Ralph Richardson
Biography
Ralph Richardson was an English actor, one of the leading figures of the mid-20th-century British stage. Born in Cheltenham, he discovered acting after seeing Hamlet in Brighton and learned his craft during the 1920s with touring and repertory companies, including Birmingham Repertory Theatre. He joined the Old Vic in 1931 and later succeeded John Gielgud as its leading man; in the 1940s he co-directed the company with Laurence Olivier and John Burrell, earning particular praise for Peer Gynt and Falstaff. Richardson entered films as an extra in 1931 and went on to appear in more than sixty film roles. An early lead came in Things to Come (1936). He received an Academy Award nomination for The Heiress (1949), and his performances in The Fallen Idol (1948) and Doctor Zhivago (1965) were among his notable screen work. His final film, Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes (1984), brought a posthumous second Oscar nomination. He died in 1983.
80years old at death
- Born Cheltenham
- Died London
- Star sign: SagittariusThe sign runs November 22 to December 21
- Ralph David Richardson (birth name)Also credited as Sir Ralph David Richardson, Kt
Movie Career
- Films
- 38
- Career span
- 51 years1933 to 1984
Genres
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A role that slipped away
Richardson declined the part of Estragon in Peter Hall's 1955 premiere of the English language Waiting for Godot. He afterward blamed himself for passing up a role in what he termed the greatest play of his generation.
First role
Richardson gave a local theatrical manager ten shillings weekly to join his company and learn acting. In December 1920 he made his stage debut as a gendarme in a Les Misérables adaptation.
Behind the award
While he was appearing in Cyrano, Richardson was knighted in the 1947 New Year Honours, which caused Olivier undisguised envy. Olivier was given the same accolade six months afterward.
A change of course
When war broke out, Richardson became a sub-lieutenant pilot in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, later rising to lieutenant-commander. His duties were mostly routine administration, and he was nicknamed "Pranger" Richardson.
A first
Richardson was the first president of The Youth Theatre, later the National Youth Theatre, taking the post in August 1956.
Behind the award
At the Cannes Film Festival, Richardson won the Best Actor prize, which he shared with his co-stars Jason Robards Jr and Dean Stockwell.
Ralph Richardson movies on Netflix
Give My Regards to Broad Streetas Jim
Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apesas The Sixth Earl of Greystoke
Witness for the Prosecutionas Sir Wilfred Robarts
Dragonslayeras Ulrich
Time Banditsas Supreme Being
Watership Downas Chief Rabbit (voice)
The Man in the Iron Maskas Colbert de Voliere
Rollerballas Librarian
A Doll's Houseas Dr. Rank
Frankenstein: The True Storyas Mr. Lacey
O Lucky Man!as Sir James Burgess / Monty
Alice's Adventures in Wonderlandas The Caterpillar
Whoever Slew Auntie Roo?as Mr. Benton
The Looking Glass Waras LeClerc
Battle of Britainas Sir David Kelly - British Minister to Switzerland
Oh! What a Lovely Waras Sir Edward Grey
The Bed Sitting Roomas Lord Fortnum of Alamein
Khartoumas William Gladstone
The Wrong Boxas Joseph Finsbury
Chimes at Midnightas Narrator (voice)
Doctor Zhivagoas Alexander Gromeko
Woman of Strawas Charles Richmond
Long Day's Journey Into Nightas James Tyrone
The 300 Spartansas Themistocles of Athens
Exodusas Gen. Sutherland
Our Man in Havanaas 'C'
Richard IIIas Duke of Buckingham
The Sound Barrieras John Ridgefield
Outcast of the Islandsas Captain Tom Lingard
The Heiressas Dr. Austin Sloper
Anna Kareninaas Alexei Karenin
The Fallen Idolas Baines
Q Planesas Major Charles Hammond
The Four Feathersas John Durrance
The Citadelas Dr. Philip Denny
The Divorce of Lady Xas Lord Mere
Things to Comeas The Boss
The Ghoulas Nigel Hartley
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
- Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes1984 Adventure, Dramaas The Sixth Earl of Greystoke
IMDb rating 6.421K votes
Most often with
Carol Reed directed three of these films, David Lean two and Basil Dearden two. Laurence Olivier appears in six of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.








