Jack Snowdon Hawkins, later known as Jack Hedley, was a renowned British actor with a strong military presence. Born into a family of modest means, Jack's early life was marked by a sense of discipline and duty, which would later serve him well in his acting career.
After completing his education, Jack attended the Royal Naval College at Dartmouth, where he honed his skills as a marine commando. He saw action in various theaters of conflict, including Korea, and eventually rose to the rank of lieutenant. However, his military career was cut short when he was invalided out of the service due to injuries sustained in combat.
In the years that followed, Jack struggled to find his place in the world. He briefly worked in his mother's office services business, but found the work unsatisfying. It wasn't until he stumbled upon an acting course at RADA that he discovered his true calling.
With a diploma in hand, Jack began his acting career, adopting the stage name Jack Hedley to avoid confusion with the already established film star Jack Hawkins. He made his London stage debut in Pygmalion, playing the role of Doctor Doolittle opposite Glenda Jackson. He quickly established himself as a leading man in the West End and at the Theatre Royal in Bath.
Despite his success on stage, Jack's true passion lay in television. He became a familiar presence on the small screen, starring in a range of military-themed action dramas and crime thrillers. His breakthrough role came in the serial The World of Tim Frazer, where he played a flamboyant undercover agent.
One of Jack's most iconic roles was as the morally upright, disciplinarian lieutenant-commander in the classic POW drama Colditz. He also appeared in a range of other TV shows, including Kate, Who Pays the Ferryman?, UFO, Special Branch, 'Allo 'Allo!, and Dalziel and Pascoe.
In addition to his television work, Jack also had a number of film credits to his name. He appeared in small roles in Room at the Top and Lawrence of Arabia, before landing meatier parts in Of Human Bondage, Goodbye, Mr. Chips, and For Your Eyes Only.
Throughout his long and distinguished career, Jack Hedley was married three times and had a number of notable roles. He retired from acting in 2000 and passed away on December 11, 2021, at the age of 92.
