Richard Harris

Richard Harris - Producer, Family and Childhood

Violet FieldHome › IrishRichard HarrisOctober 1, 1930485 views

0 based on 0 rates
Richard Harris Biography Stories 

Richard Harris's Personal Details

Richard Harris was an Irish actor, singer, director, producer and writer

InformationDetail
BirthdayOctober 1, 1930
Died onOctober 25, 2002
NationalityIrish
FamousAlcoholics, London Academy Of Music And Dramatic Art, Film & Theater Personalities, Actors, Directors, T V & Movie Producers, Singers, Producer, Singer-songwriter
SpousesAnn Turkel (m. 1974–1982), Elizabeth Rees-Williams (m. 1957–1969)
Siblings1939-1985), Diarmid (Dermot, Noel William Michael (born 1932), Patrick Ivan (born 1929), William George Harris (born 1942)
Known asRichard St John Harris
ChildrensDamian Harris, Jamie Harris, Jared Harris
Universities
  • London Academy Of Music And Dramatic Art
  • Crescent College
  • London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
Notable Alumnis
  • London Academy Of Music And Dramatic Art
Birth PlaceLimerick City, Irish Free State (now Republic of Ireland)
ReligionRoman Catholic
GenderMale
FatherIvan John Harris
MotherMildred Josephine (Harty) Harris
Sun SignLibra
Born inLimerick City, Irish Free State (now Republic of Ireland)
Famous asActor, Singer-Songwriter, Producer, Director
Died at Age72

// Famous Producer

Michael Schur

Michael Schur

Michael Schur is an American television actor, producer, and writer. Check out this biography to know about his birthday, childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about him.

Ashton Kutcher

Ashton Kutcher

Ashton Kutcher is an American actor, model and a producer. This biography profiles his childhood, life, acting career, achievements and timeline.

Chad McQueen

Chad McQueen

Chad McQueen is an American actor, film producer, race car driver and martial artist Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about him.

Richard Harris's photo

Who is Richard Harris?

Richard St John Harris, popularly known as Richard Harris, was an Irish actor, singer, director, producer and writer. He is known for the variety of roles that he portrayed in his extensive entertainment career, like that of ‘Frank Machin’ in ‘This Sporting Life’, ‘King Arthur’ in ‘Camelot’, an English aristocrat in ‘A Man Called Horse’, a gunfighter in Clint Eastwood’s ‘Unforgiven’, ‘Marcus Aurelius’ in Ridley Scott’s ‘Gladiator’ and ‘Albus Dumbledore’ in the first two movies of the ‘Harry Potter’ series. Harris started his creative journey when he shifted from Ireland to London and studied performing art there. After working in oblivion, in different theater productions, he got a chance to act in Hollywood movies. ‘This Sporting Life’ in 1953 is considered to be his break out movie as well as the most prominent movie of his career. Harris also worked in some made-for-TV movies and released many albums, since he was also a singer of distinctive talent. He won many accolades for his creative skills, like: Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture Actor (Musical/Comedy) for ‘Camelot’, Best Actor Award at the 1963 Cannes Film Festival and Grammy for Best Spoken Word Recording for ‘Jonathan Livingston Seagull’.

// Famous Singer-songwriter

Billie Eilish

Billie Eilish

Billie Eilish Pirate Baird O’Connell is an American singer and songwriter. Check out this biography to know about her childhood, family, personal life, birthday, etc.

Israel Houghton

Israel Houghton

Israel Houghton is a Grammy award-winning American Christian music recording artist, songwriter, producer and worship leader. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family, personal life, etc.

Bea Miller

Bea Miller

Check out all that you wanted to know about Bea Miller, the famous singer & actress; her birthday, her family and personal life, her boyfriends, fun trivia facts and more.

Childhood & Early Life

Richard Harris was born in Limerick city, Ireland, to Ivan John Harris and Mildred Josephine Harris. He and his siblings: Patrick Ivan, Noel William Michael, Diarmid Dermont and William George Harris were brought up in a middle class household.

He attended the Crescent College and was considered as a brilliant rugby player – he played many Munster Junior and Senior Cups for his school team but after contracting tuberculosis, Harris’ athletic career was cut short.

