Background and career
Michael Leonard Williams (9 July 1935 – 11 January 2001) was a British actor who played both classical and comedy roles. He was best known for voicing Dr. Watson in the long-running Sherlock Holmes adaptations for BBC Radio, opposite Clive Merrison as Holmes, and for starring alongside his wife Judi Dench in the ITV sitcom A Fine Romance.
Williams was born on 9 July 1935 in Liverpool, Merseyside. Williams married Judi Dench on 5 February 1971, the same year in which they co-starred in a stage production of John Webster's The Duchess of Malfi, and, as RSC actors, in Pack of Lies and Mr. and Mrs. Nobody. They had one daughter, Finty Williams, who is also an actress. Williams was also godfather to the actor Rory Kinnear. Williams was the President of the Roman Catholic Actors' Guild. He was a fan of Everton.
Shortly before his death from lung cancer aged 65, Williams was appointed a Knight of St Gregory (KSG) by Pope John Paul II for his contribution to Catholic life in Britain. The honour was officially bestowed upon him at home on 10 January 2001. He died the next day, and was buried in the churchyard of St Leonard's, the Anglican parish church of Charlecote, Warwickshire.
Principal stage appearances; mostly with the Royal Shakespeare Company:
Also appeared in the Royal Shakespeare Company's Theatre-Go-Round Festival, Round House Theatre, London, 1970.
Sources
Net-worth figure: Celebrity Net Worth (October 2026), in USD. Biography and career facts: the person's Wikipedia article and linked reporting. Snapshot date for all StarWorth figures: 28 October 2026.
