Robert Powell

Actor, born in Salford, Lancashire, NW England, UK. He worked in repertory, appeared with the Royal Shakespeare Company, and toured with the Bristol Old Vic. He became widely known through his role in the television series Jude the Obscure (1971), and for his title role in the Franco Zeffirelli film for television, Jesus of Nazareth (1977). His feature film roles include Secrets (1971), The Thirty-Nine Steps (1978), Frankenstein (1984), and The Mystery of Edwin Drood (1993). Later television work includes The Detectives (1989) - reprised in a comedy series with Jasper Carrott (1992–4) - and The First Circle (1991).

Robert Powell (born June 1, 1944), is a well-known English television and film actor, best-known for the title role in Jesus of Nazareth and the fictional secret agent Richard Hannay.

Born in Salford, Lancashire, and educated at Manchester Grammar School and Manchester University, Powell took up acting while an undergraduate. Having been at his request killed off in the last episode of the original series, Powell became a pin-up and a household name, following up with starring roles in several BBC serials, including Sentimental Education and Jude the Obscure.

For several years, Powell continued as a television regular, with occasional forays into film, notably as Mahler in 1974.

Then came his most famous role - playing Jesus Christ in the blockbusting mini-series Jesus of Nazareth following a successful second audition with Franco Zeffirelli. He received best actor awards from TV Times (UK) and Italian TV Times, the international arts prize at the Fiuggi Film Festival, grand prize at the Saint-Vincent Film Festival, and a nomination as best actor from The Irish Academy of Film and Television arts.

In 1975, Powell married his girlfriend, the Pan's People dancer Babs Lord.

On 23 November 1977, they had their first son, Barney.

In 1978, Powell took the leading role of Richard Hannay in the third film version of The Thirty-Nine Steps.

The 1970s, particularly the Jesus of Nazareth role, proved to be the peak of his career.

In 1980 he appeared in the film Harlequin playing the Harlequin of the title who seems to have the power to cure the son of a powerful politician.

Powell then agreed to a request from his old friend and golf partner, comedian Jasper Carrott, taking the part of an incompetent detective in a succession of sketches that formed part of Carrott's television series.

Nowadays Powell appears in person less often, but his voice is still much heard, on voice-overs, advertisements, and as a narrator of television programmes such as Great Crimes and Trials.

On October 29, 2001 a state-of-the-art theatre named after him was opened at the University of Salford.