Richard Harris entered the cinematic landscape in 1959, beginning a career that spanned five decades and transitioned from the grit of the British New Wave to global blockbuster success. Educated in Limerick and at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, he established himself as a versatile performer across theatre, music, and film before his death in 2002.
Early Development and Theatre
Born in 1930 in Limerick, Ireland, Harris attended Crescent College. His initial aspirations for an athletic career in rugby were curtailed by a bout of tuberculosis. After failing to secure placement at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and the Central School of Speech and Drama, he enrolled at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. He began his professional life within Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop, spending his formative years performing in various West End productions.
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Harris secured his first starring role in the 1963 film This Sporting Life, directed by Lindsay Anderson, which earned him the Best Actor award at the Cannes Film Festival and an Academy Award nomination. This success was followed by roles in Michelangelo Antonioni's Red Desert and the musical Camelot in 1967, where his portrayal of King Arthur earned him a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy. He later reprised this stage role in a 1981 Broadway revival.
Diversification and Later Success
Throughout his career, Harris balanced acting with a successful music career; his 1968 recording of the song MacArthur Park reached the top ten in several countries. His filmography included diverse projects such as A Man Called Horse, The Field, and Unforgiven. In his final years, he reached new audiences as Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter franchise, appearing in the first two films of the series before his death at University College Hospital in 2002.
Fast facts
- Born: 1930, Limerick, Ireland
- Died: 2002, University College Hospital
- Education: Crescent College and London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
- Notable Film Role: Gladiator
- Musical Success: MacArthur Park (1968)
- Awards: Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actor (1963)
- Recognition: European Film Academy Lifetime Achievement Award (2000)
- Burial Site: The Bahamas
Questions readers ask
Did Richard Harris direct films?
Yes, Harris worked as a film director and also directed theatre productions, including Winter Journey at the Irving Theatre.
How many times was Richard Harris nominated for an Academy Award?
He received two nominations for the Academy Award for Best Actor, specifically for his roles in This Sporting Life and The Field.
Achievements
- Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy — 1967
- Golden Globe Awards
- Notable work: Harry Potter
- Notable work: Gladiator
- Affiliated with University of Scranton
- Worked as film director, singer and film producer
