Ralph Richardson
Biography
Sir Ralph David Richardson was an English actor born on December 19, 1902, in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England, United Kingdom. He died on October 10, 1983, at the age of 80. He was part of a group of mid-20th-century theatrical knights who were closely associated with the stage and also appeared in several classic films. Richardson first became known for his stage work in the 1930s. During the 1940s, he co-managed the Old Vic company with Laurence Olivier. He continued working in theater and film into the early 1980s, receiving particular praise for his comedic roles, and was later celebrated for his stage work alongside John Gielgud. His notable roles included Peer Gynt, Falstaff, and John Gabriel Borkman.
Career overview
Sir Ralph David Richardson was an English actor born on December 19, 1902, in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England, United Kingdom. He was one of a group of theatrical knights of the mid-century who were closely associated with the stage and also appeared in several classic films. Richardson first became known for his work on stage in the 1930s. In the 1940s, he ran the Old Vic company alongside Laurence Olivier.
Throughout his career, Richardson continued working on stage and in films into the early 1980s, earning special praise for his comedic roles. In his later years, he was celebrated for his theatre work with his old friend John Gielgud. Among his most famous stage roles were Peer Gynt, Falstaff, John Gabriel Borkman, and Hir.
Over the course of his career, Richardson amassed 105 known credits in the acting category on the Movie Database. He passed away on October 10, 1983, at the age of 80.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
108 titles- Korda: I Don't Grow on Trees: Part One (1993) as Self - Interviewee (archive footage)
- Directed by William Wyler (1986) as Self
- Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes (1984) as The Sixth Earl of Greystoke
- Six Centuries of Verse (1984) as Self - Reader
- Give My Regards to Broad Street (1984) as Jim
- Invitation to the Wedding (1983)
- Wagner (1983) as Pfordten
- Laurence Olivier: a life (1982) as Self
- Witness for the Prosecution (1982) as Sir Wilfred Robarts
- Time Bandits (1981) as Supreme Being
- Dragonslayer (1981) as Ulrich
- Early Days (1981) as Sir Richard Kitchen
- Charlie Muffin (1979) as Sir Archibald Willoughby
- Watership Down (1978) as Chief Rabbit (voice)
- No Man's Land (1978) as Hirst
- Jesus of Nazareth (1977) as Simeon
- The Man in the Iron Mask (1977) as Colbert de Voliere
- Second City Television (1976) as Self
- Rollerball (1975) as Librarian
- Frankenstein: The True Story (1974) as Mr. Lacey
- Frankenstein: The True Story (1973) as Mr. Lacey
- O Lucky Man! (1973) as Sir James Burgess / Monty
- A Doll's House (1973) as Dr. Rank
- O Lucky Man! Innovations in Entertainment (1973) as Himself
- William: The Life, Works and Times of William Shakespeare (1973) as Various
- ABC Afterschool Special (1972) as Various Roles
- Tales from the Crypt (1972) as The Crypt Keeper
- Home (1972) as Jack
- Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1972) as The Caterpillar
- Whoever Slew Auntie Roo? (1972) as Mr. Benton
- Lady Caroline Lamb (1972) as George IV
- Eagle in a Cage (1972) as Sir Hudson Lowe
- Great Performances (1971) as Self
- Great Performances (1971)
- Film '72 (1971) as Self
- Play for Today (1970) as Jack
- Twelfth Night (1970) as Sir Toby Belch
- The Looking Glass War (1970) as LeClerc
- Upon This Rock (1970) as Himself (Narrator)
- Battle of Britain (1969) as Sir David Kelly - British Minister to Switzerland
- The Bed Sitting Room (1969) as Lord Fortnum of Alamein
- Oh! What a Lovely War (1969) as Sir Edward Grey
- David Copperfield (1969) as Mr. Micawber
- Midas Run (1969) as Lord Henshaw
- The Dick Cavett Show (1968) as Self - Guest
- The Movie Orgy (1968) as Self (archive footage)
- Omnibus (1967) as Self
- Omnibus (1967) as Self / Johnson
- The World of Wodehouse (1967) as Clarence Threepworth, 9th Earl of Emsworth
