'Equalizer' Woodward Dead

The well-known British actor Edward Woodward, who was famous for his roles in The Wicker Man and The Equalizer, died today aged 79.
He had been suffering from various illnesses, including pneumonia, and died in hospital in Cornwall.
His agent Janet Glass released a statement praising Woodward's ''brave spirit and wonderful humour''.
''Universally loved and admired through his unforgettable roles in classic productions such as Breaker Morant, The Wicker Man, Callan, The Equalizer and many more, he was equally fine and courageous in real life, never losing his brave spirit and wonderful humour throughout his illness," the statement said.
''He was further sustained by the love of his wife, Michele, children, Tim, Peter, Sarah and Emily, his grandchildren and numerous friends. His passing will leave a huge gap in many lives.''
Woodward, who was born in Surrey in 1930, starred in dozens of films and television programmes over the decades.
He played police sergeant Neil Howie in occult thriller The Wicker Man, a story of his search for a missing girl on an isolated Scottish island.
He won a Golden Globe in 1987 for his role in The Equalizer, in which he played a British former intelligence agent and he also had a supporting role in the British 2007 action comedy, Hot Fuzz .
He also recorded 12 albums of songs, three albums of poetry and 14 books to tape.
(BMcC/GK)