Meredith Edwards

Who was Meredith Edwards?

Gwilym Meredith Edwards was a Welsh character actor and writer.

He was born in Rhosllannerchrugog, Denbighshire, Wales, the son of a collier. He became an actor in 1938, first with the Welsh National Theatre Company, then the Liverpool Playhouse. He was a conscientious objector in the Second World War, serving in the Non-Combatant Corps, before being seconded to the National Fire Service in Liverpool and London. His film appearances include A Run for Your Money, The Blue Lamp, The Magnet, The Lavender Hill Mob, The Cruel Sea, The Great Game 1953), Dunkirk and Tiger Bay. He appeared as the murderous butler in the cult television series Randall and Hopkirk in 1969, and as Tom in the cult children's science fiction serial Sky in 1975.

A Welsh nationalist and Welsh speaker, he stood as Plaid Cymru candidate for Denbigh in the 1966 general election. He was awarded an honorary degree in 1997 by the University of Wales, and was a member of the Gorsedd of the Bard.

He married Daisy Clark in 1942. They had two sons and a daughter. He is the father of actor Ioan Meredith and the grandfather of actors Ifan Meredith and Rhys Meredith.