William Hobbs, a multifaceted individual, was born with a passion for the dramatic arts. As the son of an RAF pilot who perished during the final stages of World War II, Hobbs was raised and educated in Australia, where he developed a strong foundation in amateur dramatics and fencing.
A natural swordsman, Hobbs came close to representing Australia in the 1957 Melbourne Olympics, but unfortunately, he missed the cut. Undeterred, he migrated to England in 1958 to pursue his dreams at the prestigious Central School of Speech and Drama in London.
Hobbs' early foray into acting was met with disappointment, as he struggled to make a name for himself in repertory theatre. Laurence Olivier, a renowned thespian, offered him some sage advice: "give it up." Undaunted, Hobbs redirected his energy towards fight direction, working for nine years as a fight director for Olivier's National Theatre Company.
During his tenure, Hobbs earned widespread acclaim for his stage duels, which he documented in his seminal books, "Stage Combat: The Action to the Word" and "Techniques of the Stage Fight" (1967). As a fencing master and fight choreographer, Hobbs went on to instruct numerous film and television stars, emphasizing the importance of historical accuracy, realism, and, above all, acting.
Hobbs' meticulous approach to his craft was evident in his attention to detail, often relying on historical records and visual references to achieve period authenticity. His philosophy, as outlined in his 1995 book "Fight Direction for Stage and Screen," stressed the need for actors to cultivate a sense of coolness, body relaxation, and control, allowing them to perform with conviction and safety.
One of Hobbs' most notable achievements is his work on Ridley Scott's The Duellists (1977),which features some of the most impressive fight scenes ever filmed. Hobbs recalled the process, stating, "the pauses that we put into the fights in [The Duellists] were phenomenal, but we wanted to get across the awful feeling that you believe you'll be dead on the floor. In the end, the realism is the fear."
Throughout his career, Hobbs worked with some of the most talented actors of his time, including Peter O'Toole, Tim Roth, Liam Neeson, and Leonardo DiCaprio. His expertise in swordplay and combat training allowed these actors to excel in their respective roles, as seen in films like Hamlet (1963),Rob Roy (1995),and The Man in the Iron Mask (1998).
