Biographies

Richard Harris: Biography, Life Story, Actor

Richard Harris
Richard Harris

Richard Harris’s biography is one filled with remarkable accomplishments, both on stage and screen. From his early days as a rugby player in Limerick to becoming one of Ireland’s most celebrated actors, Harris’s life story is nothing short of a success story. He gained international fame with iconic roles like King Arthur in Camelot and Albus Dumbledore in Harry Potter, but his passion extended beyond acting. He was a singer, poet, and even a member of the Knights of Malta, bringing depth and character to every role he took on, making him a beloved figure in entertainment history.

Biography Summary

Richard St John Francis Harris was born on October 1, 1930, in Limerick, Ireland, into a family of eight children. He grew up in a well-to-do household and attended Crescent College, a Jesuit school, where he developed a passion for rugby. His athletic career, however, was cut short after he contracted tuberculosis in his teenage years. Despite this setback, Harris remained a lifelong supporter of Munster Rugby.

Education and Early Career

After recovering from tuberculosis, Harris moved to England with aspirations of becoming a director. Unable to find suitable courses, he enrolled in the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art to pursue acting. His journey into professional theater began when he joined Joan Littlewood’s Theatre Workshop and started performing in West End productions, including The Quare Fellow, in 1956. He spent nearly a decade honing his craft on stage across the UK before breaking into film.

Breakthrough in Film

Harris’s breakthrough came with his role in This Sporting Life (1963), which earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. This film positioned him as a key figure in the British New Wave cinema movement. He followed up with acclaimed performances in films like The Guns of Navarone (1961), Red Desert (1964), and A Man Called Horse (1970), showcasing his versatility as an actor.

International Recognition

In 1967, Harris took on the iconic role of King Arthur in Camelot, based on the Lerner and Loewe musical. His portrayal earned him a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy. He later reprised this role in the 1981 Broadway revival. Over the years, his filmography expanded to include roles in Cromwell (1970), Unforgiven (1992), Gladiator (2000), and The Count of Monte Cristo (2002).

Later Career and Harry Potter

Harris gained a new generation of fans when he was cast as Albus Dumbledore in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (2001). He reprised the role in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002), which became his final film before he died in 2002.

Musical Success

Aside from acting, Harris achieved musical success with his 1968 recording of MacArthur Park, written by Jimmy Webb. The song became a number-one hit in several countries, including Australia, Jamaica, and Canada, and earned him a Grammy Award nomination for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.

Awards and Honors

Harris received numerous accolades throughout his career, including two Academy Award nominations for Best Actor, one for This Sporting Life and the other for The Field (1990). He also received a Primetime Emmy nomination for his role in The Snow Goose (1971) and a Laurence Olivier Award nomination for his performance in Henry IV (1991). performing in West End theater productions. His stage career spanned nearly a decade, with one of his first major productions being The Quare Fellow in 1956.

Early Life

Richard Harris was born on October 1, 1930, at Overdale, 8 Landsdown Villas, Ennis Road, Limerick. He was the fifth of eight children born to flour merchant Ivan Harris and Mildred Harty. The family lived in an elegant, early 19th-century redbrick house with nine bedrooms in a wealthy part of Limerick. Harris attended Crescent College, where Jesuits educated him. During his school years, he showed promise as a talented rugby player, representing Crescent on several Munster Junior and Senior Cup teams and playing for Garryowen. However, his athletic aspirations were cut short when he contracted tuberculosis in his teenage years.

Despite this setback, Harris supported the Munster Rugby and Young Munster teams passionately. He frequently attended matches, sharing his love for the sport with fellow actors and rugby fans like Peter O’Toole and Richard Burton.

After recovering from tuberculosis, Harris moved to England to become a director. However, unable to find appropriate training programs, he decided to study acting instead. He enrolled at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art after failing auditions at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and the Central School of Speech and Drama, where he was deemed too old at 24.

While at the academy, Harris took the initiative to rent the off-West End Irving Theatre and directed Clifford Odets’s play Winter Journey (The Country Girl). After completing his studies, Harris joined Joan Littlewood’s Theatre Workshop, beginning his professional stage career. His breakthrough in West End productions came with The Quare Fellow in 1956. For the next decade, Harris continued to refine his skills on various stages across the UK, gaining valuable experience that would later propel him to fame in film and theater.1

Career

1959–1963: Early Roles and Breakthrough

Between 1959 and 1963, Richard Harris established himself in film and theater. His film debut came in 1959 with Alive and Kicking, and later that year, he took on the lead role in the West End production of The Ginger Man. Harris’s second film, Shake Hands with the Devil (1959), saw him playing a small part as an IRA Volunteer alongside James Cagney. The movie was directed by Michael Anderson, who subsequently cast Harris in The Wreck of the Mary Deare (1959), marking Harris’s first experience in Hollywood.

