Hywel Bennett

Hywel Bennett
Bennett in 1966
Born	Hywel Thomas Bennett (1944-04-08)8 April 1944 Garnant, Carmarthenshire, Wales
Died	25 July 2017(2017-07-25) (aged 73) Cardiff, Wales
Alma mater	Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1965–2007
Spouse(s)	Cathy McGowan ​ ​ (m. 1970; div. 1988)​ Sandra Layne Fulford ​ ​ (m. 1998)​
Children	1
Relatives	Alun Lewis (brother) Amelia Warner (niece)

Hywel Thomas Bennett^[1][a] (8 April 1944 – 25 July 2017) was a Welsh film and television actor. Bennett is perhaps best known for his leading roles in films including The Family Way (1966) and for playing the titular "thinking man's layabout"^[3] James Shelley in the television sitcom Shelley (1979–1992).

Having played opposite Hayley Mills in The Family Way and Twisted Nerve and starred as Private Brigg in the comedy film The Virgin Soldiers (1969), Bennett's screen roles continued into the 1970s in films such as Loot (1970), Percy (1971) and, with Mills, Endless Night (1972). Bennett's character, Ricki Tarr, was pivotal in the BBC serial adaptation of John le Carré's Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (1979). In later years, he was often cast in villainous roles including Mr Croup in Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere (1996) and crime boss Jack Dalton in EastEnders during 2003.

Early life[]

Bennett was born in Garnant, Carmarthenshire, Wales, the son of Sarah Gwen (née Lewis) and Gorden Bennett.^[4] He was the brother of actor Alun Lewis, who is best known for playing Vic Windsor in Emmerdale. Bennett was brought up in London from an early age, and attended Sunnyhill School, Streatham, Henry Thornton Grammar School, Clapham (1955–62) and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.^[3]

Career[]

Bennett debuted on stage in the role of Ophelia in a Queen's Theatre production of Hamlet in 1959.^[3]

His first film appearance was as Leonardo in the 1966 Italian Il marito è mio e l'ammazzo quando mi pare ("It's my husband and I'll decide when to kill him"), directed by Pasquale Festa Campanile, a comedy in which a young wife carefully plans to murder her husband, who is 40 years her senior, to marry a young beatnik.^[5]

He starred opposite Hayley Mills in several films, including The Family Way (1966), Twisted Nerve (1968) and Endless Night (1972).

He starred in The Virgin Soldiers (1969), the film adaptation of Loot (1970) by Joe Orton, and Percy (1971).^[6] In 1969, contemporary critic Roger Ebert called him "one of England's best young actors".^[7]

On television Bennett appeared in Doctor Who (1965) and The Sweeney (1976).^[8]

He played major parts in several Dennis Potter television plays, including Where the Buffalo Roam (1966), an episode of 1978's Pennies from Heaven, "Better Think Twice", in which he played Tom, a pimp; Karaoke (1996); and Cold Lazarus (also 1996). He took the lead role in Shelley (1979–84) and its sequel The Return of Shelley (1988–92).

He was also the villainous Mr Croup in Neil Gaiman's serial Neverwhere (1996).^[9] Bennett also starred in the four-part BBC mini-series Malice Aforethought (1979) based on a novel written in the 1920s by Francis Iles.^[10] Bennett's character, Ricki Tarr, was pivotal in the BBC serial based on John le Carré's novel Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (1979).^[7] He also appeared in Lock, Stock... (2000) as Deep Throat.^[11]

In 2003, Bennett joined the cast of the long-running soap opera EastEnders as Jack Dalton – the ruthless gangland kingpin of Walford.

Bennett also appeared as an occasional character, Peter Baxter, on The Bill and was in the first episode of Jam & Jerusalem.^[12][13]

He appeared in the 1986 music video of "Loving You's a Dirty Job but Somebody's Gotta Do It" by Bonnie Tyler and Todd Rundgren in which he lip synced Rundgren's vocals.^{[citation needed]}

Personal life and death[]

From 1970 to 1988, Bennett was married to Cathy McGowan, who was the presenter of the TV rock show Ready Steady Go! in the mid-1960s. They had a daughter, Emma. In 1998, he married Sandra Layne Fulford.^[1]

Bennett retired from acting in 2007 after being diagnosed with a congenital heart defect,^[1] and later moved to Deal, Kent. He died on 25 July 2017, aged 73.^[14][3]

Filmography[]

Film[]

Television[]

Notes[]

References[]

External links[]

• Hywel Bennett at the British Film Institute
• Hywel Bennett at IMDb
• HYWEL BENNETT