Richard Harris facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Richard Harris
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Harris in 2001
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Richard St John Francis Harris
1 October 1930 Limerick, Ireland
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| Died | 25 October 2002 (aged 72) Bloomsbury, London, England
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| Resting place | Cremated; ashes scattered in the Bahamas |
| Occupation | Actor, singer |
| Years active | 1956–2002 |
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| Relatives | Annabelle Wallis (great-niece) |
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Richard St John Francis Harris (born October 1, 1930 – died October 25, 2002) was a famous Irish actor and singer. He starred in many movies and plays. He is well-known for playing Frank Machin in This Sporting Life, King Arthur in Camelot, and Albus Dumbledore in the first two Harry Potter films.
He also had a hit song called "MacArthur Park" in 1968. In 2020, he was named one of Ireland's greatest film actors.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Richard Harris was born in Limerick, Ireland, on October 1, 1930. His father, Ivan Harris, was a flour merchant. Richard grew up in a large, elegant house. He went to school at Crescent College, which was run by the Jesuits.
Richard was a very good rugby player. He played for his school and for the Garryowen team. Sadly, his sports career ended when he got tuberculosis as a teenager. Even after that, he remained a big fan of rugby.
After getting better, Harris moved to Great Britain. He wanted to become a director but couldn't find the right training. So, he decided to study acting at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. He was told he was too old at 24 by other schools, but he didn't give up. While still a student, he even directed his own play.
After finishing his studies, he joined a theater group called Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop. He started getting roles in plays in London's West End, beginning in 1956. He spent almost ten years learning and improving his acting skills on stages across the UK.
Acting Career Highlights
Richard Harris started his film career in 1959 with a movie called Alive and Kicking. He also played a small part in Shake Hands with the Devil that same year. He then got a role in The Wreck of the Mary Deare, which was filmed in Hollywood.
He had a memorable small role in The Guns of Navarone (1961). He also had a bigger part in The Long and the Short and the Tall (1961). In 1962, he appeared in Mutiny on the Bounty.
Breakthrough Roles
Harris got his first main role in the film This Sporting Life (1963). He played Frank Machin, a tough coal miner who becomes a famous rugby league player. For this role, he won the Best Actor award at the Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for an Academy Award.
After this, he starred in the Italian film Il Deserto Rosso (1964), which won a top award at the Venice Film Festival. He then appeared in The Heroes of Telemark (1965) and Major Dundee (1965). He also played Cain in The Bible: In the Beginning... (1966) and starred in Hawaii (1966) with Julie Andrews.
King Arthur and Beyond
One of Harris's most famous roles was King Arthur in the movie musical Camelot (1967). Many people, including critics, thought he was perfectly cast. He played King Arthur again in a Broadway play in 1981.
In 1970, he starred in A Man Called Horse, playing an English aristocrat captured by Native Americans. This movie was very successful. He also played Oliver Cromwell in the film Cromwell (1970).
Singing Success
Richard Harris also had a successful singing career. His album A Tramp Shining included the hit song "MacArthur Park" in 1968. This song was very popular, reaching number 2 on the American charts and selling over a million copies. He released another album of songs by the same writer, Jimmy Webb, in 1969. Harris approached singing like an actor, focusing on the story and feelings in the songs.
Later Film Roles
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In the 1970s, Harris starred in several films, including Man in the Wilderness (1971) and thrillers like Juggernaut (1974). He also appeared as Richard the Lionheart in Robin and Marian (1976) and in the disaster film The Cassandra Crossing (1976). He was also in Orca (1977), a film about a killer whale.
He continued to act in action films like The Wild Geese (1978), which was very popular outside of America. In the 1980s, he took some time off but returned to acting with renewed energy.
The Field and Harry Potter
In 1990, Richard Harris starred in the Irish film The Field. His powerful performance earned him his second Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.
He also had important roles in Unforgiven (1992), a Western film, and Gladiator (2000), where he played the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius.
