Michael Williams (actor)

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 (1935-07-09)
Died11 January 2001(2001-01-11) (aged 65)
Hampstead, London, England
OccupationActor
Years active1961–1999
Spouse
(m. 1971)
ChildrenFinty Williams

Early life and career

Williams was born in Liverpool, Lancashire.[1]

Personal life

Williams married Judi Dench on 5 February 1971, the same year that they co-starred in a stage production of John Webster's The Duchess of Malfi. They had one daughter, Tara Cressida Williams (b. 1972), known as Finty Williams, who is also an actress.[2] Williams was also godfather to the actor Rory Kinnear.[3]

He was the President of the Roman Catholic Actors' Guild.[4]

Michael Williams' grave

Shortly before his death from lung cancer at the age of 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,[5] 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

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1962The Trial of Joan of ArcEnglishmanUncredited
1967Marat/SadeHerald
1968Tell Me LiesGuestDocumentary
1969Tintin and the Temple of the SunTintinVoice, Uncredited
1972Eagle in a CageBarry O'Meara
1974Dead CertSandy Mason
1982EnigmaHirsch, Limmer's Assistant
1983Educating RitaBrian
1989Henry VMichael Williams
1999Tea with MussoliniBritish Consul

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1962Z-CarsNorbert Nuttall1 episode
1970A Family at War Eddie Chappell1 episode
1971Elizabeth RFrançois, Duke of Anjou and Alençon1 episode
1975The Hanged ManAlan Crowe8 episodes
1979My Son, My SonWilliam Essex8 episodes
1980Love in a Cold ClimateDavey Warbeck8 episodes
1981–1984A Fine RomanceMike Selway26 episodes
1987Blunt: The Fourth Man [6]Goronwy Rees
1988Double FirstNorman 'N.V.' Standish7 episodes
1988-1989Charlie ChalkCharlie Chalk, Lewis T. Duck, Trader Jones and LitterbugVoices
1989Screen TwoMichael Darlow1 episode
1993–1994Conjugal RitesBarry Masefield13 episodes
1993–1995September SongBilly Balsam20 episodes
1996Kavanagh QCDCI Knowland1 episode
1997A Dance to the Music of TimeTed Jeavons2 episodes
1999The Magical Legend of the LeprechaunsFather Daley2 episodes, (final appearance)

Select radio roles

YearTitleRole
1973The War Between Men and Womenreader
1989–1998 Sherlock Holmes Dr. Watson
1995–1996 Change at Oglethorpe Rocket
1995–1999 The George Cragge series George Cragge
1997Mansfield ParkSir Thomas Bertram
1998–1999 Old Dog and Partridge Jack
1999–2000BristowBristow

Stage roles

Principal stage appearances; mostly with the Royal Shakespeare Company:[7]

Also appeared in the Royal Shakespeare Company's Theatre-Go-Round Festival, Round House Theatre, London, 1970.[8]

References

  1. Prior to 1 April 1974, Liverpool was in Lancashire; Merseyside did yet not exist
  2. "My grandson was a big surprise". 22 August 1997. Archived from the original on 26 January 2015 via www.telegraph.co.uk.
  3. "Rory Kinnear: Good show, sweet prince". standard.co.uk. 10 April 2012. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  4. "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.
  5. "Actor Michael Williams dies". BBC News. 15 January 2001. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  6. Blunt: the fourth man, DVD video listing at WorldCat. OCLC 54436975
  7. "The Stage in British Newspaper Archive" via British Newspaper Archive.
  8. "Michael Williams Biography (1935-)". www.filmreference.com.
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