In 1960, Harris played another IRA Volunteer in A Terrible Beauty, appearing alongside Robert Mitchum. His memorable Australian pilot role in The Guns of Navarone (1961) gained further attention. In The Long and the Short and the Tall (1961), Harris portrayed a British soldier, and during filming, he reportedly clashed with co-stars Laurence Harvey and Richard Todd.

When I’m in trouble, I’m an Irishman. When I turn in a good performance, I’m an Englishman.

Richard Harris

His rise in Hollywood continued when he secured a part in Mutiny on the Bounty (1962), although it came with some tension. Harris demanded third billing behind Trevor Howard and Marlon Brando, whom he initially admired but later disagreed with during production.

Harris’s breakout role came in 1963 with This Sporting Life, where he played Frank Machin, a coal miner who becomes a successful rugby player. The role earned him critical acclaim, winning Best Actor at the 1963 Cannes Film Festival and receiving his first Academy Award nomination. This success was followed by a starring role in Red Desert (1964), directed by Michelangelo Antonioni, which went on to win the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival.

After these achievements, Harris received offers to star in prominent films. He co-starred with Kirk Douglas in The Heroes of Telemark (1965) and traveled to Hollywood for Major Dundee (1965), playing an Irish immigrant turned Confederate cavalryman. In 1966, Harris played Cain in John Huston’s The Bible: In the Beginning… and starred alongside Julie Andrews and Max von Sydow in Hawaii, which was a commercial success.

1967–1971: Rise to Prominence

Between 1967 and 1971, Richard Harris continued his rise to prominence, taking on various roles in both film and theater. In 1967, Harris shifted gears and played a romantic lead in the comedy Caprice, a spy spoof starring Doris Day. That same year, he took on one of his most iconic roles as King Arthur in the film adaptation of the musical Camelot. His performance, alongside Vanessa Redgrave as Queen Guenevere, received praise from critics, including Roger Ebert, who remarked that Harris and Redgrave were perfectly cast for the roles.2 Harris later revived the role on Broadway in a production that ran from November 1981 to January 1982, and it was broadcast on HBO a year later. He also toured nationwide with the show.

In 1970, Harris starred in The Molly Maguires, playing detective James McParland, who infiltrates an Irish-American labor organization led by Sean Connery. While the film did not perform well at the box office, Harris succeeded with A Man Called Horse (1970), where he played an English aristocrat captured by Native Americans. The film was a major hit, cementing his status as a leading man.

That same year, Harris portrayed Oliver Cromwell in Cromwell (1970), starring opposite Alec Guinness as King Charles I. His performance contributed to his growing popularity, and he was ranked as the 9th-most famous star at the UK box office in 1970.3

In 1971, Harris starred in the BBC TV film The Snow Goose, which won a Golden Globe for Best Movie made for TV and was nominated for both a BAFTA and an Emmy. He also made his directorial debut with Bloomfield (1971) and starred in Man in the Wilderness, a Western based on the story of Hugh Glass.

1973–1981: Established Actor

During the 1970s, Richard Harris cemented his status as a prominent actor, continuing to take on varied and challenging roles. In 1973, he starred in The Deadly Trackers after the original Western project, Riata, halted production and was reassembled with a new cast and director, except for Harris, who remained on board. That same year, Harris also published a book of poetry titled I, In the Membership of My Days, which was later partially released as an audio LP featuring self-composed songs like “I Don’t Know.”

Harris took on thriller roles in 99 and 44/100% Dead (1974), directed by John Frankenheimer, and Juggernaut (1974), directed by Richard Lester. In Echoes of a Summer (1976), he portrayed the father of a terminally ill young girl, demonstrating his range in more emotionally driven roles. He also made a brief appearance as Richard the Lionheart in Robin and Marian (1976) before reprising his famous role in The Return of a Man Called Horse (1976).

Harris led an all-star cast in the disaster film The Cassandra Crossing (1976), playing Gulliver in the part-animated Gulliver’s Travels (1977). In Orca (1977), directed by Michael Anderson, he battled a killer whale, reuniting with the director after their previous collaboration.

Continuing his action-oriented roles, Harris starred in Golden Rendezvous (1977), based on a novel by Alistair Maclean, but the film was not well-received. Harris faced legal issues during the production due to his drinking, but the dispute was eventually settled out of court. However, The Wild Geese (1978), where Harris played a mercenary, proved to be a significant success internationally, even if it didn’t perform as well in the United States.

