Jack Hedley

Jack Hedley, originally named Jack Hawkins, was born on 28 October 1930 in London. He adopted a new name to distinguish himself from another actor of the same name. Renowned for his work in television, Hedley's acting career commenced in 1950 with a short drama-documentary titled A Life to be Lived, focused on polio. Throughout the 1950s, he made notable appearances in films and television, including Left Right and Centre, Fair Game, and No Trams to Lime Street, which was penned by Alun Owen and featured Billie Whitelaw.

Hedley rose to fame as a television star in the BBC series The World of Tim Frazer, written by Francis Durbridge, which aired from November 1960 to March 1961 and consisted of three six-episode serials. He portrayed Corrigan Blake in Owen's 1962 play You Can't Win 'Em All, a role later reprised by John Turner in a subsequent series. His film credits in the 1960s include prominent titles like Lawrence of Arabia (1962), The Scarlet Blade (1963), and The Anniversary (1968). In the 1970s, he appeared in BBC dramas such as Colditz and Who Pays the Ferryman?, although tensions reportedly arose between him and co-stars on set.

Hedley's filmography also includes a role in the James Bond movie For Your Eyes Only as Sir Timothy Havelock, where he even voiced Havelock's parrot. He starred as cynical cop Fred Williams in Lucio Fulci's The New York Ripper and appeared in the adaptation of Irwin Shaw’s novel In The French Style. His extensive television work features shows like The Saint, Only Fools and Horses, and Dalziel and Pascoe.