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Doctor Who and The Crown actor John Woodvine left a huge sum to his family in his will, following his death in October 2025. In documents seen by The Sun, the star bequeathed the majority of his £850,795 estate to his widow, actress Lynn Farleigh, 83, whom he married in 1996. He also left gifts of £100,000 gifts to his children, actresses Mary Woodvine and Emma Harter. Alongside this, he made a £5,000 donation to the Katherine House Hospice in Oxfordshire.

As a final gesture, it was noted that the remainder of the estate and "any royalties attributed to me in my lifetime" for reruns of classic shows were handed to Lynn for "her own use and benefit". Alongside his bequests, the actors will also include a directive for an "environmentally friendly burial". The will was written in 2014 and signed off last week by the High Court. Details of his estate come almost six months after his death on Monday, October 6, 2025.

The actor's agent confirmed the news at the time in a statement.

"John was an extraordinary actor and had a fabulous and varied career in all areas of the industry including work on stage in over 70 productions including at the Old Vic, National Theatre and Royal Shakespeare Company, and on screen in numerous roles including in Young Winston, An American Werewolf In London, Dragonworld, Persuasion, The Crown and most recently in the film Enys Men," it began.

"John was greatly admired by all and will be sadly missed and fondly remembered by all those who met, knew and worked with him. We are all the richer to have known him."

Among his decades on screen, John also appeared in Oliver's Travels, Coronation Street, Doctor Who, as Marshal of Atrios, and starred alongside Joe Don Baker and Bob Peck in the mystery drama Edge of Darkness.

His talent agency, Belfield & Ward Ltd, also paid tribute to the star at the time, saying: "We are sad to announce the passing of our client, the actor John Woodvine, who died peacefully at home at the age of 96 this morning. A wonderful and well-loved actor, who will be much missed."

Born on July 21, 1929, Woodvine trained for the stage at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, graduating in 1953. He enjoyed a long career with the Royal Shakespeare Company and in 1976, he performed as Banquo in Macbeth, alongside Sir Ian McKellen and Dame Judi Dench.

Woodvine went on to win the prestigious Olivier Award for Comedy Performance of the Year in 1987 for his role in The Henrys at the Old Vic.

The actor was then embraced in British TV dramas as he had stints on Channel 4 as Frank Gallagher's dad, Neville on Shameless, as Joe Jacobs in ITV's beloved soap Emmerdale and then as PC Tony Stamp's father, Norman, in The Bill.

After playing a lorry driver in Coronation Street in 1965, Woodvine returned to the ITV series in 2010, playing Charlotte Hoyle's father Alan briefly before the role was recast with Michael McStay.