Aubrey Woods was born on 9 April 1928, in London, and educated at The Latymer School in Edmonton, North London. His first film role was as Smike in Nicholas Nickleby (1947). On stage he played the role of Fagin in Lionel Bart's production of Oliver! at the New Theatre, St Martin's Lane in the 1960s alongside Nicolette Roeg and Robert Bridges. He played Alfred Jingle in the TV musical Pickwick for the BBC in 1969. Woods' best remembered movie to date is Bill the Candy Store Owner in Willy Wonka &