Robert Powell
Birthday: Born in 1944-06-01 in Salford, Manchester, England, UK
Deathday: Alive
Robert Powell was born on June 1, 1944 in Salford, Manchester, England. In 1964, he started his acting career while attending Manchester University. In 1967, he made his film debut, and later landed his first starring role in The Italian Job (1969). Some of his well known movies include Franco Ziefirelli's "Jesus of Nazareth" (1977), Ken Russell's Tommy (1975) and Mahler (1974), the remake of The Thirty Nine Steps (1978), and the popular TV series "Doomwatch" (1970). Robert married on 29th August, 1975 to Barbara 'Babs' Lord. They now have a son and a daughter. In 1982, Robert won the Best Actor award at the Venice Film Festival for his performance in Imperative (1982). He won the best actor award at the Paris Film Festival for Harlequin (1980). For his portrayal of Jesus in Jesus of Nazareth he received best actor awards from TV Times and Italian TV Times, the international arts prize at the Fiuggi Film Festival, grand prize at the Saint-Vincent Film Festival, and a nomination as best actor from The Irish Academy of Film and Television arts. In reference to his role as Jesus in Jesus of Nazareth, Robert said, "I hope Jesus Christ will be the last in my line of sensitive young men for quite a while."
TV Credits
Thriller
Character: Paul Tanner
Thriller is a British television series, originally broadcast in the UK from 1973 to 1976. It is an anthology series: each episode has a self-contained story and its own cast. As the title suggests, each story is a thriller of some variety, from tales of the supernatural to down-to-earth whodunits....
Holby City
Character: Mark Williams
Drama series about life on the wards of Holby City Hospital, following the highs and lows of the staff and patients....
Countdown
Character:
The clock is ticking as contestants compete in games of lexical dexterity and numerical agility....
Dalziel & Pascoe
Character:
British crime drama based on the "Dalziel and Pascoe" series of books by Reginald Hill, set in the fictional Yorkshire town of Wetherton. The unlikely duo of politically incorrect elephant-in-a-china-shop-copper Detective Superintendent Andrew Dalziel (pronounced Dee-ell) and his more sensitive and university educated sidekick Detective Sargent, later Detective Inspector, Peter Pascoe is always on hand to solve the classic murder mystery, while maintaining a down to earth wit and humour....
Crown Court
Character: Lance Porter
Crown Court is an afternoon television courtroom drama produced by Granada Television for the ITV network that ran from 1972, when the Crown Court system replaced Assize courts and Quarter sessions in the legal system of England and Wales, to 1984....
The Detectives
Character: Dave Briggs
The absurd adventures of two defective detectives, who - despite unbelievable incompetence - somehow manage to solve their cases (or be nearby when the cases are solved) and retain their jobs....
Doomwatch
Character: Tobias Wren
Doomwatch is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC, which ran on BBC 1 between 1970 and 1972. The series was set in the then present-day, and dealt with a scientific government agency led by Doctor Spencer Quist, responsible for investigating and combating various ecological and technological dangers. The series was followed by a film adaptation produced by Tigon British Film Productions and released in 1972, and a revival TV film was broadcast on Channel 5 in 1999....
Hannay
Character: Richard Hannay
Hannay was a 1988 spin-off from the 1978 film version of John Buchan's novel The Thirty-Nine Steps which had starred Robert Powell as Richard Hannay. In the series, Powell reprised the role of Hannay, an Edwardian mining engineer from Rhodesia of Scottish origin. It features his adventures in pre-World War I Great Britain. These stories had little in common with John Buchan's novels about the character, although some character names are taken from his other novels. There were two series, the f...
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Character: Phoebus
Hallmark Hall of Fame is an anthology program on American television, sponsored by Hallmark Cards, a Kansas City based greeting card company. The longest-running primetime series in the history of television, it has a historically long run, beginning during 1951 and continuing into 2013. From 1954 onward, all of its productions have been shown in color, although color television video productions were extremely rare in 1954. Many television movies have been shown on the program since its debut, ...
