Ian Richardson

Biography

Ian Richardson was a Scottish actor whose career moved between classical theater and television. Born in Edinburgh, he first appeared on stage at 14 and later trained at the College of Dramatic Arts in Glasgow. He became a founding member of the Royal Shakespeare Company, performing with it from 1960 to 1975 in roles such as Hamlet, Coriolanus, Richard II, and Richard III. On Broadway he played Jean-Paul Marat in Marat/Sade and later won a Drama Desk Award for My Fair Lady. He was best known on screen as Francis Urquhart in the BBC trilogy House of Cards, winning a BAFTA for the first series, and as Bill Haydon in the BBC adaptation of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. His screen work included The Sign of Four (1983) and The Hound of the Baskervilles (1983), Brazil (1985), M. Butterfly (1993), and Dark City (1998). He was appointed CBE in 1989.

72years old at death

Born April 7, 1934Edinburgh
Died February 9, 2007London
Star sign: AriesThe sign runs March 21 to April 19
Ian William Richardson (birth name)

Movie Career

Films: 23
Career span: 40 years1967 to 2007

Genres

Drama48%, 11 films
History26%, 6 films
Comedy22%, 5 films
Romance22%, 5 films
Fantasy17%, 4 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

First role
At 14, Richardson made his first stage appearance in an amateur production of Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities. The director saw his talent but told him that dropping his Scottish accent was necessary for an acting career.
Big break
Richardson's first job after his training was at Birmingham Repertory Theatre. There, his Hamlet earned him a place with the Royal Shakespeare Company.
A first
Richardson spent time at the Old Rep, also called the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, before joining the Royal Shakespeare Company. He helped found the RSC and remained with it from 1960 to 1975.
Early training
Richardson served in the Army for National Service, working partly as an announcer and drama director for the British Forces Broadcasting Service. He then won a place at Glasgow's College of Dramatic Arts.

Ian Richardson movies on Netflix

Becoming Jane2007IMDb rating 7.0as Judge Langlois
Hogfather2006IMDb rating 7.4as Death
Joyeux Noel2005IMDb rating 7.6as L'évêque anglais
From Hell2001IMDb rating 6.7as Sir Charles Warren
102 Dalmatians2000IMDb rating 4.9as Mr. Torte
The King and I1999IMDb rating 4.4as The Kralahome (voice)
A Knight in Camelot1998IMDb rating 4.8as Merlin
Alice Through the Looking Glass1998IMDb rating 5.3as Wasp
Dark City1998IMDb rating 7.5as Mr. Book
B*A*P*S1997IMDb rating 4.9as Manley
Incognito1997IMDb rating 6.4as Turley (prosecutor)
Catherine the Great1996IMDb rating 6.1as Vorontzov
M. Butterfly1993IMDb rating 6.7as Ambassador Toulon
An Ungentlemanly Act1992IMDb rating 7.2as Governor Rex Hunt
Year of the Comet1992IMDb rating 5.9as Sir Mason Harwood
Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead1990IMDb rating 7.3as Polonius
The Plot to Kill Hitler1990IMDb rating 6.2as Ludwig Beck
The Fourth Protocol1987IMDb rating 6.5as Sir Nigel Irvine
Brazil1985IMDb rating 7.8as Mr. Warrenn
The Hound of the Baskervilles1983IMDb rating 6.5as Sherlock Holmes
The Sign of Four1983IMDb rating 6.3as Sherlock Holmes
Man of La Mancha1972IMDb rating 6.6as The Padre
The Persecution and Assassination of Jean-Paul Marat as Performed by the Inmates of the Asylum of Charenton Under the Direction of the Marquis de Sade1967IMDb rating 7.5as Jean-Paul Marat

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

Top

From Hell2001 Horror, Mystery, Thrilleras Sir Charles Warren
IMDb rating 6.7173K votes
Dark City1998 Drama, Fantasy, Sci-Fias Mr. Book
IMDb rating 7.5229K votes
Brazil1985as Mr. Warrenn
IMDb rating 7.8223K votes
Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead1990as Polonius
IMDb rating 7.326K votes
Becoming Jane2007as Judge Langlois
IMDb rating 7.069K votes
102 Dalmatians2000as Mr. Torte
IMDb rating 4.942K votes
M. Butterfly1993as Ambassador Toulon
IMDb rating 6.712K votes
B*A*P*S1997as Manley
IMDb rating 4.96.4K votes

Most often with

Four actors appear in three of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

Top

Ian Holm

Vernon Dobtcheff

Brian Blessed

Marc Warren

Ian McNeice

Nigel Planer

Films together

Ian Holm3 films together, 1985 to 2001
Ian Holm's page
- From Hell2001IMDb rating 6.7Richardson as Sir Charles WarrenHolm as Sir William Gull
- Alice Through the Looking Glass1998IMDb rating 5.3Richardson as WaspHolm as White Knight
- Brazil1985IMDb rating 7.8Richardson as Mr. WarrennHolm as Mr. Kurtzmann
Vernon Dobtcheff3 films together, 1990 to 1996
Vernon Dobtcheff's page
- Catherine the Great1996IMDb rating 6.1Richardson as VorontzovDobtcheff as Naryshkin
- M. Butterfly1993IMDb rating 6.7Richardson as Ambassador ToulonDobtcheff as Agent Etancelin
- The Plot to Kill Hitler1990IMDb rating 6.2Richardson as Ludwig BeckDobtcheff as Fellgiebel
Brian Blessed3 films together, 1972 to 1996
Brian Blessed's page
- Catherine the Great1996IMDb rating 6.1Richardson as VorontzovBlessed as Bestuzhev
- The Hound of the Baskervilles1983IMDb rating 6.5Richardson as Sherlock HolmesBlessed as Geoffrey Lyons
- Man of La Mancha1972IMDb rating 6.6Richardson as The PadreBlessed as Pedro
Marc Warren3 films together, 1992 to 2006
Marc Warren's page
- Hogfather2006IMDb rating 7.4Richardson as DeathWarren as Teatime
- Alice Through the Looking Glass1998IMDb rating 5.3Richardson as WaspWarren as Tweedle-Dee
- An Ungentlemanly Act1992IMDb rating 7.2Richardson as Governor Rex HuntWarren as Tony Hunt
Ian McNeice2 films together, 1992
Ian McNeice's page
- An Ungentlemanly Act1992IMDb rating 7.2Richardson as Governor Rex HuntMcNeice as Dick Baker
- Year of the Comet1992IMDb rating 5.9Richardson as Sir Mason HarwoodMcNeice as Ian
Nigel Planer2 films together, 1985 to 2006
Nigel Planer's page
- Hogfather2006IMDb rating 7.4Richardson as DeathPlaner as Mr. Sideney
- Brazil1985IMDb rating 7.8Richardson as Mr. WarrennPlaner as Charlie--Dept. of Works