  michael leonard williams,  (9 july 1935 &ndash; 11 january 2001) was an english actor who played both classical and comedy roles, and was the husband of actress dame judi dench. == early life and career == born in liverpool, lancashire, he attended st. edward's college and worked as an insurance assessor before going into the theatre. his first film appearance was in 1962, and he subsequently appeared frequently on television (notably in elizabeth r), and in british films such as educating rita (1983) and (along with dench) henry v (1989). in the latter, in perhaps an irresistible casting decision, he played his namesake, the shakespearean character named michael williams. in 1967, he played in peter whitehead's documentary benefit of the doubt on peter brook's anti-vietnam play "us", along with peter brook and the royal shakespeare company. his many radio roles included crime reporter george cragge in in the red and its sequels, and dr. watson in the bbc's complete run of sherlock holmes adaptations. williams provided voices for the woodland animations bbc television series charlie chalk, created by ivor wood. == personal life == he married judi dench on 5 february 1971, in the same year that they co-starred in a stage production of john webster's the duchess of malfi. they had one daughter, tara cressida williams (b. 1972), known as finty williams, who is also an actress. finty is a single parent to a son, sam williams (b. 6 june 1998) williams chaired the british catholic stage guild for a number of years before he was incapacitated by illness. although williams was a devout catholic{{cite news|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14674/actor-michael-williams-dies.html|title=actor michael williams dies|publisher=[[daily mai
1935_births 2001_deaths 20th-century_English_male_actors Alumni_of_the_Royal_Academy_of_Dramatic_Art Cancer_deaths_in_England Deaths_from_lung_cancer English_Roman_Catholics English_male_film_actors English_male_radio_actors English_male_stage_actors English_male_television_actors Male_actors_from_Liverpool People_educated_at_St_Edward\'s_College Royal_Shakespeare_Company_members