Edward Hardwicke was born on the 7th August 1932 in London. He is the son of actor Sir Cedric Hardwicke and actress Helena Pickard.
The young Edward made his stage debut at the age of 7 at the Malvern Festival. He spent some of his early childhood in Hollywood. It is interesting to note that his father played Sherlock Holmes on the radio (with Finlay Currie as Watson) and was a close friend of Nigel Bruce and Basil Rathbone, with whom he played in the film «Wing and Prayer».
It is in Hollywood that Edward Hardwicke began his film career, at the age of 10, in Victor Fleming’s film «A Guy named Joe», with Spencer Tracy. He returned to England and on finishing school and military service as pilot officer in the RAF, he trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA). He played at The Bristol Old Vic (where he met Peter O’Toole) and at The Oxford Playhouse and The Nottingham Playhouse, before to join Laurence Olivier’s National theatre, in 1964, though in different company to Jeremy Brett. He appeared in such plays as Shakespeare’s Othello, Ibsen’s The Master Builder (with Laurence Olivier), Peter Shaffer’s Royal Hunt Of the Sun (with Robert Stephen), Charley’s Aunt, Tom Stoppard’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead, The Way of the World and Feydeau’s A Flea In Her Ear (directed by Jacques Charron). In 1967 he toured Canada. Apart from working on the audio play The Life And Death of King Richard II recorded in 1960, Jeremy Brett and Edward Hardwicke never really met before David Burke suggested Edward succeed him in the role of the good doctor. Hardwicke played the role for eight years from 1985 to 1994 as a very calm and attentive Watson. He reprised his character for the theatre, again with Brett as Holmes, in 1988-1989, in the Jeremy Paul’s play : «The Secret Of Sherlock Holmes».
More recently he returned to the Victorian times and to the world of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle world, playing Doyle himself in the Nick Willing’s film Photographing Fairies (1997), opposite Robert Stephen‘s son, Toby Stephen.
Edward Hardwicke has two daughters, Kate and Emma, and a step-daughter Claire who is an actress with the Royal Shakespeare Company. He lives with his wife in France, in his farm in Normandy.
TV and films:
1. She (2001) .... Ludwig Holly
2. David Copperfield (2000) (TV) .... Mr. Wickfield
3. "In the Beginning" (2000) (mini) TV Series .... Isaac (Older)
4. Alchemists, The (1999) (TV) .... Richard Bannerman
5. Mary, Mother of Jesus (1999) (TV) ….Role ?
6. Heartbeat (1992) …. Tommy Bayne. Episode: "Intuition" (episode #9.3) 10/10/1999
7. Parting Shots (1998) .... Dr. Joseph
8. Elizabeth (1998) .... Earl of Arundel ( le comte d’Arundel)
... aka Elizabeth : The Virgin Queen (1998)
9. Appetite (1998) .... Jonathan
10. Front Seat (1997) (TV) .... Hugh Branksome
11. Photographing Fairies (1997) .... Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
... aka «Apparition» (1997) (Australia: video box title)
… Aka «Forever» (1997) France.
12. Hollow Reed (1996) .... High Court Judge (un juge)
... aka Lautlose Schreie (1996) (Germany)
13. “Peak Practice” (1993), playing “Patrick Siddons” (episode #4.8), 1996.
14. Dangerfield (1995)…. Wiliam Ashurt. Episode : "Old Dog Old Tricks" (episode #3.9) 11/8/1996
15. Scarlet Letter, The (1995) .... Governor (gouverneur) John Bellingham
16. Richard III (1995) .... Stanley
17. Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, The (1994) TV Series .... Dr. John Watson
18. Shadowlands (1993) .... Warnie Lewis
... Aka Les Ombres du Cœur (France)
19. Eligible Bachelor, The (1992) (TV) .... Dr. Watson
20. Last Vampyre, The (1992) (TV) .... Dr. Watson
21. Lovejoy (1986)…. Kinloch. Episode : "Scotch on the Rocks" (episode # 3.7) 1/23/1992
22. Master Blackmailer, The (1991) (TV) .... Dr. Watson
23. Let Him Have It (1991) .... Approved School Principal (Le principal)
24. Casebook of Sherlock Holmes, The (1990) TV Series .... Dr. John Watson
25. Hound of the Baskervilles, The (1988) (TV) .... Dr. John Watson
26. Return of Sherlock Holmes II, The (1988) TV Series .... Dr. John Watson
27. Sign of Four, The (1987) (TV) .... Dr. John Watson
28. Return of Sherlock Holmes, The (1986) TV Series .... Dr. John Watson
29. Baby... Secret of the Lost Legend (1985) .... Dr. Pierre Dubois
... aka Dinosaur... Secret of the Lost Legend (1985) (TV title)
30. Titus Andronicus (1985) (TV) .... Marcus
... aka BBC Television Shakespeare: Titus Andronicus (1985) (TV)
31. Biko Inquest, The (1984) (TV) .... Prof. Proctor (at Riverside Studios for Channel 4)
32. Oedipus the King (1984) (TV) .... Chorus
33. Venom (1982) .... Lord Dunning
34. Bunker, The (1981) (TV) .... Dieter Stahl
... aka Bunker, Le (1981) (TV) (France)
35. Oppenheimer (1980) (mini) TV Series .... Enrico Fermi
36. Ripping Yarns (1977)…. Mr. Girton. Episode : "Whinfrey's Last Case" (episode #2.1) 10/10/1979
37. Odd Job, The (1978) .... Inspector Black
38. Holocaust (1978) (mini) TV Series .... Biberstein
39. Sweeney, The" (1975)….Bellcourt. Episode : "Hearts And Minds" (episode #4.11) 11/23/1978
40. Haunting of Julia, The (1976) .... Captain Paul Winter
... aka Full Circle (1976)