Films together
Laurence Olivier6 films together, 1938 to 1969
Laurence Olivier's page Battle of Britain1969IMDb rating 7.0Richardson as Sir David Kelly - British Minister to SwitzerlandOlivier as Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding
Oh! What a Lovely War1969IMDb rating 7.0Richardson as Sir Edward GreyOlivier as Field Marshal Sir John French
Khartoum1966IMDb rating 6.8Richardson as William GladstoneOlivier as The Mahdi
Richard III1955IMDb rating 7.3Richardson as Duke of BuckinghamOlivier as Richard III
Q Planes1939IMDb rating 6.5Richardson as Major Charles HammondOlivier as Tony McVane
The Divorce of Lady X1938IMDb rating 6.6Richardson as Lord MereOlivier as Everard Logan
Ian Holm4 films together, 1969 to 1984
Ian Holm's page Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes1984IMDb rating 6.4Richardson as The Sixth Earl of GreystokeHolm as Capitaine Phillippe D'Arnot
Time Bandits1981IMDb rating 6.9Richardson as Supreme BeingHolm as Napoleon
The Man in the Iron Mask1977IMDb rating 6.6Richardson as Colbert de VoliereHolm as Duval
Oh! What a Lovely War1969IMDb rating 7.0Richardson as Sir Edward GreyHolm as President Poincare
John Gielgud4 films together, 1955 to 1973
John Gielgud's page Frankenstein: The True Story1973IMDb rating 7.1Richardson as Mr. LaceyGielgud as Chief Constable
Oh! What a Lovely War1969IMDb rating 7.0Richardson as Sir Edward GreyGielgud as Count Leopold Von Berchtold
Chimes at Midnight1965IMDb rating 7.6Richardson as NarratorvoiceGielgud as Henry IV
Richard III1955IMDb rating 7.3Richardson as Duke of BuckinghamGielgud as George, Duke of Clarence
Michael Gough3 films together, 1948 to 1982
Michael Gough's page Witness for the Prosecution1982IMDb rating 7.1Richardson as Sir Wilfred RobartsGough as Judge
Richard III1955IMDb rating 7.3Richardson as Duke of BuckinghamGough as Dighton
Anna Karenina1948IMDb rating 6.6Richardson as Alexei KareninGough as Nicholai
Michael Hordern3 films together, 1966 to 1978
Michael Hordern's page Watership Down1978IMDb rating 7.5Richardson as Chief RabbitvoiceHordern as Frithvoice
The Bed Sitting Room1969IMDb rating 6.0Richardson as Lord Fortnum of AlameinHordern as Bules Martin
Khartoum1966IMDb rating 6.8Richardson as William GladstoneHordern as Lord Granville
Denholm Elliott3 films together, 1952 to 1978
Denholm Elliott's page Watership Down1978IMDb rating 7.5Richardson as Chief RabbitvoiceElliott as Cowslipvoice
A Doll's House1973IMDb rating 6.4Richardson as Dr. RankElliott as Krogstad
The Sound Barrier1952IMDb rating 6.7Richardson as John RidgefieldElliott as Christopher Ridgefield
Carol ReedDirector, 3 films, 1948 to 1959
All films by Carol Reed Our Man in Havana1959IMDb rating 7.1Richardson as 'C'
Outcast of the Islands1951IMDb rating 6.9Richardson as Captain Tom Lingard
The Fallen Idol1948IMDb rating 7.6Richardson as Baines
David LeanDirector, 2 films, 1952 to 1965
All films by David Lean Doctor Zhivago1965IMDb rating 7.9Richardson as Alexander Gromeko
The Sound Barrier1952IMDb rating 6.7Richardson as John Ridgefield
Basil DeardenDirector, 2 films, 1964 to 1966
All films by Basil Dearden Khartoum1966IMDb rating 6.8Richardson as William Gladstone
Woman of Straw1964IMDb rating 6.8Richardson as Charles Richmond
Also three films together4 more actors
- Cedric HardwickeRichard III (1955), Things to Come (1936) and The Ghoul (1933)
- Roy KinnearWatership Down (1978), Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1972) and The Bed Sitting Room (1969)
- Alexander KnoxKhartoum (1966), Woman of Straw (1964) and The Four Feathers (1939)
- John ClementsOh! What a Lovely War (1969), The Four Feathers (1939) and Things to Come (1936)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Box office
What Ralph Richardson's films earned in cinemas worldwide.
Combined worldwide box office
$363 million
12 of the 38 films have a worldwide figure.
Of the 38 films: 12 worldwide figure; 5 us gross only; 3 never in cinemas; 18 figure not found.
- 12Worldwide figure
- 5US gross only
- 3Never in cinemas
- 18Figure not found
Highest grossing
The eight biggest films earned 98% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.
- 1$112M30.9% of the total
- 2$77M21.1% of the total
- 3$46M12.6% of the total
- 4$42M11.7% of the total
- 5$30M8.3% of the total
- 6$20M5.5% of the total
- 7$14M3.9% of the total
- 8$13M3.6% of the total
Awards
Three awards and honors.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other honors | |||
| 1947 | St. Olav's Medal | Won | |
| Knight Bachelor | Won | ||
| Society of London Theatre Special Award | Won | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.










