Willoughby Goddard

Willoughby Wittenham Rees Goddard (4 July, 1926 – 11 April 2008) was a British actor whose trademark rotund figure was well known on television and in film for over 40 years.

Goddard was born in Bicester, Oxfordshire. He played Mr. Bumble in two versions of Charles Dickens's "Oliver Twist" - a 1962 television adaptation, and the original Broadway production of the musical "Oliver!". He originated the role of Cardinal Wolsey in the West End production of Robert Bolt's "A Man for All Seasons". He appeared in the television series The Adventures of William Tell in 1958 - 1959 as the villain Landburger Gessler which lasted 39 episodes. Also as Reeder's boss, Sir Jason Toovey who was head of the Department of Public Prosecutions in The Mind of Mr.J.G. Reeder, a TV series of 2x8 episodes (colour, 60 minutes) with first season 1969 and second season 1971. Also as Sir Geoffrey in The Man in Room 17 which ran two series of 13 episodes each (x 60 minutes, black and white) in 1965 and 1966.

TV appearances

* The Adventures of William Tell. 1958 - 1959. Regular Cast Member. Character - Landburger Gessler.
* Buccaneers. 1956. Episode - Marooned. Character - Phineas Bunch.
* Buccaneers. 1956. Episode - Blood Will Tell. Character - Lawyer Pym.
* Danger Man. 1961. Episode - The Journey Ends Halfway. Character - McFadden.
* Gay Cavalier. 1957. Episode - Dragon's Heart. Character - Bulstrode.
* Ghost Squad. 1963. Episode - The Missing People. Character - Slim Salmon.
* Invisible Man. 1961. Episode - Bank Raid. Character - Crowther.
* John Silver's Return to Treasure Island. 1986. Episode - The Map. Character - Sir Solomon Pridham.
* The Man in Room 17. 1965 - 1966. Regular Cast Member. Character - Sir Geoffrey.
* The Mind of J.G.Reeder. 1969. Regular Cast Member. Character - Sir Jason Toovey.
* Public Eye. 1965. Episode - A Harsh World for Zealots. Character - Chambers.
* Richard the Lionheart. 1963. Episode - The Lord of Kenak. Character - Arnold.
* Space 1999. 1977. Episode - The Taybor. Character- The Taybor.

Film appearances

* Bait. 1950. Character - John Hartley.
* The Green Man. 1956. Character - A knight.
* A Touch of the Sun. 1956. Character - Statesman.
* Heart of a Child. 1958. Character - Scott.
* Inn for Trouble. 1960. Character - Sgt Saunders.
* In the Wake of a Stranger. 1960. Character - Shafto.
* Double Bunk. 1961. Character - Possible Purchaser.
* The Millionairess. 1961. Character - President.
* The Secret Partner. 1961. Character - Hotel Kepper.
* The Long Shadow. 1961. Character - Schober.
* The Golden Rabbit. 1962. Character - Clitheroe.
* The Wrong Box. 1966. Character - James White Wragg.
* The Charge of the Light Brigade. 1968. Character - Squire.
* The Canterbury Tales. 1971.
* Gawain and the Green Knight. 1973. Character - A Knight.
* Young Sherlock Holmes. 1985. Character - School chaplain.
* God's Outlaw. 1986.
* Porterhouse Blue. 1987. Character - Professor Siblington.

External links

*
* [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article3738938.ece Obituary: "Times"]
* [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=&xml=/news/2008/04/15/db1502.xml Obituary: "Telegraph"]
* [http://arts.guardian.co.uk/news/obituary/0,,2273795,00.html Obituary: "Guardian"]
* [http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/willoughby-goddard-rotund-actor-often-cast-as-a-baddie-818680.html Obituary: "Independent"]