John Woodvine
Quick facts for kids
John Woodvine
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A photo of actor John Woodvine.
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| Born | 21 July 1929 South Shields, County Durham, England
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| Died | 6 October 2025 (aged 96) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1952–2022 |
| Spouse(s) |
Lynn Farleigh
(m. 1996) |
| Children | 2, including Mary Woodvine |
John Woodvine (born 21 July 1929 – died 6 October 2025) was a talented English actor. He had a long and successful career. He appeared in more than 70 theatre plays. He also starred in many television shows and films. People knew him for his strong performances on stage and screen.
Early Life
John Woodvine was born in South Shields, England, on 21 July 1929. His parents were Rose and John Woodvine. He went to Lord Williams's School in Thame, Oxfordshire. Later, he studied acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. He finished his training in 1953, ready to start his acting journey.
A Busy Acting Career
John Woodvine began his career with the Old Vic theatre company in the 1950s. He later joined the famous Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC). There, he played important roles like Banquo in Trevor Nunn's production of Macbeth in 1976. He also starred as Ralph Nickleby in the RSC's big production of The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby in 1980.
He often played police officers on television. He was Det. Insp. Witty in Z-Cars from 1968 to 1969. He also recreated his role as Inspector Kingdom in New Scotland Yard. Other TV roles included parts in the 1979 Doctor Who serial The Armageddon Factor. He also appeared in Edge of Darkness and The Crown, where he played the Archbishop of York. He also featured in popular shows like Shameless, The Bill, Emmerdale, and Coronation Street.
In films, John Woodvine was known for his role as Dr. J. S. Hirsch in the 1981 John Landis film An American Werewolf in London. He also appeared in the 1972 Richard Attenborough film Young Winston. Other film credits included The Devils (1971) and Persuasion (1995). He lent his voice to radio plays too, like the BBC Radio One adaptation of An American Werewolf in London. He also voiced "Prospero" in The Tempest for BBC Radio 3.
Life Off Stage
John Woodvine was married to actress Lynn Farleigh. His daughter, Mary Woodvine, is also an actress. In 2012, he had a health scare during a performance of the musical Carousel. He collapsed backstage but made a full recovery after being admitted to hospital. John Woodvine passed away peacefully at his home on 6 October 2025, at the age of 96.
Voice Work
Beyond acting, John Woodvine also did narration for various projects. He narrated documentaries like Greatest goals: the World Cup from Charlton to Maradona (1987). He also worked on History of Tyne and Wear Metro and the BBC series All our Working Lives (1984).
