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Edward Woodward

Edward Woodward

Actor · Died November 16, 2009, aged 79 · Croydon, Surrey, England, UK

Edward Albert Arthur Woodward OBE (June 1, 1930 - November 16, 2009) was an English stage and screen actor and singer. After graduating from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), Woodward began his career on stage, and throughout his career he appeared in productions in both the West End in London and on Broadway in New York. He came to wider attention from 1967 in the title role of the British television spy drama Callan, earning him the 1970 British Academy Television Award for Best Actor. Among his film credits, Woodward starred as Police Sergeant Howie in the 1973 cult British horror film The Wicker Man, and in the title role of the noted 1980 Australian biopic Breaker Morant. From 1985 Woodward starred as British ex-secret agent and vigilante Robert McCall in the American television series The Equalizer, earning him the 1986 Golden Globe Award for Best Television Drama Actor.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
June 1, 1930
Died
November 16, 2009 (aged 79)
From
Croydon, Surrey, England, UK
Works as
Actor
Titles
27 on MovieCove · 100 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 37% in 30 days

What are Edward Woodward's films like?

Across their 19 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Drama5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 73rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 64th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Adventure3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 18th percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 65th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 30th percentile
: browse their Crime movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
45%
Bonds
17%
Self
15%
Power
13%
Society
7%
Survival
2%
Ideas
1%
Justice4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love4 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal4 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeDuty3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRevenge3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption2 titles, browse their movies with this themePower2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 18 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 11 · Stylized 6 · Heightened 1

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 4 · Charged 9 · Intense 5

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

A split, not a type: Steady 9 · Shifting 6 · Whiplash 3

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 14 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 1

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 12 · Even-paced 6 · Relentless 0

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 5 · Engaged 13 · Full focus 0

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 6 · Affecting 5 · Heavy 7

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 12 · Open-ended 5 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

17 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 5 of 17 analyzed roles.

Hero
5 of 17
Mentor
4 of 17
Shadow
4 of 17
Ally
3 of 17
Threshold guardian
1 of 17
Show the 17 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
13
Melancholic
9
Dread
3
Hopeful
4
Thrilling
4
Other
16

How their films linger

Thought-provoking6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy7
  • Bittersweet6
  • Tragic5
  • Ambiguous1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Edward Woodward's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 18 of their 27 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (12).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Edward Woodward's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

100 credits, 27 with a MovieCove page; 11 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Wicker Man at 50 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    as Sgt Howie

  • Robin Hardy's Script - The Lost Ending (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    as Sgt Howie

  • A Congregation of Ghosts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Reverend Densham

  • Hot Fuzz(2007)

    as Tom Weaver

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Five Days(2007)

    Show 10 episodes · as Vic Marsham

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all shows

  • Murder in Suburbia(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as Reg

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all shows

  • The Abduction Club(2002)

    as Lord Fermoy

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Night Flight(2002)

    as Vic Green

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Messiah (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 2 episodes · as Rev. Stephen Hedges

  • The Lone Gunmen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Marcie's Dowry (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Gus Wise

  • CI5: The New Professionals (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 13 episodes · as Harry Malone

  • Crusade(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Alwyn

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows

  • La Femme Nikita(1997)

    Show 4 episodes · as Mr. Jones

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • Harrison: Cry of the City(1996)

    as Edward 'Teddy' Harrison

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Gulliver's Travels(1996)

    Show 2 episodes · as Drunlo

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • The Shamrock Conspiracy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Edward Harrison

  • A Christmas Reunion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Colonel Phillips

  • Common As Muck (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 12 episodes · as Nev

  • Deadly Advice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Maj. Herbert Armstrong

  • Aladdin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as The Sultan (voice)

  • In My Defence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 1 episode · as Gourgen Yanikian

  • Soccer Shoot-Out (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Commentator (Voice)

  • In Suspicious Circumstances (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 39 episodes · as Storyteller

  • Mister Johnson(1990)

    as Sargy Gollup

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Over My Dead Body (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 13 episodes · Actor

  • Hands of a Murderer(1990)

    as Sherlock Holmes

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Memories of Manon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Robert McCall

  • The Man in the Brown Suit(1989)

    as Sir Eustace Pedler

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Codename: Kyril (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 2 episodes · as Michael Royston

  • A Desperate Fortune: Matthew Flinders' Australia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Narrator

  • The Equalizer - The Movie: Blood & Wine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Robert McCall

  • Uncle Tom's Cabin(1987)

    as Simon Legree

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 2 episodes · as Drummond

  • The Equalizer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 88 episodes · as Robert McCall

  • Arthur the King(1985)

    as Merlin

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • King David(1985)

    as King Saul

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • The Bill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 2 episodes · as Johnnie Jackson

