In August 1955, Peter Woodthorpe, who has died aged 73, became part of the postwar stage revolution. He was born c. TA 2430. "Beckett said to Peter Woodthorpe that he regretted calling the absent character 'Godot', because of all the theories involving God to which this had given rise." At the Lyric, Hammersmith, he played Bob Acres in Sheridan's The Rivals (1963); and was Lord Foppington in Vanbrugh's The Relapse (Glasgow Citizens' Theatre). Peter Woodthorpe is a voice actor known for voicing Gollum / Smeagol. With an arresting, nasal whine, he could sound effeminate or sinister, and he had an almost insinuating style, with a hint of pathos. His parts included Dogberry in Much Ado About Nothing, the Dauphin in Henry V, the Duke in The Merchant Of Venice, and the Actor in Gorki's The Lower Depths. By 1970, after playing Olivier's role as Fred Midway in David Turner's Semi-Detached at the Arts, Woodthorpe joined the Royal Shakespeare Company. He also provided the voice of Pigsy in the cult series Monkey and was Max the pathologist in early episodes of Inspector Morse. The name Gollum was derived from the sound of his disgusting gurgling, choking cough.

He appeared in Fletcher's The Chances, Ford's The Broken Heart and Chekhov's Uncle Vanya. He did his national service in Royal Naval intelligence. External Links . But everyone was ready to have a go. This incomplete adaptation sparked two other adaptations: the animated The Return of the King (1980), in which Theodore reprised the role; and the BBC radio production, in which Woodthorpe reprised the role. After that Godot, Woodthorpe never needed to act as an amateur again. Back in England, he joined the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre Company at Stratford-upon-Avon. He debuted on Broadway in May 1958, at the opening of the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, playing Professor Muller in Peter Brook's production of Friedrich Durrenmatt's Time And Time Again (renamed The Visit).

Gollum was voiced by Brother Theodore in Rankin-Bass' animated adaptations of The Hobbit and Return of the King and by Peter Woodthorpe in Ralph Bakshi's animated film version and the BBC's 1981 radio adaptation of The Lord of the Rings, and portrayed through motion capture by Andy Serkis in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit film trilogies. Peter Woodthorpe (25 September 1931 – 12 August 2004) was an English film, television and voice actor who supplied the voice of Gollum in the 1978 Bakshi version of The Lord of the Rings and BBC's 1981 radio serial.Peter Woodthorpe (25 September 1931 – 12 August 2004) was an English film, television and voice actor who supplied the voice of Gollum in the 1978 Bakshi version of The Lord of the Rings and BBC's 1981 radio serial.Peter Woodthorpe (Gollum/Sméagol) and Michael Graham Cox (Boromir) previously voiced the same roles in Ralph Bakshi's animated version.In the summer of 1955 he played Estragon in the first British production of Waiting for Godot. He also provided the voice of Pigsy in the cult series Monkey and was Max the pathologist in early episodes of Inspector Morse. Eric Shorter. © 2020 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. "In 1960, he played Aston in the first production of Harold Pinter's The Caretaker at the Arts Theatre, in London, prior to transferring to the West End's Duchess Theatre on 30 May 1960.The movie starred Alan Bates as Mick and Donald Pleasence as Davies in their original stage roles, while Robert Shaw replaced Peter Woodthorpe as Aston.He also provided the voice of Pigsy in the cult series Monkey and was Max the pathologist in early episodes of Inspector Morse.Peter Woodthorpe (25 September 1931 – 12 August 2004) was an English film, television and voice actor who supplied the voice of Gollum in the 1978 Bakshi version of The Lord of the Rings and BBC's 1981 radio serial.In Ralph Bakshi's animated film adaptation of The Lord of the Rings (1978), the voice of Gollum was supplied by Peter Woodthorpe, who also reprised the role in the BBC's 1981 radio serial.He also starred as Oxford in the Broadway musical Darling of the Day.Also featured were Brenda Forbes, Peter Woodthorpe, and Teddy Green.He also provided the voice of Pigsy in the cult series Monkey and was Max the pathologist in early episodes of Inspector Morse.In 1964 and 1965 he made three films for cinematographer-turned-director Freddie Francis: The Evil of Frankenstein (1964), Hysteria (1965) and The Skull (1965), the first two for Hammer Films and the last for Amicus Productions.The Skull is a 1965 British horror film directed by Freddie Francis for Amicus Productions, and starring the frequently paired horror actors Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee, alongside Patrick Wymark, Jill Bennett, Nigel Green, Patrick Magee and Peter Woodthorpe.In 1964 and 1965 he made three films for cinematographer-turned-director Freddie Francis: The Evil of Frankenstein (1964), Hysteria (1965) and The Skull (1965), the first two for Hammer Films and the last for Amicus Productions.In 1964 and 1965 he made three films for cinematographer-turned-director Freddie Francis: The Evil of Frankenstein (1964), Hysteria (1965) and The Skull (1965), the first two for Hammer Films and the last for Amicus Productions.Other television appearances include as the writer Honoré de Balzac in the BBC series Notorious Woman (1974) and as the corrupt Councillor Webb in the hard-hitting police drama The Professionals; episode Not a Very Civil Servant (1978).One of Woodthorpe's best remembered roles was the guest role of Reg Trotter, father of Del Boy, in the 1983 Christmas special, Thicker than Water, an episode of the BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses.Their absent father, Reg, appeared once in "Thicker Than Water" (played by Peter Woodthorpe), before leaving under a cloud, never to be seen again.Peter Woodthorpe (25 September 1931 – 12 August 2004) was an English film, television and voice actor who supplied the voice of Gollum in the 1978 Bakshi version of The Lord of the Rings and BBC's 1981 radio serial.The Ring twists his body and mind, and he becomes the creature Gollum (Peter Woodthorpe) and takes with him into the Misty Mountains.One of Woodthorpe's best remembered roles was the guest role of Reg Trotter, father of Del Boy, in the 1983 Christmas special, Thicker than Water, an episode of the BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses.The marriage is stopped by Bertha's brother Richard Mason (Edward de Souza) and lawyer Briggs (Peter Woodthorpe).Peter Woodthorpe (25 September 1931 – 12 August 2004) was an English film, television and voice actor who supplied the voice of Gollum in the 1978 Bakshi version of The Lord of the Rings and BBC's 1981 radio serial.