Shaka Zulu
Character: Dr. Henry Fynn
South Africa, 1823. The Zulu Empire, headed by King Shaka, a brilliant but ruthless military strategist, begin to encroach on the British colony of Cape Town. A volunteer cadre of explorers, mercenaries and professional soldiers are sent to Zululand to try to make contact with Shaka and assess the real threat of his army....
Canned Carrott
Character:
Canned Carrott was a comedy stand-up and sketch-show by Jasper Carrott. Two of the regular sketches were "Wiggy" and "The Detectives". The first sketch, "Wiggy", followed the adventures of a man with a bad wig. It was a slapstick comedy in which the characters were silent except for the narrator. It was similar in style to Mr. Bean or The Benny Hill Show. The second, and the more popular was "The Detectives", starring the police officers Briggs and Louis, who watched too many TV Police dramas,...
Fantomcat
Character: Fantomcat
Fantomcat was an animated series produced by Cosgrove Hall Films. It was first broadcast in 1995 and was animated after Avenger Penguins in 1994 by Alfonso Productions, a Spanish animation studio. It aired largely on Children's ITV. The series also had a brief run on Pop and on Network Ten in Australia. It was produced and directed by Ben Turner. Fantomcat centres on the character Phillipe Lentheric Guerlain de Givenchy, the Duke of Fantom, a masked swashbuckling hero who thrived in 1699, in mo...
The Legends of Treasure Island
Character: Dr. Livesey (voice)
The Legends Of Treasure Island is an animated cartoon from the UK that ran from 1993-1995. It had two series of 13 episodes each and each episode runs for 22–25 minutes. The series was loosely based on Robert Louis Stevenson's original story "Treasure Island". Featuring a mysterious and dark storyline, it incorporates magic and many new characters. Unlike the book and most adaptations Long John Silver is not an anti-hero with dubious morality but rather a straight villain. It was broadcast in t...
Jesus of Nazareth
Character: Jesus
Dramatizes the Birth, Life, Ministry, Crucifixion, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, largely according to the Holy Bible's New Testament Gospels....
BBC Play of the Month
Character: Valentine
Play of the Month is a BBC television anthology series featuring productions of classic and contemporary stage plays which were usually broadcast on BBC1. Each production featured a different work, often using prominent British stage actors in the leading roles. The series was transmitted from October 1965 to September 1983; the producer most associated with the Play of the Month was Cedric Messina. Some of the 121 episodes are missing from the archives, having been junked in the 1960s and 1970...
Great Crimes and Trials
Character:
Great Crimes and Trials is an early 1990s BBC documentary television series. The program consists of archival material combined with never before seen interviews to reconstruct a renowned crime, examining the felon's motives, details of the crime, the investigations and the trial. Each episode is narrated by actor Robert Powell. In the United Kingdom the program is shown on weekdays on the Crime & Investigation Network. The first series was released on DVD by Columbia Tristar in 2005, and the t...
The Edwardians
Character:
It was a time when England was a nation on the cusp of change, an evolving landscape tht lay between Victorian England and the First World War. 'The Edwardians' explores the lives of and events in the lives of many who helped define the era, the "Belle Epoque"....
BBC Play of the Month
Character:
Play of the Month is a BBC television anthology series featuring productions of classic and contemporary stage plays which were usually broadcast on BBC1. Each production featured a different work, often using prominent British stage actors in the leading roles. The series was transmitted from October 1965 to September 1983; the producer most associated with the Play of the Month was Cedric Messina. Some of the 121 episodes are missing from the archives, having been junked in the 1960s and 1970...
Thriller
Character: Rook
Thriller is a British television series, originally broadcast in the UK from 1973 to 1976. It is an anthology series: each episode has a self-contained story and its own cast. As the title suggests, each story is a thriller of some variety, from tales of the supernatural to down-to-earth whodunits....
The Real Jesus of Nazareth
Character: Host
Take a pilgrimage across the Holy Land as we explore the life of Jesus of Nazareth, separating history from legend....
World War II in Colour
Character: Narrator
World War II In Colour is a 13-episode television documentary miniseries recounting the events of World War II narrated by Robert Powell. The show covers the Western Front, Eastern Front, and the Pacific War. It is on syndication in America on the Military Channel. This series is in full color, combining both original and colorized footage....
