Born: April 7, 1934 – Died: February 9, 2007
Ian Richardson was a renowned classical actor and founding member of the Royal Shakespeare Company. He gained international acclaim for his portrayal of the villainous Francis Urquhart in the BBC television trilogy "House of Cards," where his cut-glass accent and cunning delivery of the line "You might well think that... I couldn't possibly comment" became a popular catchphrase. Throughout his career, Richardson made significant contributions to the entertainment industry, receiving honors such as the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his outstanding artistry. Born to John and Margaret Richardson, he began his journey in Edinburgh and achieved success on both stage and screen, leaving a lasting legacy in the world of acting.
Early Life and Career
Ian Richardson was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, and had a passion for acting from a young age. He attended Tynecastle School in Edinburgh and later studied at the College of Dramatic Art in Glasgow, where he was awarded the James Bridie Gold Medal in 1957.
Richardson's professional career began when he joined the Birmingham Repertory Theatre Company in 1958. He made his stage debut playing the role of John Worthing in "The Importance of Being Earnest" and went on to achieve critical acclaim for his performances in various Shakespearean plays.
His first major successful role came in 1964 when he played the title role of Jean-Paul Marat in the avant-garde production of "Marat-Sade" with the Royal Shakespeare Company. This role showcased his versatility and earned him accolades.
However, it was his portrayal of Francis Urquhart in the BBC television series "House of Cards" in the 1990s that catapulted him into stardom. Richardson's cunning and captivating performance as the Machiavellian Prime Minister gained him international recognition and widespread acclaim.
Throughout his career, Ian Richardson received numerous awards for his outstanding performances. He won a BAFTA Award and received several nominations for his work in various projects. His contributions to the art of acting were highly regarded, and he left a significant impact on the entertainment industry.
In his personal life, Richardson was married to his wife, an RSC actors, from 1961 until his death in 2007. They had two sons together.
Apart from his acting talents, Richardson had a distinctive voice and narrated several documentaries and audiobooks. He was known for his impeccable diction and mastery of accents.
Ian Richardson was highly respected in the industry and considered a remarkable talent. He left a lasting legacy in both stage and screen performances, and his portrayal of Francis Urquhart in "House of Cards" remains one of his most memorable roles. His impact on Hollywood and the entertainment industry is undeniable, and he is often remembered as a legendary actor and icon.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Dark Beginnings of Sherlock Holmes - Dr. Bell & Mr. Doyle | Unknown |
| 2007 | Becoming Jane | Judge Langlois |
| 2006 | Hogfather (TV Movie) | Death | Narrator (voice) |
| 2006 | Twice Upon a Time | Lord Evelyn Gaylord |
| 2006 | The Booze Cruise III: The Scattering (TV Movie) | Marcus |
| 2005 | The Booze Cruise II: The Treasure Hunt (TV Movie) | Marcus Foster |
| 2005 | Bleak House (TV Mini Series) | Chancellor |
| 2005 | The Adventures of Greyfriars Bobby | Judge |
| 2005 | Joyeux Noel | L'évêque anglais |
| 2004 | Marple (TV Series) | Conway Jefferson |
| 2004 | Nero (TV Movie) | Septimus |
| 2004 | Dæmos Rising (Video) | Narrator |
| 2002–2003 | Strange (TV Mini Series) | Canon Adolphus Black |
| 2002 | JLB: The Man Who Saw the Future (TV Movie) | Narrator |
| 2000–2001 | Murder Rooms: Mysteries of the Real Sherlock Holmes (TV Mini Series) | Dr. Joseph Bell |
| 2001 | From Hell | Sir Charles Warren |
| 2000 | The Magician's House II (TV Series) | Stephen Tyler | The Magician |
| 2000 | 102 Dalmatians | Mr. Torte |
| 2000 | Gormenghast (TV Mini Series) | Lord Groan |
| 1999 | The Magician's House (TV Series) | Stephen Tyler | The Magician |
| 1999 | The King and I | The Kralahome (voice) |
| 1998 | Alice Through the Looking Glass (TV Movie) | Wasp |
| 1998 | The Wonderful World of Disney (TV Series) | Merlin |
| 1998 | Dark City | Mr Book |
| 1997 | The Woman in White (TV Movie) | Mr. Fairlie |
| 1997 | The Canterville Ghost (TV Movie) | Simon de Canterville |
| 1997 | Incognito | Turley (Prosecutor) |
| 1997 | Highlander (TV Series) | Max Leiner |
