Saturday, February 10, 2007

Ian Richardson

Ian Richardson, consummate actor and face of the television political drama following his performance as Francis Urquhart is the TV series The House of Cards, has died. A classic Shakespearean actor, his career spanned four and a half decades. For me his key performance came in Tinker, Taylor, Soldier, Spy – he played a laconic Bill Haydon in this Le Carre thriller. I cannot read this without seeing him do this part. But in House of Cards as Chief Whip and later as Prime Minister he excelled. Simply magnificent performances that caught the mood and spirit of the time and still resonate today. He played many parts – an excellent Bishop, a brilliant Sherlock Holmes. He also played Montgommery in Ike – a part he captured well. He will be sadly missed.

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