John Thaw
John Edward Thaw, CBE (3 January 1942 – 21 February 2002) was an English actor who appeared in a range of television, stage, and cinema roles. He starred in the television series Inspector Morse as title character Detective Chief Inspector Endeavour Morse, Redcap as Sergeant John Mann, The Sweeney as Detective Inspector Jack Regan, Home to Roost as Henry Willows, and Kavanagh QC as title character James Kavanagh.
You can find people similar to John Thaw by visiting our lists Subjects of "This is Your Life" TV series and Best Actor BAFTA Award (television) winners.
| Full name at birth | John Edward Thaw
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| Claim to fame | Redcap, The Sweeney, Inspector Morse
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| Date of birth | 3 January 1942
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| Place of birth | Gorton, Manchester, England, UK
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| Date of death | 21 February 2002
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| Age | 60 (age at death)
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| Place of death | Luckington, Wiltshire, England, UK
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| Cause of death | Oesophageal cancer
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| Occupation | Actor, Producer
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PERSONAL DETAILS
| Height | 5' 9" (175 cm)
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ADDITIONAL DETAILS
| High school | Ducie Technical High School for Boys
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| University | Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, London, England, UK
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![Sheila Hancock and John Thaw - Yours Retro Magazine Pictorial [United Kingdom] (March 2025)](http://img3.bdbphotos.com/images/130x130/4/5/45w86550m5fvf506.jpg?skj2io4l)
![Sheila Hancock and John Thaw - Yours Retro Magazine Pictorial [United Kingdom] (March 2025)](http://img3.bdbphotos.com/images/130x130/d/2/d2rjas0s72husha2.jpg?skj2io4l)
- Was accepted by RADA in 1958 when he was two years underage. Thaw was told to say he was 19 if anyone asked.
- His mother Dorothy (Dolly) walked out on the family when he was 7 years old. He did not see her again for 12 years when she showed up briefly back stage in a production of "The Fire Raisers." He never saw her again. She died of stomach cancer in 1974.
- When he married Hancock he decided to officially adopt her daughter Melanie, from her first marriage to Alec Ross, which is why she bears Thaw's surname.
- Broke his foot in his teens when he tripped while running for a school bus. This left him with a slight limp that is noticeable in some scenes of the Inspector Morse series.
- Winner of 2 BAFTA awards for Best TV Actor in "Inspector Morse" (1989 and 1992) and nominee for the same series in 1990 & 1991.
John Thaw is known for his role in the TV series Inspector Morse (1987) as executive producer - 8 episodes.
He is also known for his role in the TV movie We'll Support You Evermore (1985) as Geoff Hollins.
More...
- Quotes (15) keyboard_arrow_right
- Trivia (5) keyboard_arrow_right
- Pictorials (1) keyboard_arrow_right
- Magazines (4) keyboard_arrow_right
- Photos (79) keyboard_arrow_right
- Lists (28) keyboard_arrow_right
- Filmography (121) keyboard_arrow_right
- Awards (14) keyboard_arrow_right
- Fans (4) keyboard_arrow_right
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