| 1997 | The Fifth Province | Dr. Drudy |
| 1997 | A Royal Scandal (TV Movie) | Narrator |
| 1997 | B*A*P*S | Manley |
| 1996 | The Treasure Seekers (TV Movie) | Haig |
| 1996 | The Great War: 1914-1918 (TV Mini Series) | Sir Arthur Conan Doyle | David Lloyd George | General Sir Ian Hamilton (voice) ... |
| 1995 | Savage Play | Count |
| 1995 | The Final Cut (TV Mini Series) | Francis Urquhart |
| 1995 | Catherine the Great (TV Movie) | Vorontzov |
| 1994 | A Change of Place (TV Movie) | Henri Chambertin |
| 1994 | Words Upon the Window Pane | Dr. Trench |
| 1993 | To Play the King (TV Mini Series) | Francis Urquhart |
| 1993 | Dirty Weekend | Nimrod |
| 1993 | Remember (TV Movie) | Philip Rawlings |
| 1993 | M. Butterfly | Ambassador Toulon |
| 1993 | Foreign Affairs (TV Movie) | Edwin |
| 1992 | An Ungentlemanly Act (TV Movie) | Governor Rex Hunt |
| 1992 | Year of the Comet | Sir Mason Harwood |
| 1991 | The Gravy Train Goes East (TV Mini Series) | Michael Spearpoint |
| 1990 | House of Cards (TV Mini Series) | Francis Urquhart |
| 1990 | Chillers (TV Series) | Lee Mandeville |
| 1990 | Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead | Polonius |
| 1990 | The Gravy Train (TV Mini Series) | Spearpoint |
| 1990 | King of the Wind | Bey of Tunis |
| 1990 | The Phantom of the Opera (TV Mini Series) | Alain Choleti |
| 1990 | The Plot to Kill Hitler (TV Movie) | Gen. Beck |
| 1987–1989 | Theatre Night (TV Series) | Sir Robert Morton, KC | General Burgoyne |
| 1989 | Twist of Fate (TV Mini Series) | SS-Sturmbannfuhrer Doctor Schlossberg |
| 1988 | Burning Secret | Edmund's father |
| 1988 | Troubles (TV Mini Series) | Edward Spencer |
| 1987 | Cry Freedom | State Prosecutor |
| 1987 | Porterhouse Blue (TV Mini Series) | Sir Godber Evans |
| 1987 | The Fourth Protocol | Sir Nigel Irvine |
| 1987 | Screen Two (TV Series) | Anthony Blunt |
| 1986 | Great Performances (TV Series) | Bishop of Motopo |
| 1986 | Whoops Apocalypse | RAdm. Bendish |
| 1986 | Masterpiece Theatre: Lord Mountbatten - The Last Viceroy (TV Mini Series) | Nehru |
| 1985 | Mozart - His Life with Music (TV Series) | Mozart's father |
| 1985 | Star Quality (TV Movie) | Ray Malcolm |
| 1985 | Brazil | Mr. Warrenn |
| 1984 | Six Centuries of Verse (TV Series) | Reader | Performer |
| 1984 | Mistral's Daughter (TV Mini Series) | Adrien Avigdor |
| 1984 | Brass (TV Series) | Marshall Snelgrove QC |
| 1984 | The Master of Ballantrae (TV Movie) | Mr. MacKellar |
| 1983 | The Sign of Four (TV Movie) | Sherlock Holmes |
| 1983 | The Hound of the Baskervilles (TV Movie) | Sherlock Holmes |
| 1983 | Kisch Kisch (TV Movie) | David |
| 1983 | Number 10 (TV Mini Series) | James Ramsay MacDonald |
| 1983 | Salad Days (TV Movie) | Uncle Zed |
| 1982 | Beauty and the Beast (TV Movie) | Father |
| 1982 | Russian Night... 1941 (TV Movie) | Tveritinov |
| 1982 | The Woman in White (TV Mini Series) | Frederick Fairlie |
| 1982 | BBC2 Playhouse (TV Series) | Richard |
| 1978–1982 | Play for Today (TV Series) | Inspector Anthony Arrowsmith | Michael - 'Private View' |
| 1981 | Grey Poupon: Pardon Me (Video) | Unknown |
| 1981 | Private Schulz (TV Series) | Stanley Kemp | Major Neuheim | Gerald Melfort |
| 1980 | Ike: The War Years (TV Movie) | Field Marshall Sir Bernard Montgomery |
| 1980 | Gauguin the Savage (TV Movie) | Degas |
| 1979 | A Deadly Game (TV Movie) | Cuthbertson |
| 1979 | Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (TV Mini Series) | Bill Haydon |
| 1979 | Churchill and the Generals (TV Movie) | Gen. Bernard L. Montgomery |
| 1979 | Ike: The War Years (TV Mini Series) | Field Marshal Sir Bernard Montgomery |
| 1978 | Much Ado About Nothing (TV Movie) | Don John |
| 1978 | BBC Play of the Month (TV Series) | Robespierre |
| 1974 | Camera Three (TV Series) | King Richard II | Bolingbroke |
| 1973 | Gawain and the Green Knight | Narrator (voice, uncredited) |
| 1972 | Man of La Mancha | The Padre |
| 1972 | The Darwin Adventure | Capt. Fitzroy |
| 1971 | Eyeless in Gaza (TV Series) | Anthony Beavis |
| 1969 | Canterbury Tales (TV Series) | Palamon |
| 1969 | Plays of Today (TV Series) | The Son |
| 1968 | A Midsummer Night's Dream | Oberon |
| 1968 | All's Well That Ends Well (TV Movie) | Bertram, the Countess's son |
| 1967 | The Revenue Men (TV Series) | Second Constable |
| 1967 | Horizon (TV Series) | Michael Faraday |
| 1967 | Marat/Sade | Jean-Paul Marat |
| 1964 | Festival (TV Series) | Antipholus of Ephesus |
| 1963 | As You Like It (TV Movie) | Le Beau |
General:
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