Hywel Thomas Bennett was born on 8 April 1944 in Garnant, Carmarthenshire, Wales, the son of Sarah Gwen (n\u00e9e Lewis) and Gorden Bennett. Welsh was his first language, and he learned English in an accent he later called "London-Welsh" after the family moved to south London when he was four.
He trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) after several years with the National Youth Theatre. His early screen career included lead roles opposite Hayley Mills in The Family Way (1966), Twisted Nerve (1968) and Endless Night (1972).
Bennett became a household name playing the "thinking man's layabout" James Shelley in the long-running sitcom Shelley (1979-1992), and also took the pivotal role of Ricki Tarr in the acclaimed BBC adaptation of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (1979). In later years he took on villainous roles, including Mr Croup in Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere (1996) and crime boss Jack Dalton in EastEnders (2003).
Hywel Bennett died on 24 July 2017, at the age of 73.
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Welsh actor born in Garnant, Carmarthenshire, best known for The Family Way and the sitcom Shelley.
Hywel Bennett
Actor from Garnant
Born in Garnant, Carmarthenshire; Welsh was his first language before the family moved to south London when he was four.
Bennett was the brother of actor Alun Lewis, best known for playing Vic Windsor in Emmerdale. Beyond his television work, Hywel Bennett appeared in numerous feature films through the 1960s and 1970s and remained a familiar face on British television into the 2000s.
Career Highlights
The Family Way (1966) — lead role opposite Hayley Mills
Shelley (ITV, 1979–1992) — title role in the long-running sitcom
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (BBC, 1979) — played Ricki Tarr
ℹ️ Born 8 April 1944 in Garnant, Carmarthenshire, Wales. Died 24 July 2017.
Born in Garnant, Carmarthenshire; Welsh was his first language before the family moved to south London when he was four.