He read voraciously for two years while he was recuperating from TB and his ambitions changed after that. He decided he wanted a career in arts and moved to England and enrolled at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art in 1956.

After completing his studies, Harris joined Joan Littlewood’s Theatre Workshop and started acting briefly in West End theater productions like ‘The Quare Fellow’ in 1956. He spent years in England working in various theater productions.

Career

Harris made his debut with 1959’s ‘Alive and Kicking’, after which he started getting roles in a number of major motion pictures. He did the World War II action adventure ‘The Guns of Navarone’ and ‘Mutiny on the Bounty’.

His first major movie was ‘This Sporting Life’ in 1963 in which he portrayed the role of a coal miner turned famous rugby player. He earned a Best Actor award at the Cannes Film Festival for the movie.

‘Camelot’ (1967), in which he played the role of King Arthur, did not do well commercially but Harris bought the rights to the show and toured in ‘Camelot’ many times in his performance career, which proved to be a success.

Harris again gained the confidence of the critics and love of his fans with ‘A Man Called Horse’ in 1970, in which he played the role of an English noble who gets captured by Native Americans.

In 1971, he did a BBC TV film adaptation ‘The Snow Goose’. The screenplay by Paul Gallico won a Golden Globe award for Best Movie made for Television and was nominated for a BAFTA award and an Emmy award.

Throughout the 1970s, Harris did movies like: ‘Man in the Wilderness (1971)’, ‘Juggernaut (1974)’, ‘The Cassandra Crossing (1976)’, ‘Orca (1977)’, ‘Golden Rendezvous (1977)’, ‘The Wild Geese (1978)’, ‘Ravagers (1979)’, ‘A Game for Vultures (1979)’, etc.

In 1973, Harris got his book of poetry published under the title of ‘I, In the Membership of My Days’. The book was later re-released later in an audio LP format, with added self written songs like, ‘I Don’t Know’.

He took a retirement in the 1980s, but this break was only transitory. He starred in ‘The Field’ in 1990--a farmer fighting to keep his family’s lands. He followed it with the Clint Eastwood western ‘Unforgiven (1992)’.

In 2000, the portrayal of Roman leader ‘Marcus Aurelius’ in Ridley Scott’s Academy Award winning British–American epic historical drama film ‘Gladiator’ starring Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix, won him critical appreciation.

Later, he appeared in movies like: Kevin Reynolds’s ‘The Count Of Monte Cristo (2002)’, ‘Kaena: The Prophecy (2003)’, etc. He also played the supporting role of ‘Albus Dumbledore’ in the first two of the ‘Harry Potter’ films.

Major Work

The most significant work of Harris’ career is considered to be his role of ‘Frank Machin’ in ‘This Supporting Life (1963)’. It was his first starring role and he won Best Actor Award at Cannes Film Festival.

Awards & Achievements

Harris won many accolades for his creative skills, like: Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture Actor (Musical/Comedy) for ‘Camelot’, Best Actor Award at the 1963 Cannes Film Festival and Grammy for Best Spoken Word Recording for ‘Jonathan Livingston Seagull’.

Personal Life & Legacy

Harris married Elizabeth Rees-Williams, daughter of David Rees-Williams, 1st Baron Ogmore in 1957. The couple had three children together: Jared Harris, Jamie Harris and Damian Harris. They got divorced in 1969.

He got married for the second time to the American actress Ann Turkel in 1974 but that marriage also ended in a divorce in 1982.

He died at University College Hospital, London, on 25 October 2002, aged 72 and his remains were cremated and ashes were scattered in the Bahamas.

Trivia

He was a longtime alcoholic but became a teetotaler in 1981.

He almost died of a cocaine overdose in 1978.

This actor died two and a half weeks before the American premiere of his movie ‘Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets’.

He was a member of the Roman Catholic Knights of Malta, and was knighted by the Queen of Denmark in 1985.

At the 2009 BAFTAs, Mickey Rourke dedicated his Best Actor award to Harris.

He was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease in 2002.

Some of his albums are: ‘The Yard Went On Forever (1968)’, ‘The Richard Harris Love Album (1972)’, ‘Jonathan Livingston Seagull (1973)’, ‘Mack The Knife (1989)’.

