Norman Wooland was a renowned classical stage actor who enjoyed a modest film stardom in the late 1940s and 1950s. Born to British parents in Dusseldorf, Germany on March 16, 1910, he was educated in England and began his career in local theatre during his teenage years. He earned strong notice in repertory as a regular performer in Stratford-on-Avon Shakespearean productions, appearing in "The Merchant of Venice" by the age of 16.
Wooland's early career included performances in pre-WWII plays such as "When We Are Married" (1937),"Time and the Conways" (1938),and "What They Say" (1939). He joined the BBC in 1939 and spent six years as a radio commentator. Although he made his film debut in 1937, Wooland did not attract much attention until the post-war era.
The dark-haired, slightly drawn-faced actor made strong leading man impressions with films such as "Escape" (1948),"Look Before You Love" (1948),"All Over the Town" (1949),and "Madeleine" (1950). He also thrived on screen in Shakespearean roles, notably supporting Laurence Olivier in "Hamlet" (1948) and "Richard III" (1955). Wooland portrayed Horatio opposite Olivier's Oscar-winning Hamlet and later played Catesby to Olivier's Richard III.
In addition to his film work, Wooland also appeared on stage in productions such as "The Second Mrs. Tanqueray" alongside Eileen Herlie, and in the notable historical drama "The Angel with the Trumpet" (1950),portraying Prince Rudolf. He also reunited with his "Hamlet" compatriots Eileen Herlie and Basil Sydney in the stage production of "The Second Mrs. Tanqueray" the following year.
The 1950s were Wooland's most steadfast decade for making films, which included period costumers such as "Quo Vadis" (1951) and "Ivanhoe" (1952),in which he portrayed Richard the Lionhearted, and a lead role in the crime drama "The Master Plan" (1954). In the ensuing years, he moved further down the credits list with films such as "The Flesh Is Weak" (1957),"The Bandit of Zhobe" (1959),"The Guns of Navarone" (1961),"Barabbas" (1961),and "The Fall of the Roman Empire" (1964).
Wooland found more varied work on television in the 1960s and 1970s, even appearing in sitcoms. He continued his strong work on the stage with productions such as "An Enemy of the People" (1968),"A Man for All Seasons" (1972),"Six Characters in Search of an Author" (1972),"Pride and Prejudice" (1975),"Equus" (1976),and "The Wild Duck" (1979). Wooland died in England in 1989 after having suffered multiple strokes.
