John Woodvine, the British actor known for his roles in An American Werewolf in London and Netflix's The Crown, has died at the age of 96. He passed away 'peacefully' at his home on Monday morning, according to his agent.
Born in South Tyneside, England, on July 21, 1929, Woodvine began his career with the Royal Shakespeare Company, performing as Banquo in Macbeth alongside Sir Ian McKellen and Dame Judi Dench. He later won the Olivier Award for Comedy Performance of the Year in 1987 for his role in The Henrys at the Old Vic.
Woodvine's television credits include Detective Inspector Witty in the BBC police drama Z Cars, roles in Doctor Who, Edge of Darkness, and Shameless, where he played Neville Gallagher. In The Crown, he portrayed the Archbishop of York in four episodes.
His film appearances included the 1981 horror comedy An American Werewolf in London, Young Winston, Miss Potter, and most recently Enys Men. His agent, Phil Belfield, described him as 'an extraordinary actor' who had a 'fabulous and varied career'.
Woodvine is survived by his wife, actress Lynn Farleigh, and their daughters Emma and Mary, who is also an actress. He made a full recovery after collapsing on stage during a performance of Carousel in Leeds in 2012.
