Ian Richardson is an actor. By nationality - Scot. A native of Edinburgh. He became known for his role as a politician in the popular “House of Cards” trilogy. He was involved in 102 projects. Often played legendary characters such as Sherlock Holmes and Hamlet. He died in 2007. He was married to actress Marusa Frank.
Biography
Ian Richardson was born in the city of Edinburgh on April 7, 1934 in the family of Margaret and John Richardson. He began his career with admission to the College of Dramatic Arts in Glasgow.
He appeared on stage for the first time when he was 14 years old, playing in an amateur performance. The director of that production liked his acting, and he then advised young Richardson to get rid of the Scottish accent in order to advance his career.
Initially, Ian Richardson worked in an amateur folk theater in the city of Edinburgh. His next place of service was the College of Dramatic Arts in Glasgow. From 1960 to 1975 he served at the Royal Shakespeare Theater. Despite the fact that the hero of this article has acted in films a lot and successfully, he is still considered a theater actor. In 1972 he played in the musical production of Trelawney. This work has gained great fame.
Working at the Shakespeare Theater, Richardson received the lead roles in many performances directed by John Bolton. He played the title role in "Coriolanus" in the production of 1967, performed Cassius in "Julia Caesar", embodied Tim in the play Cymbeline.
Actor Ian Richardson worked at the time with other famous directors. He starred in Richard III (1975).
After leaving the Shakespeare Theater, the actor played the role of Professor Henry Higgins in the musical My Fair Lady. He also played in those years in one Broadway play "Lolita" by Vladimir Nabokov, which, however, was greeted coolly by critics and a large audience. The last time the actor appeared on the scene in 2006, playing Epicurus Mamon in the production of "The Alchemist" of the London National Theater.
First steps on a long way
In 1964, he performed one of the roles in the documentary scientific and educational series “Horizon”.
In 1972, the actor was on the same set with first-rate stars Peter O'Toole and Sophia Loren while working on the Italian-American film "The Man from La Mancha." This story, which tells of the 16th century, tells of the writer and actor Miguel de Cervantes, who ended up in prison dungeons for debt. Here he tells other prisoners the story of a romantic knight Don Quixote, in love with a beautiful lady who goes on a journey with his faithful servant Sancho Panza to do good.
Subsequent roles
In 1979, actor Ian Richardson appeared in the British thriller Spy, Get Out. This is a film about identifying a Russian spy among senior officials of the foreign intelligence service. The picture was nominated for an Emmy Award in 1980 as the best mini-series.
In 1983, Ian Richardson showed his acting talent, playing the main role in the television film "The Hound of the Baskervilles." This picture tells the story of the famous detective Sherlock Holmes, when Dr. James Mortimer comes to him for help, who tells him about the mysterious death of Sir Baskerville. The detective immediately takes up this matter and he is not afraid of talking about a certain ghost dog that is chasing all representatives of the Baskervilles family.
Successful work and recognition
In 1984, the actor Iain Richardson, films with the participation of which are unprecedentedly popular in his homeland, played one of the title roles in the adventure movie "Lord of Ballantre" with Michael York. This story tells of the rivalry of two brothers in the struggle for inheritance. Not without a love triangle. The picture was nominated for the Emmy Award of that year in the category Best Supporting Actor.
In 1987, the actor was next to Michael Kane and Pierce Brosnan, playing a role in the British thriller "The Fourth Protocol." This is a spy story about an agent John Preston, who is entrusted with finding someone who is transmitting to the potential adversary British secret information about nuclear weapons.
In the same year, actor Ian Richardson showed himself in the drama “Cry of Freedom” with Kevin Klein and Denzel Washington. This is a historical biography film about the fate of Bantu Stephen Biko, who actively promoted the ideas of national identity in South Africa. The painting was kindly received by critics and was nominated for an Oscar and a Golden Globe Award in several categories in 1988.
In the same period, the actor had a role in the British-German drama "The Burning Secret." In this visual story, viewers are introduced to the wife of a diplomat, who goes to an Austrian resort with her asthmatic son. Here they meet the baron, in whom the heroine passionately falls in love, completely forgetting that she is bound by marriage, and about the illness of her son.
In 1990, there was a role in the musical thriller that rocked the world of cinema, The Phantom of the Opera, with Bert Lancaster. Actor Ian Richardson played one of the supporting roles. The film, which was liked by both viewers and critics, was then twice nominated for a Golden Globe.
At that time, actor Ian Richardson, whose photo is posted on English movie sites, played in the comedy cinematic interpretation of Hamlet - the film Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead. The film, in which the main roles were played by Tim Roth and Gary Oldman, received the Golden Lion of the Venice Film Festival.
Last role
In 2006, actor Ian Richardson last appeared on the set for the last time in his life, starring in the drama Jane Austen with Anne Hathaway. In this film, the main character in the struggle for her love is not afraid to go against the ossified opinion of a conservative 19th-century society.