Robert Powell is perhaps best known for the title roles in Mahler (1974) and Jesus of Nazareth (1977), and for his portrayal of secret agent Richard Hannay in The Thirty Nine Steps (1978) and its subsequent spinoff television series Hannay. Other major screen roles have included Tobias "Toby" Wren in the BBC science-fiction programme Doomwatch (1970), David Briggs in the sitcom The Detectives (1993–1997) with Jasper Carrott, and Mark Williams in the medical drama Holby City (2005–2011).
His first film part was in Robbery (1967), which starred Stanley Baker and was followed by a role in the original The Italian Job (1969) playing one of the gang.
Having been killed off in Doomwatch at the end of series one, at his request, Powell became a pin-up and a household name with starring roles in several BBC serials, including television adaptations of the novels Sentimental Education (1970) and Jude the Obscure (1971). In 1972–1973 he portrayed Charles Rolls in the miniseries The Edwardians and starred in the first episode of the British series Thriller. He also appeared in the 1975 series Looking for Clancy, based on the Frederic Mullally novel Clancy.
In Ken Russell’s Tommy (1975) he had few lines, speaking only during the overture with Ann-Margret, but is primarily seen through the mind of his son as played by Barry Winch (Young Tommy) and Roger Daltrey.
Powell then agreed to a request from his friend and golf partner, comedian Jasper Carrott, taking the part of an incompetent detective. The Detectives proved to be hugely popular comedy hit series for the BBC running 31 episodes.
Many TV roles and film parts have followed ranging from The Mystery Of Edwin Drood (1993), to Dalziel and Pascoe, Agatha Christie’s Marple, Colour Me Kubrick (2005) and his distinctive voice has become well known as a narrator of documentaries and in animation films and TV series.
On 29 October 2001, a state-of-the-art theatre named after him was opened at the University of Salford.
Robert was nominated for a Best Actor BAFTA TV Award for Jesus of Nazareth in 1978 and won a Best Actor award at the Venice Film Festival for his performance in the film Imperative in 1982.
