney Robert Hardy · Тимоти Сидни Роберт Харди · Robert Khardi
Biography
One of England's most successful and enduring character actors, with a prolific screen career on television and in films, Robert Hardy was acclaimed for his versatility and the depth of his performances.
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 (1988).
Unlike some British character actors, Hardy was not a Hollywood name and his work in films was therefore restricted to appearances in predominantly British-based productions such as The Spy Who Came In from the Cold (1965), Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994) and Sense and Sensibility (1995). However, in the 21st century, Hardy came to the attention of a whole new generation for his performances in the hugely successful Harry Potter films, while also continuing to make regular appearances in British television series. His co-star from All Creatures Great and Small (1978), Peter Davison, quite simply described Hardy as an "extraordinary" actor who would "never do the same thing twice" when he was acting with him. He was awarded the CBE for services to acting. He died in August 2017.
Known For
TV Shows (67)

Midsomer Murders
1997
as Robert Cavendish

Great Performances
1971
as Self

The Saint
1962
as Walter Faber

Agatha Christie's Marple
2004
as Winston Churchill

Spooks
2002
as Sir John Barry

Natural World
1983
as Narrator

Sherlock Holmes
1984
as Charles Augustus Milverton

Lewis
2007
as Sir Arnold Raeburn

The Wednesday Play
1964
as Nick Prockter / Pontius Pilate

Foyle's War
2002
as Henry Beaumont

Inspector Morse
1987
as Andrew Baydon

Playhouse
1974
as John Fothergill / Sir Malcolm Campbell

Screen Two
1985
as General Tilney

ITV Playhouse
1967
as Ray Malcolm

Theatre 625
1964
as Adriano

All Creatures Great and Small
1978
as Siegfried Farnon

Buck Rogers in the 25th Century
1979
as Clayton
The Alan Titchmarsh Show
2007
as Self

Upstairs, Downstairs
1971
as Sir Guy Paynter

Sunday Night Theatre
1950
as Orsino / Admetus / William Herndon

ITV Saturday Night Theatre
1969
as Christopher Moore

Thirty-Minute Theatre
1965
as The Official

The Buccaneers
1956
as Lord Hinch
Drama 61-67
1961
as Adam Irwin / Philip Weathers

Churchill's People
1974
as King Oswy

ScreenPlay
1986
as Colonel Chase

The Troubleshooters
1965
as Alec Stewart

Mystery and Imagination
1966
as William Oke

War and Remembrance
1988
as Winston Churchill

Bramwell
1995
as Sir Herbert Hamilton / Sir Herbert Hamilton

The 10th Kingdom
2000
as Chancellor Griswold

The Duchess of Duke Street
1976
as George Duggan

A Ghost Story for Christmas
1971
as Archdeacon Haynes

Countdown
1982

Middlemarch
1994
as Arthur Brooke

The Adventures of Sir Lancelot
1956
as Sir Rupert

Manhunt
1970
as Abwehr Sergeant Gratz

Hallmark Hall of Fame
1951
as Joachim von Ribbentrop

Elizabeth R
1971
as Robert Dudley

An Age of Kings
1960
as Henry, Prince of Wales / Henry V

Gulliver's Travels
1996
as Dr. Parnell

Bill Brand
1976
as Mr. Marples

General Electric Theater
1953

Shackleton
2002
as Sir James Caird

Testament: The Bible in Animation
1996
as Abraham (voice)

Strange Report
1969
as Doctor Michael Sanders

Raffles
1977

Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years
1981
as Winston Churchill

The Far Pavilions
1984
as The Commandant

The Veil
1958

Victorian Scandals
1976
as Arthur Munby
Look at the State We're In!
1995
as Judge Sutcliffe

Supernatural
1977
as Adrian Gall

Armchair Theatre
1956
as Albert Purvis

The Cleopatras
1983
as Julius Caesar

Death in Holy Orders
2003
as Father Martin Petrie

Edward the Seventh
1975
as Prince Albert

Shades of Darkness
1983
as William Drover

Hot Metal
1986

Nancherrow
1999
Movies (78)

