Richard Griffiths Biography
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Richard Griffiths (born 31 July 1947 in
Thornaby-on-Tees, Cleveland) is a British actor.
The son of deaf parents, he learned sign
language at an early age in order to communicate with them. He even
developed an ear for dialects that subsequently landed him several
ethnic roles. In his childhood he attempted to run away from home many
times. He dropped out of school at age 15 and worked as a porter for a
while, but his boss eventually convinced him to go back to school. Here
he decided to attend a drama class at Stockton & Billingham College, a
decision that would change his life forever.
After graduating, Richard 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 hilarious portrayals of Henry VIII and several other
characters such as Falstaff in "The Merry Wives of Windsor" with the
Royal Shakespeare Company.
He eventually settled in Manchester and
began to get proper 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). His more recognised roles have been in both
contemporary and period pieces such as Gorky Park (1983), Withnail & I
(1987), King Ralph (1991), Guarding Tess (1994), and Sleepy Hollow
(1999). Recently he has been seen as Uncle Vernon in the Harry Potter
series.
Although typically known for comic
performences, aside from Harry Potter, he's probably best recognised as
Inspector Henry Crabbe, disillusioned policeman and pie chef
extraordinairre, in the British Detective-drama Pie in the Sky.
****
Quotes
(On Uncle Vernon) Vernon distrusts Harry
completely and is always concerned that he is going to do something
strange at any moment. That is Vernon's biggest fear—he doesn't want
anything strange happening that the neighbors might see.
(On the difference between Cuaron and
Columbus:) "You can't tell yet. We're a bad part of the story, the
unliked. Of course there's the basic difference, which is the form of
how each one treats the project and everyone knows that the story will
become more darker from now on. What I thought was interesting, is that
Alfonso showed us that there should be more fear. Harry's more powerful
each time. We're not a threat to him anymore. Now he can act on his own,
in a frightening way. In the beginning, we were evil. Now, we want to
be, but we don't have this power anymore. We were scared all the time,
that Harry was gonna do something to us."
Trivia
Learned sign language at an early age due
to his parents being deaf
Dropped out of school at the age of 15
Was at one point considered for the part as
The Doctor in Doctor Who following Tom Baker's departure in 1981.
Co-incidentally, two of his co-stars from Withnail and I went on to play
the role in some capacity.
Was the voice for Slartibartfast for the
radio adaptation of Life, the Universe and Everything
Was the movie voice for the Vogon Jeltz in
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Filmography
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005)
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
(2004)
Stage Beauty (2004)
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
(2002)
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
(2001)
Vatel (2000)
Sleepy Hollow (1999)
The Canterbury Tales (1998)
Funny Bones (1995)
Guarding Tess (1994)
Blame It on the Bellboy (1992)
The Naked Gun 2˝: The Smell of Fear (1991)
King Ralph (1991)
Withnail & I (1987)
Shanghai Surprise (1986)
A Private Function (1984)
Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of
the Apes (1984)
Gorky Park (1983)
Gandhi (1982)
Britannia Hospital (1982)
Ragtime (1981)
The French Lieutenant's Woman (1981)
Chariots of Fire (1981)
Superman II (1980)
Breaking Glass (1980)
It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet (1975)
Television
Bleak House (2005)
Tlc (2002)
Gormenghast (2000)
Hope And Glory (1999)
A Kind of Living (1988)
Pie in the Sky (1994-1997)
Ffizz (1987)
Bird of Prey 2(1984)
The Cleopatras (1983)
Bird of Prey (1982)
Whoops Apocalypse (1982)
Nobody's Perfect (1979)
****
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URL of Original Article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Griffiths
Date Article Copied:
January 17, 2006
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