Obituaries
Willoughby Goddard
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| Willoughby Goddard |
Willoughby Goddard, star of television shows and films in a career spanning more than four decades, has died aged 81.
His television roles included being the partner of Charlie Drake in such shows as Drake's Progress and the Charlie Drake Comedy Hour, Mr Bumble in Oliver Twist, and the Director of Public Prosecutions in The Mind of Mr JG Reeder.
One of his most notable roles came in 1958, when he played the evil Austrian governor Gessler, who was constantly being outfoxed by Conrad Phillips as the defiant Swiss leader in The Adventures of William Tell.
And in 1987, Mr Goddard played Prof Siblington in Porterhouse Blue, in which the climax of the film saw him watching condoms floating among Cambridge's spires.
He also had parts in such films as Carry on Cruising in 1962, The Charge of the Light Brigade in 1968 and Joseph Andrews in 1977.
Mr Goddard was born in Bicester on July 4, 1926, and, as a schoolboy, set a 20-year record for swimming down the Isis.
He made his debut on stage in Oxford at the Playhouse theatre in 1943 as The Steward in George Bernard Shaw's Saint Joan.
After repertory with the Bristol Old Vic Company, he played at the Arts Theatre in London's West End as Horngolloch in James Bridie's Gog and Macgog in 1948.
In 1950 he married the actress Ann Phillips, with whom he had a son.
Mr Goddard's career was sadly cut short by arthritis, but his voice continued to be familiar for some years.
As the bear in the advertisement for Fox's Glacier Mints, he could be heard saying: "Cool, clear and minty".
Mr Goddard passed away on Friday, aged 81.
He is survived by his wife and son.
8:25pm Wednesday 16th April 2008
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