Actor Edward Hardwicke Dies, Aged 78

The actor Edward Hardwicke, probably best known for his role as Doctor Watson in the 1980s series of Sherlock Holmes, has died aged 78.

He began his career at the early age of 10, appearing in Victor Fleming’s film A Guy Named Joe. He performed in numerous theatre productions, and for seven years he performed regularly with Laurence Olivier’s National Theatre. He also performed alongside Olivier in Shakespeare’s Othello and Ibsen’s The Master Builder. In the 1970s, Hardwicke made his television debut as Captain Pat Grant in Colditz, as well as appearing in other shows such as My Old Man and The Sweeney.

In 1986, Hardwicke took on the role of Doctor Watson alongside Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes, after David Burke left the series and suggested Hardwicke to be his successor. The show ran for a further 8 years, with Hardwicke and Brett also appearing in a brief stint at the Wyndham’s Theatre in a stage adaptation of Sherlock Holmes.

To many, he was the definitive Watson to Brett’s definitive Holmes.