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
2002
as Cornelius Fudge

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
2004
as Cornelius Fudge

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
2005
as Cornelius Fudge

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
2007
as Cornelius Fudge

Sense and Sensibility
1995
as Sir John Middleton

Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
1994
as Prof. Krempe

Lassie
2005
as Judge Murray

The Barber of Siberia
1998
as Forsten

The Spy Who Came In from the Cold
1965
as Dick Carlton

The Slap
1974
as Robert Dickinson

Berserk!
1967
as Detective Superintendent Brooks

Thunderpants
2002
as Doctor

Young Winston
1972
as Prep School Headmaster

Mrs. Dalloway
1997
as Sir William Bradshaw

10 Rillington Place
1971
as Malcolm Morris

The Lost World
2001
as Prof. Illingworth

Northanger Abbey
1987
as General Tilney

Torpedo Run
1958
as Lt. Redley

The Gathering
2003
as Bishop

How I Won the War
1967
as British General

The Master Blackmailer
1992
as Charles Augustus Milverton

Dark Places
1973
as Edward Foster / Andrew Marr

The Woman He Loved
1988
as Winston Churchill

The Silent One
1973
as Assistant

Margaret
2009
as Willie Whitelaw

Yellow Dog
1973
as Alexander

Gawain and the Green Knight
1973
as Sir Bertilak

The Falklands Play
2002
as Sir Anthony Parsons

In from the Cold? A Portrait of Richard Burton
1988
as Self

Psychomania
1973
as Chief Inspector Hesseltine

An Ideal Husband
1999
as Lord Caversham

Paris by Night
1989
as Adam Gillvray

Demons of the Mind
1972
as Zorn

Nancherrow
1999
as Viscount Berryan

The Zany Adventures of Robin Hood
1984
as King Richard

James Mason: The Star They Loved to Hate
1984
as Lord Bob Lilburn (archive footage) (uncredited)

The Demon Lover
1986
as William Drover

Caesar and Claretta
1975
as Benito Mussolini

The Incredible Robert Baldick: Never Come Night
1972
as Doctor Sir Robert Baldick

Bertie and Elizabeth
2002
as President Roosevelt
Elementary My Dear Viewer
2007
as Self
Ghosts in the Machine
2009
as Narrator

Die Letzte Jagd
1985
as Bob, Lord Lilburn

The Gathering Storm
1974
as Joachim von Ribbentrop

Jenny's War
1985
as Klein

Twelfth Night
1980
as Sir Toby Belch

A Feast at Midnight
1994
as Headmaster

The Tichborne Claimant
1999
as Lord Rivers

Fothergill
1981
as John Fothergill

Son of Man
1969
as Pontius Pilate

Black Legend
1949
as Mad Thomas

Lucky Jim
2003
as Professor Neddy Welch

Blat
1987
as Sidney Tolland

Goodbye Mr Snuggles
2006
as Mr. Stiles

Othello
1955
as Cassio

Paying Guests (Part 1)
1986
as Colonel Chase
Snapshot Wedding
2017
as Donald

Marcus Welby, M.D.: A Holiday Affair
1988
as Dr. Price

The Death of the Heart
1987
as Major Brutt
Old Man's Fancy
1965
as Jason

The Stalls of Barchester
1971
as Archdeacon Haynes
Warm Feet, Warm Heart
1970
as Albert Purvis

Make and Break
1987
as John Garrard
The Secret Agent
1975
as The Assistant Commissioner
Getting In
1971
as Official

Castle Ghosts of Wales
1997
as Self

Bomber Harris
1989
as Winston Churchill

Paying Guests (Part 2)
1986
as Colonel Chase

Marie Stopes: Sexual Revolutionary
1970
as Narrator

Joseph's Reel
2015
as Old Joseph

Centenary: The BP Story
2009
as George Reynolds (voice)

Narnia's Lost Poet: The Secret Lives and Loves of C.S. Lewis
2013
as Self - Interviewee

Castle Ghosts of England
1995
as Self

Churchill: 100 Days That Saved Britain
2015
as Winston Churchill

Castle Ghosts of Ireland
1996
as Self
Speed King
1979
as Dorothy Campbell

The Pied Piper of Hamelin
1980
as Narrator (voice)

Making Waves
2004
as Father Parry
About Robert Hardy
One of England's most successful and enduring character actors, with a prolific screen career on television and in films, Robert Hardy was acclaimed for his versatility and the depth of his performances. 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… With 145 credits spanning from 1949 to 2017, Robert Hardy has appeared in 78 films and 67 TV shows.
Fans searching for Robert Hardy movies, Robert Hardy filmography, or the latest projects starring Robert Hardy can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Robert Hardy Movies
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002) — as Cornelius Fudge
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) — as Cornelius Fudge
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005) — as Cornelius Fudge
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007) — as Cornelius Fudge
- Sense and Sensibility (1995) — as Sir John Middleton
Where to Watch Robert Hardy Films
Most Robert Hardy movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Robert Hardy, check our movies catalogue and browse page.