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 Born in North Riding, Yorkshire on July 31, 1947, Griffiths was brought up in a council flat in less than prosperous conditions, the son of deaf and volatile parents in a dysfunctional family setting. According to an article in the Telegraph newspaper, his father Thomas was a steelworker 'who fought in pubs for prize money' . Like most children, Richard's "mother tongue" was the same as his parents, in this case sign language. Like many kids in the 50s, his world did not include television. He had to explain sounds to his parents, for example music. Griffiths made a career out of language. For example, he developed a talent for dialects which later allowed him to shine in a number of ethnic portrayals. He attended the Manchester Polytechnic School Of Drama and then began his career in radio drama and repertory theater. He subsequently became a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company.In a 2007 interview, Griffiths said "I like playing Vernon Dursley in Harry Potter because that gives me a license to be horrible to kids. I hate the odious business of sucking up to the public." In fact, unlike those jovial characters he so often portrayed on screen, Griffiths did not tolerate fools gladly. On occasion, he would get stroppy with members of an audience, especially those failing to switch off their mobile phones during a performance (then again, who could blame him?). He was also highly thought of as a raconteur and wit.The ever-versatile, often bespectacled and bearded Griffiths did his best work for the small screen, excelling as the inquisitive and resourceful civil servant Henry Jay in Bird of Prey (1982) and as the lovable 'cooking policeman' Henry Crabbe in Pie in the Sky (1994), a role specially created for him. As comic relief he made many a hilarious guest appearance, in, among other popular series, The Vicar of Dibley (1994) (as the Bishop of Mulberry) and as Dr. Bayham Badger in the superb BBC adaption of Bleak House (2005). He could also play evil and sinister, none more so than Swelter in Gormenghast (2000), a character Griffiths described being at once "laughably comic" and "a monster like Idi Amin". He was also much sought-after by Hollywood producers, appearing in a dual role in The Naked Gun 2?: The Smell of Fear (1991), as the ill-fated Magistrate Philipse in Tim Burton 's Sleepy Hollow (1999) and as King George in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011).The much-acclaimed actor won a Tony Award, a Laurence Olivier Award, the Drama Desk Award and the Outer Critics Circle Award.Griffiths was uncommonly skinny as a child and this required radiation treatment on his pituitary gland from the age of eight. It caused his metabolism to slow to such an extent that he eventually became obese, a condition which in all likelihood contributed to his death from complications during heart surgery on 28 March 2013 at the age of 65.
Bio:
Born in North Riding, Yorkshire on July 31, 1947, Griffiths was brought up in a council flat in less than prosperous conditions, the son of deaf and volatile parents in a dysfunctional family setting. According to an article in the Telegraph newspaper, his father Thomas was a steelworker 'who fought in pubs for prize money' . Like most children, Richard's "mother tongue" was the same as his parents, in this case sign language. Like many kids in the 50s, his world did not include television. He had to explain sounds to his parents, for example music. Griffiths made a career out of language. For example, he developed a talent for dialects which later allowed him to shine in a number of ethnic portrayals. He attended the Manchester Polytechnic School Of Drama and then began his career in radio drama and repertory theater. He subsequently became a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company.In a 2007 interview, Griffiths said "I like playing Vernon Dursley in Harry Potter because that gives me a license to be horrible to kids. I hate the odious business of sucking up to the public." In fact, unlike those jovial characters he so often portrayed on screen, Griffiths did not tolerate fools gladly. On occasion, he would get stroppy with members of an audience, especially those failing to switch off their mobile phones during a performance (then again, who could blame him?). He was also highly thought of as a raconteur and wit.The ever-versatile, often bespectacled and bearded Griffiths did his best work for the small screen, excelling as the inquisitive and resourceful civil servant Henry Jay in Bird of Prey (1982) and as the lovable 'cooking policeman' Henry Crabbe in Pie in the Sky (1994), a role specially created for him. As comic relief he made many a hilarious guest appearance, in, among other popular series, The Vicar of Dibley (1994) (as the Bishop of Mulberry) and as Dr. Bayham Badger in the superb BBC adaption of Bleak House (2005). He could also play evil and sinister, none more so than Swelter in Gormenghast (2000), a character Griffiths described being at once "laughably comic" and "a monster like Idi Amin". He was also much sought-after by Hollywood producers, appearing in a dual role in The Naked Gun 2?: The Smell of Fear (1991), as the ill-fated Magistrate Philipse in Tim Burton 's Sleepy Hollow (1999) and as King George in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011).The much-acclaimed actor won a Tony Award, a Laurence Olivier Award, the Drama Desk Award and the Outer Critics Circle Award.Griffiths was uncommonly skinny as a child and this required radiation treatment on his pituitary gland from the age of eight. It caused his metabolism to slow to such an extent that he eventually became obese, a condition which in all likelihood contributed to his death from complications during heart surgery on 28 March 2013 at the age of 65.
