A most well known and beloved actor was Robert Hardy. He was born and raised in the Gloucestershire town of Cheltenham. In this rural town he proved to be a capable academic going onto Magdalene College in Oxford, in part because his father was a Headmaster. He was to see active service in the Second World War as a trainee pilot in the RAF in the USA. He did not forget his Gloucestershire roots and loved the place all his life. This is true of everyone that lives there. Just ask someone who owns a Park Homes Gloucester property like the ones at http://www.parkhomelife.com/our-parks/orchard-park-homes-gloucester-gloucstershire/.
Here are some of his most well known and iconic roles.
- The accomplished Shakepearian. His career began on the stage in 1959 acting alongside such greats as Laurence Olivier. He played the role of Sicinius in Coriolanus but soon gravitated to Television where he played the lead in Coriolanus and Sir Toby Belch in Twelfth Night.
- Edward the Seventh. Made in 1975 he considered it to be his best work. He played Albert the consort of Queen Victoria and the warts and all production raised a few eyebrows in Buckingham Palace, not that Hardy was concerned and he was still awarded a CBE.
- Siegfried Farnon. This was his most famous role for many years. The character was quick to anger but had a gentler side that Hardy brought out.
- Cornelius Fudge. This was to be his final film role as the Minister for Magic in Harry Potter. He starts by being a bumptious friendly man but as he ignores the shadow of Voldemort he becomes more menacing.
A great actor sadly missed.