Ian Richardson

Name: Ian Richardson
Date of Birth: April 07, 1934
Place of Birth: Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

Mini-bio: Similar to British countrymen and great thespians John Gielgud and Ralph Richardson, although a generation later, Ian Richardson has made more of an enduring career in classical theater and BBC televi... read moresion than in films, although in later years he has gravitated toward the latter. Little did he expect it, but his most memorable (and frequently parodied) role may have been as the limousine occupant who asks, "Pardon me, do you have any Grey Poupon?" in that popular television ad. His dignified countenance and locutions have brought him frequent casting as men of education and refinement.Richardson was born on April 7, 1934, in Edinburgh, Scotland, and studied at the College of Dramatic Art in Glasgow. He first made a name for himself playing Hamlet at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre in 1960, before joining the Royal Shakespeare Company, where he began a stint of several years as the leading artist, appearing in a variety of roles. At the RSC, he created the role of Jean Paul Marat in Marat/Sade, reprising it for the much-heralded 1966 film version. Stage success in Stratford, Ontario, and New York would soon follow. His first roles on both the big and small screen were in continuing with his Shakespearean roots. Richardson appeared as Oberon in Peter Hall's well-liked 1968 rendition of A Midsummer Night's Dream, then as Don John in the BBC Much Ado About Nothing in 1978. The actor spent the early '80s in British television movies and series, most notably appearing twice as Sherlock Homes in The Hound of the Baskervilles and The Sign of Four (both 1983). Richardson began gaining more worldwide recognition with his role as an officious bureaucrat in the dystopian universe of Terry Gilliam's Brazil (1985). Soon after Brazil Richardson began garnering regular film work, first appearing in such British films as Cry Freedom and The Fourth Protocol (both 1987), and eventually shifting over to Hollywood. He put a twist on his Shakespearean experience by appearing as Polonius in the 1990 film version of Tom Stoppard's Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. Richardson traveled through the 1990s without a universally distinguishing role to his credit, assuming a variety of supporting roles in bigger budget fare, while also continuing as a mainstay in British television. He had the misfortune of appearing in several notorious duds, including The Year of the Comet (1992) and Robert Townsend's widely detested B.A.P.S. (1997), in which he and Martin Landau jockeyed for the dubious honor of seeming more out of place. However, Richardson was credited with helping establish the haunting atmosphere of Alex Proyas' Dark City (1998) as Mr. Book, one of the eerie cloaked figures who floats through the landscape. Richardson then appeared as Mr. Torte in 102 Dalmations (2000) and Sir Charles Warren in From Hell (2001).Richardson died of unspecified causes, at age 72, on February 9, 2007. ~ Derek Armstrong, Rovi

