Henry Stewart Fleetwood Andrews (10 November 1911 – 6 March 1989) was an English actor often known for his film portrayals of tough military officers. His performance as Regimental Sergeant Major Wilson in The Hill (1965) earned Andrews the National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actor and a nomination for the 1966 BAFTA Award for Best British Actor. The first of his more than 80 film appearances was in The Red Beret in 1953.
Prior to his film career, Andrews was a theatre actor, appearing at such venues as the Queen's Theatre, the Lyceum Theatre and the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre in the UK as well as theatres in New York City, Paris, Antwerp and Brussels. Andrews made his London theatre debut in 1935 at the St James's Theatre and his New York City debut in 1936 at the Empire Theatre.
Andrews was awarded the CBE in 1966.
Early life
Harry Andrews was born on 10 November 1911 in Tonbridge, Kent. He was the son of Henry Arthur Andrews, a General Practitioner, and Amy Diana Frances (née Horner). Andrews attended Yardley Court school in Tonbridge and Wrekin College in Wellington, Shropshire.
Military service
Like many men of his time, Andrews joined up in October 1939 and was commissioned into the Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment from 162 OCTU (The Honourable Artillery Company) on 21 September 1940 with the number 149267. In August 1942 he transferred to the Royal Artillery, serving in Europe during the D-Day Landings and on the advance into Germany. On 4 April 1946 Andrews was mentioned in dispatches "for gallant and distinguished service in North West Europe". He was demobilised with the rank of Major.
In 1971 Andrews played the title role in Lear by Edward Bond at the Royal Court Theatre, London, continuing his association with contemporary British theatre with his role in the film adaptation of Entertaining Mr Sloane by Joe Orton of the previous year in 1970 to great critical praise.
Film
thumb|Harry Andrews, by [[Allan Warren]]
Andrews made his first two screen appearances with Alan Ladd in the films The Red Beret His performance in The Hill also resulted in Andrews being nominated for the 1966 BAFTA award for Best British Actor, though the award was won by Dirk Bogarde for his performance in Darling. Andrews later appeared in such films as the comedy The Jokers (1967), the musical comedy The Night They Raided Minsky's (1968), the 1970 film adaptation of Emily Brontë's novel Wuthering Heights, Entertaining Mr. Sloane, the 1970 film adaptation of the 1964 play by
Joe Orton, the comedy The Ruling Class (1972), Man of La Mancha (1972) as the Innkeeper, the horror film Theatre of Blood (1973), and the 1976 film adaptation of Maurice Maeterlinck's play The Blue Bird, which was the first film collaboration between the United States and Soviet Russia. The two men had worked together on the film Ice Cold in Alex. Andrews died at the age of 77 on 6 March 1989, at his home in Salehurst.
Between 1956 and 1961, Andrews lived at Little Thatch, 50 Belgrave Road, Seaford, East Sussex.