John Thaw facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Thaw
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Thaw as Inspector Morse
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| Born |
John Edward Thaw
3 January 1942 Gorton, Manchester, England
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| Died | 21 February 2002 (aged 60) Luckington, Wiltshire, England
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| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1958–2001 |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 3, including Abigail Thaw |
John Edward Thaw (born 3 January 1942 – died 21 February 2002) was a famous English actor. He was known for his many roles in TV shows, plays, and movies. You might know him best as Detective Chief Inspector Endeavour Morse in the TV series Inspector Morse. He also played Sergeant John Mann in Redcap and Detective Inspector Jack Regan in The Sweeney. Later, he starred as Henry Willows in Home to Roost and James Kavanagh in Kavanagh QC.
Contents
Early Life and Education
John Thaw was born in Gorton, Manchester, England. His parents were working-class people. His father, Jack Thaw, worked in an aircraft factory and later as a lorry driver. John had a tough childhood because his mother left when he was only seven years old.
He grew up in Gorton and Burnage. He went to the Ducie Technical High School for Boys. When he was 16, he got into the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), which is a famous acting school.
A Star on Screen and Stage
After finishing at RADA, John Thaw started his acting career on stage in Liverpool. His first small movie role was in The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner in 1962. He even acted alongside the legendary Sir Laurence Olivier in a play called Semi-Detached.
He appeared in the BBC police show Z-Cars in the early 1960s. From 1964 to 1966, he played Sergeant John Mann, a tough military policeman, in the TV series Redcap. He also made a guest appearance in an early episode of The Avengers.
Becoming a TV Icon
John Thaw is most famous for two big TV roles. First, he played the tough detective Jack Regan in The Sweeney from 1975 to 1978. This show made him a huge star in the UK. Many people thought he was older, but he was only 32 when he started playing Regan!
His second major role was the clever but quiet Detective Chief Inspector Endeavour Morse in Inspector Morse. This series ran from 1987 to 2000. Morse, along with his assistant Detective Sergeant Robert "Robbie" Lewis (played by Kevin Whately), became one of Britain's most loved TV characters. At its most popular, the show had 18 million viewers!
John Thaw won many awards for playing Morse. He won "Most Popular Actor" at the 1999 National Television Awards. He also won two BAFTA awards for his amazing performance.
Other Notable Roles
After Inspector Morse, he played James Kavanagh, a lawyer, in Kavanagh QC from 1995 to 2001. He also starred in two comedy shows: Thick as Thieves and Home to Roost. In America, he was known for Inspector Morse and the BBC series A Year in Provence.
John Thaw also worked with director Richard Attenborough on films like Cry Freedom and Chaplin. In Cry Freedom, he played a South African justice minister, which earned him a BAFTA nomination.
One of his most loved roles was in the TV movie Goodnight Mister Tom in 1998. He played Tom Oakley, a kind old man who takes in a boy during World War II. This film won "Most Popular Drama" at the National Television Awards in 1999.
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, John Thaw performed in plays with famous groups like the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre.
Personal Life
In 1964, John Thaw married Sally Alexander. They later divorced. In 1969, he met actress Sheila Hancock while working on a play. They married on 24 December 1973 and stayed together until his death.
John Thaw had three daughters. His daughter Abigail is from his first marriage. His daughter Joanna is from his marriage to Sheila Hancock. He also adopted Sheila Hancock's daughter, Melanie Jane, who changed her last name to Thaw. His granddaughter, Molly Whitmey, even had a small role in an episode of Endeavour, a show about a younger Inspector Morse.
John Thaw was a strong supporter of the Labour Party. In March 1993, Queen Elizabeth II made him a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE). This is a special honour for his contributions. In 2006, he was voted the third greatest TV star of the past 50 years in a public poll.
Illness and Passing
In June 2001, John Thaw was diagnosed with cancer. He bravely fought the illness. Sadly, the cancer spread, and he passed away on 21 February 2002, just seven weeks after his 60th birthday.
He was living at his home in Wiltshire when he died. A memorial service was held for him on 4 September 2002 in London. Many famous people attended, including Charles, Prince of Wales, Richard Attenborough, and Tom Courtenay.
Selected Performances
John Thaw had a long and successful career. Here are some of his most well-known roles:
Television Series
- 1963: Z-Cars – Detective Constable Elliot
- 1964–1966: Redcap – Sergeant John Mann
- 1974: Thick As Thieves – Stan
- 1975–1978: The Sweeney – Det. Insp. Jack Regan
- 1985–1990: Home to Roost – Henry Willows
- 1987–2000: Inspector Morse – Detective Chief Inspector Endeavour Morse
- 1992: A Year in Provence – Peter Mayle
- 1995–2001: Kavanagh QC – James Kavanagh QC
- 2000: Monsignor Renard – Monsignor Augustine Renard
Television Films
- 1974: Regan
- 1977: Sweeney!
- 1978: Sweeney 2
- 1989: Bomber Harris – Sir Arthur 'Bomber' Harris
- 1998: Goodnight Mister Tom – Tom Oakley
- 2001: Hidden Treasure / Buried Treasure – Harry (his final film role)
Theatrical Films
- 1962: The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner – Bosworth
- 1968: The Bofors Gun – Featherstone
- 1972: Dr. Phibes Rises Again – Shavers
- 1987: Cry Freedom – Jimmy Kruger
- 1992: Chaplin – Fred Karno
Stage Performances
John Thaw also had a very active career in theatre. He performed in many plays throughout his life, including:
- 1962: Semi-Detached (with Laurence Olivier)
- 1969: So What About Love?
- 1976: Absurd Person Singular
- 1988: All My Sons
- 2001: Peter Pan – Captain Hook
Honours and Awards
John Thaw received many awards and honours for his acting talent:
Won
- 1977: Evening Standard British Film Award – Best Actor for: Sweeney!
- 1990: British Academy Award – Best Actor for: "Inspector Morse"
- 1993: British Academy Award – Best Actor for: "Inspector Morse"
- 1994: CBE (Commander of the British Empire)
- 1998: National Television Award – Most Popular Actor for: "Inspector Morse"
- 1999: National Television Award – Most Popular Actor for: "Goodnight, Mister Tom"
- 2001: National Television Award – Most Popular Actor for: "Inspector Morse" and Academy Fellowship
Nominated
- 1988: British Academy Award – Best Actor in a Supporting Role for: "Cry Freedom"
- 1991: British Academy Award – Best Actor for: "Inspector Morse"
- 1992: British Academy Award – Best Actor for: "Inspector Morse"
A special memorial bench is dedicated to John Thaw in the gardens of St Paul's Covent Garden in London.
Images for kids
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Thaw in The Sweeney.jpg
John Thaw as Jack Regan in The Sweeney
