Michael Sheard Has Died

Actor Michael Sheard, best known for playing teacher Mr Bronson in long-running children's TV drama Grange Hill in the 1980s, has died aged 65. Sheard gained wider fame as Admiral Ozzel in 1980 Star Wars film The Empire Strikes Back. His other films included Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade - one of a string of appearances as Adolf Hitler - and he was a regular guest in Doctor Who. His agent said he had cancer and died at home on the Isle of Wight. [More]


I first came to know Michael's work in the many Doctor Who roles, including 'Pyramids of Mars' (above). As noted in the BBC story above he was Admiral Ozzel in SW Ep V: Empire Strikes Back, if you can't remember him, he was the one who received a promotion after Darth Vader force-chokes another Admiral over video phone. Sheard also had a small but memorable role as Adolf Hitler in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. His last Doctor Who appearance was as a Dalek controlled human (appointed at Coal Hill School) in 'Remembrance of the Daleks'. He will be missed...

...Watch 'Pyramids of Mars' on DVD tonight.