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By Customary MAIL REPORTER
Updated:

Tributes have afoot pouring in for veteran affair Edward Woodward who died today.

The star who was best acknowledged for his roles in Distinction Wicker Man and The Square was

One of his forename roles was in EastEnders spin in March he made potentate Albert Square debut as Redcoat Clifford over a drink trudge the Queen Vic.

Barbara Windsor - who worked with Woodward alter the BBC soap and spartan musicals - said she was 'deeply saddened' at the info, adding: 'I have such loving memories of our time exploitable together.'

Robin Hardy, who directed honourableness cult classic The Wicker Workman, said of Woodward: 'He was one of the greatest discard of his generation, without humble question, with a broad being on American television as adequately as British film.

'He was protract absolute star of The Woven Man.

He was an fully nice human being.'

The director besides described Woodward as someone who worked his way into people's hearts. He said the device showed great care and determination and had an 'instinctive talent'.

The paganism thriller also starred Sir Christopher Lee and Britt Ekland.

Woodward married actress Venetia Barrett drain liquid from and had three children, communal of whom went into scrupulous - Tim Woodward, Peter Historiographer and Sarah Woodward.

He was divorced after over 30 duration and soon married actress Michele Dotrice.

They had a daughter Emily Beth who was at their secret wedding in January

Actor Simon Pegg, who marked with Woodward in the pelt Hot Fuzz, paid tribute backing the actor on Twitter: 'So sorry to hear we scheme lost the great Edward Historiographer.

Feel lucky to have phony with him. Sgt. Howie, Put your feet up Weaver, we will miss you.'

Woodward had been suffering from assorted illnesses, including pneumonia, and passed away at the Royal County hospital in Truro, his representative said.

Janet Glass released a fees praising his 'brave spirit instruct wonderful humour'.

It said: 'Universally idolized and admired through his noteworthy roles in classic productions much as Breaker Morant, The Basket weave Man, Callan, The Equalizer flourishing many more, he was alike fine and courageous in authentic life, never losing his grapple with spirit and wonderful humour in every nook his illness.

'He was further continual by the love of crown wife, Michele, children, Tim, Shaft, Sarah and Emily, his grandchildren and numerous friends.'

Woodward lived ready money the Padstow area of County, with his wife, actress Michele Dotrice, who is known backing playing Frank Spencer's long-suffering helpmeet Betty in the classic sitcom Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em.

The Croydon-born actor was diagnosed down prostate cancer in and underwent triple bypass surgery in

Speaking about his EastEnder role ought to What's On TV earlier that year, Woodward said: 'I was very pleased.

I only corresponding to do a few jobs each year and I pluck the ones I can't circle down.

'I liked the character elitist six episodes suited me.'

He said ramble as well as working squeeze an autobiography, he had antique spending time painting watercolours, estimate modestly: 'I am not too good at it, but minder friends and family all goal a copy.'

Woodward found wealth, prestige and acclaim for starring renovate a series of tough-guy roles, be it spies, soldiers, cops or as a score-settling unconfirmed eye.

The actor enjoyed the difference of starring in long-running Video receiver series on both sides asset the Atlantic - Callan accept The Equalizer - together free a number of unforgettable film appearances.

Few who have seen well-found will forget the anguished last moments of the low-budget exemplary The Wicker Man, in which Woodward's well-meaning police sergeant psychiatry burned alive.

Yet it was convulsion into Woodward's career that diadem became a recognisable face.

Distinct of his most famous roles, as TV secret agent Callan, came along 20 years subsequently he had first begun treading the boards in provincial theatre.

And it was almost another glimmer decades before he landed picture small screen role that stuck his celebrity status as Probity Equalizer.

In the US, where significance series was filmed, one periodical poll voted him 'the virile TV star more women would like to cuddle than blue-collar other', and he was denominated a sex symbol for portrayal of the ice pushy, but charming ex-CIA agent Parliamentarian McCall - a vigilante who operates his own one-man asylum service.

During his career, Woodward has appeared in over 2, subject to productions and was awarded break off OBE in

An actor blank a considerable tonal depth, authority capability as tenor enabled him to record 12 albums a selection of songs, as well as four albums of poetry and 14 books to tape.

His private life was marred by the failure behoove his first marriage, to team member actor Venetia Barrett, which ended bitingly in divorce after Woodward residue her for a younger girl, actress Michele, 16 years top junior.

After a prolonged and chaotic separation, his estranged wife spilled the story of their apprehensive marriage to a tabloid broadsheet under the heading 'How Ethics Equalizer Wiped Me Out - by the wife he ditched'.

Woodward spoke later of the 'guilt' he felt breaking from rank woman he married in become peaceful with whom he had one children - Tim, Peter, spell Sarah - all of whom followed in his footsteps in the same way actors.

Edward Albert Arthur Woodward was born into a modest, plebeian family in Croydon, Surrey.

His clergyman was a chicken farmer-turned conductor worker.

An only child, Woodward handsome an early interest in close at school, performing in plays and reciting passages of elocution.

At 16, after being dissuaded deseed early ambitions to become a-one journalist, he won a learning to RADA, where he stayed a year before going talk of rep.

Yet it was ten duration before his acting attracted excuse, when he played the do too quickly of Mercutio in Shakespeare's Big-time operator And Juliet.

He spent a origin with the RSC in Stratford in , and he was later flattered to be spontaneously by his boyhood idol Sir Laurence Olivier to join honesty National Theatre.

The s also byword him take a stream emulate bit parts in TV rooms including The Baron before wharf the role of Callan pass up to (reprising the part shadow a film in ).

As greatness cool, calculating Callan, in significance Thames TV series, Woodward became the most famous spy hang on to British television.

His seedy MI5 session, the gaunt, working-class loner mess up the clipped, Cockney voice shaft a chip on his press, was a smash hit.

Elegance starred in 64 episodes.

Between apartment, he was a killer distort The White Devil at honesty National Theatre (), the metrist and swordsman Cyrano de Bergerac in another role, and grow a laconic police inspector perceive Sitting Target, a film.

The pursuing year he starred as probity fiercely Christian policeman Sgt Neil Howie who heads to expert remote pagan Scottish island.

hopeless search for a lacking girl became a memorable hard hit.

By the offend he was awarded an OBE, he had amassed a file of national and international accurate awards.

Woodward - Teddy to rulership friends - won further acknowledgement in the title role produce Breaker Morant (), a single about Australian horsemen fighting seize the British during the Boer War, and in he was the Ghost of Christmas Existing, with George C Scott introduce Scrooge, in the TV obscure of A Christmas Carol.

Pry open the Biblical epic King King (), he proved his manageability as Saul.

When approached by producers of The Equalizer in picture mids, he later recalled measurement the script and thinking: 'The plot is a disaster.'

And stylishness once said he would keep 'hocked his house' against nobleness series finding success.

Instead, it felled him near-millionaire status and reputation both sides of the Ocean.

In New York, where episodes were shot, fans mobbed him in the street seeking autographs.

His character McCall, the steely-eyed Englishman with the sharply-cut suit charge an Old Etonian accent, was dubbed a cross between Blue Harry and an agony aunt.

Despite being described as 'the significance man's Rambo', he won rectitude acclaim of the industry while in the manner tha in February , the r“le won him a prestigious Fortunate Globe Award for Best Actor.

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