Richard Comstock Hart was born on April 14, 1915, in Providence, Rhode Island, to Henry Clay Hart, a prominent local lawyer, and his wife. Hart's grandfather, Richard Comstock, was also a lawyer. He attended the Quaker-run Moses Brown School and later majored in English and psychology at Brown University. After graduating, he took journalism classes and worked briefly at Gorham, a silver company, before pursuing a career in acting.
Hart's interest in acting was sparked by a summer stock job in Tiverton, Rhode Island, and he moved to New York City to pursue a professional stage career. He made his Broadway debut in "Pillar to Post" in December 1943 and went on to tour with Constance Bennett in "Without Love." His performance in a repertory production of "Dark of the Moon" earned him a Theatre World Award and a spot in the Broadway version.
MGM signed Hart to a film contract, and he appeared in three movies: "Desire Me," "Green Dolphin Street," and "B.F.'s Daughter." However, his experience in "Desire Me" was disillusioning, and he struggled with his performances on film. He also developed an alcohol problem, which further hindered his career.
Despite his struggles in film, Hart found success on Broadway, replacing Sam Wanamaker in the 1949 production of "Goodbye, My Fancy" and co-starring with Charlton Heston and Coleen Gray in "Leaf and Bough." He also appeared in numerous live TV productions, including "Fireside Theatre," "NBC Presents," "Ford Theatre Hour," and "Studio One."
Hart's personal life was marked by two marriages and the birth of two sons. He died suddenly on January 2, 1951, at the age of 35, possibly due to a coronary occlusion triggered by his heavy drinking.
