Michael Sheard

Michael Sheard (18 June 1938 – 31 August 2005) was a Scottish actor who featured in a large number of films and television programmes. Sheard was born in Aberdeen, Scotland; the son of a Church Minister, and was trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. During his National Service, Sheard was a Royal Air Force aircraftsman. Star Wars fans know him as Admiral Ozzel, whom Vader choked to death, from The Empire Strikes Back, whereas fa... more

Michael Sheard (18 June 1938 – 31 August 2005) was a Scottish actor who featured in a large number of films and television programmes. Sheard was born in Aberdeen, Scotland; the son of a Church Minister, and was trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. During his National Service, Sheard was a Royal Air Force aircraftsman. Star Wars fans know him as Admiral Ozzel, whom Vader choked to death, from The Empire Strikes Back, whereas fans of UK children's show Grange Hill will remember his performance as the terrifying deputy headmaster Mr Maurice Bronson. In 1983, he played Herr Grunwald, the German manager of a building site in the first series of Auf Wiedersehen, Pet. He portrayed Adolf Hitler five times, including in The Tomorrow People (1978) and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989). He also portrayed Heinrich Himmler three times. In 1980, he had a major supporting role in Stephen Poliakoff's esteemed B.B.C. television play Caught on a Train. He also appeared as... less