Richard Griffiths
Richard Thomas Griffiths OBE (31 July 1947 – 28 March 2013)[1][2] was an English actor of film, television, and stage. He is known for his portrayals of Vernon Dursley in the Harry Potter films (2001–2010), Uncle Monty in Withnail and I (1987), and Henry Crabbe in Pie in the Sky (1994–1997). Over his career he received numerous accolades including a Tony Award and Olivier Award as well as a nomination for a BAFTA Award. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Queen Elizabeth II in 2008.
For other people named Richard Griffiths, see Richard Griffiths (disambiguation).
Richard Griffiths
28 March 2013 (aged 65)
St Mary The Virgin Churchyard, Bearley, Warwickshire
Stockton & Billingham College
Actor
1974–2013
See awards section
For his performance in the stage play The History Boys, Griffiths won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play and a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Play. For the 2006 film adaptation, Griffiths was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role. Griffiths' is also known for his performances at the National Theatre including Equus (2008), The Habit of Art (2010), and The Sunshine Boys (2012).
He had supporting roles in such critically acclaimed films as Chariots of Fire (1981), The French Lieutenant's Woman (1981), Gandhi (1982), A Private Function (1984), Venus (2006), Ballet Shoes (2007), and Hugo (2011). He also appeared in the commercial films The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear (1991), Sleepy Hollow (1999), The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005), Bedtime Stories (2008), and Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011).
Early years[edit]
Richard Thomas Griffiths was born in Thornaby-on-Tees, North Riding of Yorkshire, to Jane (née Denmark, 1923–1969) and Thomas Griffiths (1915–1976). His father was a steelworker who also fought in pubs for money, while his mother's occupation was described as "bagger".[3] He had an elder sister and two elder brothers, all of whom died in infancy before he was born. He was brought up as a Roman Catholic.[1][4]
As a boy he was so skinny that he was given radiation therapy on his pituitary gland when he was eight years old. This permanently slowed his metabolism, making him struggle with obesity for the rest of his life.[5]
His parents were both deaf[6] and he became fluent in British Sign Language at an early age. During his childhood he attempted to run away from home many times. He dropped out of Our Lady & St Bede School in Stockton-on-Tees at the age of 15 and worked as a porter for Littlewoods for a while but his boss eventually persuaded him to go back to school.[7] He decided to attend a drama class at Stockton & Billingham College.[7] He continued his education in drama at Manchester Polytechnic School of Theatre (now Manchester School of Theatre)[8] at the same time as Bernard Hill.
Personal life[edit]
Griffiths met Heather Gibson in 1973 and they married in 1980.[32] They had no children. Griffiths was awarded an honorary degree from Teesside University in 2006 and was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2008 New Year Honours.[7][33]
He was the godfather of comedian Jack Whitehall.[34]
Death[edit]
Griffiths died aged 65 at University Hospital Coventry on 28 March 2013 after complications following heart surgery.[35]