// Famous Alcoholics

Tennessee Williams

Tennessee Williams

Tennessee Williams was one of the greatest playwrights of the 20th century. This biography of Tennessee Williams provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements, works and timeline.

Mike Tyson

Mike Tyson

Mike Tyson is a former heavyweight boxing champion, known for his ferocious and intimidating style. Read this biography to know about his life, profile & timeline.

Keith Urban

Keith Urban

Keith Urban is a Grammy Award winning country music singer and guitarist. This biography of Keith Urban provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.

Richard Harris's awards

YearNameAward

Golden Globe Awards

1968Best Actor - Comedy or MusicalCamelot (1967)

Richard Harris biography timelines

  • // 1st Oct 1930
    Richard Harris was born in Limerick city, Ireland, to Ivan John Harris and Mildred Josephine Harris. He and his siblings: Patrick Ivan, Noel William Michael, Diarmid Dermont and William George Harris were brought up in a middle class household.
  • // 1956
    He read voraciously for two years while he was recuperating from TB and his ambitions changed after that. He decided he wanted a career in arts and moved to England and enrolled at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art in 1956.
  • // 1956
    After completing his studies, Harris joined Joan Littlewood’s Theatre Workshop and started acting briefly in West End theater productions like ‘The Quare Fellow’ in 1956. He spent years in England working in various theater productions.
  • // 1957 To 1969
    Harris married Elizabeth Rees-Williams, daughter of David Rees-Williams, 1st Baron Ogmore in 1957. The couple had three children together: Jared Harris, Jamie Harris and Damian Harris. They got divorced in 1969.
  • // 1959
    Harris made his debut with 1959’s ‘Alive and Kicking’, after which he started getting roles in a number of major motion pictures. He did the World War II action adventure ‘The Guns of Navarone’ and ‘Mutiny on the Bounty’.
  • // 1963
    His first major movie was ‘This Sporting Life’ in 1963 in which he portrayed the role of a coal miner turned famous rugby player. He earned a Best Actor award at the Cannes Film Festival for the movie.
  • // 1963
    The most significant work of Harris’ career is considered to be his role of ‘Frank Machin’ in ‘This Supporting Life (1963)’. It was his first starring role and he won Best Actor Award at Cannes Film Festival.
  • // 1963
    Harris won many accolades for his creative skills, like: Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture Actor (Musical/Comedy) for ‘Camelot’, Best Actor Award at the 1963 Cannes Film Festival and Grammy for Best Spoken Word Recording for ‘Jonathan Livingston Seagull’.
  • // 1967
    ‘Camelot’ (1967), in which he played the role of King Arthur, did not do well commercially but Harris bought the rights to the show and toured in ‘Camelot’ many times in his performance career, which proved to be a success.
  • // 1968 To 1989
    Some of his albums are: ‘The Yard Went On Forever (1968)’, ‘The Richard Harris Love Album (1972)’, ‘Jonathan Livingston Seagull (1973)’, ‘Mack The Knife (1989)’.
  • // 1970
    Harris again gained the confidence of the critics and love of his fans with ‘A Man Called Horse’ in 1970, in which he played the role of an English noble who gets captured by Native Americans.
  • // 1971
    In 1971, he did a BBC TV film adaptation ‘The Snow Goose’. The screenplay by Paul Gallico won a Golden Globe award for Best Movie made for Television and was nominated for a BAFTA award and an Emmy award.
  • // 1971 To 1979
    Throughout the 1970s, Harris did movies like: ‘Man in the Wilderness (1971)’, ‘Juggernaut (1974)’, ‘The Cassandra Crossing (1976)’, ‘Orca (1977)’, ‘Golden Rendezvous (1977)’, ‘The Wild Geese (1978)’, ‘Ravagers (1979)’, ‘A Game for Vultures (1979)’, etc.
  • // 1973
    In 1973, Harris got his book of poetry published under the title of ‘I, In the Membership of My Days’. The book was later re-released later in an audio LP format, with added self written songs like, ‘I Don’t Know’.
  • // 1974 To 1982
    He got married for the second time to the American actress Ann Turkel in 1974 but that marriage also ended in a divorce in 1982.
  • // 1978
    He almost died of a cocaine overdose in 1978.
  • // 1981
    He was a longtime alcoholic but became a teetotaler in 1981.
  • // 1985
    He was a member of the Roman Catholic Knights of Malta, and was knighted by the Queen of Denmark in 1985.
  • // 1990 To 1992
    He took a retirement in the 1980s, but this break was only transitory. He starred in ‘The Field’ in 1990
  • // a farmer fighting to keep his family’s lands. He followed it with the Clint Eastwood western ‘Unforgiven (1992)’.
  • // 2000
    In 2000, the portrayal of Roman leader ‘Marcus Aurelius’ in Ridley Scott’s Academy Award winning British–American epic historical drama film ‘Gladiator’ starring Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix, won him critical appreciation.
  • // 2002 To 2003
    Later, he appeared in movies like: Kevin Reynolds’s ‘The Count Of Monte Cristo (2002)’, ‘Kaena: The Prophecy (2003)’, etc. He also played the supporting role of ‘Albus Dumbledore’ in the first two of the ‘Harry Potter’ films.
  • // 2002
    He was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease in 2002.
  • // 25th Oct 2002
    He died at University College Hospital, London, on 25 October 2002, aged 72 and his remains were cremated and ashes were scattered in the Bahamas.
  • // 2009
    At the 2009 BAFTAs, Mickey Rourke dedicated his Best Actor award to Harris.

