Actor Edward Woodward, best known for his leading roles in classic horror film The Wicker Man and US drama The Equalizer, has died aged 79.
The Croydon-born performer died in the Royal Cornwall Hospital with his family around him. He had been suffering from a number of illnesses.
Though best known for his screen performances, Woodward started his career on the stage, making his London debut in 1954 playing Ralph Stokes in Where There’s A Will at the Garrick theatre.
He appeared in productions of Salad Days and Doctor In The House, before joining the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1958, playing Mercutio in Romeo And Juliet, Laertes in Hamlet and Claudio in Much Ado About Nothing.
His Broadway debut came in 1963, when he starred in Rattle Of A Simple Man at the Booth theatre.
Woodward continued to be a regular stage performer through the 60s, 70s and into the early 80s, appearing at the Laurence Olivier-led National Theatre in The White Devil and Cyrano De Bergerac.
Focusing more on screen work in later life, some of his final performances came in long-running BBC soap opera EastEnders, ITV police drama The Bill and spoof cop film Hot Fuzz.
MA