# Aubrey Woods

Aubrey Harold Woods (9 April 1928 – 7 May 2013) was an English actor. He is best remembered for playing Bill in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, where he sang "The Candy Man".

## Biography and career

Woods was born on 9 April 1928 in Edmonton, Middlesex and grew up in nearby Palmers Green. He was educated at the Latymer School. His first film role was at the age of 17 as Smike in The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (1947). On stage he played the role of Fagin in Lionel Bart's production of Oliver! at the New Theatre, St Martin's Lane in the 1960s alongside Nicolette Roeg and Robert Bridges. Woods played Alfred Jingle in the TV musical Pickwick for the BBC in 1969.
His best remembered film role is in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, where he played the character of Bill, the owner of Bill's Candy Shop, singing "The Candy Man" near the beginning of the film; the single was later a hit for entertainer Sammy Davis Jr. During the early 1970s Woods collaborated on the musical Trelawny with his friend Julian Slade.

## Television work

His television credits include Z-Cars, Up Pompeii!, Doctor Who', Blake's 7, Auf Wiedersehen, Pet and Ever Decreasing Circles.

## Theatre work

He also appeared as Jacob and Potiphar in the 1991 production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the London Palladium, the soundtrack of which topped the British albums chart in August 1991.

## Radio work

His radio credits include the original radio series of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, appearing in Fit the Sixth. He dramatised E. F. Benson's 1932 comic novel "Secret Lives" in three parts for BBC radio, and was also the narrator.

## Personal life and death

Woods met his future wife Gaynor at RADA. They married in 1952.
Woods died of natural causes aged 85, on 7 May 2013, at his home in Barrow-in-Furness.

## Filmography

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1947 | The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby | Smike | |
| 1948 | The Greed of William Hart | Jamie Wilson | |
| 1949 | The Queen of Spades | Dimitri | |
| 1950 | Guilt Is My Shadow | Doctor | |
| 1954 | Father Brown | Charlie | |
| 1961 | Spare the Rod | Mr. Bickerstaff | |
| 1964 | A Home of Your Own | Water Board Inspector | |
| 1965 | San Ferry Ann | Immigration Officer | |
| 1967 | Just like a Woman | T.V. Floor Manager | |
| 1970 | Futtocks End | Postman | |
| 1970 | Loot | Undertaker | |
| 1970 | Wuthering Heights | Joseph | |
| 1971 | All the Right Noises | Stage musical Performer: Foreman | |
| 1971 | Up Pompeii | Villanus | |
| 1971 | The Abominable Dr. Phibes | Goldsmith | |
| 1971 | Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory | Bill | |
| 1971 | Up the Chastity Belt | Vegetable Stall Holder | |
| 1972 | Doctor Who | Controller | Story: "Day of the Daleks" |
| 1972 | Z.P.G. | Dr. Mallory | |
| 1972 | The Darwin Adventure | Bishop Wilberforce | |
| 1974 | Jackanory Playhouse | Fitzwarren | Episode: "Dick Whittington" |
| 1974 | Don't Just Lie There, Say Something! | T.V. Chairman | |
| 1975 | That Lucky Touch | Viscount L'Ardey | |
| 1975 | Operation Daybreak | | |
| 1979 | Blake's 7 | Krantor | Episode: "Gambit" |
| 1979 | Quincy's Quest | Mr. Perfect | |
| 1982 | Witness for the Prosecution | Tailor | TV movie |
| 1982 | Rentaghost | Bergen | |
| 1984 | Auf Wiedersehen, Pet | Jurgen | Episode: "Last Rites" |
| 1984 | Cloak & Dagger | F.B.I. Agent | Uncredited |
| 1987 | I'll Take Manhattan | Priest | Miniseries |