- Blandings Castle (1967) as Clarence Threepwood, 9th Earl of Emsworth
- The Wrong Box (1966) as Joseph Finsbury
- Khartoum (1966) as William Gladstone
- Doctor Zhivago (1965) as Alexander Gromeko
- Chimes at Midnight (1965) as Narrator (voice)
- Moscow in Madrid (1965) as Self
- Johnson Over Jordan (1965) as Robert Johnson
- Zhivago: Behind the Camera with David Lean (1965) as Self
- Thursday Theatre (1964) as Robert Johnson
- The Great War (1964) as Douglas Haig (voice)
- Woman of Straw (1964) as Charles Richmond
- The 300 Spartans (1962) as Themistocles of Athens
- Long Day's Journey Into Night (1962) as James Tyrone
- Hedda Gabler (1962) as Judge Brack
- Heart to Heart (1962) as Sir Stanley Johnson
- Exodus (1960) as Gen. Sutherland
- Our Man in Havana (1960) as 'C'
- Oscar Wilde (1960) as Sir Edward Carson
- The Passionate Stranger (1957) as Roger Wynter / Sir Clement
- Smiley (1956) as Rev. Lambeth
- Richard III (1955) as Duke of Buckingham
- Home at Seven (1952) as David Preston
- Home at Seven (1952) Director
- The Holly and the Ivy (1952) as Reverend Martin Gregory
- The Sound Barrier (1952) as John Ridgefield
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Barrister
- Outcast of the Islands (1951) as Captain Tom Lingard
- What's My Line? (1950) as Self - Mystery Guest
- Eagles of the Fleet (1950) as Commentary
- Cricket (1950) as Narrator(voice)
- The Heiress (1949) as Dr. Austin Sloper
- Come Saturday (1949) as Narrator
- The Fallen Idol (1948) as Baines
- Anna Karenina (1948) as Alexei Karenin
- School for Secrets (1946) as Prof. Heatherville
- The Volunteer (1944) as Self - Narrator
- The Silver Fleet (1943) as Jaap van Leyden
- The Silver Fleet (1943) Associate Producer
- The Day Will Dawn (1942) as Frank Lockwood
- Smith (1939) as Smith
- Bees on the Boat-Deck (1939) as Sam Gridley
- On the Night of the Fire (1939) as Will Kobling
- The Four Feathers (1939) as John Durrance
- Q Planes (1939) as Maj. Charles Hammond
- Health of a Nation (1939)
- The Lion Has Wings (1939) as Wing Commander Richardson
- The Citadel (1938) as Dr. Philip Denny
- The Divorce of Lady X (1938) as Lord Mere
- South Riding (1938) as Robert Carne
- Thunder in the City (1937) as Henry V. Manningdale
- Things to Come (1936) as The Boss
- The Man Who Could Work Miracles (1936) as Colonel Winstanley
- Bulldog Jack (1935) as Morelle
- Java Head (1934) as William Ammidon
- The King of Paris (1934) as Paul Lebrun
- The Return of Bulldog Drummond (1934) as Major Hugh 'Bulldog' Drummond
- Friday the Thirteenth (1933) as Horace Dawes
- The Ghoul (1933) as Nigel Hartley
- Dreyfus (1931) as Extra
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Ralph Richardson best known for?
Ralph Richardson is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes (1984), Hands of Steel (1986), Delta Force 2: The Colombian Connection (1990), Hello Kitty's Furry Tale Theater (1987).
When and where was Ralph Richardson born?
Ralph Richardson was born on December 19, 1902 in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England, UK. They passed away on October 10, 1983.
How many credits does Ralph Richardson have?
Ralph Richardson has accumulated over 108 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1931 to 1993.
What is Ralph Richardson's background in cinema and television?
Sir Ralph David Richardson was an English actor born on December 19, 1902, in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England, United Kingdom. He died on October 10, 1983, at the age of 80. He was part of a group of mid-20th-century theatrical knights who were closely associated with the stage and also appeared in several classic...
Ralph Richardson by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Barrister — aged about 48
- Frankenstein: The True Story (1973) as Mr. Lacey — aged about 70
- The Great War (1964) as Douglas Haig (voice) — aged about 61
- Jesus of Nazareth (1977) as Simeon — aged about 74
- Second City Television (1976) as Self — aged about 73
- Doctor Zhivago (1965) as Alexander Gromeko — aged about 62
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