Ben Howard

Acting

Ben Howard

Born 1940-01-01 · UK

Ben Howard is a retired British actor famous for playing cockney hardmen and squaddies. He starred in the Richard Attenborough films, Oh What a Lovely War and A Bridge Too Far, and starred in the big police series of the 60s and 70s; Z Cars, The Sweeney and Dixon of Dock Green - the latter as DC Len Clayton in the long running show's final series in 1976. Away from acting Ben designed and created the Benjyboard skateboard which is still admired by skaters to this day as a classic.

Acting credits

A Bridge Too Far poster
7.2

The story of Operation Market Garden—a failed attempt by the allies in the latter stages of WWII to end the war quickly by securing three bridges in Holland allowing access over the Rhine into Germany. A combination of poor allied intelligence and the presence of two crack German panzer divisions meant that the final part of this operation (the bridge in Arnhem over the Rhine) was doomed to failure.

A Bridge Too Far

1977

The Land That Time Forgot poster
5.7

During World War I, a German U-boat sinks a British passenger ship and takes the survivors aboard. After getting lost in fog, the submarine surfaces near the unknown island of Caprona, a lost world where they find dinosaurs and Neanderthals.

The Land That Time Forgot

1974

Who Dares Wins poster
6.3

When SAS Captain Peter Skellen is thrown out of the service for gross misconduct due to unnecessary violence and bullying, he is soon recruited by The People's Lobby, a fanatical group aiming to hold several US dignitaries hostage. But Skellen's dismissal is a front to enable him to get close to the terrorist group. Can he get close enough to stop the Lobby from creating an international incident?

Who Dares Wins

1982

Oh! What a Lovely War poster
6.6

The working-class Smiths change their initially sunny views on World War I after the five boys of the family witness the harsh reality of trench warfare.

Oh! What a Lovely War

1969

The Charge of the Light Brigade poster
6.2

During the Crimean War between Britain and Russia in the 1850s, a British cavalry division, led by the overbearing Lord Cardigan, engages in an infamously reckless strategic debacle against a Russian artillery battery.

The Charge of the Light Brigade

1968

From Beyond the Grave poster
6.5

Four customers purchase, or take, items from Temptations Limited, an antiques shop whose motto is “Offers You Cannot Resist.” A nasty fate awaits all of them; particularly those who cheat the shop's Proprietor.

From Beyond the Grave

1974

Villain poster
6.1

In 1970s London, Scotland Yard orchestrates the downfall of mob boss Vic Dakin after he crosses the line by blackmailing Members of Parliament.

Villain

1971

That Summer! poster
4.9

A teenager gets out of reform school and heads to Torquay for a swimming contest, where he meets a pair of young Northern lasses working as hotel chambermaids. However, their fun is interrupted by a gang of Scottish punks who come to cause trouble.

That Summer!

1979

Talkin' Blues poster
NR

John and Helen have moved into a house in Brixton, sourh London. John then gets to know a couple of his neighbours, his next door neighbour, who is black, and a white neighbour and his young leather-clad son.

Talkin' Blues

1977

Zeppelin poster
6.2

The outbreak of World War I places Scots officer Geoffrey Richter-Douglas in an uncomfortable position. Although his allegiance is to Britain, his mother was from an aristocratic Bavarian family, and he spent his summers in Germany as a child. When Geoffrey is approached by a German spy who offers him a chance to defect, he reports the incident to his superiors, but instead of arresting the spy they suggest that he accept her offer--and become an Allied agent. In Germany, among old friends, Geoffrey discovers that loyalty is more complicated than he expected, especially when he finds himself aboard the maiden voyage of a powerful new prototype Zeppelin, headed for Scotland on a secret mission that could decide the outcome of the war.

Zeppelin

1971

Red Shift poster
7.7

Three men at three different times in history come to Mow Top hill in search of sanctuary from their troubles. A Roman soldier, a medieval rebel and a 1970s young man. Somehow they seem linked through an energy within the hill and an axe. Is history doomed to repeat itself or can loving another person free them?

Red Shift

1978

Hide and Seek poster
5.5

A young boy runs away from an approved school to meet up with his father in the hope that he can persuade his dad to allow him to travel to Canada with him. He also meets up with two local children and discovers that his father is instead planning a bank heist.

Hide and Seek

1972

Up the Junction poster
7.0

The lives and loves of three young working class women, set in the pubs, terraced houses and factories of Battersea, South London.

Up the Junction

1965

The Sex Victims poster
5.0

A lone truck driver who is lured into the woods by a nubile Lady Godiva discovers after he’s slept with her that all is not as it seems. The Sex Victims (1973) is very much part of the Britsploitation fold, featuring gratuitous nudity, working-class vernacular and rough sex. Yet director Derek Robbins also veers into some of the same uncanny territory directors like José Larraz would later explore at feature length, making it a unique hybrid. In fact, The Sex Victims would make a perfect bill cousin for Larraz’s Vampyres (1974) for the way in which it combines ample nudity with supernatural elements. (BFI)

The Sex Victims

1973

Running Scared poster
8.0

When an undergraduate commits suicide, his best friend is sent down from university because he did nothing to prevent the death, which he felt was a choice his friend had a right to make.

Running Scared

1972

Doctor Who: The Green Death poster
8.4

The Doctor and UNIT investigate a deadly infection lurking underneath the Welsh mining town of Llanfairfach. It's an adventure that will change Jo Grant's life forever...

Doctor Who: The Green Death

1973

Strike: The Birth of Solidarity poster
NR

British TV Movie drama/documentary detailing the birth of Poland's Solidarity union

Strike: The Birth of Solidarity

1981

Three Clear Sundays poster
6.0

Ken Loach production for The Wednesday Play, reflecting contemporary debates surrounding the abolishment of capital punishment.

Three Clear Sundays

1965

Mrs. Lawrence Will Look After It poster
10.0

When an elderly woman is hospitalised, the truth behind her illegal adoption of 14 children is revealed.

Mrs. Lawrence Will Look After It

1968

Bread poster
4.7

On their way home from the Isle of Wight Pop Festival, Jeff, Trev and Mick along with girlfriends Marty and Cathy decide to pitch a tent on private land. In the morning the land's owner Rafe turns up and orders them to get off his lawn but changes his mind when one of the girls emerges naked from the tent. Rafe explains he only comes down to the house at weekends and lets them stay providing they redecorate his house. The squatters agree but once Rafe leaves they plot to organize a pop festival at the house. Attempting to raise cash for the venture, the men coerce their girlfriends into making a blue movie. When this proves disastrous Jeff goes to London and poses as a pop journalist in order to book the groups "Crazy Mabel" and "The Juicy Lucy" for the festival.

Bread

1971