Actor Aubrey Woods R.I.P.

Actor Aubrey Woods died 7May 2013 at the age of 85.

Mr. Woods was born in London on 9 April 1928. He attended The Latymer School in Edmonton, North London. He was only 17 when he made his film debut, playing Smike in The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (1947).  In the late Forties and into the Fifties he appeared in such films as The Greed of William Hart (1948), The Queen of Spades (1949), Guilt Is My Shadow (1950), and Father Brown (1954). On television he appeared in such programmes as Nicholas Nickleby, Bleak House, and No Hiding Place.

In the Sixties he appeared in such TV programmes  Rob Roy, Z Cars, Maigret, The Old Curiosity Shop, Sexton Blake, Thicker Than Water, and Freewheelers. He appeared in the films Spare the Rod (1961), A Home of Your Own (1964), San Ferry Ann (1965), Just Like a Woman (1967), Futtocks End (1970), Loot (1970), and Wuthering Heights (1970).  In the Seventies he appeared in such films as All the Right Noises (1971), Up the Chastity Belt (1971), Up Pompeii (1971), The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971), Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971), The Darwin Adventure (1972), Z.P.G. (1972), That Lucky Touch (1975), Operation: Daybreak (1975), and Quincy's Quest (1979). He appeared on such TV shows as Doctor Who, Late Night Theatre, Mr. Big, My Honourable Mrs., Blake's 7, and Cowboys. He was a regular on the series Nice Work.

From the Eighties into the Nineties Aubrey Woods appeared in the shows Cribb; Hallmark Hall of Fame; Auf Wiedersehen, Pet; Ever Decreasing Circles; Til We Meet Again; and London's Burning. He appeared in the film Cloak and Dagger (1985).

Aubrey Woods was an excellent actor with a gift for playing characters that made an imperssion. Although he isn't on screen for that long, Mr. Woods' goldsmith is among the most memorable characters in The Abominable Dr. Phibes. He also made a big impression with little screen time in Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory, in which he played Bill the sweets shop owner. He also gave an impressive performance as the Controller in the Doctor Who serial "Day of the Daleks." While many of his film and even television appearances were brief, his performances were always memorable