Mark Richard Durden-Smith, a distinguished-looking thespian with silvery hair, was born to A.J. Durden-Smith, a fellow at the Royal College of Surgeons. His older brother, Jo Durden-Smith, was a documentary film maker. Richard attended Haileybury and Imperial Service College near Hertford and later studied at Merton College in 1963.
At Oxford, he joined the Experimental Theatre Club, a student drama society that included notable alumni such as Michael Palin, Terry Jones, and Dudley Moore. A classically-trained actor, Richard made his debut on the London stage in 1968. He then became a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company, taking on various roles including Claudio in Much Ado About Nothing, The Duke of Albany in King Lear, Count Paris in Romeo and Juliet, Theseus in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Polonius in Hamlet, and Malvolio in Twelfth Night.
On screen, Durden's gravitas and gentlemanly bearing have made him a staple in period dramas, crime and mystery shows, and historical productions. He has appeared in numerous notable roles, including Department S, Special Branch, Maigret, Wycliffe, The Bill, Foyle's War, Poirot, and Endeavour, among others. More recently, he has appeared in period dramas such as Helen of Troy, The Borgias, Wolf Hall, Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, and Poldark, as well as in science fiction productions like Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker.
In his personal life, Durden has been married to theatrical agent Rebecca Blond since 2017.
