Aubrey Harold Woods (9 April 1928 – 7 May 2013) was an English actor. He is best remembered for playing Bill in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, where he sang "The Candy Man".
Biography and career Woods was born on 9 April 1928 in Edmonton, Middlesex and grew up in nearby Palmers Green. He was educated at the Latymer School. His first film role was at the age of 17 as Smike in The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (1947). On stage he played the role of Fagin in Lionel Bart's production of Oliver! at the New Theatre, St Martin's Lane in the 1960s alongside Nicolette Roeg and Robert Bridges. Woods played Alfred Jingle in the TV musical Pickwick for the BBC in 1969.Michael Coveney Obituary: Aubrey Woods, The Guardian, 14 May 2013
His best remembered film role is in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, where he played the character of Bill, the owner of Bill's Candy Shop, singing "The Candy Man" near the beginning of the film; the single was later a hit for entertainer Sammy Davis Jr. During the early 1970s Woods collaborated on the musical Trelawny with his friend Julian Slade.
His television credits include Z-Cars, Up Pompeii!, Doctor Who, Blake's 7, Auf Wiedersehen, Pet and Ever Decreasing Circles.
He also appeared as Jacob and Potiphar in the 1991 production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the London Palladium, the soundtrack of which topped the UK albums chart in August 1991.
His radio credits include the original radio series of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, appearing in "Fit the Sixth". He dramatised E. F. Benson's 1932 comic novel Secret Lives in three parts for BBC radio, and was also the narrator.
Personal life and death Woods met his future wife, Gaynor, at RADA. They married in 1952.
Woods died of natural causes on 7 May 2013 at his home in Barrow-in-Furness, aged 85.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1947 The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby Smike 1948 The Greed of William Hart Jamie Wilson 1949 The Queen of Spades Dimitri 1950 Guilt Is My Shadow Doctor 1954 Father Brown Charlie 1961 Spare the Rod Mr. Bickerstaff 1964 A Home of Your Own Water Board Inspector 1965 San Ferry Ann Immigration Officer 1967 Just like a Woman T.V. Floor Manager1970 Futtocks End Postman Loot Undertaker Wuthering Heights Joseph1971 All the Right Noises Stage musical Performer: Foreman Up Pompeii Villanus The Abominable Dr. Phibes Goldsmith Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory Bill Up the Chastity Belt Vegetable Stall Holder1972 Doctor Who Controller Story: "Day of the Daleks" Z.P.G. Dr. Mallory The Darwin Adventure Bishop Wilberforce1974 Jackanory Playhouse Fitzwarren Episode: "Dick Whittington" Don't Just Lie There, Say Something! T.V. Chairman1975 That Lucky Touch Viscount L'Ardey Operation Daybreak 1979 Blake's 7 Krantor Episode: "Gambit" Quincy's Quest Mr. Perfect1982 Witness for the Prosecution Tailor TV movie Rentaghost Bergen1984 Auf Wiedersehen, Pet Jurgen Episode: "Last Rites" Cloak & Dagger F.B.I. Agent Uncredited 1987 I'll Take Manhattan Priest Miniseries
References
External links
Aubrey Woods in Candida at Vienna's English Theatre, 1977, Arbeiter-Zeitung. (German). Aubrey Woods; Aveleyman.com