41. Grace (1975) (TV) … Role ?
... aka Centre Play: Grace (1975) (TV) (UK: series title)
42. Black Windmill, The (1974) .... Mike McCarthy
43. Next Scream You Hear, The (1974) (TV) .... Gifford
... aka Not Guilty! (1974) (TV) (USA)
... aka Thriller: The Next Scream You Hear (1974) (TV) (UK: series title)
44. My Old Man (1974) TV Series .... Arthur
45. Day of the Jackal, The (1973)…. Role ?
46. Colditz (1972) TV Series .... Capt. Pat Grant (1972‑3)
47. Belgrove Hotel, Goodbye (1970) (TV)…Stephen
48. Reckoning, The (1969) .... Mitchell
... aka Matter of Honour, A (1969)
49. Otley (1969) .... Lambert
50. Son of Man (1969) (TV) .... Judas Iscariot
... aka Wednesday Play: Son of Man (1969) (TV) (UK)
51. Flea in Her Ear, A (1968) .... Pierre
... aka Puce à l'oreille, La (1968) (France)
52. Flea in Her Ear, A (1967) (TV)…. Pierre ?
53. Othello (1965) .... Montano
54. Danger Man (1960)…. Frontier Guard. Episode : "Time To Kill" (episode #1.2) 1960
55. Invisible Man, The (1958)…. MacBane. Episode : "Big Plot, The" 1959
56. Men of Sherwood Forest (1954) .... George
57. Hell Below Zero (1954) .... Ulvik
58. Guy Named Joe, A (1943)…. George
Theatre :
1. The Winslow Boy, Chichester Festival, Chichester, 6-06/4-08-2001…Mr. Winslow
2. The Secret of Sherlock Holmes, Wyndham Theatre, London. 1988-89… Dr. Watson.
3. Can You Hear Me At The Back ?. Piccadilly Theatre London, 1979...Jack Hartnoll.
4. The Lady From Maxim's. National Theatre-Lyttleton Theatre, 1977...Dr. Mongicourt.
5. An Ideal Husband. Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, UK… 1976, Guilford Theatre in 1977 and toured in Canada)....Sir Robert Chiltern.
6. On Approval. Haymarket Theatre, London, 1975…Richard Halton.
7. Uncle Vanya. Bristol Old Vic, 1973...Astrov.
8. The letter. Palace Theatre, Watford UK, 1973…Howard Joyce.
9. The Rules Of The Game. National Theatre Company, 1971…Guido Veranzi.
10. Mrs. Warren’s Profession. National Theatre Company, 1970...Praed .
11. The odiot. National Theatre Company, 1969...Lebedev.
12. The white Devil. National Theatre Company, 1969… Jacques.
13. The Way Of The World. National Theatre Company, 1968… Anthony Witwoud.
14. Rosencrantz And Guildenstern Are Dead. National Theatre Company, 1967...Rosencrantz.
15. A Flea In Her Ear (La Puce à L‘oreille). National Theatre Company, 1966… Montano
/Camille Chandebise.
16 . Love For Love. National Theatre Company, 1965…Ben.
17. The Crucible (Les Sorcières de Salem). National Theatre Company, London, 1965, role?
18. The Master Builder, National Theatre Company, London, 1964… Ragnar Brovik
19. Royal Hunt Of The Sun, National Theatre Company, Chichester Festival, London, 1964… Role ?
20. Othello, National Theatre Company, London, 1964… Montano.
21. The Provoked Wife. Vaudeville Theatre, London 1963...Tailor and Justice (Un tailleur et un juge).
22. Photo Finish, Saville Theatre, London, 1962 ...Sam Young.
23. Wildest Dreams, Vaudeville Theatre, London. 1961...Mr. Muffle.
24. The Impresario Of Smyrna, Arts Theatre, London. 1954...Role ?
realised by : The Jeremy Brett Society of France (JBSF). Email : JBSF.com@wanadoo.fr
published in the newspaper : «Some Of This And Some Of That» n°5, octobre (october) 2000 ; Copyright©JBSF2000