Edward Albert Arthur Woodward was born on June 1, 1930, in London, England. He received his early education at various schools before attending Commercial College.
Trained in acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA),Woodward made his stage debut in 1946 in a production of "A Kiss for Cinderella". He gained valuable experience in repertory companies throughout England and Scotland.
Woodward made his movie debut in 1955, recreating his stage part in the film version of "Where There's a Will". He continued to work on stage, appearing in Shakespearean productions such as "Hamlet", "Romeo and Juliet", and "Pericles".
He also made his Broadway debut in 1961 in the play "Rattle of a Simple Man", and later appeared in musicals such as "High Spirits" and "Two Cities". Woodward was a gifted singer and produced over a dozen musical recordings.
In the 1960s, Woodward began to work in television, earning a star in England with his roles in popular series such as "Callan". He also appeared in feature films, including "Becket" and "Young Winston".
In the 1980s, Woodward transitioned to Hollywood TV stardom with the popular series "The Equalizer". He continued to work in film and television, appearing in a wide range of roles and genres.
Woodward was married twice, first to actress Venetia Barrett, with whom he had three children, and then to actress Michele Dotrice, with whom he had one child. He was the subject of "This Is Your Life" on two separate occasions and survived two major heart attacks before dying of pneumonia at the age of 79 in 2009.
