--- name: "Ian Richardson" canonical: "https://film.one/person/ian-richardson" fi1m_id: "ian-richardson" imdb_id: "nm0007183" tmdb_id: 385 wikidata_id: "Q363691" roles: ["Actor"] born: "7 April 1934" died: "9 February 2007" reviewed_on_fi1m: 7 average_fi1m_score: 75 average_as: "actor" average_over: 7 updated: "2026-10-07T12:33:19.768920+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Ian Richardson ## Identity Ian Richardson - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/ian-richardson - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** ian-richardson - **IMDb ID:** nm0007183 - **TMDB ID:** 385 - **Wikidata ID:** Q363691 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_Richardson, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q363691, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0007183/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/385 Actor. Born 7 April 1934 in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. Died 9 February 2007. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 7 April 1934, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK - **Died:** 9 February 2007 - **Active:** 1979–2005 - **Average Fi1m score:** 75, as actor, over 7 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1970s 88 (1), 1980s 71 (3), 1990s 80 (2), 2000s 65 (1) - **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 3 at 60–79, 1 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 1 of 5 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Drama 4, Comedy 2, Mystery 2, Science Fiction 2, War & Politics 2, Action 1 - **Screen time:** 9 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $75m across 4 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_Richardson, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q363691, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0007183/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/385 ## Streaming the US now - **BritBox:** [*House of Cards*](https://film.one/tv/house-of-cards.md) (84) - **The Roku Channel:** [*Dark City*](https://film.one/film/dark-city.md) (76) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Ian Richardson > Ian Richardson could make courtesy sound like a warning without losing a word of it. We value the precision, but *House of Cards* shows the greater skill: making an appalling man entertaining without excusing him. In *House of Cards* (1990), Ian Richardson looks towards the camera as though he has decided we are worth taking into his confidence. Francis Urquhart's asides give us access to a man we have good reason not to trust. Richardson makes the invitation hard to resist, with diction so exact that the courtesy and the insult arrive together. We laughed at his polite contempt, then felt uncomfortable about how much we had enjoyed it. He keeps us entertained without allowing us to mistake Urquhart for a decent man. The stage work helps explain how little of a sentence he wastes. Leading Shakespearean roles with the Royal Shakespeare Company came before broader work, including Henry Higgins in *My Fair Lady* (1976). Bill Haydon in *Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy* (1979) was his first major television role, and television became a home for his cutting delivery and aptitude for villains and authority figures. By the Urquhart trilogy, which ran from 1990 to 1995, that voice had found the part which would define his public image. There is a risk of mannerism in such exact delivery, but in *House of Cards* Richardson knows when to leave a line alone. Paul Seed's direction gives him room to be arch without turning every sentence into a bid for applause. Cinematographers Jim Fyans and Ian Punter keep the images formal around him, wisely declining to compete with his knowingness. Ken Ledsham's production design gives the surroundings a persuasive air of entitlement. Howard Billingham's editing keeps the manoeuvres clear, leaving Richardson to supply the amusement and menace. Jim Parker's music sometimes insists on the wickedness when the actor has already made it plain. The series does depend too heavily on him: its supporting characters need more life of their own. Richardson can make Urquhart's certainty about other people funny, but he cannot supply everything the writing has left out of those people. His film parts, including Mr Warrenn in *Brazil* (1985) and Mr Book in *Dark City* (1998), offer routes beyond the role that came to dominate his reputation. We would not mistake that dominance for a complete account of his work. Start with *House of Cards*, but do not expect to feel pleased with yourself for laughing. ## Biography Ian Richardson (1934–2007) was a Scottish actor. He trained at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and began his career in repertory theatre