// Famous Actors

Jacob Elordi

Jacob Elordi

Jacob Elordi is an Australian actor. Let’s take a look at his childhood, family, personal life, career, etc.

Wentworth Miller

Wentworth Miller

Wentworth Miller is an American actor and screenwriter who achieved recognition for his role in the TV series ‘Prison Break’.

Shemar Moore

Shemar Moore

Shemar Moore is a model turned actor best known for his role in the television series ‘The Young and the Restless’. This biography of Shemar Moore provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.

Jacob Tremblay

Jacob Tremblay

Jacob Tremblay is a Canadian child actor. Let’s have a look at his family & personal life including age, birthday, relationships, net worth and fun facts.

Isaak Presley

Isaak Presley

All about American actor and singer Isaak Presley including his age, birthday, family life, girlfriends, net worth, and some fun facts.

Aidan Prince

Aidan Prince

Aidan Prince is an American dancer, actor and vlogger. Let’s have a look at his family and personal life including age, date of birth, net worth, and fun facts.

Richard Harris's FAQ

  • What is Richard Harris birthday?

    Richard Harris was born at 1930-10-01

  • When was Richard Harris died?

    Richard Harris was died at 2002-10-25

  • Where was Richard Harris died?

    Richard Harris was died in London, England, UK

  • Which age was Richard Harris died?

    Richard Harris was died at age 72

  • Where is Richard Harris's birth place?

    Richard Harris was born in Limerick City, Irish Free State (now Republic of Ireland)

  • What is Richard Harris nationalities?

    Richard Harris's nationalities is Irish

  • Who is Richard Harris spouses?

    Richard Harris's spouses is Ann Turkel (m. 1974–1982), Elizabeth Rees-Williams (m. 1957–1969)

  • Who is Richard Harris siblings?

    Richard Harris's siblings is 1939-1985), Diarmid (Dermot, Noel William Michael (born 1932), Patrick Ivan (born 1929), William George Harris (born 1942)

  • Who is Richard Harris childrens?

    Richard Harris's childrens is Damian Harris, Jamie Harris, Jared Harris

  • What was Richard Harris universities?

    Richard Harris studied at London Academy Of Music And Dramatic Art, Crescent College, London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art

  • What was Richard Harris notable alumnis?

    Richard Harris's notable alumnis is London Academy Of Music And Dramatic Art

  • What is Richard Harris's religion?

    Richard Harris's religion is Roman Catholic

  • Who is Richard Harris's father?

    Richard Harris's father is Ivan John Harris

  • Who is Richard Harris's mother?

    Richard Harris's mother is Mildred Josephine (Harty) Harris

  • What is Richard Harris's sun sign?

    Richard Harris is Libra

  • How famous is Richard Harris?

    Richard Harris is famouse as Actor, Singer-Songwriter, Producer, Director