Michael Williams

Michael Leonard Williams (9 July 1935 – 11 January 2001) was an English actor who played both classical and comedy roles, and was the husband of actress Dame Judi Dench.

Early life and career

Born in Liverpool, Lancashire, he attended St. Edward's College and worked as an insurance assessor before going into the theatre.

His first film appearance was in 1962, and he subsequently appeared frequently on television (notably in Elizabeth R), and in British films such as Educating Rita (1983) and (along with Dench) Henry V (1989). In the latter, in perhaps an irresistible casting decision, he played his namesake, the Shakespearean character named Michael Williams. In 1967, he played in Peter Whitehead's documentary Benefit of the Doubt on Peter Brook's anti-Vietnam play "US", along with Peter Brook and the Royal Shakespeare Company.

His many radio roles included crime reporter George Cragge in In the Red and its sequels, and Dr Watson in the BBC's complete run of Sherlock Holmes adaptations.

Williams provided voices for the Woodland Animations BBC Television series Charlie Chalk, created by Ivor Wood.

Private life

He married Judi Dench in 1971, the same year that they co-starred in a stage production of John Webster's The Duchess of Malfi. They had one daughter, Tara Cressida Williams (b. 1972), known as Finty Williams, who is also an actress. Finty has a son, Sam.

Williams chaired the British Catholic Stage Guild for a number of years before he was incapacitated by illness.

Although Williams was a devout Catholic^[1][2] and Dench is a Quaker, theirs was one of the most successful showbiz marriages, and they worked together on several series of the situation comedy, A Fine Romance, from 1981 onwards. He was the President of the Roman Catholic Actors' Guild.^[1]

Williams served as an enthusiastic supporter of the project to build the Blackfriars Playhouse in Staunton, Virginia in the USA. A plaque commemorating Williams' contributions hangs in the completed playhouse.

Shortly before his death from lung cancer at the age of 65, Williams was appointed a Knight of St Gregory (KSG) by Pope John Paul II for his contribution to Catholic life in Britain.^[3]

Selected television roles

Selected radio roles

Selected film roles

Stage appearances

Principal stage appearances; mostly with the Royal Shakespeare Company:^[4]

Also appeared in the Royal Shakespeare Company's Theatre-Go-Round Festival, Round House Theatre, London, 1970.^[5]

References

External links

• Michael Williams at the Internet Movie Database
• Performances listed in Theatre Archive, University of Bristol