Tivia:
June 2005: he ordered a man out of the National Theatre, London, when his mobile phone went off for the sixth time during a performance of Alan Bennett's "The History Boys". The actor stopped in the middle of his lines, fixed the offender with an icy stare and said: "I am asking you to stand up, leave this auditorium and never, ever come back". Other members of the audience applauded as the man left the theatre.Was considered by producers for the role of "The Doctor" in Doctor Who (1963), had the series' original run continued past 1989.November 2005: Was performing in the stage play "Heroes" in London's Wyndham Theatre when a lady's mobile phone kept ringing in the audience. After it rang a third time, he stopped the play and - to loud applause - had her ejected from the theatre.May 2006: When a mobile rang out for the third time during his performance as Hector, a teacher, in Alan Bennett's The History Boys at the Broadhurst Theatre in New York, Griffiths rounded on the theatregoer and thundered: "I am not going to compete with these electronic devices. You were told to turn them off by the stage manager; you were told it was against the law. If we hear one more phone go off, we'll quit this performance. You have been warned."He was awarded the O.B.E. (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2008 Queen's New Years Honours List for his services to drama.Son of Jane Griffiths (born Jane Ann Denmark on 8 December 1899) and Thomas Griffiths (born 22 July 1915) who married in 1946. Both were deaf. Both died in 1976.Both of his parents were deaf, which made him a native speaker of the British Sign Language.He appeared in two Best Picture Academy Award winners in consecutive years: Chariots of Fire (1981) and Gandhi (1982). John Gielgud and Ian Charleson also appeared in both films.The eleventh Harry Potter film series cast member to die.Gave the commencement speech to the Oxford University Class of 2008.London, England: Acting in the play "Equus" with Daniel Radcliffe, who he also acted with in the Harry Potter films. (February 2007)Won the 2006 Antoinette Perry (Tony) Award for Best Actor in A Leading Role in a Play for "The History Boys". The presenter of the award to Griffiths was Julia Roberts.If it hadn't been for the theatre his career choice would have involved painting and drawing.While working at Littlewoods store in Stockton on Tees he was offered a managerial course and was sent to college to get 4 o levels. He went but did an arts course instead.He was awarded the 2006 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for his performance as "Hector" in Alan Bennett's "The History Boys.".Was Godfather to comedian Jack Whitehall.Replaced the late Richard Vernon as Slartibartfast in the new "Tertiary Phase" episodes of "The Hitch Hiker's Guide To The Galaxy" BBC4 radio series, adapted from the late Douglas Adams' books 3-5 of the "trilogy". Phase 4 ("Quandary") is slated for 2005, with phase 5 ("Quintessential") to follow. (September 2004)Has, at least twice, played a dual role, once in Whoops Apocalypse (1982) as a replacement "Premier Dubienkin" (as well as the original), and in The Naked Gun 2?: The Smell of Fear (1991) as "Dr. Meinheimer" and impersonator "Earl Hacker".He was made an an Honorary Doctor of Letters by Stockton University on 1st July 1998.London, England: Appearing as Fitz and W.H. Auden in the world premiere of "The Habit of Art" by 'Alan Bennett' at the Lyttleton Theatre in the National Theatre. (November 2009)2004 - Won the Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Hector in "The History Boys" at the National Theatre (Lyttleton) (London).As a boy he was so skinny that he was given radiation treatment on his pituitary gland to stimulate his growth. His metabolism was permanently slowed and he struggled with obesity for the rest of his life.He was educated at a catholic school which later became Manchester Polytechnic.He took a drama course at university. |
| Name: |
Richard Griffiths |
Type: |
Actor,Writer (IMDB) |
| Area: |
All World |
Platform: |
IMDB |
| Category: |
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Business scope: |
Actor,Writer |
| Products for sale: |
Actor,Writer |
| Model rank: |
77 |
| Last update: |
2024-07-01 04:17:30 |
Richard Griffiths profile
| Height: |
5' 10' (1.78 m) |
| Biography: |
Born in North Riding, Yorkshire on July 31, 1947, Griffiths was brought up in a council flat in less than prosperous conditions, the son of deaf and volatile parents in a dysfunctional family setting. According to an article in the Telegraph newspape |
| Trivia: |