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Ian Richardson mini-bio: Date of Death 9 February 2007, London, England, UK. When recalling Scots-born actor Ian Richardson, one could be amusingly reminded of a famous scene in the film Saturday Night Fever (1977) when John Travolta's streetwise character suddenly remembers who acting icon Laurence Olivier is only after being prompted by his "Polaroid" commercials. That same ironic scenario might just apply to the dour-looking Richardson, one of England's more substantial classical actors. Despite an extensive Shakespearean resume that compares in weight to the best known classical giants (Olivier, Gielgud, Ralph Richardson) and despite the fact that Queen Elizabeth II bestowed upon him the honor of Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1989, he is probably best known in the States as the dry-voiced, Rolls Royce-driving aristocrat who interrupts fellow roadsters with the line, "Pardon me, would you have any Grey Poupon?" in those famous mustard commercials. Born the son of John and Margaret (Drummond) Richardson on April 7, 1934, he was educated at Tynecastle School in Edinburgh, and studied for the stage at the College of Dramatic Art in Glasgow, where he was awarded the James Bridie Gold Medal in 1957. He joined the Birmingham Repertory Theatre Company a year later where he played Hamlet as well as John Worthing in "The Importance of being Earnest." In 1960 he joined the Royal Shakespeare Company (then called the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre) and drew excellent notices for his work in "The Merchant of Venice," "Twelfth Night," "The Winter's Tale," "Much Ado About Nothing," "A Midsummer Night's Dream," "The Taming of the Shrew," "The Comedy of Errors" and "King Lear", among others. In 1964 Richardson played the role of the Herald before advancing to the title role of Jean-Paul Marat in the stunning, avant-garde RSC production of "Marat-Sade". In addition, he made his Broadway debut in said role at the very end of 1965, and recreated it to critical acclaim in Peter Brooks' film adaptation with Glenda Jackson as murderess Charlotte Corday. Richardson also went on to replay Oberon in a lukewarm film version of RSC's A Midsummer Night's Dream (1968) that nevertheless bore an elite company of Britain's finest pre-Dames -- Judi Dench, Helen Mirren and Diana Rigg. One of his lower film points during that time period, however, was appearing in the huge musical movie misfire Man of La Mancha (1972) in the role of the Padre opposite Peter O'Toole and Sophia Loren. Richardson was never far from the Shakespearean stage after his induction into films with majestic portraits of Coriolanus, Pericles, Richard II, Richard III, Cassius ("Julius Caesar"), Malcolm ("Macbeth"), Angelo ("Measure for Measure"), Prospero ("The Tempest") and Mercutio ("Romeo and "Juliet") paving the way. Elsewhere on Broadway he received a Drama Desk Award and Tony nomination for his splendid Henry Higgins in a revival of "My Fair Lady" in 1976, and was part of the cast of the short-lived (12 performances) production of "Lolita" (1981), written by Edward Albee and starring Donald Sutherland as Humbert Humbert. Customary of many talented Scots, Richardson would find his best on-camera roles in plush, intelligent TV mini-series. On the Shakespearean front he appeared in TV adaptations of As You Like It (1963) (TV), All's Well That Ends Well (1968) (TV) and Much Ado About Nothing (1978) (TV). After delivering highly capable performances as Field-Marshal Montgomery in both Churchill and the Generals (1979) (TV) and "Ike" (1979) (mini), Sherlock Holmes in The Hound of the Baskervilles (1983) (TV), and Indian Prime Minister Nehru in "Lord Mountbatten: The Last Viceroy" (1986) (mini), he capped his small-screen career in the role of the immoral politician Francis Urquhart in a trio of dramatic satires: House of Cards (1990) (TV), To Play the King (1993) (TV) and The Final Cut (1995). His impeccably finely-tuned villain became one his best remembered roles. Filmwise, Richardson's stature did not grow despite polished work in Brazil (1985), Cry Freedom (1987), Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead (1990), M. Butterfly (1993), Dark City (1998), and the lightweight mainstream fare B*A*P*S (1997) and 102 Dalmatians (2000). He appeared less and less on stage in his later years. He took his final stage bows in 2006 with West End productions of "The Creeper" and "The Alchemist". The urbane 72-year-old actor died unexpectedly in his sleep at his London abode on February 9, 2007, survived by his widow Maroussia Frank (his wife from 1961 and an RSC actress who played an asylum inmate alongside him in "Marat-Sade") and two sons, one of which, Miles Richardson, has been a resident performer with the RSC. Trivia Appointed a CBE in 1989. Studied at the College of Dramatic Art, Glasgow. Lived in Devon, UK, not far from Knightshayes Court, where his Sherlock Holmes film The Hound of the Baskervilles (1983) (TV) was filmed in 1983. Was nominated for Broadway's 1976 Tony Award as Best Actor (Musical) for portraying Henry Higgins in a revival of "My Fair Lady." A leading player with the Royal Shakespeare Company for many seasons. Claimed in a 2006 interview that his father was the inventor of the Jaffa Cake Father of the actor Miles Richardson. Two days after his death, actress Helen Mirren dedicated her BAFTA win (for Best Actress in a Leading Role, for the film The Queen (2006) ) to Ian Richardson, at the 2007 BAFTA Film Awards. She mentioned how Richardson was very supportive towards her when she started out acting, and without him she may not have been so successful. [2007]