Dalziel & Pascoe
Character: Barry Jemmerson
British crime drama based on the "Dalziel and Pascoe" series of books by Reginald Hill, set in the fictional Yorkshire town of Wetherton. The unlikely duo of politically incorrect elephant-in-a-china-shop-copper Detective Superintendent Andrew Dalziel (pronounced Dee-ell) and his more sensitive and university educated sidekick Detective Sargent, later Detective Inspector, Peter Pascoe is always on hand to solve the classic murder mystery, while maintaining a down to earth wit and humour....
The Century of Warfare
Character:
The Century of Warfare is a 26 part British TV documentary first released in 1993 and shown on A&E Television Networks. It was narrated by Robert Powell, and produced by Nugus/Martin Productions Ltd, and coincided with another Powell/Nugus-Martin project called Great Crimes and Trials....
An Audience with...
Character: Self
An Audience with... is a British entertainment television show produced by London Weekend Television, in which a host, usually a singer or comedian, performs for an invited audience of celebrity guests, interspersed with questions from the audience, in a light hearted revue/tribute style....
Classic Ghost Stories
Character: Professor
Five partially-dramatized readings of classic M.R. James ghost stories by actor Robert Powell. Including "The Mezzotint", "The Ash-Tree", "The Rose Garden", "Wailing Well" and "Oh, Whistle, and I'll Come to You, My Lad"....
Keeping Up Appearances
Character: Cabbie
Hyacinth Bucket (whose name, she insists, is pronounced "Bouquet") is a suburban housewife in the West Midlands. She would be the first to tell you that she is a gracious hostess, a respected citizen, and a well-connected member of high society. If you don't believe that, just ask her best friend Elizabeth, held captive in Hyacinth's kitchen; or the postmen and neighbours who bristle at the sound of her voice; or Richard, her weary and compliant husband. In fact, Hyacinth's reputation could be ...
International Terrorism Since 1945
Character: Narrator (voice)
International Terrorism Since 1945 is a television documentary series, shown on UKTV History from 5 January 2009. Narrated by Robert Powell, it is shown in half-hour episodes at 5:00 pm and 5:30 pm and depicts a history of some major terrorist groups since World War 2 and their activities....
Agatha Christie's Marple
Character: Dr. Haydock
The adventures of Miss Jane Marple, an elderly spinster living in the quiet little village of St Mary Mead. During her many visits to friends and relatives in other villages, Miss Marple often stumbles upon mysterious murders which she helps solve. Although the police are sometimes reluctant to accept Miss Marple's help, her reputation and unparalleled powers of observation eventually win them over....
Celebrity Antiques Road Trip
Character: Self - Participant
Antiques experts accompany celebrities on a road trip around the UK searching for treasures and competing to make the most money at auction...
Natural World
Character: Narrator
Natural World is a nature documentary television series broadcast annually on BBC Two and regarded by the BBC as its flagship natural history brand. It is currently the longest-running series in its genre on British television, with more than 400 episodes broadcast since its inception in 1983. Natural World is produced by the BBC Natural History Unit in Bristol, but individual programmes can be in-house productions, collaborative productions with other broadcasters or films made and distributed...
Movie Credits
Frankenstein
Character: Victor Frankenstein
A scientist who is obsessed with creating life finally does it, with tragic results....
Tommy
Character: Captain Walker
After a series of traumatic childhood events, a psychosomatically deaf, dumb and blind boy becomes a master pinball player and the object of a religious cult....
The Jigsaw Man
Character: Jamie Fraser
Philip Kimberly, the former head of the British Secret Service who defected to Russia, is given plastic surgery and sent back to Britain by the KGB to retrieve some vital documents. With the documents in hand, he instead plays off MI6 and the KGB against each other....
Asylum
Character: Dr. Martin
A young psychiatrist applies for a job at a mental asylum, and must pass a test by interviewing four patients. He must figure out which of the patients, is in fact, the doctor that he would be replacing if hired....