June 2005: he ordered a man out of the National Theatre, London, when his mobile phone went off for the sixth time during a performance of Alan Bennett's "The History Boys". The actor stopped in the middle of his lines, fixed the offender with an icy stare and said: "I am asking you to stand up, leave this auditorium and never, ever come back". Other members of the audience applauded as the man left the theatre.Was considered by producers for the role of "The Doctor" in Doctor Who (1963), had the series' original run continued past 1989.November 2005: Was performing in the stage play "Heroes" in London's Wyndham Theatre when a lady's mobile phone kept ringing in the audience. After it rang a third time, he stopped the play and - to loud applause - had her ejected from the theatre.May 2006: When a mobile rang out for the third time during his performance as Hector, a teacher, in Alan Bennett's The History Boys at the Broadhurst Theatre in New York, Griffiths rounded on the theatregoer and thundered: "I am not going to compete with these electronic devices. You were told to turn them off by the stage manager; you were told it was against the law. If we hear one more phone go off, we'll quit this performance. You have been warned."He was awarded the O.B.E. (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2008 Queen's New Years Honours List for his services to drama.Son of Jane Griffiths (born Jane Ann Denmark on 8 December 1899) and Thomas Griffiths (born 22 July 1915) who married in 1946. Both were deaf. Both died in 1976.Both of his parents were deaf, which made him a native speaker of the British Sign Language.He appeared in two Best Picture Academy Award winners in consecutive years: Chariots of Fire (1981) and Gandhi (1982). John Gielgud and Ian Charleson also appeared in both films.The eleventh Harry Potter film series cast member to die.Gave the commencement speech to the Oxford University Class of 2008.London, England: Acting in the play "Equus" with Daniel Radcliffe, who he also acted with in the Harry Potter films. (February 2007)Won the 2006 Antoinette Perry (Tony) Award for Best Actor in A Leading Role in a Play for "The History Boys". The presenter of the award to Griffiths was Julia Roberts.If it hadn't been for the theatre his career choice would have involved painting and drawing.While working at Littlewoods store in Stockton on Tees he was offered a managerial course and was sent to college to get 4 o levels. He went but did an arts course instead.He was awarded the 2006 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for his performance as "Hector" in Alan Bennett's "The History Boys.".Was Godfather to comedian Jack Whitehall.Replaced the late Richard Vernon as Slartibartfast in the new "Tertiary Phase" episodes of "The Hitch Hiker's Guide To The Galaxy" BBC4 radio series, adapted from the late Douglas Adams' books 3-5 of the "trilogy". Phase 4 ("Quandary") is slated for 2005, with phase 5 ("Quintessential") to follow. (September 2004)Has, at least twice, played a dual role, once in Whoops Apocalypse (1982) as a replacement "Premier Dubienkin" (as well as the original), and in The Naked Gun 2?: The Smell of Fear (1991) as "Dr. Meinheimer" and impersonator "Earl Hacker".He was made an an Honorary Doctor of Letters by Stockton University on 1st July 1998.London, England: Appearing as Fitz and W.H. Auden in the world premiere of "The Habit of Art" by 'Alan Bennett' at the Lyttleton Theatre in the National Theatre. (November 2009)2004 - Won the Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Hector in "The History Boys" at the National Theatre (Lyttleton) (London).As a boy he was so skinny that he was given radiation treatment on his pituitary gland to stimulate his growth. His metabolism was permanently slowed and he struggled with obesity for the rest of his life.He was educated at a catholic school which later became Manchester Polytechnic.He took a drama course at university. |
| Quotes: |
I hate being the subject of photographs.
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I've always hated the way I looked...
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Winning is something you've dreamed about and hoped for, so that when you get there it's no big deal. But if you lose you're gutted, and the gutted sense just goes on, and I know what that's like, because I've been having that gutted feeling since 1979.
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(On Uncle Vernon from the Harry Potter movies) "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 neighbours might see."
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If I had my way, all actors over 55 would be issued a 3-lb. wet salmon with which to slap the face of every young, beautiful, successful upstart. 'That's for being so lucky, you bastard!' I would shout. And then, hit them again, if you can. |
| Job title: |
Actor,Writer |
| Others works: |
Played Hector in "The History Boys", a new play by Alan Bennett - National Theatre, London (June 2004)/ Australia (2006)/ Hong Kong (2006)/ Broadhurst Theatre, New York City (2006).
Appeared in the play "Heroes" at the Wyndham's |
| Spouse: |
Heather Gibson (1980 - March 28, 2013) (his death) |
| Parents: |
Jane Griffiths (Denmark)
Thomas Griffiths |
| Relatives: |
John Griffiths (Sibling) |
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