Richard Bradford (actor) facts for kids

Richard Edwin Bradford Jr. (born November 10, 1934 – died March 22, 2016) was an American actor. He was famous for playing the main character in the TV show Man in a Suitcase (from 1967 to 1968). He also had an important role in the movie The Untouchables (1987).

Early Life of Richard Bradford

Richard Bradford was born in Tyler, Texas. His parents were Rose and Richard Edwin Bradford. He grew up in Conroe with his grandparents.

He went to school in San Antonio, Texas. Later, he attended Texas A&M University. He even had a scholarship to play football there.

From Sports to Acting

An injury stopped Bradford's football career. He tried playing baseball at Texas State University. But he did not have enough class credits.

So, Bradford decided to become an actor. He moved to New York City to follow his dream.

Richard Bradford's Acting Career

In New York, Richard Bradford worked as a waiter. He also studied acting. In 1962, he joined the Actors Studio. This was a famous place where actors learned their craft. He studied there for two years.

He performed in plays like Mother Courage (1963). He also appeared in Marathon '33 (1963) and Blues for Mister Charlie (1964).

Big Breaks in Film and TV

Another actor from the Actors Studio, Arthur Penn, noticed Bradford's talent. Penn was a director. He cast Bradford in the movie The Chase (1966).

This movie helped Bradford get noticed by Lew Grade. Grade was a media boss. He brought Bradford to Great Britain in 1967. There, Bradford starred in the TV series Man in a Suitcase.

Richard Bradford appeared in many movies. These include The Missouri Breaks (1976) and An Enemy of the People (1978). He was also in The Trip to Bountiful (1985).

His role as a police chief in The Untouchables (1987) was very well-known. He also played a corrupt police captain in Hoodlum (1997). Other films include Missing (1982) and The Crossing Guard (1995).

Television Appearances

Bradford also had many roles on television. In the 1960s, he was in Gunsmoke and The High Chaparral. In the 1970s, he played Lutie Bascomb in The Waltons.

He guest-starred in Murder, She Wrote in the 1980s. He also appeared on Viper. In 1987, he was in the TV miniseries Amerika. He was also a regular on the show Cagney & Lacey in the mid-1980s.

Richard Bradford's Personal Life

Richard Bradford was married to Eileen Elliott. She was a ballet dancer. They were married from 1965 to 1984.

He also had a long relationship with actress Millie Perkins. Richard Bradford had one son, named Richard Bradford III.

He passed away on March 22, 2016. He was 81 years old and died in Los Angeles.

Interesting Facts About Richard Bradford

In 1986, the band The Smiths used a photo of Richard Bradford. His picture was on the cover of their song "Panic".

In 2004, Bradford gave interviews for a DVD of Man in a Suitcase. He was a little surprised that the show was still so popular.

Selected Filmography