John Wood(1930-2011)
- Actor
Studied law at Jesus College, Oxford, but became president of OUDS by
his final year, when he played the lead in "Richard III" to wide
critical acclaim. Subsequently joined the Old Vic, where among other
roles he played "the Dauphin" to
Richard Burton's "Henry V". Left
the Old Vic under less than happy circumstances and had even less luck
with the Royal Court. Spent some time in France, where he briefly
considered remaining, but returned to the UK and spent some seven years
working in television and low-paying quickie films. In 1966, played one
of the leads in Tom Stoppard's teleplay
Teeth (1967)
-- an instant artistic rapport was the result, as was a second Stoppard
role in
Another Moon Called Earth (1967),
a sort of proto-Jumpers. Critical and commercial break came with the
role of "Guil" in the NYC run of Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead,
for which he received a Tony nomination. Back in the UK, won Most
Promising Actor award in 1970 for his role in the
Harold Pinter production of
James Joyce's "Exiles". Invited to
join the RSC, he began a series of highly individual Shakespearean
roles, as well as more popularly-based efforts. His "Sherlock Holmes"
in 1974 was reprised in NYC, resulting in a second Tony nomination. The
following year, the New York run of Stoppard's "Travesties" -- in which
he starred as "Henry Carr" -- gave him the Tony for Best Actor.
Additional theatre work in America: "Tartuffe", "Deathtrap" and
"Amadeus". UK theatre work included "Devil's Disciple", "Every Good Boy
Deserves Favour", "Undiscovered Country", "Man Who Came To Dinner",
title role in "Richard III", "Prospero" in "Tempest", "Lear" in "King
Lear" and, of course, "A.E. Housman" in Stoppard's "Invention of Love"
in 1997, for which he received an
Laurence Olivier Award nomination.
Married twice, four children.
