Bill Stewart was born on the 7th of December 1942 in Liverpool, one of four children of a headmistress and an engineer. He left technical college at 16, began training as a quantity surveyor, and within a year or two became involved in amateur dramatics. This, and a visit to the Liverpool Everyman Theatre, would convince him that acting would be a great deal more fun than surveying. His mother was not so happy about his planned career change, but his father was more philosophical, saying that since he was going to spend his life working, it might as well be at something he would enjoy. So he began a journey which would see him became a character actor whose career spanned experimental productions at the Royal Court in the 1960s to several seasons at Shakespeare's Globe and in Hollywood films. He applied to drama schools and was accepted by the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School in 1963. His mother sadly died in the summer he was due to set off for Bristol, and he greatly regretted that she never saw his successes in his chosen career. During his final year at the theatre school he wrote to Bill Gaskell, artistic director at the Royal Court, asking for an audition. He did not get a reply, but was bold enough to approach Gaskell at a party soon afterwards, asking him why he had not replied, and telling him it was very rude of him. When Bill returned to Liverpool he acted for three years at the Everyman Theatre, under its founder director Peter James.
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| Young actors at Liverpool Everyman theatre in 1974 |
The theatre had a policy then of employing only young actors, and others who had their first break there included Jonathan Pryce and Julie Walters. Then the notoriously prickly Gaskell offered him his first job, in the original 1965 controversial production of Edward Bond's 'Saved', which caused a furore. The play, which includes a scene of a baby being stoned to death, was refused a licence by the Lord Chamberlain, so the Royal Court became a club to enable the production to be staged. December 1967 saw him appearing on Boxing Day in 'Charley’s Aunt' as the pantomime dame role of Lord Fancourt Babberley in the comedy at the Everyman. He later married Peter James's sister Margaret in 1970. His work took him to theatres all over Britain, especially the Sheffield Crucible, again with Peter James, and the Nottingham Playhouse under Richard Eyre. He acted in many groundbreaking productions over 30 years, playing the lead, Joseph K, in Steven Berkoff's adaptation of 'The Trial' in 1973 and was also in the first production of Berkoff's harsh satire 'Sink the Belgrano' at the Half Moon Theatre in 1986. His peripatetic lifestyle did not make for an easy marriage, and he and Margaret were divorced.
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| as Sandy Longford in 'A Touch of Frost' |
In a career lasting more than 40 years he played Denton Evening News reporter Sandy Longford, Inspector Frost's journalist friend, in the television crime drama 'A Touch of Frost' and Sir Toby Belch in the Globe's award-winning production of 'Twelfth Night'. His last film role was with Ed Harris in 'Copying Beethoven', which was premiered at the Toronto Film Festival and released in the US in 2006. He acted in several of Howard Barker's plays with The Wrestling School, the company set up to produce Barker's work. These included 'The Europeans' (1986) about the aftermath of the struggle between Christianity and Islam in the 17th century, and 'Victory' (1991). As well as appearing in many mainstream television dramas, from 'Frost' to 'Lovejoy', Bill was involved in innovative television productions including 'Made in Britain' (1983), the third collaboration between Alan Clarke and the screenwriter David Leland. The play focused on a violent teenage skinhead, Trevor, who refuses to co-operate with attempts to rehabilitate him by the courts or his social worker, played by Bill Stewart. He also made 3 appearances in 'Z-Cars' (1971-74), 3 episodes of 'Rock Follies' (1976), 4 episodes of 'Jack of Diamonds' (1983), 3 episodes of the political thriller serial 'Edge of Darkness' (1985), then in Alan Bleasdale's 'GBH' (1991), 'Splitting Heirs' (1993), '101 Dalmatians' (1996) and a role in 'Anna and the King' (1999). He then played several seasons at Shakespeare's Globe, including appearing in 'Henry V' during Mark Rylance's first season as artistic director. He played Capulet in 'Romeo and Juliet' (2004), which gave him the opportunity to work closely with young actors, which he loved. He was Sir Toby Belch in 'Twelfth Night' (2002), in a production which toured the US the following year. His portrayal of Sir Toby, not as lively and rumbustious, but as a sad figure weeping silently into his ale, won wide acclaim.
Motor neuron disease was diagnosed in June 2006 and he took this news calmly and with great bravery. He was supported and cared for by his partner of the previous seven years, the actress Pamela Moiseiwitsch, and her children, Luke and Emily. Bill died on the 29th of August 2006 of motor neurone disease.
see also :- http://www.thefootballvoice.com/2023/12/a-history-of-liverrpool-thespians.html
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