Gordon Richards (27 October 1893 – 13 January 1964) was an English actor who had an active international career on the stage and in television and film for more than 50 years. He began his career performing in theatres in London's West End in 1909, and made his Broadway debut in 1913. He appeared in numerous plays and musicals on Broadway through 1951. Active as a performer in both television and film, he appeared in 35 Hollywood films during his career.

Life and career

Born in Gillingham, Kent, England, Richards was trained at the

Royal Academy of Dramatic Art The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA; ) is a drama school in London, England, that provides vocational conservatoire training for theatre, film, television, and radio. It is based in the Bloomsbury area of Central London, close to the Sen ...

in London where his fellow classmate was

Roland Young Roland (; frk, *Hrōþiland; lat-med, Hruodlandus or ''Rotholandus''; it, Orlando or ''Rolando''; died 15 August 778) was a Frankish military leader under Charlemagne who became one of the principal figures in the literary cycle known as the ...

. He began acting professionally on the London stage at the age of 16 in 1909. He became a member of Sir

Johnston Forbes-Robertson Sir Johnston Forbes-Robertson (16 January 1853 – 6 November 1937''Sir Johnston Forbes Robertson, Beauty And Grace in Acting'', Obituaries, ''The Times'', 8 November 1937.) was an English actor and theatre manager and husband of actress Gertru ...

's theater company; a group with which he toured to the United States in 1913-1914. He made his Broadway debut with that company on October 20, 1913 at the Shubert Theatre as the Nubian Sentinel in

George Bernard Shaw George Bernard Shaw (26 July 1856 – 2 November 1950), known at his insistence simply as Bernard Shaw, was an Irish playwright, critic, polemicist and political activist. His influence on Western theatre, culture and politics extended from ...

's '' Caesar and Cleopatra''. With that group he also portrayed the First Messenger in

William Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...

's ''

Othello ''Othello'' (full title: ''The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice'') is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare, probably in 1603, set in the contemporary Ottoman–Venetian War (1570–1573) fought for the control of the Island of Cypru ...

'' at the Schubert Theatre in 1914. Richards served in the

British Army during World War I The British Army during the First World War fought the largest and most costly war in its long history. Unlike the French and German Armies, the British Army was made up exclusively of volunteers—as opposed to conscripts—at the beginnin ...

. He made several more appearance on Broadway upon his return to the United States in 1927, including Frederick Witney's ''The Adventurous Age'' (1927),

Cosmo Hamilton Cosmo Hamilton (29 April 1870 – 14 October 1942), born Henry Charles Hamilton Gibbs, was an English playwright and novelist. He was the brother of writers Arthur Hamilton Gibbs, Francis William Hamilton Gibbs, Helen Katherine Hamilton Gibbs an ...

's ''Caste'' (1927), Robert Nichols's ''

Wings Over Europe ''Wings Over Europe'' is a PC combat flight simulator game set during the Cold War era where the USSR has attacked NATO forces in West Germany. The US release of the game is called ''Wings Over Europe: Cold War Gone Hot'', however, the tag lin ...

'' (1928), Kenyon Scott's ''A Noble Rogue'' (1929), Martha Stanley's ''Let and Sub-Let'' (1930), Michael Grismaijer's ''The Noble Experiment'' (1930), Howard Warren Comstock's ''Doctor X'' (1931), John Larkin's ''Society Girl'' (1931-1932), Thetta Quay Franks's ''Money In The Air'' (1932), A. J. Minor's ''Masks and Faces'' (1933), Hardwick Nevin's ''Whatever Possessed Her'' (1934),

Arthur Schwartz Arthur Schwartz (November 25, 1900 – September 3, 1984) was an American composer and film producer, widely noted for his songwriting collaborations with Howard Dietz. Biography Early life Schwartz was born in Brooklyn, New York City, on Novem ...

's ''

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...

'' (1937),

Ernest Pascal Ernest Pascal (January 11, 1896 – November 4, 1966) was an English-born American screenwriter, author, playwright, and poet. Originally an author, he became involved in the film industry when his novels began to be optioned into films during th ...

's ''I Am Youth'' (1938),

Leslie Leslie may refer to: * Leslie (name), a name and list of people with the given name or surname, including fictional characters Families * Clan Leslie, a Scottish clan with the motto "grip fast" * Leslie (Russian nobility), a Russian noble family ...

and

Sewell Stokes Francis Martin Sewell Stokes (16 November 1902, London – 2 November 1979, London) was an English novelist, biographer, playwright, screenwriter, broadcaster and prison visitor. He collaborated on a number of occasions with his brother, Leslie ...

