Robert Powell facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Robert Powell
Powell in 2023
Born	Robert Thomas Powell (1944-06-01) 1 June 1944 (age 81) Salford, Lancashire, England
Alma mater	University of Manchester
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1966–present
Spouse(s)	Barbara Lord ​ (m. 1975)​
Children	2

Robert Thomas Powell (born 1 June 1944) is a famous English actor. He is well-known for playing the main characters in movies like Mahler (1974) and Jesus of Nazareth (1977). He also played the secret agent Richard Hannay in The Thirty Nine Steps (1978) and a TV show called Hannay.

Robert Powell has also had important roles in TV shows. These include Tobias "Toby" Wren in the science-fiction show Doomwatch (1970), David Briggs in the comedy The Detectives (1993–1997), and Mark Williams in the medical drama Holby City (2005–2011).

Many people recognize Robert Powell's unique voice. He has narrated many documentaries, especially those about the Second World War. Some of these include World War II in HD Colour and Hitler's Bodyguard.

Powell was nominated for a top acting award, a BAFTA TV Award, for his role in Jesus of Nazareth in 1978. He also won a Best Actor award at the Venice Film Festival for his performance in the film Imperative in 1982.

Early Life and Education

Robert Powell was born in Salford, Lancashire, England. His parents were Kathleen and John Wilson Powell. He went to Manchester Grammar School and later studied law at the University of Manchester. He has an older brother named Henry.

Acting Career Highlights

Powell started acting when he was still at school. He even played the main role in Shakespeare's play King Lear. As a teenager, he also appeared on BBC Radio Children's Hour. His first small film role was in Robbery (1967). He also had a small part in the original film The Italian Job (1969).

Early TV Success

His first big success came in 1970 when he played scientist Toby Wren in the BBC science fiction series Doomwatch. After this, Powell became very popular. He starred in several other BBC TV shows, including Sentimental Education (1970) and Jude the Obscure (1971). In 1972–1973, he played Charles Rolls in the miniseries The Edwardians.

Film Roles in the 1970s

Powell also acted in films during this time. He played the Austrian composer Gustav Mahler in the film Mahler (1974). He also appeared as Captain Walker in the film Tommy (1975).

Playing Jesus of Nazareth

One of his most famous roles was playing Jesus of Nazareth in the TV miniseries Jesus of Nazareth (1977). This four-part TV film had many famous actors. For this role, Powell was nominated for a BAFTA award and won the TVTimes Best Actor award. Many people still consider his performance one of the best portrayals of Christ.

Richard Hannay and Beyond

In 1978, Powell took on the main role of Richard Hannay in the film The Thirty Nine Steps. People liked his performance so much that almost ten years later, a TV series called Hannay was made, with Powell playing the role again. The Hannay series ran for two seasons.

In 1980, Powell won the Best Actor Award at the Paris Film Festival for his role in the film Harlequin. In 1982, he won Best Actor at the Venice Film Festival for his part in Imperativ.

Voice Acting and Narrating

Robert Powell's clear voice is often heard in voice-overs and as a narrator for TV shows. He has narrated series like Great Crimes and Trials, The Century of Warfare, and World War II in HD Colour. He has also narrated many audio books, including The Thirty Nine Steps. He lent his voice to musical works too, like David Bedford's album The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.

Later TV and Theatre Work

In the 1990s, Powell joined his friend, comedian Jasper Carrott, in a series of comedy sketches. These sketches became a popular TV show called The Detectives, where Powell played a funny, clumsy detective.

From 2005, Powell became a regular actor in the BBC medical drama Holby City, playing a hospital administrator for six years. In 2015, he starred in the play King Charles III at the Almeida Theatre, playing the main role. In 2018, he appeared in a Smithsonian Channel documentary series called The Real Jesus of Nazareth. In this series, he explored the life of Jesus, connecting it with his famous role from 1977.

Personal Life

Robert Powell met his wife, Barbara "Babs" Lord, who was a dancer, backstage at the BBC. They got married on 29 August 1975, just before he started filming Jesus of Nazareth. They have two children, a son named Barney (born 1977) and a daughter named Kate (born 1979).

The couple enjoys sailing. Babs Lord has even taken part in big sailing races around the world. Robert Powell also participated in one part of a round-the-world race in 2000.

Filmography

Images for kids

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  Powell (centre) at St Paul's Cathedral in 2006

See also

In Spanish: Robert Powell para niños