Leslie Woodhead
- Known For
- Directing
- Born
- January 1, 1937
- Active Years
- 1963–2019 (57 Years)
- Total Credits
- 54 credits in database
Biography
James Leslie John Woodhead, OBE, was a British documentary filmmaker, producer, and director born in Glasgow, Scotland, on August 21, 1937. He was married to Yvonne Booth. Beginning his National Service in 1956, he served in Fife at the Joint Services School for Linguists, where he learned Russian before being posted to West Berlin to monitor communications of Soviet pilots flying in and out of East Germany. Woodhead worked as a producer and director, with his known credits including A Cry from the Grave in 1999, Nova in 1974, and The Holocaust on Trial in 2000. He helped establish the ITV current affairs programme World in Action and was a pioneer of drama-documentaries on British television. He died on June 26, 2026.
Career overview
James Leslie John Woodhead, OBE was a British documentary filmmaker, producer, and director. Born in Glasgow, Scotland, on 21 August 1937, his early life included National Service commencing in 1956, during which he served in Fife at the Joint Services School for Linguists and was taught Russian. He was subsequently posted to West Berlin to monitor the communications of Soviet pilots flying in and out of East Germany.
Over the course of his career, Woodhead established himself as a documentary filmmaker, helping to establish the hard-hitting ITV current affairs programme World in Action and pioneering drama-documentaries on British television. His known credits as a producer and director include A Cry from the Grave in 1999, Nova beginning in 1974, and The Holocaust on Trial in 2000. He was married to Yvonne Booth. Woodhead died on 26 June 2026.
Ask the Vault
Ask anything about Leslie Woodhead.
Career timeline
Full Filmography
54 titles- Ella Fitzgerald: Just One of Those Things (2019) Director
- Diana: The Day Britain Cried (2017) Director
- Diana: The Day Britain Cried (2017) Writer
- Diana: The Day We Said Goodbye (2017) Director
- The Day They Dropped The Bomb (2015) Director
- The Day Kennedy Died (2013) Director
- The Day Kennedy Died (2013) Writer
- The Hunt For Bin Laden (2012) Director
- Histoire Immédiate (2011) Director
- 9/11: The Day That Changed the World (2011) Director
- How the Beatles Rocked the Kremlin (2009) as Self - Narrator
- How the Beatles Rocked the Kremlin (2009) Director
- How the Beatles Rocked the Kremlin (2009) Producer
- Godless in America (2006) Director
- Children of Beslan (2005) Director
- Srebrenica: Never Again? (2005) Director
- The Russian Newspaper Murders (2004) as Narrator
- Star Wars Dreams (2003) as Narrator (voice)
- Star Wars Dreams (2003) Director
- Star Wars Dreams (2003) Producer
- Star Wars Dreams (2003) Writer
- My Life As A Spy (2003) Director
- Here is New York (2002) Director
- A Very Modern Dictator: A Profile of Slobodan Milosevic (2002) Director
- The Holocaust on Trial (2000) Director
- The Holocaust on Trial (2000) Writer
- Endurance (1999) Director
- A Cry from the Grave (1999) Director
- 444 Days (1998) Director
- Tony Bennett's New York (1996) Director
- Land of Dreams - Randy Newman's America (1994) Director
- Land of Dreams - Randy Newman's America (1994) Producer
- Land of Dreams - Randy Newman's America (1994) Writer
- The Last Soviet Citizen (1993) Director
- The Last Soviet Citizen (1993) Writer
- Dead Ahead: The Exxon Valdez Disaster (1992) Executive Producer
- The Tragedy of Flight 103: The Inside Story (1990) Director
- The Tragedy of Flight 103: The Inside Story (1990) Producer
- Under the Sun (1989) Producer
- Under the Sun (1989) Director
- The Lau of Malaita (1987) Director
- Television (1985) Producer
- Television (1985) Director
- Strike: The Birth of Solidarity (1981) Director
- Invasion (1980) Director
- Invasion (1980) Producer
- Three Days in Szczecin (1976) Director
- Three Days in Szczecin (1976) Producer
- NOVA (1974) Writer
- NOVA (1974) Director
- The Stones in the Park (1969) Director
- ITV Playhouse (1967) Director
- World in Action (1963)
- World in Action (1963) Director
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Leslie Woodhead best known for?
Leslie Woodhead is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including North of North (2025), North of North (2025), NOVA (1974), NOVA (1974).
When and where was Leslie Woodhead born?
Leslie Woodhead was born on January 1, 1937.
How many credits does Leslie Woodhead have?
Leslie Woodhead has accumulated over 54 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1963 to 2019.
What is Leslie Woodhead's background in cinema and television?
James Leslie John Woodhead, OBE, was a British documentary filmmaker, producer, and director born in Glasgow, Scotland, on August 21, 1937. He was married to Yvonne Booth. Beginning his National Service in 1956, he served in Fife at the Joint Services School for Linguists, where he learned Russian before being posted t...
Leslie Woodhead by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- World in Action (1963) — aged about 26
What viewers say
No comments yet. Be the first to share your take on Leslie Woodhead.