's ''

Oscar Wilde Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde (16 October 185430 November 1900) was an Irish poet and playwright. After writing in different forms throughout the 1880s, he became one of the most popular playwrights in London in the early 1890s. He is ...

'' (1938-1939),

Cole Porter Cole Albert Porter (June 9, 1891 – October 15, 1964) was an American composer and songwriter. Many of his songs became standards noted for their witty, urbane lyrics, and many of his scores found success on Broadway and in film. Born to ...

's ''

Something for the Boys ''Something for the Boys'' is a musical with music and lyrics by Cole Porter and a book by Herbert Fields and Dorothy Fields. Produced by Mike Todd, the show opened on Broadway in 1943 and starred Ethel Merman in her fifth Cole Porter musical. P ...

'' (1943-1944),

Gottfried Reinhardt Gottfried Reinhardt (20 March 1913 – 19 July 1994) was an Austrian-born American film director and producer. Biography Reinhardt was born in Berlin, the son of the Austrian theater director Max Reinhardt (until 1904: Max Goldmann), manag ...

's ''Helen Goes To Troy'' (1944), and

Philip Barry Philip Jerome Quinn Barry (June 18, 1896 – December 3, 1949) was an American dramatist best known for his plays ''Holiday (play), Holiday'' (1928) and ''The Philadelphia Story (play), The Philadelphia Story'' (1939), which were both made into ...

's ''Second Threshold'' (1951). He also starred in National tours of '' The Great Waltz'' and ''

Springtime for Henry ''Springtime for Henry'' is a 1934 American comedy film directed by Frank Tuttle and starring Otto Kruger, Nancy Carroll and Nigel Bruce. It was based on a play of the same name by the British writer Benn W. Levy which enjoyed an eight-month ru ...

''. From 1942-1956 Richards appeared in 35 Hollywood films in mainly small to mid sized character roles. Some of his more substantial appearances included the painter

Joshua Reynolds Sir Joshua Reynolds (16 July 1723 – 23 February 1792) was an English painter, specialising in portraits. John Russell said he was one of the major European painters of the 18th century. He promoted the "Grand Style" in painting which depend ...

in '' Kitty'' (1945), Sir Harry Bragdon in ''

White Pongo ''White Pongo'', also known as ''Adventure Unlimited'' in the United Kingdom, is a 1945 American film directed by Sam Newfield released by Producers Releasing Corporation. Plot summary In the jungles of the Belgian Congo, a group of natives a ...

'' (1945), Tom Walker in ''

Flight to Nowhere ''Flight to Nowhere'' is a 1946 American film noir crime film directed by William Rowland and stars Alan Curtis (American actor), Alan Curtis and Evelyn Ankers. ''Flight to Nowhere'' was one of the first postwar productions to deal with the atom ...

'' (1946), Burton Stallings in ''

Larceny in Her Heart ''Larceny in Her Heart'' is a 1946 American crime film directed by Sam Newfield and written by Raymond L. Schrock. The film stars Hugh Beaumont, Cheryl Walker (actress), Cheryl Walker, Ralph Dunn, Paul Bryar, Charles C. Wilson (actor), Charles C. ...

'' (1946), Sam Thompson in ''

Linda, Be Good ''Linda, Be Good'' is a 1947 American comedy film directed by Frank McDonald and starring Elyse Knox, John Hubbard and Marie Wilson. The film's sets were designed by the art director Lewis H. Creber.Stephens p.65 Sidney W. Pink took the film ...

'' (1947), Police Inspector McIver in '' 13 Lead Soldiers'' (1948), Col. Von Meyer in ''

Women in the Night ''Women in the Night'' is a 1948 American film directed by William Rowland shot in Mexico. The film is also known as ''When Men Are Beasts''. The film depicts activities of German and Japanese who wish revenge on the Allies with a cosmic ray weap ...

'' (1948), and Clayton in ''

Song of Surrender ''Song of Surrender'' is a 1949 drama film directed by Mitchell Leisen and starring Wanda Hendrix and Claude Rains. Plot Cast *Wanda Hendrix as Abigail Hunt * Claude Rains as Elisha Hunt *Macdonald Carey as Bruce Eldridge *Andrea King as Phyl ...

'' (1949). On American television he portrayed Hubert Twombly in ''

The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin ''The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin'' is an American children's television series in the Western genre that aired from October 1954 to May 1959 on the ABC television network. In all, 164 episodes aired. The show starred Lee Aaker as Rusty, a boy orph ...

'' in the 1950s. He died in Los Angeles at the age of 70 in 1964.

