News and Notes

News and Commentary from the Who2 Staff

Monday, November 16, 2009

Goodbye to 'The Equalizer'

British actor Edward Woodward has died in England of "various illnesses, including pneumonia." He was 79.

Overseas he was known as the ill-fated Sgt. Howie in the creepy 1973 horror film The Wicker Man, and for playing the (also ill-fated) titular soldier in the 1980 Australian film Breaker Morant.

In America, Woodward may be best remembered for the TV show The Equalizer, which ran from 1985-89. The series was by turns a bit silly and a bit over-violent, but Woodward was steely and stellar as Robert McCall, a retired secret agent who provided guidance (and muscle) to needy underdogs.

YouTube has the whole pilot online; here's the first segment. (Theme song by Stewart Copeland of The Police!) So long, Mr. Woodward, and thanks for the memories.