One of his most beloved roles was Albus Dumbledore in the first two Harry Potter films: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001) and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002). He initially wasn't sure about taking the role because of his health, but his 11-year-old granddaughter convinced him by saying she would never speak to him again if he didn't! Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets was his last film role.
He also played Abbé Faria in The Count of Monte Cristo (2002).
Personal Life
In 1957, Richard Harris married Elizabeth Rees-Williams. They had three sons who also became involved in acting and directing: Jared Harris, Jamie Harris, and Damian Harris. They divorced in 1969. Later, Harris married American actress Ann Turkel in 1974, but they divorced in 1982.
Harris was a member of the Knights of Malta, a Catholic order. He was also honored by the Queen of Denmark in 1985.
He bought a unique house in London called The Tower House in 1968. He had it carefully restored to its original beauty.
Illness and Death
Richard Harris was diagnosed with a type of cancer called Hodgkin's disease in August 2002. He passed away on October 25, 2002, at the age of 72, in London. His ashes were scattered in the Bahamas, where he had a home.
His family hoped his good friend, actor Peter O'Toole, would take over the role of Dumbledore in the Harry Potter films. However, Michael Gambon eventually took on the role. The director of the first two Harry Potter films, Chris Columbus, visited Harris in the hospital and promised not to recast Dumbledore, hoping he would recover.
Memorials
There are two statues honoring Richard Harris in Ireland. On September 30, 2006, a bronze statue of him as a young man playing squash was placed in Kilkee, County Clare. Richard Harris was a very good squash player in his youth.
Another statue of Richard Harris as King Arthur from Camelot is in Limerick, his hometown.
In 2009, actor Mickey Rourke dedicated his Best Actor award at the BAFTAs to Richard Harris, calling him a "good friend and great actor."
Since 2013, there has been an annual Richard Harris International Film Festival in Limerick, celebrating his work and Irish cinema. His sons often attend this festival.
Legacy
Richard Harris has been honored with special Irish postage stamps. He received one in 1996 for the "Centenary of Irish Cinema" and another in 2020 as part of the "Irish Abroad" stamps.
Selected Filmography
Richard Harris starred in many films throughout his career. Here are some of his most notable roles:
- This Sporting Life (1963) as Frank Machin
- Red Desert (1964) as Corrado Zeller
- Camelot (1967) as King Arthur
- A Man Called Horse (1970) as John Morgan
- Cromwell (1970) as Oliver Cromwell
- Orca: The Killer Whale (1977) as Captain Nolan
- The Wild Geese (1978) as Capt. Rafer Janders
- The Field (1990) as 'Bull' McCabe
- Unforgiven (1992) as English Bob
- Cry, the Beloved Country (1995) as James Jarvis
- Gladiator (2000) as Marcus Aurelius
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001) as Professor Albus Dumbledore
- The Count of Monte Cristo (2002) as Abbé Faria
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002) as Professor Albus Dumbledore
Selected Discography
Richard Harris released several music albums and singles. His most famous song was "MacArthur Park."
- A Tramp Shining (1968)
- The Yard Went On Forever (1968)
- "MacArthur Park" (single, 1968)
- "My Boy" (single, 1971)
Awards and Nominations
Richard Harris received many awards and nominations for his acting and singing.
- Academy Award for Best Actor: Nominated for This Sporting Life (1963) and The Field (1991).
- Golden Globe Award: Won Best Motion Picture Actor – Musical/Comedy for Camelot (1968).
- Grammy Award: Won Best Spoken Word Recording for Jonathan Livingston Seagull (1973).
- Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actor: Won for This Sporting Life (1963).
- Moscow International Film Award for Best Actor: Won for Cromwell (1971).
- European Film Awards: Received a Lifetime Achievement Award (2000).
- Empire Awards: Received a Lifetime Achievement Award (2001).
Images for kids
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Richard Harris's signature
See also
In Spanish: Richard Harris para niños
