Next person biography:
Ian Richardson was a renowned Scottish actor, born on April 7, 1934, to John and Margaret (Drummond) Richardson. He was educated at Tynecastle School in Edinburgh and studied drama at the College of Dramatic Art in Glasgow, where he received the James Bridie Gold Medal in 1957.
Richardson's early career began with the Birmingham Repertory Theatre Company, where he played notable roles such as Hamlet and John Worthing in "The Importance of Being Earnest." He later joined the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) in 1960, performing in numerous productions, including "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."
In 1964, Richardson played the role of the Herald before advancing to the title role of Jean-Paul Marat in the RSC production of "Marat-Sade." He also made his Broadway debut in the same role in 1965 and recreated it for the film adaptation with Glenda Jackson.
Richardson's other notable film roles include "Brazil" (1985),"Cry Freedom" (1987),"Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead" (1990),"M. Butterfly" (1993),"Dark City" (1998),and "102 Dalmatians" (2000). He also appeared in several television productions, including the BBC television trilogy "House of Cards," where he played the villainous Francis Urquhart.
Throughout his career, Richardson received numerous accolades, including a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1989. He was also honored with a Drama Desk Award and Tony nomination for his performance in the Broadway revival of "My Fair Lady" in 1976.
Richardson passed away unexpectedly in his sleep on February 9, 2007, at the age of 72, leaving behind his widow Maroussia Frank and two sons, including Miles Richardson, who has followed in his father's footsteps as a performer with the RSC.