before becoming a founding member of the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1960, where he performed leading Shakespearean roles for many years. Richardson gained wider recognition for his television work. He played Bill Haydon in the 1979 BBC adaptation of *Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy* and Francis Urquhart in the BBC trilogy *House of Cards* (1990), *To Play the King* (1993) and *The Final Cut* (1995). He received a BAFTA Television Award for Best Actor for the first series of *House of Cards*. He was appointed CBE in 1989. His other screen credits include roles in *Brazil* (1985), *M. Butterfly* (1993) and *Dark City* (1998). He was married to actress Maroussia Frank from 1961 until his death; they had two sons, one of whom, Miles Richardson, is also an actor. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, theguardian.com.* ## On Fi1m (7) - *Bleak House* (2005), Fi1m 65, as Chancellor — [page](https://film.one/tv/bleak-house.md) - *Dark City* (1998), Fi1m 76, as Mr. Book — [page](https://film.one/film/dark-city.md) - *House of Cards* (1990), Fi1m 84, as Francis Urquhart — [page](https://film.one/tv/house-of-cards.md) - *Cry Freedom* (1987), Fi1m 72, as State Prosecutor — [page](https://film.one/film/cry-freedom.md) - *The Fourth Protocol* (1987), Fi1m 57, as Sir Nigel Irvine — [page](https://film.one/film/the-fourth-protocol.md) - *Brazil* (1985), Fi1m 83, as Mr. Warrenn — [page](https://film.one/film/brazil.md) - *Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy* (1979), Fi1m 88, as Bill Haydon — [page](https://film.one/tv/tinker-tailor-soldier-spy-1979.md) ## Complete filmography (110) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Memorial Memorial* (2022), as Francis Urquhart (voice) - *Hogfather* (2007), as Death - *Becoming Jane* (2007), as Richter Langlois - *Hogfather* (2006), series, as Death - *Twice Upon a Time* (2006), as Lord Evelyn Gaylord - *The Booze Cruise III: The Scattering* (2006), as Marcus - *The Booze Cruise II: The Treasure Hunt* (2005), as Marcus Foster - *Joyeux Noel* (2005), as The Bishop - *The Adventures of Greyfriars Bobby* (2005), as Judge - *Bleak House* (2005), series, as Chancellor — Fi1m 65, [page](https://film.one/tv/bleak-house.md) - *Agatha Christie's Marple* (2004), series, as Conway Jefferson - *Nero* (2004), as Septimus - *Imperium: Nero* (2004), series, as Settimio - *Dæmos Rising* (2004), as Narrator - *Strange* (2003), series, as Canon Adolphus Black - *Sherlock Holmes' mysteries : The White Knight Stratagem* (2001), as Dr. Joseph Bell - *Murder Rooms: The Dark Beginnings of Sherlock Holmes* (2001), series, as Dr. Joseph Bell - *From Hell* (2001), as Sir Charles Warren - *3-D Halloween* (2000), as Narrator - *102 Dalmatians* (2000), as Mr. Torte - *Gormenghast* (2000), series, as Lord Groan - *Murder Rooms: The Dark Beginnings of Sherlock Holmes* (2000), as Dr. Joseph Bell - *The Magician's House* (1999), series, as Stephen Tyler - *The King and I* (1999), as The Kralahome (voice) - *Alice Through the Looking Glass* (1998), as Wasp - *A Knight in Camelot* (1998), as Merlin - *Dark City* (1998), as Mr. Book — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/film/dark-city.md) - *The Woman In White* (1997), as Mr. Fairlie - *The Woman In White* (1997), series, as Mr. Fairlie - *The Fifth Province* (1997), as Dr. Drudy - *Incognito* (1997), as Turley (prosecutor) - *The Canterville Ghost* (1997), as Simon de Canterville - *A Royal Scandal* (1997), as Narrator - *B.A.P.S* (1997), as Manley - *The Treasure Seekers* (1996), as Haig - *Catherine the Great* (1996), as Vorontzov - *The Final Cut* (1995), series, as Francis Urquhart - *Savage Play* (1995), as Count - *A Change of Place* (1994), as Henri Chambertin - *Words Upon the Window Pane* (1994), as Dr. Trench - *To Play the King* (1993), series, as Francis Urquhart - *Dirty Weekend* (1993), as Nimrod - *Remember* (1993), as Philip Rawlings - *M. Butterfly* (1993), as Ambassador Toulon - *Foreign Affairs* (1993), as Edwin - *Highlander: The Series* (1992), series, as Max Leiner - *An Ungentlemanly Act* (1992), as His Excellency, Governor Rex Hunt - *Year of the Comet* (1992), as Sir Mason Harwood - *The Gravy Train Goes East* (1991), series, as Michael Spearpoint - *Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead* (1991), as Polonius - *House of Cards* (1990), series, as Francis Urquhart — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/house-of-cards.md) - *The Gravy Train* (1990), series, as Michael Spearpoint - *King of the Wind* (1990), as Bey of Tunis - *The Phantom of the Opera* (1990), series, as Alain Choleti - *The Plot to Kill Hitler* (1990), as Ludwig Beck - *Chillers* (1990), series, as Lee Mandeville - *The Winslow Boy* (1989), as Sir Robert Morton, KC - *Twist of Fate* (1989), series, as SS-Sturmbannführer Doctor Schlossberg - *Burning Secret* (1988), as Edmund's Father - *Troubles* (1988), series, as Edward Spencer - *Cry Freedom* (1987), as State Prosecutor — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/cry-freedom.md) - *Porterhouse Blue* (1987), series, as Sir Godber Evans - *The Devil's Disciple* (1987), as General Burgoyne - *The Fourth Protocol* (1987), as Sir Nigel Irvine — Fi1m 57, [page](https://film.one/film/the-fourth-protocol.md) - *Blunt* (1987), as Anthony Blunt - *Whoops Apocalypse* (1986), as Rear Admiral Bendish - *Lord Mountbatten: The Last Viceroy* (1986), series, as Nehru - *Star Quality* (1985), as Ray Malcolm - *Theatre Night* (1985), series, as General Burgoyne - *Brazil* (1985), as Mr. Warrenn — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/brazil.md) - *Screen Two* (1985), series, as Anthony Blunt - *Monsignor Quixote* (1985), as Bishop of Motopo - *Mistral's Daughter* (1984), series, as Adrien Avigdor - *Slimming Down* (1984), as Mr. Shrigley - *The Master of Ballantrae* (1984), as Mr. MacKellar - *The Sign of Four* (1983), as Sherlock Holmes - *The Hound of the Baskervilles* (1983), as Sherlock Holmes - *Brass* (1983), series, as Marshall Snelgrove, QC - *Number 10* (1983), series, as James Ramsay MacDonald - *Salad Days* (1983), as Uncle Zed - *Passing Through* (1982), as Richard - *The Woman in White* (1982), series, as Frederick Fairlie - *A Cotswold Death* (1982), as Inspector Anthony Arrowsmith - *Private Schulz* (1981), series, as Major Neuheim, Gerald Melfort, Stanley Kemp - *Gauguin the Savage* (1980), as Degas - *Charlie Muffin* (1979), as Cuthbertson - *Churchill and the Generals* (1979), as Gen. Bernard L. Montgomery - *Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy* (1979), series, as Bill Haydon — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/tinker-tailor-soldier-spy-1979.md) - *Ike* (1979), series, as FM Sir Bernard Montgomery - *Ike* (1979), as FM Sir Bernard Montgomery - *Sorry...* (1978), as Michael - 'Private View' - *Danton's Death* (1978), as Robespierre - *Playhouse* (1974), series, as Richard - *Gawain and the Green Knight* (1973), as Narrator (voice) - *Man of La Mancha* (1972), as The Padre - *The Darwin Adventure* (1972), as Capt. Fitzroy - *Eyeless in Gaza* (1971), series, as Anthony Beavis - *Great Performances* (1971), series, as Bishop of Motopo - *Play for Today* (1970), series, as Inspector Anthony Arrowsmith - *Plays of Today* (1969), series, as The Son - *Civilisation* (1969), series, as Hamlet - *A Midsummer Night's Dream* (1968), as Oberon - *All's Well That Ends Well* (1968), as Bertram - *The Persecution and Assassination of Jean-Paul Marat as Performed by the Inmates of the Asylum of Charenton Under the Direction of the Marquis de Sade* (1967), as Jean-Paul Marat - *NET Playhouse* (1966), series, as Antipholus of Ephesus - *BBC Play of the Month* (1965), series, as Maximilien Robespierre - *Theatre 625* (1964), series, Actor - *Festival* (1963), series, as Antipholus of Ephesus - *As You Like It* (1963), as Le Beau - *Hallmark Hall of Fame* (1951), series, as Mr. MacKellar ## Gallery - ![Actors Christine Andreas and Ian Richardson](https://film.one/media/person/60562/gallery-b1ec8a7719eb.jpg) Actors Christine Andreas and Ian Richardson — Bernard Gotfryd, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2c/Christine_Andreas%2C_Ian_Richardson_03454.jpg/1280px-Christine_Andreas%2C_Ian_Richardson_03454.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Ian Richardson](https://film.one/media/person/60562/gallery-c91739ea891f.jpg) Ian Richardson — Bernard Gotfryd, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/11/Ian_Richardson.jpg/1280px-Ian_Richardson.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Title: Ian Richardson Creator(s): Gotfryd, Bernard, photographer Date Created/Published: [ca. 1976] Medium: 1 photograph : color transparency ; 35mm (slide form](https://film.one/media/person/60562/gallery-cff556cedfa6.jpg) Title: Ian Richardson Creator(s): Gotfryd, Bernard, photographer Date Created/Published: [ca. 1976] Medium: 1 photograph : color transparency ; 35mm (slide form — Bernard Gotfryd, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b4/Ian_Richardson_%28cropped%29.jpg/1280px-Ian_Richardson_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Ian Richardson](https://film.one/media/person/60562/gallery-4ddab13f600a.jpg) Ian Richardson — Image via TMDB ## Awards ### Other awards — 0 won, 1 nominated - Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical 1976: Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical (nominated) *From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.* --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/ian-richardson