Harris continued with action films such as Ravagers (1979), set in a post-apocalyptic world, and Game for Vultures (1979), which was filmed in South Africa and set in Rhodesia. In Hollywood, he appeared in The Last Word (1979) and later supported Bo Derek in Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981). His next project, Your Ticket Is No Longer Valid (1981), a Canadian drama about impotence, was followed by another Canadian film, Highpoint, which was so poorly received that it was not released for several years.

1980–1988: Continued Success

In the 1980s, Richard Harris temporarily stepped back from acting, choosing to semi-retire on Paradise Island in the Bahamas. During this period, he focused on improving his health, successfully quitting drinking, and embracing a healthier lifestyle. This positive change helped revive his career, which was further boosted by his return to the stage. Harris found renewed success in the revival of Camelot and delivered a powerful performance in the West End production of Pirandello’s Henry IV.

In 1990, Harris was featured on This Is Your Life, where he was surprised by Michael Aspel during the curtain call of Henry IV at Wyndham’s Theatre in London. Around this time, he also worked with Irish author Michael Feeney Callan on his biography, which was published in 1990.

During the 1980s, Harris continued to appear in films, although his popularity had begun to wane. His notable works from this period include Triumphs of a Man Called Horse (1983), Martin’s Day (1985), Strike Commando 2 (1988), King of the Wind (1990), and Mack the Knife (1990), a film adaptation of The Threepenny Opera in which he portrayed J.J. Peachum. He also starred in the TV film Maigret alongside Barbara Shelley. Despite the decline in his popularity, Harris expressed contentment with this phase of his career, as noted in his conversations with his biographer.

1989–2002: Stardom and Final Roles

In June 1989, Richard Harris was cast by director Jim Sheridan for the lead role in The Field, adapted from the play by Irish playwright John B. Keane. The role of “Bull” McCabe was initially meant for actor Ray McAnally, but after McAnally’s sudden death, Harris was offered the part. The Field was released in 1990 and earned Harris his second Academy Award nomination for Best Actor, though he lost to Jeremy Irons for Reversal of Fortune. During the early 1990s, Harris took on roles in Patriot Games (1992) and Unforgiven (1992), the latter of which won the Academy Award for Best Picture. He continued with notable roles in Wrestling Ernest Hemingway (1993) and Silent Tongue (1994) and played the title character in Abraham (1994). Harris also led Cry, the Beloved Country (1995) and formed a lasting friendship with the University of Scranton’s President, Rev. J. A. Panuska,45 raising funds for a scholarship honoring his late brother, Dermot.

Harris’s career remained strong through the 1990s, with appearances in critically acclaimed films. He portrayed the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius in Gladiator (2000), another film that won the Academy Award for Best Picture. In 1999, he played the lead in To Walk with Lions and later portrayed Abbé Faria in the film adaptation of The Count of Monte Cristo (2002).

Winning the Pulitzer is not that big a deal. I have seen hundreds of plays that have won the prize and you couldn’t sit half way through it. The Pulitzer is a common prize that means very little.

Richard Harris

Harris achieved global fame in the final years of his career when he was cast as 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), the latter being his final role. Initially hesitant to accept the role due to health concerns and the commitment to multiple films, Harris ultimately took it after his granddaughter threatened never to speak to him again if he refused.6 Despite his iconic portrayal of Dumbledore, Harris expressed concern in interviews that his work in the Harry Potter series might overshadow the rest of his extensive career.7

In addition to his film roles, Harris appeared in several Bible-related television productions, including portraying the title character in Abraham (1993) and Saint John of Patmos in Apocalypse (2000). His final work, the animated film Kaena: The Prophecy (2003), was dedicated to him posthumously after he voiced the character Opaz before his death.

Singing Career

Richard Harris ventured into the music industry during the late 1960s, recording several albums. His most famous musical accomplishment was the album A Tramp Shining, which featured the seven-minute hit song “MacArthur Park” (Harris insisted on singing the lyric as “MacArthur’s Park”).8 The song, written by Jimmy Webb, became a major success, reaching number 2 on the American Billboard Hot 100 chart and topping several European charts in the summer of 1968. “MacArthur Park” sold over one million copies and earned Harris a gold disc for its achievement.

In 1969, Harris released a second album, The Yard Went on Forever, which, like his first album, was composed entirely by Webb. Harris explained that he approached music as an actor rather than a trained singer, focusing on conveying the emotions and honesty of the lyrics. This was highlighted in a 1973 TV special, Burt Bacharach in Shangri-La, where after performing Webb’s “Didn’t We,” Harris shared his method of “acting” a song to express its meaning. He also performed “If I Could Go Back” from the Lost Horizon soundtrack during the same special.

