John Thaw

John Thaw (January 3, 1942 - February 21, 2002) was a British actor who achieved his first starring role in the military police television drama Redcap (1964 - 1966), and subsequently appeared in a range of television, stage and cinema roles.

Thaw came from a working class background, having been born in West Gorton, Manchester. He studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

Thaw will perhaps be best remembered for two roles: the hard-bitten Flying Squad detective Jack Regan in the television series (and two films) The Sweeney (1975 - 1978), which established him as a major star in the United Kingdom, and as the quietly-spoken, introspective and bitter detective Inspector Morse (1987 - 2001), with specials in 1995 - 1998 and 2000. He won two BAFTA awards for Inspector Morse.

He subsequently played liberal barrister James Kavanagh in Kavanagh QC (1995 - 1999, with a special in 2001). Thaw also tried his hand at comedy with his own sitcom called Home to Roost (1985 - 1988).

Thaw has appeared in a number of films, including Cry Freedom, which received a BAFTA nomination for Best Supporting Actor, and Chaplin for director Richard Attenborough.

In 1964 Thaw married Sally Alexander, but they divorced four years later. He married actress Sheila Hancock in 1973 whom he remained with until his death in 2002. Thaw has two daughters, Abigail Thaw from his first marriage, and Joanna Thaw from his second.

Thaw was awarded the CBE in 1994.

He died from esophageal cancer at the age of 60 in 2002.