Selected filmography

*''

The Wife Takes a Flyer ''The Wife Takes a Flyer'' (aka ''Highly Irregular'', UK title: ''A Yank in Dutch'') is a 1942 romantic comedy film made by Columbia Pictures, directed by Richard Wallace. The film stars Joan Bennett and Franchot Tone. The screenplay of ''The Wif ...

'' (1942) - Maj. Wilson (uncredited) *''

Slightly Dangerous ''Slightly Dangerous'' is a 1943 American romantic comedy film starring Lana Turner and Robert Young. The screenplay concerns a bored young woman in a dead-end job who runs away to New York City and ends up impersonating the long-lost daughter of ...

'' (1943) - Garrett - Butler (uncredited) *''

The Story of Dr. Wassell ''The Story of Dr. Wassell'' is a 1944 American World War II film set in the Dutch East Indies, directed by Cecil B. DeMille, and starring Gary Cooper, Laraine Day, Signe Hasso and Dennis O'Keefe. The film was based on a book of the same name by ...

'' (1944) - Naval Officer (uncredited) *''

The Canterville Ghost "The Canterville Ghost" is a humorous short story by Oscar Wilde. It was the first of Wilde's stories to be published, appearing in two parts in '' The Court and Society Review'', 23 February and 2 March 1887. The story is about an American fa ...

'' (1944) - Nobleman (uncredited) *'' Frenchman's Creek'' (1944) - Guest (uncredited) *''

Mrs. Parkington ''Mrs. Parkington'' is a 1944 drama film. It tells the story of a woman's life, told via flashbacks, from boarding house maid to society matron. The movie was adapted by Polly James and Robert Thoeren from the novel by Louis Bromfield. It was ...

'' (1944) - James (uncredited) *''

National Velvet ''National Velvet'' is a novel by Enid Bagnold (1889–1981), first published in 1935. It was illustrated by Laurian Jones, Bagnold's daughter, who was born in 1921. Plot summary ''National Velvet'' is the story of a 14-year-old girl named ...

'' (1944) - Doctor (uncredited) *''

The Affairs of Susan ''The Affairs of Susan'' is a 1945 American romantic comedy drama film directed by William A. Seiter and starring Joan Fontaine, Walter Abel, George Brent, Dennis O'Keefe and Don DeFore. It is also known as ''Chameleon''. Plot Susan Darel ...

'' (1945) - Mr. Giddon (uncredited) *''

Molly and Me ''Molly and Me'' is a 1945 American comedy film directed by Lewis Seiler and starring Monty Woolley, Gracie Fields, Reginald Gardiner and Roddy McDowall and released by 20th Century Fox. The screenplay was based on the novel written by Frances ...

'' (1945) - Jamie McDougall (uncredited) *''

Week-End at the Waldorf ''Week-End at the Waldorf'', an American comedy drama film directed by Robert Z. Leonard and starring Ginger Rogers, Lana Turner, Walter Pidgeon, and Van Johnson. It premiered in Los Angeles on 17 October 1945. The screenplay by Samuel and Bella ...

'' (1945) - Headwaiter (uncredited) *''

'' (1945) - Sir Harry Bragdon *'' Kitty'' (1945) - Sir Joshua Reynolds *''

Confidential Agent ''Confidential Agent'' is a 1945 American spy film starring Charles Boyer and Lauren Bacall which was a Warner Brothers production. The movie was directed by Herman Shumlin and produced by Robert Buckner with Jack L. Warner as executive producer ...

'' (1945) - Immigration Officer (uncredited) *''

Naughty Nanette ''Naughty Nanette'' is a 1927 American comedy film directed by James Leo Meehan and written by Doris Schroeder. The film stars Viola Dana, Patricia Palmer, Eddie Brownell, Helen Foster, Roger Moore and Sidney De Gray. The film was released on A ...

'' (1946, Short) - Papa Belleau *''

'' (1946) - Burton Stallings *'' Night and Day'' (1946) - Cochran (uncredited) *''

'' (1946) - Tom Walker *'' Undercurrent'' (1946) - Headwaiter (uncredited) *'' The Imperfect Lady'' (1946) - Gladstone *''

Ladies' Man A ladies' man or lady's man is a man who enjoys spending time socially with women, who strives to please them and that women find attractive. Ladies' man or lady's man may also refer to: Literature * ''Ladies' Man'' (novel), a 1978 novel by R ...

'' (1947) - Mr. Bolton, Sponsor (uncredited) *''

The Hucksters ''The Hucksters'' is a 1947 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film directed by Jack Conway starring Clark Gable and Deborah Kerr, her debut in an American film. The supporting cast includes Sydney Greenstreet, Adolphe Menjou, Ava Gardner, Keenan Wynn, and ...

