JOHN THAWOne of Britain’s most well-loved actors, John Thaw, died on February 21, 2002, at the age of 60.
His career had spanned more than 40years, during which time he was a regular on British television screens.
Mr Thaw excelled in a wide variety of roles from the dark and serious to the romantic and even humorous. He was as comfortable on the screen as on the stage, starring in award-winning films and in Royal Shakespeare Company productions.
But he will be remembered for his huge success in television detective and law dramas. He captured the hearts of audiences and will probably remain best-loved for his role as Inspector Morse.
John Edward Thaw was born on the 3rd January 1942 in Manchester.
His school drama teacher spotted his talent for acting and, at the age of 16, he successfully auditioned for the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London.
At the end of his RADA studies, Mr Thaw was awarded a contract with the Liverpool Playhouse. He began his career playing minor roles in many films and television dramas, including The Avengers.
In 1964, he married his first wife Sally Alexander. They had a daughter but later divorced. He married his second wife Sheila Hancock in 1973. They had one daughter together, and Mr Thaw also adopted Mrs Hancock’s child from her first marriage.
In the 1970s and 1980s, Mr Thaw returned to the stage with appearances in productions by the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal National Theatre. In 1987, he was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Bafta for his role in the film Cry Freedom.
But his real success came with two detective series, playing tough Jack Regan in The Sweeney (1975–1978) and the eponymous detective in Inspector Morse (1987–2000). He also played a barrister in Kavanagh QC (1995–1999).
As Inspector Morse, Mr Thaw became a British television icon, winning two Bafta Awards for the role in 1989 and 1992. He was awarded the CBE in 1994 and the Bafta Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001.
Mr Thaw died at home shortly after his 60th birthday, following a battle with oesophageal cancer.
In 1990, he was voted ITV Personality of the Year and Time Awards Favourite Actor in 1991. His popularity has endured even after his death - in a 2006 public poll of TV’s Greatest Stars, Mr Thaw came third.
His kindness and generosity lives on in the John Thaw Foundation that he set up before he died. The charity works to help underprivileged youths to access opportunities, especially in the arts.
When his character died in the final episode of Inspector Morse in 2000, 13 million viewers tuned in.
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