Willoughby Goddard

Willoughby Wittenham Rees Goddard was an English actor whose trademark rotund figure was well known on television and in films for more than 40 years.

Biography

Goddard was born in Bicester, Oxfordshire. He played Mr. Bumble in two versions of Charles Dickens's Oliver Twist – a 1962 television adaptation, and the original Broadway production of the musical Oliver!. He originated the role of Cardinal Wolsey in the West End production of Robert Bolt's A Man for All Seasons. He appeared in the television series The Adventures of William Tell in 1958 and 1959 as the villain Landburgher Gessler and as Sir Geoffrey in The Man in Room 17, which ran two series of 13 hour-long black-and-white episodes in 1965 and 1966. He was cast as Reeder's boss, Sir Jason Toovey, in The Mind of Mr. J.G. Reeder, a TV series of 16 hour-long episodes with first season 1969 and second season 1971 based on short stories by Edgar Wallace.
Goddard retired from acting in 1987 and died in 2008, aged 81.
Goddard was buried in Teddington Cemetery.

Filmography

Film appearances

Bait – John HartleyThe Million Pound Note – Stockbroker The Green Man – StatesmanA Touch of the Sun – GolightlyStranger in Town – PublicanHeart of a Child – ScottIn the Wake of a Stranger – ShaftoInn for Trouble – Sgt SaundersThe Millionairess – PresidentThe Secret Partner – Hotel KepperDouble Bunk – Prospective PurchaserThe Long Shadow – SchoberFate Takes a Hand – RollenshawThe Golden Rabbit – ClitheroeCarry On Cruising – Large ManThe Wrong Box – James White WraggThe Charge of the Light Brigade – SquireLaughter in the Dark – ColonelThe Juggler of Notre Dame – Judge BroadbottomThe Canterbury Tales – PlaceboGawain and the Green Knight – KnightJoseph Andrews – Fourposter InnkeeperJabberwocky – Eggman Quincy's Quest – GeneralYoung Sherlock Holmes – School ReverendGod's Outlaw – Cardinal Wolsey

TV appearances

David Copperfield – Mr. CreakleThe Buccaneers – Phineas Bunch – "Marooned"The Buccaneers – Lawyer Pym – "Blood Will Tell"Gay Cavalier – Bulstrode – "Dragon's Heart"The Adventures of William Tell – Landburger Gessler – regular castThe Invisible Man – Crowther – "Bank Raid"Charlesworth – Calvarez1 Danger Man – McFadden – "The Journey Ends Halfway"The Avengers – The Deacon – "The Frighteners" Oliver Twist – Mr. BumbleGhost Squad – Slim Salmon – "The Missing People"Richard the Lionheart – Arnold – "The Lord of Kenak"Public Eye – Chambers – "A Harsh World for Zealots"The Man in Room 17 – Sir Geoffrey – regular castThe Baron – Colbert – "The Edge of Fear"The Saint – King Boris – "The Ex-King of Diamonds"The Mind of Mr. J.G. Reeder – Sir Jason Toovey – regular castThe Main Chance – What About Justice?Orson Welles Great Mysteries – Sir Thomas "Captain Rogers"The Sweeney – Kitter – "Sweet Smell of Succession"Space: 1999 – The Taybor – "The Taybor"The Famous Five – The Man – "Five go to Mystery Moor"My Son, My Son – Mr. MoscropThe Incredible Mr Tanner – TomThe Black Adder – The Archbishop – "The Queen of Spain's Beard"
The Crown Court- Forensic Pathologist John Silver's Return to Treasure Island – Sir Solomon Pridham – "The Map"Porterhouse Blue – Professor Siblington