'' (1947) - Conrad (uncredited) *''

Golden Earrings ''Golden Earrings'' is a 1947 romantic spy film made by Paramount Pictures and starring Ray Milland and Marlene Dietrich. It was directed by Mitchell Leisen and produced by Harry Tugend from a screenplay by Frank Butler, Helen Deutsch and Ab ...

'' (1947) - Club Member with Denistoun (uncredited) *'' Unconquered'' (1947) - Sheriff (uncredited) *'' Merton of the Movies'' (1947) - Kristen - Beulah's Butler (uncredited) *''

'' (1947) - Sam Thompson *''

Cass Timberlane ''Cass Timberlane'' is a 1947 romantic drama film starring Spencer Tracy, Lana Turner and Zachary Scott and directed by George Sidney. It was based on the 1945 novel ''Cass Timberlane: A Novel of Husbands and Wives'' by Sinclair Lewis, which was ...

'' (1947) - Butler (uncredited) *''

'' (1948) - Colonel Von Meyer *''

The Big Clock ''The Big Clock'' is a 1946 novel by Kenneth Fearing. Published by Harcourt Brace, the thriller was Fearing's fourth novel, following three for Random House (''The Hospital'', ''Dagger of the Mind'', ''Clark Gifford's Body'') and five collections ...

'' (1948) - Warren Parks (uncredited) *'' 13 Lead Soldiers'' (1948) - Police Insp. McIver *''

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court ''A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court'' is an 1889 novel by American humorist and writer Mark Twain. The book was originally titled ''A Yankee in King Arthur's Court''. Some early editions are titled ''A Yankee at the Court of King Arth ...

'' (1948) - Tour Guide (uncredited) *''

The Secret of St. Ives ''The Secret of St. Ives'' is a 1949 American historical adventure film directed by Phil Rosen and starring Richard Ney, Vanessa Brown and Henry Daniell. It is adapted from the 1897 novel '' St. Ives'' by Robert Louis Stevenson.Goble p.442 Set du ...

'' (1949) - Prosecution Officer (uncredited) *''

'' (1949) - Clayton - Butler (uncredited) *''

Challenge to Lassie ''Challenge to Lassie'' is an American drama directed by Richard Thorpe in Technicolor and released October 31, 1949, by MGM Studios. It was the fifth feature film starring the original Lassie, a collie named Pal, and the fourth and final ''La ...

'' (1949) - Constable (uncredited) *'' Port of New York'' (1949) - Florentine's Purser (uncredited) *''

Samson and Delilah Samson and Delilah are Biblical figures. Samson and Delilah may also refer to: In music * ''Samson and Delilah'' (opera), an opera by Camille Saint-Saëns * ''Samson & Delilah'' (album), released in 2013 by V V Brown * "Samson and Delilah" (t ...

'' (1949) - Guide (uncredited) *''

The Big Hangover ''The Big Hangover'' is a 1950 American comedy film released by MGM. The film starred Van Johnson and Elizabeth Taylor and was written and directed by Norman Krasna. Supporting players include Percy Waram, Fay Holden, Leon Ames, Edgar Buchanan, S ...

'' (1950) - Williams, the Chauffeur *'' Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye'' (1950) - Butler (uncredited) *''

The Man Who Cheated Himself ''The Man Who Cheated Himself'' is a 1950 American crime film noir directed by Felix E. Feist and starring Lee J. Cobb, Jane Wyatt and John Dall. Plot Wealthy socialite Lois Frazer, divorcing her fortune-hunter husband, Howard, finds a gun he ha ...

'' (1950) - Albert: the Butler *''

Washington Story ''Washington Story'' is a 1952 American drama film directed by Robert Pirosh and starring Van Johnson and Patricia Neal. The screenplay concerns a reporter in search of government corruption who falls for a congressman. Plot On her first trip to ...

'' (1952) - Butler (uncredited) *''

The Prisoner of Zenda ''The Prisoner of Zenda'' is an 1894 adventure novel by Anthony Hope, in which the King of Ruritania is drugged on the eve of his coronation and thus is unable to attend the ceremony. Political forces within the realm are such that, in order ...

'' (1952) - Dignitary (uncredited) *''

Million Dollar Mermaid ''Million Dollar Mermaid'' (also known as ''The One Piece Bathing Suit'' in the UK) is a 1952 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer biographical film of the life of Australian swimming star Annette Kellerman. It was directed by Mervyn LeRoy and produced by Arthur ...

