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PASSINGS: Edward Hardwicke, Doug MacKenzie, Mildred Robbins Leet

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Edward Hardwicke

Actor played Watson on Holmes series

Edward Hardwicke, 78, who played Dr. John Watson opposite Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes on television in the 1980s and ‘90s, died of cancer Monday at a hospice in southern England, the Conway van Gelder Grant talent agency told the Associated Press.

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Hardwicke played Watson from 1986 to ’88 in “The Return of Sherlock Holmes” and played the character in the later series from 1991. The British series was shown in the United States on public television.

Hardwicke, born Aug. 7, 1932, in London, was the son of the actors Cedric Hardwicke and Helena Pickard. His film debut was in an uncredited bit part in “A Guy Named Joe,” a 1943 film starring Spencer Tracy.

Hardwicke and Brett, who died in 1995, were both in the National Theatre between 1964 and 1972 when Laurence Olivier was leading the company.

“Shadowlands,” a film about the unlikely romance of Oxford academic C.S. Lewis and the American Joy Davidman, gave Hardwicke his most acclaimed film role as Lewis’ brother Warnie. He was also known for playing a character based on war hero British Army officer Pat Reid in the BBC drama “Colditz.”

In addition, the actor did voice work for video games, including “Napoleon Total War” and “Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Anniversary.”

Doug MacKenzie

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Longtime Canoga Park High baseball coach

Doug MacKenzie, 85, who coached baseball at Canoga Park High School for 37 years, died May 12 at his home in Glendale after a long illness, his family said.

MacKenzie led Canoga Park to the 1987 City Section championship at Dodger Stadium in his final season.

Born May 2, 1926, in Los Angeles, MacKenzie attended Eagle Rock High School and Occidental College. He received a Purple Heart when wounded during World War II while he was in the Army.

He arrived at Canoga Park in 1950. He also coached Class B and C basketball. After retiring from Canoga Park, he continued to coach baseball at several other schools, including Ribet Academy in Glassell Park and Bellarmine-Jefferson High School in Burbank.

Mildred Robbins Leet

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Co-founder of group that helps poor start businesses

Mildred Robbins Leet, 88, a philanthropist who co-founded Trickle Up, one of the first U.S. nonprofit organizations to provide small grants to help poor people start their own businesses, died May 3 in New York City from complications of a fall.

Trickle Up was founded by Leet and her husband, Glen Frazier Leet, in 1979. The program found needy people and helped them create business plans. If a plan was deemed feasible, the program granted the petitioner a first installment of $50. A second installment of $50 was paid in six months if the participant was meeting stated goals.

The charity has helped start more than 200,000 businesses and operates in Mali, Burkina Faso, India, Guatemala and Nicaragua. Leet’s husband died in 1998.

— Los Angeles Times staff and wire reports

news.obits@latimes.com

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