John Thaw
Biography
John Thaw was an English actor who became a major television star in Britain through two long-running police roles. He began on stage in 1960 at the Liverpool Playhouse and had a small part in the film The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner (1962). After series such as Redcap and Z-Cars, he played the tough Flying Squad detective Jack Regan in The Sweeney, then the crossword-loving Inspector Morse in Inspector Morse, a role that brought him four straight BAFTA Best Actor nominations and wins in 1990 and 1993. He was nominated for a supporting BAFTA for Cry Freedom (1987) and received the BAFTA Fellowship in 2001. His other work included the sitcom Home to Roost, Kavanagh QC, A Year in Provence, the film Chaplin (1992) and the television drama Goodnight Mister Tom (1998). He also appeared in productions for the Royal Shakespeare Company and National Theatre.
60years old at death
- Born Longsight
- Died Luckington
- Star sign: CapricornThe sign runs December 22 to January 19
- John Edward Thaw (birth name)
Movie Career
- Films
- 7
- Career span
- 36 years1962 to 1998
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Early training
Thaw won the Vanburgh Award while he was a student at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, which he entered at 16, two years younger than the usual age.
First role
In 1962, Thaw made his movie debut with a small part in The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner, a film that featured Tom Courtenay.
First role
Thaw's stage debut came in 1960, when he appeared in A Shred of Evidence at the Liverpool Playhouse. That performance earned him a contract with the theater.
Big break
Thaw played Jack Regan, a hard-bitten and tough-talking Flying Squad detective, in the police drama series The Sweeney, which ran from 1975 to 1978. The role made him a major star in the United Kingdom.
Getting ready for a role
In Budgie, Thaw played against type as a playwright who was effeminate, unsuccessful, had a full beard and spoke with a Welsh accent.
John Thaw movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Worked with
John Thaw shares two films with Kevin Kline, and one with each of the others. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Kevin Kline's page
John Cater's page
Anthony Hopkins's page
Vincent Price's page
Dan Aykroyd's page
Robert Downey Jr.'s page
All films by Richard Attenborough
Awards
Three awards and honors from 1990 to 1993, two of them major.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| BAFTA | |||
| 1993 | Best Actor in a Leading Role | Inspector Morse | Won |
| 1990 | Best Actor in a Leading Role | Inspector Morse | Won |
| Other honors | |||
| Commander of the Order of the British Empire | Won | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.