In 2024, “MacArthur Park” was featured in the wedding sequence of the Tim Burton film Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, further cementing its enduring legacy.

Personal Life

In 1957, Richard Harris married Elizabeth Rees-Williams, the daughter of David Rees-Williams, 1st Baron Ogmore. The couple had three children: director Damian Harris and actors Jared Harris and Jamie Harris. The marriage ended in divorce in 1969, after which Elizabeth went on to marry actor Rex Harrison. Harris later married American actress Ann Turkel in 1974, though they divorced in 1982.9

Harris was a member of the Knights of Malta, a Catholic lay religious order. In 1968, he purchased William Burges’ Tower House in Holland Park for £75,000. He outbid the entertainer Liberace, who had shown interest in the property but had not secured it. Harris hired Campbell Smith & Company Ltd. to restore the house’s interior to its original design.10

From 1973 to 1984, Harris was a vocal supporter of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA). However, in 1984, he faced significant controversy over remarks he made about the Harrods bombing in late 1983, which led him to withdraw his support for the organization.

Throughout the 1960s and early 1970s, Harris gained a reputation for his wild, hellraiser lifestyle, heavily marked by excessive drinking. He struggled with alcoholism for years before becoming a teetotaler in 1981. However, by the early 1990s, he resumed drinking Guinness. He also gave up drugs after a near-fatal cocaine overdose in 1978. Despite these challenges, Harris maintained a vibrant public and professional life.

Top 10 Little-Known Facts About Richard Harris

  1. He was almost a professional rugby player — Before turning to acting, Harris was an accomplished rugby player in his youth, playing for the Munster Junior and Senior Cup teams. His rugby career was cut short when he contracted tuberculosis in his teenage years.
  2. He was a published poet — In 1973, Harris released a book of poetry titled I, In the Membership of My Days. The book was later partially reissued as an audio LP, including Harris reciting his poetry and self-penned songs.
  3. He bought Liberace’s intended house — In 1968, Harris purchased the Tower House in Holland Park, London, a home that Liberace had intended to buy. Harris managed to secure the house before Liberace had put down a deposit.
  4. He turned down the role of Dumbledore at first — Initially, Harris was reluctant to take on the role of Albus Dumbledore in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone due to the multi-film commitment and his declining health. He eventually agreed after his granddaughter threatened never to speak to him again if he didn’t accept the role.
  5. He was a lifelong supporter of the IRA but later renounced it — Harris supported the Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA) from 1973 until 1984. After his controversial remarks following the Harrods bombing in December 1983, he withdrew his support for the organization.
  6. He nearly died from a cocaine overdose — In 1978, Harris had a near-fatal experience with a cocaine overdose, which led him to give up drugs altogether. This event marked a turning point in his life, after which he embraced a healthier lifestyle.
  7. He was once sued for drinking on set — During the production of Golden Rendezvous (1977), Harris’s heavy drinking became such a problem that the film’s producer sued him. Harris counter-sued for defamation, and the case was settled out of court.
  8. He was friends with Peter O’Toole — Harris shared a close friendship with fellow actor Peter O’Toole. Following Harris’s death, his family reportedly hoped that O’Toole would replace him as Dumbledore in the Harry Potter films, though this did not come to pass due to insurance concerns.
  9. He recorded albums as a singer — Harris had a successful music career, recording albums including A Tramp Shining, which featured the hit song “MacArthur Park.” His acting background influenced his approach to singing, as he believed in “acting” the songs to convey their emotional depth.
  10. He was a Knights of Malta member — Harris was a member of the Knights of Malta, a Catholic lay religious order reflecting his lifelong connection to Jesuit education and principles.

Illness and Death

In August 2002, Richard Harris was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease after being hospitalized with pneumonia. Despite initial hopes for recovery, he passed away on October 25, 2002, at University College Hospital in Bloomsbury, London, at the age of 72. As he was being taken from the Savoy Hotel for the last time, Harris jokingly remarked, “It was the food!” He spent his final three days in a coma before succumbing to the illness. Following his death, Harris was cremated, and his ashes were scattered in The Bahamas, where he had owned a home.

