William Gaunt
William Charles Anthony Gaunt (born 3 April 1937 in Pudsey, West Riding of Yorkshire) is an English actor. He became widely known for television roles such as Richard Barrett in "The Champions" (1968–1969), Arthur Crabtree in "No Place Like Home" (1983–87) and Andrew Prentice in "Next of Kin" (1995–97). He has had many other roles on television and also an extensive stage career as an actor and director, including performances with the Royal Shakespeare Company. Early life. Gaunt's father was a solicitor. Gaunt attended Giggleswick School and Baylor University, Texas, and then the Royal Academy of Dramatic  Art. He then spent three years working in repertory theatre at Worthing, Bath, Salisbury and Cheltenham after which he was in America for another year, later returning to the UK working on productions at Birmingham, Coventry and Cheltenham, interrupted by a spell in the army. After minor roles in 1960s series such as "Z-Cars" and "The Avengers", and the "Edgar Wallace Mysteries" films "The Sinister Man" (1961) and "Solo for Sparrow" (1962), he gained a role as the super-powered secret agent Richard Barrett in the 1968 British espionage/science fiction series "The Champions". In 1966 he appeared in  Flight Plan, an episode of "The Saint", where he played an Osprey pilot. He had also appeared in a recurring role in "Sergeant Cork" following policemen in Victorian London. Later career. Between 1983 and 1987, he starred as harassed father Arthur Crabtree in the sitcom "No Place Like Home". He subsequently made many guest appearances in other series such as "Juliet Bravo" and in the "Doctor Who" two-part serial "Revelation of the Daleks" (1985). From 1995 to 1997, Gaunt starred in the sitcom "Next of Kin" opposite Penelope Keith. In 2010, he appeared in the Globe Theatre production of  Shakespeare's "Henry IV, Part 1". He starred in the 2004 "Doctor Who" audio series "Dalek Empire III". He also appeared in the Channel 4 series "Cast Offs". In December 2011, he was seen in Episode One of the ITV drama "Without You". In February 2012, Gaunt appeared in "Midsomer Murders" as Ludo DeQuetteville in the episode "The Dark Rider", first aired on ITV1 on Wednesday 1 February 2012. This is his second appearance in this series, after playing Michael Bannerman in the 2004 episode "The Maid in Splendour". In May 2015, Gaunt played Judge St John Redmond in six  episodes of "EastEnders". Stage roles. Gaunt also has extensive stage experience, both as an actor and a theatre director, including a notable success in playing the Micheál Mac Liammóir character in "Gates of Gold" by Frank McGuinness at the Finborough Theatre, London, and in the West End. He appeared in the Royal Shakespeare Company production of "The Seagull", sharing the role of Sorin with Ian McKellen; and appeared in "King Lear" as Gloucester at the New London Theatre in Drury Lane, London, opposite McKellen in the title role following a United Kingdom tour. He revived his performance as Gloucester in  the TV film of the same name released in late 2008. He appeared in the role of Dogsborough, a parody of Paul von Hindenburg in Bertold Brecht's "The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui", and in "The Crucible" at the Old Vic. In 2017 he appeared in a tour of Alan Bennett's play "The Lady in the Van". In 2021, Gaunt appeared as Duncan in Macbeth at the Almeida Theatre. Personal life. Gaunt married actress Carolyn Lyster on 7 September 1974. They have a daughter, Matilda and a son, Albie.