William Gaunt's Early Life and Career
William Gaunt was born in Yorkshire, England, and grew up as the son of a solicitor. He initially studied drama at Baylor University in Texas before completing his actor training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London.
Early Roles and Breakthrough
Gaunt's early career began on the repertory stage, where he played Mortimer Brewster in the farce Arsenic and Old Lace at the Salisbury Playhouse in 1961. He then transitioned to television, landing minor roles before breaking out as Bob Marriott, the sidekick of the titular Scotland Yard sleuth, in the series Sergeant Cork (1963-1968).
The Champions and Cult Following
Gaunt's pivotal role as Richard Barrett, a code-breaker with enhanced physical and mental powers, in the ITC series The Champions (1968) earned him a substantial cult following.
Diversification and Artistic Directorship
Gaunt continued to divide his time between screen and stage, serving as artistic director of the Liverpool Playhouse by the end of the 1970s. He directed several plays for the Farnham and Liverpool Repertory Companies and at the West End, and spent several seasons with the National Theatre.
Recent Roles and Adaptations
In recent years, Gaunt has headlined in the role of Big Daddy in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (2006),Sorin in The Seagull (2007-2008),and the Earl of Gloucester in King Lear (2007-2008). He has also portrayed Duncan in Macbeth at the Almeida Theatre in London (2021),with the performance being filmed and screened two years later by BBC4 as The Tragedy of Macbeth (2023).
Additional Roles and Career Highlights
Gaunt has had recurring roles in The Challengers (1972),a miniseries set in the House of Commons, and in the sitcoms No Place Like Home (1983) and Next of Kin (1995). He has also appeared in various other roles, including Charles Hurst QC in Crown Court (1972),solicitor Edward Capstick in Capstick's Law (1989),and a warrior knight in season 22 of Doctor Who (1963).