Classic Ghost Stories
Character: Professor
Five partially-dramatized readings of classic M.R. James ghost stories by actor Robert Powell. Including "The Mezzotint", "The Ash-Tree", "The Rose Garden", "Wailing Well" and "Oh, Whistle, and I'll Come to You, My Lad"....
What Waits Below
Character: Rupert 'Wolf' Wolfsen
The US military is running a test for a special type of radio transmitter, to be used to communicate with submarines, in a deep system of underground caves in Central America. When the signal from one of the transmitters suddenly disappears, a team of soldiers led by Major Elbert Stevens and cave specialists led by Rupert 'Wolf' Wolfsen including scientist Leslie Peterson are sent in to find out what happened. Exploring deep underground, they stumble upon a tribe of albino cave-dwellers who hav...
The Hunting of Lionel Crane
Character: Lionel Crane
An army deserter hides out on a country estate but falls foul of the gamekeeper....
The Thirty Nine Steps
Character: Richard Hannay
The year is 1914 and Richard Hannay, Mining Engineer who is visiting Britain for a short time before returning to South Africa, is shocked when one of his neighbours, Colonel Scudder, bursts into his rooms one night and tells him a story that Prussian 'sleeper' agents are planning to pre-start World War I by murdering a visiting foreign minister. However, Scudder is murdered and Hannay is framed for the death by the 'sleepers'. Fleeing to Scotland Hannay attempts to clear his name and to stop th...
The Asphyx
Character: Giles Cunningham
Hugo is a brilliant turn-of-the-century scientist, loved and respected by his family and friends, admired by his colleagues. But he is a man quickly becoming obsessed with a curious and frightening question... what is the mysterious apparition found in the photographs of his dying subjects?...
Beyond Good and Evil
Character: Paul Rée
The German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche and his Jewish companion Paul Ree meet a beautiful young Russian intellectual and draw her into a ménage-à-trois....
The Survivor
Character: Keller
When a 747 crashes shortly after take-off, the sole survivor is the pilot. Virtually unhurt, he and the investigators look for the answers to the disaster. Meanwhile mysterious deaths occur in the community and only a psychic, in touch with the supernatural, can help the pilot unravel the mystery surrounding the doomed plane....
Mahler
Character: Gustav Mahler
Famed composer Gustav Mahler reflects on the tragedies of his life and failing marriage while traveling by train....
Chunuk Bair
Character: Sgt. Maj. Frank Smith
The tragedy of Gallipoli is exposed...
Jane Austen in Manhattan
Character: Pierre
Two teachers vie for the right to stage a play written by Jane Austen when she was twelve years old....
The Four Feathers
Character: Jack Durrance
The fifth filming of the adventure classic about a British soldier in the 1880s who fights to regain his honor after being given four white feathers, symbols of cowardice....
Secrets
Character: Allan Wood
A woman's unfulfilling marriage leads her into a passionate affair with a wealthy extramarital lover....
The English Civil Wars
Character: Narrator
It was a time of bitterness and hatred, a war which pitched father against son, brother against brother in the bloody battle for the soul of the nation. It was winner takes all. After seven years of turmoil, even the dramatic execution of King Charles I could not bring peace, more bloodshed still lay ahead. The most tragic and dramatic chapter in English history is recorded in this spectacular and entertaining DVD. It features superb battle re-enactments and reconstructions, dramatised 'eye-witn...
Pygmalion
Character: Higgins
Adaptation of the play by Bernard Shaw....
The Battle of Trafalgar: Nelson's Victory
Character: Narrator
Robert Powell narrates this engrossing exploration of one of France and Britain's most thrilling and decisive conflicts: the Battle of Trafalgar. The event unraveled on Oct. 21, 1805, when British admiral Lord Nelson and his 27 ships defeated an assault by French emperor Napoleon's 33 ships, cementing Nelson's legacy in naval victories. Dramatized accounts and 3D graphics, along with expert commentary, help recount the unlikely triumph....
Love Sins
Character: Gabriele D'Annunzio
A biographical feature on the Italian literary giant, Gabriele D'Annunzio. Set in late 19th century Italy and France when the artistic style, Decadentismo, was beginning to take shape, the film focuses on D'Annunzio's life when he was already an established poet and journalist in Rome. A staunch opponent of democracy and commoners, he searches for passion and pleasure among the wealthy and noble. One such noblewoman Elvira Fraternali Leoni, serves as the muse for his first novel - The Pleasure (...
Napoleon 1812 - The Road to Moscow
Character: Narrator
It was to be Napoleon Bonaparte's greatest adventure; an invasion of Russia with an army of more than 650,000 men, the largest the world had yet seen. The Emperor's irresistible progress into the vast Russian interior saw many brutal conflicts including the Battle of Borodino, one of the bloodiest day's fighting in military history. Napoleon would not be defeated in battle but by Russian guile and the savages of winter snows. To this day the infamous retreat from Moscow epitomises the suffering ...
Mike Yarwood: Thank You For The Laughs
Character: Self
Documentary in which the late impressionist's daughters get to the truth about their father's rise to fame and record-breaking success, and his sudden exit from public life. Features Mike Yarwood, Claire Yarwood, Charlotte Yarwood, Michael Crawford, Rory Bremner and more....
The Legends of Treasure Island
Character: Dr Livesey (voice)
...
Das lange Gespräch mit dem Vogel
Character: John Barth
...
Season of the Witch
Character: Shaun
A young woman quits her dull job in the typing pool, and goes off on a search for personal freedom....
The First Circle
Character: Gleb Nershin
In the USSR, political prisoners who were scientists were not always sent to GULAG, but also to The First Circle (named after Dante's Inferno), a special incarceration unit near Moscow where they could work for the government....
Imperative
Character: Augustin
Polish director Krzysztof Zanussi once more explores the dilemma of intellectualism at the expense of humanity in 1982's Imperative. The story concerns math professor Robert Powell, who feels that there is something lacking in his ever-so-precise life. What is missing is truth, specifically philosophical truth. Thus he philosophizes at great length, allowing director Zanussi plenty of room for didactic but little room for warmth. Leading ladies Brigette Fossey and Leslie Caron occasionally melt ...
Tales of Television Centre
Character:
Various actors, presenters, directors and other staff who have worked at the iconic BBC Television Centre at Shepherd's Bush in London reminisce about their time there....
Robbery
Character: Deltic Train Guard (uncredited)
In this fictionalised account of the Great Train Robbery, career criminal Paul Clifton plans an audacious crime: the robbery of a mail train carrying millions in cash....
The Italian Job
Character: Yellow
Charlie's got a 'job' to do. Having just left prison he finds one of his friends has attempted a high-risk job in Torino, Italy, right under the nose of the mafia. Charlie's friend doesn't get very far, so Charlie takes over the 'job'. Using three Mini Coopers, a couple of Jaguars, and a bus, he hopes to bring Torino to a standstill, steal a fortune in gold and escape in the chaos....
The Queen of Heaven
Character: Jesus / Nikodemus
The life of the Virgin Mary from the Crucifixion (33AD) till her miraculous departure/death (44AD). It also describes the early years of the Christian Church community....
Tower of London: The Innocent
Character: Earl of Warwick
The story of the Earl of Warwick and Perkin Warbeck, during the reign of King Henry VII....
Running Scared
Character: Tom Betancourt
When an undergraduate commits suicide, his best friend is sent down from university because he did nothing to prevent the death, which he felt was a choice his friend had a right to make....
The Wandering Company
Character: Narrator (voice)
Documentary about Merchant Ivory Productions, including interviews with the principals of the film production company and actors which have appeared in their films....
Colour Me Kubrick
Character: Robert
The true story of a man who posed as director Stanley Kubrick during the production of Kubrick's last film, Eyes Wide Shut, despite knowing very little about his work and looking nothing like him....
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Character: Phoebus
Quasimodo, the hunchback bellringer of Notre Dame's cathedral, meets a beautiful gypsy dancer, Esmeralda, and falls in love with her. So does Quasimodo's guardian, the archdeacon of the cathedral, and a poor street poet. But Esmeralda's in love with a handsome soldier. When a mob mistakes her for a witch, it's up to Quasimodo to rescue her and claim sanctuary for her in the cathedral....
Down There in the Jungle
Character: Kruger
...
Seven Games From Glory
Character: Narrator
A World Cup of shocks and surprises, making history from start to finish. It was the first World Cup in Asia and the first to be co-hosted by two countries. The official film captures the unique spirit of this event in 120 minutes of football - on the pitch and behind the scenes. This is one of few official films able to offer a hint of the world behind the dressing room door - Senegal's victory celebrations, Mexico's prayer and team talk and the referees debriefing....
Romeo.Juliet
Character: Romeo (voice)
The tale centers on an eccentric bag lady who rescues the stray cats of Venice and puts them on a boat to set sail for the new world. It has not been re-released for the home video market. This lack of availability, which has been described as making it "more rare than the dinosaur" has made it a sought-after item in some circles....
All Systems Go: Alan Garner
Character: Himself
An experimental, autobiographical documentary presented by Alan Garner...
The Boer War: 1899-1902
Character: Narrator
Journey back in time to a different age, when the sun never set on the British Empire and her armies were great in number. The Boer War: 1899-1902 was a turning point in British military history and would revolutionize tactics, battlefield strategy, equipment, and training. Well known participants in the Boar Wars include: Harry "Breaker" Morant, Winston Churchill and Mahatma Gandhi....
Harlequin
Character: Gregory Wolfe
Up-and-coming senator Nick Rast's young son is terminally ill with leukemia. A mysterious faith healer, Gregory Wolfe, appears and seems to cure the boy. Rast's wife Sandy falls in love with Wolfe, but the powerful interests behind Rast's career, represented by geriatric monster Doc Wheelan are less happy with events....
Mrs. Warren's Profession
Character: Frank Gardner
Performed in 1902, after being banned by the censor for eight years, Shaw's indictment of the hypocrisy surrounding prostitution still shocked its audiences. Mrs. Warren has graduated from prostitution to opening and operating a chain of brothels throughout Europe. When her educated daughter Vivie discovers the truth about her mother's profession her reactions affect everyone around her....
Lady Killer
Character: Paul Tanner
A shy, lonely American girl marries a charming man she meets while on vacation in England, unaware that he has sinister plans for her....
Franco Zeffirelli: Directing from Life
Character: Himself
Franco Zeffirelli passed away on 15th June 2019. Chris Hunt's biography explores how Zeffirelli's sense of drama was born out of his own experience and how his life inspired his productions. Chris Hunt interviewed him and other famous actors, friends and associates, had a camera at Zeffirelli's 94th birthday and during the opening of his foundation in Florence. This documentary, including clips from operas, films and plays aims to be the definitive portrait of a Renaissance man larger than life....
Walkabout to Hollywood
Character: Narrator (voice)
Produced and directed this documentary for BBC in the 1980’s, about David Gulpilil, acclaimed Australian Aboriginal actor, dancer and musician. The film shows how Gulpilil is always working to bridge the gap between the tribal Aboriginal and Western worlds. He divides his time between a traditional tribal lifestyle and his artistic work, which has included major film roles, collaboration with contemporary dance and music groups and teaching Aboriginal dance and culture. Bill and David travel to ...
Pride of Africa
Character: David Webb
Safari tour guide David Webb (Robert Powell) takes a job as head of security on the luxury train Pride of Africa and discovers that the wealthy passengers can be just as dangerous as the wild animals he knows so well. As the train sets off across the lush countryside, Webb contends with a dangerous kidnapping plot, a heated lovers' quarrel and a possible murder in this made-for-TV mystery set in the 1930s....
Death to Sister Mary
Character: Rook
The cast of a British soap opera are attacked by a mad fan who confuses them with their TV roles....
Jesus Of Nazareth
Character: Jesus
Robert Powell stars in the epic 1977 drama chronicling the birth, life, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. With Laurence Olivier, James Earl Jones and Ian McShane. This movie is derived from combining all 4 parts of the original Jesus of Nazareth mini-series from 1977 resulting in a single long feature film....