Friday, 29 March 2013


Richard Griffiths

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Richard Griffiths
Born31 July 1947
Thornaby-on-Tees, North Riding of Yorkshire, England, UK
Died28 March 2013 (aged 65)
Coventry, West Midlands, England, UK
EducationStockton & Billingham College
Alma materManchester School of Theatre
OccupationActor
Years active1974–2013
Spouse(s)Heather Gibson (1973–2013; his death)
AwardsLaurence Olivier Award, Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics, Tony Award
Richard Griffiths, OBE (31 July 1947 – 28 March 2013)[1] was an English actor of stage, film and television. He received the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor, the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Play, the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Featured Actor and a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play, all for his role in the play The History Boys.
He is also known for his portrayal of Vernon Dursley in the Harry Potter films, Uncle Monty in Withnail and I, Henry Crabbe in Pie in the Sky, and King George II in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. He also appeared as a British journalist in Richard Attenborough's Oscar-winning 1982 film Gandhi.

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[edit]Early years

Griffiths was born in Thornaby-on-Tees, North Riding of Yorkshire, England. His father was a steelworker, while his mother's occupation was described as "bagger".[2] He was raised in the Roman Catholic faith.[3] His parents were both deaf, and he learned sign language at an early age in order to communicate with them. During his childhood he attempted to run away from home many times. He dropped out of Our Lady & St Bede School at age 15 and worked as a porter for a while, but his boss eventually convinced him to go back to school. He decided to attend a drama class at Stockton & Billingham College. He continued his education in drama at Manchester Polytechnic School of Drama (present-day Manchester School of Theatre).[4]

[edit]Career

After graduating, Griffiths earned a spot on BBC Radio. He also worked in small theatres, sometimes acting and sometimes managing. He built up an early reputation as a Shakespearean clown with portrayals of the Constable in The Comedy of Errors and Falstaff in The Merry Wives of Windsor with the Royal Shakespeare Company, and went on to play the King in Henry VIII.
He eventually settled in Manchester and began to get lead roles in plays. From there he began to appear on television and then got his big break in film in It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet (1975). By the early 1980s, he was selected for the lead role in the BBC drama serialBird of Prey, an early computer-conspiracy thriller. His character, Henry Jay, was reprised in Bird of Prey 2 (1984). He went on to supporting roles in a number of major films, including The French Lieutenant's Woman, Chariots of Fire, and Gandhi. On stage, in 1985–86 he performed the role of Verdi in Julian Mitchell's After Aida, in Wales and at the Old Vic Theatre in London.
He appeared as Inspector Henry Crabbe, disillusioned policeman and pie chef extraordinaire, in the British detective drama Pie in the Sky, a role which was created specifically for him. He also made an extended appearance in the 2005 version of Charles Dickens'Bleak House. In 2004, he originated the role of Hector (the teacher) in Alan Bennett's play The History Boys, directed by Nicholas Hytner, winning the 2005 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor. During the play's subsequent United States run, he added a Drama Desk Award, an Outer Critics Circle Award, and a Tony Award. He reprised his role in the film version which was released in October 2006.
Together with his Harry Potter co-star Daniel Radcliffe, who plays Harry Potter, he appeared in a stage revival of Peter Shaffer's Equusat the Gielgud Theatre in London, and later from October 2008 in a short run of the play at the Broadhurst Theatre on Broadway which ended in February 2009. Later in 2009 he replaced Michael Gambon as W.H. Auden prior to the premiere of The Habit of Art at the National Theatre, once again directed by Hytner.
Griffiths was considered for the part of the Doctor in Doctor Who following Tom Baker's departure in 1981, but was unavailable. He was strongly considered once again to take on the role of the Eighth Doctor, had the series continued past 1989.[5] Coincidentally, his two principal co-stars from Withnail and I –Paul McGann and Richard E. Grant– went on to play the role in some capacity.[6] Griffiths has also performed in adaptations of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, providing the voice for Slartibartfast for the radio adaptation ofLife, the Universe and Everything and playing the Vogon Jeltz in the film version of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. He has also appeared in Bedtime Stories with Adam Sandler, and as a special guest in A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa.
During a performance of The History Boys,[when?][where?] Griffiths became so annoyed at a man in the audience whose mobile phone rang repeatedly through the play that Griffiths stopped acting after the sixth time and ordered the man out of the theatre. At a later date, Griffiths asked a member of the audience to leave a performance of Heroes after her phone rang three times.[7] This interruption of a performance because of audience distraction happened no fewer than three times in his career.[8][9]
Griffiths appeared as King George II in 2011's Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.[10] He appeared in the first episode of the television series Episodes as Julian Bullard.
In April 2012, Griffiths starred, with Danny DeVito, in a revival of the Neil Simon play The Sunshine Boys. The show previewed at theSavoy Theatre from 27 April 2012, opening on 17 May and playing a limited 12-week season until 28 July.[11]

[edit]Personal life

Griffiths married Heather Gibson in 1973.[12] He had no children.

[edit]Death

Griffiths died at the University Hospital Coventry on 28 March 2013 from complications following heart surgery at the age of 65.[14][1]

[edit]Filmography

[edit]Film

[edit]Television

[edit]References

  1. ^ a b "Potter and Withnail actor Richard Griffiths dies". BBC Online. 29 March 2013. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
  2. ^ "Richard Griffiths Biography". FilmReference.com. 2008. Retrieved 11 April 2008.
  3. ^ Laurence, Charles. "Part 3 of Griffiths interview". Saga Magazine. Retrieved 11 April 2008.
  4. ^ "Alumni profile". The Manchester Metropolitan University School of Theatre web site.
  5. ^ "BBC Archive: Nearly Who". BBC.
  6. ^ "Richard Griffiths BBC profile". Drama Faces. BBC. Archived from the original on 25 August 2006. Retrieved 5 April 2007.
  7. ^ "Actor snaps over ring mobile". BBC News. 22 November 2005. Retrieved 22 April 2007.
  8. ^ "Richard Griffiths". IMDb.com. Retrieved 2013-03-29.
  9. ^ Burkeman, Oliver (30 September 2006). "A break in the clouds". The Guardian (London). Retrieved 22 May 2010.
  10. ^ "Exclusive: Pirates 4 News From Rush". Empireonline.com. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  11. ^ Kemp, Stuart. "Danny DeVito to Make West End Debut in 'The Sunshine Boys'". The Hollywood Reporter.
  12. ^ Farndale, Nigel (25 February 2007). "Big unfriendly giant".The Telegraph. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
  13. ^ "New Years Honours List". BBC News. 29 December 2007. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  14. ^ "British actor Richard Griffiths, a stage legend and Harry Potter’s Uncle Vernon, dies at 65". Washington Post. 29 March 2013. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
  15. ^ "BFI – ARCHIBALD THE KOALA 04/09/98". British Film Institute. Retrieved 14 September 2009.

[edit]External links

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Posted by Britannia Radio at 18:41