  • A Christmas Carol(1984)

    as Ghost of Christmas Present

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Champions(1984)

    as Josh Gifford

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Love Is Forever(1983)

    as Derek McBracken

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • The Appointment (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Ian

  • The Final Option(1982)

    as Commander Powell

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 8 episodes · as Sir Samuel Hoare

  • Wet Job (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as David Callan

  • Blunt Instrument (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Alex Logan

  • Sunday Night Thriller (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 2 episodes · as Alex Logan

  • The Trial of Lady Chatterley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Mervyn Griffith-Jones

  • Nice Work (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 8 episodes · Actor

  • Breaker Morant(1980)

    as Harry 'Breaker' Morant

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • A Rod of Iron (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Ian

  • The Bass Player and the Blonde (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 3 episodes · as George Mangham

  • Saturday, Sunday, Monday (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Luigi

  • 1990 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 16 episodes · as Jim Kyle

  • The Bass Player and the Blonde (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as George Mangham

  • Stand up, Virgin Soldiers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Sgt. Wellbeloved

  • Laurence Olivier Presents (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · as Luigi

  • Three for All (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Roadsweeper

  • When Day Is Done (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Philip Warne

  • Armchair Cinema (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Philip Warne

  • Callan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as David Callan

  • The Wicker Man(1973)

    as Sergeant Neil Howie

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Whodunnit? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 6 episodes · as Host

  • Young Winston(1972)

    as Captain Aylmer Haldane · as Aylmer Haldane

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Sitting Target(1972)

    as Inspector Milton

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • The Ra Expeditions (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Narrator (BBC version)

  • Hunted (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as John Drummond

  • The Cherry Orchard (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Lopahkin

  • Evelyn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as The Man

  • The Edward Woodward Hour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 3 episodes · Actor

  • Blood Suckers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Dr. Holstrom

  • Prisoners (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as The Man

  • Play for Today (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 1 episode · as The Man

  • The File of the Golden Goose(1969)

    as Arthur Thompson

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Julius Caesar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Cassius

  • The Root of All Evil? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Designi

  • Entertaining Mr. Sloane (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Ed

  • ITV Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Ed · as George Mangham · as Ian

  • Trapped (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Mark Frazier

  • Callan(1967)

    Show 44 episodes · as David Callan

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • A Magnum for Schneider (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    as David Callan

  • Sword of Honour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 3 episodes · as Guy Crouchback

  • NET Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Show 1 episode · as Caius Cassius

  • The Baron(1966)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • You Can't Win (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Ella (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as Arthur

  • Mystery and Imagination (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Show 1 episode · as Reeve

  • BBC Play of the Month (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Caius Cassius · as Lopakhin

  • Thirty-Minute Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Alan · as Arthur

  • Theatre 625 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 3 episodes · as Guy Crouchback

  • Detective (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · as Auguste Dupin

  • Becket(1964)

    as Clement (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Sergeant Cork (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Austen Carew

  • The Saint (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 1 episode · as Jack Liskard

  • Sir Francis Drake (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · as Spanish Captain

  • You Can't Win (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · as Paul Hayward

  • The Defenders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · as H.T. Harris

  • Armchair Mystery Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 1 episode · as Anstey · as Paul Danek

  • Armchair Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · as David Callan

  • Where There's a Will (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    as Ralph Stokes

Career shape

Star power in the 97th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 100 titles from 1955 to 2023; peak year 1972.

Biggest box office

King David (1985)

$5.1M worldwide

Highest rated

Breaker Morant (1980)

Midcredits 96th

Most popular right now

Callan (1967)

Film career

MilestoneBreakout
19552023

Peak 1972 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 3 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting100 of 100: 100 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score60th

By decade

1950s2 · acting1960s25 · acting1970s22 · acting1980s24 · acting1990s16 · acting2000s9 · acting2020s2 · acting

Billing

usually 4th · top billed in 27% of 11 roles

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.

How do Edward Woodward's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 62nd percentile, the median of all 20; across their 18 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 59th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

59thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Approval · how many liked their films

56thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Reach · how many have seen their films

51stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Midcredits score across 27 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up6
  • 50th to 74th10
  • 25th to 49th6
  • Below 25th5

Shape of the crowd

9 of their 27 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved6
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser9
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed8

Most divisive · actor

Love Is Forever (1983)

76th percentile spread · 37% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Hot Fuzz (2007)

Midcredits 97th · 87% liked

Reviewers score the acting 70/100 in their films, across 17 reviewed titles; fans 79, detractors 41. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Edward Woodward's work okay for kids?

Across up to 5 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity runs lighter than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Sex & Nudity5 titles13–68 · median 20 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 32

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Edward Woodward work with?

People who share at least 2 of Edward Woodward's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Bruce Beresford shares the most, 3.

Directors

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers