Actor John Thaw, known to fans worldwide as the gruff, music-loving Oxford detective Inspector Morse, died aged 60 on Thursday after a battle against throat cancer.
“John died with his family around him,” said his wife of 29 years Sheila Hancock.
A respected stage actor, John broke into television in 1975 with his iconic portrayal of the belligerent foul-mouthed Scotland Yard cop Regan in the hit series The Sweeney. But he will always be indelibly identified with Inspector Morse, a series for which he created a complex character whose flaws were as attractive to fans as his better qualities.
Morse’s creator, author Colin Dexter, said John was a perfectionist. “He loved work,” said Colin. “He was a person who was prepared to do anything to make sure that the television was as it should be. And that is how I will remember him – giving 100 per cent.”
Set among the dreaming spires of Oxford, the highly successful Morse series began in 1985, with some 33 episodes filmed over the next 15 years. The last episode, which was watched by over 12.5 million people in the UK when it first aired in late 2000, depicted the death of the detective.
David Liddiment of ITV, the network which broadcast Morse, said after learning of the actor's death: “Throughout his distinguished career John understood the power of the small screen. He was the consummate television actor.”
Ted Childs, the executive producer of the series, said he had spent time with Thaw only last week. “We had afternoon tea,” he said. “He was clearly quite debilitated… but he was very positive.”
John Thaw was born in Manchester on January 3, 1942, the son of a long-distance lorry driver. His mother left the family when he was seven years old. After leaving school, John worked as a baker and labourer until a teacher who had seen him on the stage in school plays encouraged him to audition for London’s prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. John won a place at the youthful age of 17. His career started out on the stage but it would be his TV roles – often playing policemen – that sealed his rise to fame.
After completing The Sweeney and Morse, John went on to play a trial barrister in Kavanagh QC, also a great success. He announced last June that he was suffering from cancer of the oesophagus, but was reportedly considering new episodes of the series before his untimely death.
The actor was honoured as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1993, and last year won a British Academy Television Awards fellowship, the organisation’s highest award. He received the Academy’s Best Actor award in 1990 and 1993 for Inspector Morse.
John married fellow actress Sheila Hancock in 1973. Each had a daughter from a previous marriage and they had one daughter together.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
