Ralph richardson bio

Ralph richardson children

Sir Ralph David Richardson 19 December — 10 October was an English actor who, with John Gielgud and Laurence Olivier , was one of the trinity of male actors who dominated the British stage for much of the 20th century. He worked in films throughout most of his career, and played more than sixty cinema roles. From an artistic but not theatrical background, Richardson had no thought of a stage career until a production of Hamlet in Brighton inspired him to become an actor.

He learned his craft in the s with a touring company and later the Birmingham Repertory Theatre. In he joined the Old Vic , playing mostly Shakespearean roles. He led the company the following season, succeeding Gielgud, who had taught him much about stage technique. After he left the company, a series of leading roles took him to stardom in the West End and on Broadway.

There, his most celebrated roles included Peer Gynt and Falstaff. He and Olivier led the company to Europe and Broadway in and , before their success provoked resentment among the governing board of the Old Vic, leading to their dismissal from the company in He continued on stage and in films until shortly before his sudden death at the age of eighty.

He was celebrated in later years for his work with Peter Hall 's National Theatre and his frequent stage partnership with Gielgud.