Michael Leonard Williams KSG (9 July 1935 – 11 January 2001) was a British actor who played both classical and comedy roles. He was best known for co-starring in the sitcom A Fine Romance with his wife Dame Judi Dench, and for voicing Dr. Watson in the long-running Sherlock Holmes adaptations for BBC Radio.
Michael Williams | |
|---|---|
| Born | Michael Leonard Williams 9 July 1935 Salford, Lancashire, England |
| Died | 11 January 2001 (aged 65) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1961–1999 |
| Spouse | |
| Children | Finty Williams |
Biography
editWilliams was born in Salford, Lancashire, England.
Williams married Judi Dench on 5 February 1971, the same year in which they co-starred in a stage production of John Webster's The Duchess of Malfi. They had one daughter, Finty Williams, who is also an actress.[1] Williams was also godfather to the actor Rory Kinnear.[2]
Williams was the President of the Roman Catholic Actors' Guild.[3]
Shortly before his death from lung cancer aged 65, Williams was appointed a Knight of St Gregory (KSG) by Pope John Paul II for his contribution to Catholic life in Britain. The honour was officially bestowed upon him at home on 10 January 2001. He died the next day,[4] and was buried in the churchyard of St Leonard's, the Anglican parish church of Charlecote, Warwickshire. Williams was a fan of Everton FC.
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | The Trial of Joan of Arc | Englishman | Uncredited |
| 1967 | Marat/Sade | Herald | |
| 1968 | Tell Me Lies | Guest | Documentary |
| 1972 | Eagle in a Cage | Barry O'Meara | |
| 1974 | Dead Cert | Sandy Mason | |
| 1982 | Enigma | Hirsch, Limmer's Assistant | |
| 1983 | Educating Rita | Brian | |
| 1989 | Henry V | Michael Williams | |
| 1999 | Tea with Mussolini | British Consul |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | Z-Cars | Norbert Nuttall | 1 episode |
| 1970 | A Family at War | Eddie Chappell | 1 episode |
| 1971 | Elizabeth R | François, Duke of Anjou and Alençon | 1 episode |
| 1975 | The Hanged Man | Alan Crowe | 8 episodes |
| 1979 | My Son, My Son | William Essex | 8 episodes |
| 1980 | Love in a Cold Climate | Davey Warbeck | 8 episodes |
| 1981–1984 | A Fine Romance | Mike Selway | 26 episodes |
| 1987 | Blunt: The Fourth Man [5] | Goronwy Rees | |
| 1988 | Double First | Norman 'N.V.' Standish | 7 episodes |
| 1988-1989 | Charlie Chalk | Charlie Chalk, Lewis T. Duck, Trader Jones and Litterbug (voice) | 13 episodes |
| 1989 | Screen Two | Michael Darlow | 1 episode |
| 1993–1994 | Conjugal Rites | Barry Masefield | 13 episodes |
| 1993–1995 | September Song | Billy Balsam | 20 episodes |
| 1996 | Kavanagh QC | DCI Knowland | 1 episode |
| 1996-2000 | Brambly Hedge | Mr. Apple | 8 episodes |
| 1997 | A Dance to the Music of Time | Ted Jeavons | 2 episodes |
| 1999 | The Magical Legend of the Leprechauns | Father Daley | 2 episodes, (final appearance) |
Select radio roles
edit| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | The War Between Men and Women | reader |
| 1989–1998 | Sherlock Holmes | Dr. Watson |
| 1990 | The Forsyte Chronicles | Young Jolyon Forsyte |
| 1995–1996 | Change at Oglethorpe | Rocket |
| 1995–1999 | The George Cragge series | George Cragge |
| 1997 | Mansfield Park | Sir Thomas Bertram |
| 1998–1999 | Old Dog and Partridge | Jack |
| 1999–2000 | Bristow | Bristow |
Stage roles
editPrincipal stage appearances; mostly with the Royal Shakespeare Company:[6]
- A Midsummer Night's Dream (1963)
- The Beggar's Opera (1963)
- The Representative (1963)
- King Lear (1964)
- The Comedy of Errors (1964)
- Marat/Sade (1964)
- The Jew of Malta (1964)
- Don't Make Me Laugh (1965)
- Timon of Athens (1965)
- Hamlet (1965)
- Tango (1966)
- The Taming of the Shrew (1967)
- As You Like It (1967)
- Troilus and Cressida (1968)
- London Assurance (1970)
- The Merchant of Venice (1971)
- The Duchess of Malfi (1971)
- Henry V (1971)
- Toad of Toad Hall (1972)
- Content to Whisper (1973)
- Jingo (1975)
- Too True to Be Good (1975)
- The Comedy of Errors (1976)
- The Winter's Tale (1976)
- Schweik in the Second World War (1977)
- The Montrous Regiment (1978)
- A Village Wooing (1981)
- Quartermaine's Terms (1982)
- Pack of Lies (1983/4)
- Two into One (1984)
- Mr and Mrs Nobody (1986/7)
- Out of Order (1990)
- The Tempest (1995)
- The Round Dozen (1996)
- Brief Lives (1997/8)
- The Forest (1999)
Also appeared in the Royal Shakespeare Company's Theatre-Go-Round Festival, Round House Theatre, London, 1970.[7]
References
edit- ^ "My grandson was a big surprise". 22 August 1997. Archived from the original on 26 January 2015 – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
- ^ "Rory Kinnear: Good show, sweet prince". standard.co.uk. 10 April 2012. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
- ^ "Michael Williams: End of the fine romance". BBC. 16 January 2001. Retrieved 13 September 2010.
A devout Catholic, Michael Williams was a former President of the Roman Catholic Actors' Guild.
- ^ "Actor Michael Williams dies". BBC News. 15 January 2001. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
- ^ Blunt: the fourth man, DVD video listing at WorldCat. OCLC 54436975
- ^ "The Stage in British Newspaper Archive" – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Michael Williams Biography (1935-)". www.filmreference.com.