Staffordshire-born actor of immense talent and versatility, whose career spanned nearly five decades, achieving widespread recognition for his portrayal of Detective Chief Superintendent John Watt on the iconic television series Z Cars (1962) and Softly Softly: Task Force (1969).
Born to an accountant, he pursued his passion for the performing arts, enrolling at London's prestigious Central School of Speech and Drama, where he honed his craft alongside other aspiring thespians. Prior to his foray into television, he began his career on radio, subsequently transitioning to the classical stage, where he made a name for himself as a powerful and nuanced performer.
A co-founder of the Elizabethan Theatre Company (formerly the Oxford and Cambridge Players),Windsor toured Britain and India, appearing on screen for the first time in 1955. His extensive theatrical training made him an ideal candidate for powerful historical figures, and he soon found himself cast in various Shakespearean roles, including the Earl of Warwick and Sir Walter Blunt in the BBC's seminal anthology series An Age of Kings (1960).
Throughout his career, Windsor was typecast as senior policemen, a phenomenon largely attributed to his enduring popularity as John Watt, a character he portrayed in hundreds of television episodes between 1962 and 1978. However, he occasionally broke free from this mold, showcasing his impressive range in a variety of roles.
Notable exceptions include his portrayal of scientist Dennis Bridger in the cult science-fiction classic A for Andromeda (1961),the head of a Rolls Royce for-hire business in Flying Lady (1987),and the title roles in the miniseries Headmaster (1977) and The Real Eddy English (1989).
In addition, Windsor delivered a standout performance as the hapless chancery suitor Gridley in the BBC's second adaptation of Masterpiece Theatre: Bleak House (1985),based on the classic novel by Charles Dickens. Throughout his illustrious career, Windsor consistently demonstrated his remarkable ability to bring depth and nuance to a wide range of characters, cementing his status as a stalwart acting veteran.
