Richard Johnson
Norman Thayer Jnr

After winning a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) RICHARD JOHNSON started his career in John Gielgud's Haymarket Theatre Company at the age of sixteen. He appeared frequently in leading roles in the London theatre before becoming a Founder Member of the Royal Shakespeare Company (for whom he has appeared as ANTONY in Antony and Cleopatra and Julius Caesar, as ROMEO, PERICLES and in many other leading roles). He has starred in numerous feature films and television productions in both the USA and UK, was under contract to M-G-M from 1959 to 1965 and was a Royal National Theatre of Great Britain company member for several years. He is a Councillor of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and an Associate Artist of the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Richard’s best-remembered films include THE HAUNTING, NEVER SO FEW (with Frank Sinatra and Steve McQueen), KHARTOUM (with Charlton Heston and Laurence Olivier), DEADLIER THAN THE MALE, OPERATION CROSSBOW with George Peppard and Sophia Loren), HENNESSY (for which he also wrote the original story) and TURTLE DIARY (which he also produced). Recently he featured in LARA CROFT: TOMB RAIDER and THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PYJAMAS. Outstanding television work includes the Emmy nominated REMBRANDT and ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA, in which he played the title roles.

He was voted Best Actor by the Guild of Broadcasting Writers of Great Britain for his portrayal of Gerald Middleton in the mini-series ANGLO-SAXON ATTITUDES. As well as TURTLE DIARY (director John Irvin, starring Ben Kingsley and Glenda Jackson), Richard produced CASTAWAY (directed by Nicholas Roeg, starring Oliver Reed) and THE LONELY PASSION OF JUDITH HEARNE (director, Jack Clayton, starring Maggie Smith). He was responsible for the stage and Channel Four television productions of THE BIKO INQUEST, directed by Albert Finney, and the revival of Harold Pinter's OLD TIMES (Theatre Royal, Haymarket). Recent television includes the BAFTA-nominated BREAKING THE CODE (ITV), the mini-series SUPPLY AND DEMAND (ITV) and THE ECHO (BBC). In 2005 he played Stanley Baldwin in WALLIS AND EDWARD and Lord Louis Mountbatten in WHATEVER LOVE MEANS (both ITV). He has also appeared in many contemporary British series, including important guest star roles in SPOOKS, WAKING THE DEAD and DOC MARTIN. In 2010 he starred in THE DEAD OF WINTER, part of the LEWIS film series for ITV and PBS Master Mystery Drama.

Richard appeared in the recent West End productions of UNCLE VANYA and THE RIVALS. Other recent London theatre includes AN INSPECTOR CALLS at the Aldwych; LONG DAY’S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT at the Young Vic; GANGSTER NO 1 at the Almeida Theatre; PLENTY at the Albery and THE SEAGULL for the RSC. He appeared in TALES FROM HOLLYWOOD at the Donmar, HOCK AND SODA WATER by John Mortimer at the Chichester Minerva, GATES OF GOLD at the Gate Theatre, Dublin and as Sir George Croft in Sir Peter Hall’s production of MRS WARREN’S PROFESSION by George Bernard Shaw at the Strand Theatre, London and in the revival of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s HOLLOW CROWN. In 2005-6 he starred as Justice Wargrave in AND THEN THERE WERE NONE (Gielgud Theatre), director Steven Pimlott.