Norman Bowler
Encyclopedia
Norman Clifford Bowler is a British
actor.
Born in London
, son of a watch repairer in Mill Lane, NW6, he became a member of the 1950s Soho set alongside the likes of John Minton
, Francis Bacon
and Daniel Farson
. There he met Henrietta Moraes
, who divorced her first husband, Michael Law, and married Bowler. This marriage ended in 1956. They had two children, Joshua and Caroline, although many years later it transpired that Joshua’s biological father was Colin Tennant, 3rd Baron Glenconner
.
Bowler played a variety of bit parts and single episode roles throughout the 1960s. He featured in one episode of The Avengers
and starred alongside James Caan in the 1968 war film Submarine X-1, about World War II
British midget submarines.
From 1966-1976, Bowler played Det. Sgt. and later Det. Chief Inspector Harry Hawkins for the entire run of the BBC TV police drama Softly, Softly (later Softly, Softly: Taskforce
). He also appeared in Jesus of Nazareth (1977)
More recently, he was best known for playing the part of Frank Tate
in the ITV
soap opera Emmerdale
from November 1989 - May 1997. When his character was killed off after suffering a heart attack, his TV wife Kim could have saved his life but chose to let him die as he begged for help.
Bowler has been very active in charity
work and adult education
in the Bristol area (where the original Softly, Softly series was filmed in the 60s).
Bowler is now living with his second wife, Dianna, in Auroville International Township in South-India (near Pondicherry). There he is engaged in development
work with people in the surrounding Tamil villages and often entertains the village children. He also works with and directs the amateur actors of the Township.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
actor.
Born in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, son of a watch repairer in Mill Lane, NW6, he became a member of the 1950s Soho set alongside the likes of John Minton
John Minton
John Minton may refer to:* John D. Minton, Jr., Chief Justice of the Kentucky Supreme Court* John Minton , artist and illustrator* Big John Studd , wrestler...
, Francis Bacon
Francis Bacon
Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St Albans, KC was an English philosopher, statesman, scientist, lawyer, jurist, author and pioneer of the scientific method. He served both as Attorney General and Lord Chancellor of England...
and Daniel Farson
Daniel Farson
Daniel Negley Farson a British writer and broadcaster, was a popular television personality and prominent public figure in the late 1950s and early 1960s.-Early life:...
. There he met Henrietta Moraes
Henrietta Moraes
Henrietta Moraes was a British artists' model, bohémienne, and memoirist. During the 1950s and '60s, she was the muse and inspiration for many artists of the Soho subculture, like Lucian Freud and Francis Bacon, and known for her marriages and love affairs.A femme fatale and a bon vivant, she was...
, who divorced her first husband, Michael Law, and married Bowler. This marriage ended in 1956. They had two children, Joshua and Caroline, although many years later it transpired that Joshua’s biological father was Colin Tennant, 3rd Baron Glenconner
Colin Tennant, 3rd Baron Glenconner
Colin Christopher Paget Tennant, 3rd Baron Glenconner was a Scottish noble. He was the son of Christopher Grey Tennant, 2nd Baron Glenconner and Pamela Winefred Paget...
.
Bowler played a variety of bit parts and single episode roles throughout the 1960s. He featured in one episode of The Avengers
The Avengers (TV series)
The Avengers is a spy-fi British television series set in the 1960s Britain. The Avengers initially focused on Dr. David Keel and his assistant John Steed . Hendry left after the first series and Steed became the main character, partnered with a succession of assistants...
and starred alongside James Caan in the 1968 war film Submarine X-1, about World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
British midget submarines.
From 1966-1976, Bowler played Det. Sgt. and later Det. Chief Inspector Harry Hawkins for the entire run of the BBC TV police drama Softly, Softly (later Softly, Softly: Taskforce
Softly, Softly: Taskforce
Softly, Softly the popular BBC television police drama series, was revamped in 1969, partly to coincide with the coming of colour broadcasting to BBC 1...
). He also appeared in Jesus of Nazareth (1977)
More recently, he was best known for playing the part of Frank Tate
Frank Tate (Emmerdale)
Francis Ronald "Frank" Tate is a fictional character on the ITV soap opera Emmerdale. He was played by Norman Bowler.Frank arrived in Beckindale in 1989 with his second wife Kim, son Chris and daughter Zoe...
in the ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
soap opera Emmerdale
Emmerdale
Emmerdale, is a long-running British soap opera set in Emmerdale , a fictional village in the Yorkshire Dales. Created by Kevin Laffan, Emmerdale was first broadcast on 16 October 1972...
from November 1989 - May 1997. When his character was killed off after suffering a heart attack, his TV wife Kim could have saved his life but chose to let him die as he begged for help.
Bowler has been very active in charity
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
work and adult education
Adult education
Adult education is the practice of teaching and educating adults. Adult education takes place in the workplace, through 'extension' school or 'school of continuing education' . Other learning places include folk high schools, community colleges, and lifelong learning centers...
in the Bristol area (where the original Softly, Softly series was filmed in the 60s).
Bowler is now living with his second wife, Dianna, in Auroville International Township in South-India (near Pondicherry). There he is engaged in development
International development
International development or global development is a concept that lacks a universally accepted definition, but it is most used in a holistic and multi-disciplinary context of human development — the development of greater quality of life for humans...
work with people in the surrounding Tamil villages and often entertains the village children. He also works with and directs the amateur actors of the Township.