Alan Howard (1937-2015) was a British actor. Although renowned for his prolific theatrical career, particularly with the Royal Shakespeare Company, he also left a distinctive mark in cinema.

He is perhaps best remembered for his magnetic and unsettling portrayal of Albert Spica, the violent and vengeful husband, in Peter Greenaway's *The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover* (1989). This iconic performance solidified his cinematic reputation.

His imposing stage presence and deep, resonant voice made him ideal for complex roles, often authoritative, intellectual, or imbued with a vein of menace and moral ambiguity. His style was characterized by an almost surgical precision and a profound psychological understanding of his characters, making them memorable even in brief appearances. Among his other films, he also appeared in *Oxford Blues* (1984).