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.