Harris had a lifelong friendship with fellow actor Peter O’Toole, and there were reports that his family wished for O’Toole to take over the role of Dumbledore in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004). However, concerns about insuring O’Toole for the remaining films led to Michael Gambon being cast as his replacement. Chris Columbus, director of the first two Harry Potter films, visited Harris during his final days and had promised not to recast the role, confident in Harris’s recovery. In a 2021 interview, Columbus revealed that Harris had been working on an autobiography during his hospital stay, though it has not been published.11

Memorials and Legacy

On September 30, 2006, a life-size bronze statue of Richard Harris was unveiled in Kilkee, County Clare. Organized by his longtime friend Manuel Di Lucia, the statue commemorates Harris, who was eighteen, playing racquetball, a sport he excelled in during the late 1940s. Harris won the local racquetball competition three or four times consecutively during that period. Sculpted by Seamus Connolly, the statue was unveiled by actor Russell Crowe. Harris was also a skilled squash player, winning the Tivoli Cup in Kilkee four years in a row from 1948 to 1951, a record that still stands.

In his hometown of Limerick, another life-size statue of Harris as King Arthur from Camelot was erected on Bedford Row. The statue was crafted by Irish sculptor Jim Connolly, a Limerick School of Art and Design graduate.

At the 2009 BAFTA Awards, actor Mickey Rourke dedicated his Best Actor award to Harris, describing him as a “good friend and great actor.” This tribute highlighted Harris’s lasting influence on his peers and the film industry.

In 2013, Rob Gill and Zeb Moore founded the Richard Harris International Film Festival. Held annually in Limerick, the festival has grown significantly, showcasing over 115 films in 2017 compared to just ten in its inaugural year. One of Harris’s sons typically attends the festival each year, further solidifying the family’s connection to the event.

In 2015, the Limerick Writers’ Centre honored Harris with a commemorative plaque outside Charlie St George’s pub on Parnell Street, one of his favorite spots during his visits to Limerick. His son Jared Harris unveiled the plaque as part of a Literary Walking Tour of Limerick.

In 1996, Harris was celebrated with a commemorative Irish postage stamp for the “Centenary of Irish Cinema,” part of a set featuring twelve Irish actors in four iconic Irish films. He was honored again in 2020 with another set of stamps as part of the ‘Irish Abroad’ series, recognizing his immense contributions to Irish and global cinema.

Awards

YearAwardNominated WorkCategory
1963Cannes Film FestivalThis Sporting LifeBest Actor
1968Golden Globe AwardsCamelotBest Motion Picture Actor – Musical/Comedy
1973Grammy AwardsJonathan Livingston SeagullBest Spoken Word Recording
1971Moscow Film FestivalCromwellBest Actor
1990Evening Standard Theatre AwardsHenry IVBest Actor
2000European Film AwardsLifetime Achievement Award
2001Empire AwardsLifetime Achievement Award
2001London Film Critics Circle AwardsDilys Powell Award
2002British Independent Film AwardsOutstanding Contribution by an Actor

Final Reflections

In reflecting on Richard Harris’s biography, it’s clear that his life story was one of immense talent, personal transformation, and lasting influence. Whether it was his powerful performances in films like The Field or his chart-topping success with “MacArthur Park,” Harris carved out a legacy that continues to inspire. His success story is not just about fame but also about overcoming personal challenges and embracing his many passions. Today, his name is remembered fondly by fans and colleagues alike, a reflection of a life well-lived.

Reference List for Richard Harris’s Biography

  1. “Obituary: Richard Harris.” BBC News, 25 Oct. 2002. ↩︎
  2. “Camelot Movie Review.” RogerEbert.com, 30 Oct. 1967. ↩︎
  3. “Paul Newman Britain’s Favourite Star.” The Times, London, England, 31 Dec. 1970, p. 9. The Times Digital Archive. ↩︎
  4. “Harris Welcomed at U.S. University.” Lewistown Journal, Associated Press, 18 Nov. 1987. ↩︎
  5. “Richard Harris Establishes Scholarship Fund in Scranton.” Ocala Star-Banner, 9 May 1987. ↩︎
  6. The Late Show with David Letterman, interview, 2001. ↩︎
  7. Kristin. “On Richard Harris.” The Leaky Cauldron, 9 July 2003, archived copy. ↩︎
  8. Fresh Air interview with Jimmy Webb by Terry Gross on NPR, 2004. ↩︎
  9. “Ann Turkel. Hello! Magazine Article.” annturkel.com, archived copy. ↩︎
  10. Dakers, Caroline. The Holland Park Circle: Artists and Victorian Society. Yale University Press, 11 Dec. 1999, p. 276. ISBN 978-0-300-08164-0. ↩︎
  11. Perez, Lexy. “‘Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone’ Turns 20: Director Chris Columbus Reflects on Pressures to Adapt Book and Hopes to Direct Cursed Child.” The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Nov. 2021. ↩︎

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