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A prominent British actor known for his rugged, pockmarked appearance that contrasted with his gentle voice and refined demeanor. Sewell was born in East London to a printer father who was also a boxer known as "The Cobblestone Kid." After a brief stint in the RAF toward the end of World War II, Sewell worked various short-term jobs, including carpenter, photographer, drummer and assistant roadie for a rumba band, steward on the Cunard liners Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth, and for six years, a motor coach courier for a holiday travel agency.
It wasn't until 1959, following a chance conversation with actor Dudley Sutton in a pub, that Sewell seriously considered acting. He successfully auditioned for Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop, landing roles in several Cockney comedies and eventually portraying Field Marshal Haig in "Oh, What a Lovely War" (1963). His film roles included gritty social dramas such as This Sporting Life (1963) and tough crime thrillers like Underworld Informers (1963) and Get Carter (1971), often switching between villainous and law enforcement characters. He also had a minor part in the sci-fi thriller Journey to the Far Side of the Sun (1969), which preceded his notable role as the composed second-in-command, Colonel Alec Freeman, in the cult TV series UFO (1970).
On television, Sewell frequently portrayed hard-edged, cynical police officers, including DI Brogan in Z Cars (1962) and DCI Alan Craven in Special Branch (1969). Writer Robin Chapman, another former Littlewood associate, cast him as a London gangster in Spindoe (1968). He also appeared as Mendel, Smiley’s dependable, sharp-eyed ex-Special Branch minder, in the original Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy miniseries (1979).
After 2000, Sewell reduced his television work and spent more time at his holiday home in southern France. He occasionally emerged from semi-retirement, notably starring in a well-received production of Tudor Gates’ play, "Who Killed Agatha Christie?", playing a playwright bent on revenge against a harsh critic. Sewell passed away in April 2007 at 82, survived by a daughter and a stepson.