'' (1952) - Casey (uncredited) *''

Titanic RMS ''Titanic'' was a British passenger liner, operated by the White Star Line, which sank in the North Atlantic Ocean on 15 April 1912 after striking an iceberg during her maiden voyage from Southampton, England, to New York City, United ...

'' (1953) - Mr. Webster - Manager of Clothing Shop (uncredited) *''

Dream Wife ''Dream Wife'' is a 1953 romantic comedy film starring Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr made by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was directed by Sidney Sheldon and produced by Dore Schary, from a screenplay by Herbert Baker, Alfred Lewis Levitt and Sidney S ...

'' (1953) - Sir Cecil (uncredited) *'' Latin Lovers'' (1953) - George - Paul's Butler (uncredited) *''

Rhapsody Rhapsody may refer to: * A work of epic poetry, or part of one, that is suitable for recitation at one time ** Rhapsode, a classical Greek professional performer of epic poetry Computer software * Rhapsody (online music service), an online m ...

'' (1954) - English Butler (uncredited) *''

Rose Marie Rose Marie (born Rose Marie Mazzetta; August 15, 1923 – December 28, 2017) was an American actress, singer, comedian, and vaudeville performer with a career ultimately spanning nine decades, which included film, radio, records, theater, night ...

'' (1954) - Attorney (uncredited) *''

The Rainbow Jacket ''The Rainbow Jacket'' is a 1954 British drama film directed by Basil Dearden, and featuring Robert Morley, Kay Walsh, Bill Owen, Honor Blackman and Sid James. It was made at Ealing Studios produced by Michael Balcon and Michael Relph and shot ...

'' (1954) - Jockey (uncredited) *''

The Student Prince ''The Student Prince'' is an operetta in four acts with music by Sigmund Romberg and book and lyrics by Dorothy Donnelly. It is based on Wilhelm Meyer-Förster's play '' Old Heidelberg''. The piece has a score with some of Romberg's most enduri ...

'' (1954) - Major Domo (uncredited) *''

The Prodigal ''The Prodigal'' is a 1955 Eastmancolor biblical epic CinemaScope film made by MGM starring Lana Turner and Edmund Purdom. It was based on the New Testament parable about a selfish son who leaves his family to pursue a life of pleasure. The f ...

'' (1955) - Nahreeb's Scribe (uncredited) *''

Cavalcade of America ''Cavalcade of America'' is an anthology drama series that was sponsored by the DuPont Company, although it occasionally presented musicals, such as an adaptation of ''Show Boat'', and condensed biographies of popular composers. It was initially ...

'' (1955, Episode: "The Rescue of Dr. Beanes") - (uncredited) *'' Moonfleet'' (1955) - Marling (uncredtied) *''

The Scarlet Coat ''The Scarlet Coat '' is a 1955 American historical fiction, historical drama and swashbuckler in Eastmancolor and CinemaScope released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, produced by Nicholas Nayfack, directed by John Sturges. It stars Cornel Wilde, Michael ...

'' (1955) - Mr. Cameron (uncredited) *''

The King's Thief ''The King's Thief'' is a 1955 swashbuckling CinemaScope adventure film directed by Robert Z. Leonard, who replaced Hugo Fregonese during filming. Released on August 5, 1955, the film takes place in London at the time of Charles II and stars A ...

'' (1955) - Courier (uncredited) *'' The Tender Trap'' (1955) - Doorman (uncredited) *'' Gaby'' (1956) - Air Raid Warden (uncredited) *''

High Society High society, sometimes simply society, is the behavior and lifestyle of people with the highest levels of wealth and social status. It includes their related affiliations, social events and practices. Upscale social clubs were open to men based ...

'' (1956) - Dexter-Haven's Butler *'' Lust for Life'' (1956) - Customer (uncredited) *''

The Best Things in Life Are Free "The Best Things in Life Are Free" is a duet between American singers Luther Vandross and Janet Jackson, recorded for the Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis-produced soundtrack to the 1992 American film '' Mo' Money'', starring Damon Wayans. The song was ...

'' (1956) - Butler (uncredited) *''

The Opposite Sex ''The Opposite Sex'' is a 1956 American musical romantic comedy film shot in Metrocolor and CinemaScope. The film was directed by David Miller and stars June Allyson, Joan Collins, Dolores Gray, Ann Sheridan, and Ann Miller, with Leslie Ni ...

'' (1956) - Hilliards' Butler (uncredited)

References

External links

*
Gordon Richards at ibdb
{{DEFAULTSORT:Richards, Gordon 1893 births 1964 deaths English actors Alumni of RADA People from Gillingham, Kent British emigrants to the United States