Richard Vernon

English actor (1925–1997)

Richard Vernon
Richard Vernon in Goldfinger (1964)
Born	Richard Evelyn Vernon (1925-03-07)7 March 1925 Naivasha, Kenya Colony
Died	4 December 1997(1997-12-04) (aged 72) Richmond upon Thames, London, England
Alma mater	Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1949—1996

Richard Evelyn Vernon (7 March 1925 – 4 December 1997) was a British actor.^[1] He appeared in many feature films and television programmes, often in aristocratic or supercilious roles. Prematurely balding and greying, Vernon settled into playing archetypal middle-aged lords and military types while still in his 30s.^[2] He is perhaps best known for originating the role of Slartibartfast in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Other notable roles included the lead role of Edwin Oldenshaw in The Man in Room 17 (1965–67), Sir James Greenley alias "C" in The Sandbaggers (1978–80), and Sir Desmond Glazebrook in Yes Minister (1980–81) and its sequel series Yes, Prime Minister (1987).

Early life

Vernon was born in Kenya in 1925 to British parents. Vernon and his parents moved to Britain in 1937 where Vernon attended Reading School and Leighton Park School (both in Reading, Berkshire).^[3] During the Second World War he served in the Royal Navy. He trained as an actor at the Central School of Speech and Drama.^[2]

Career

In 1960, Vernon appeared in an adaptation of A.J. Cronin's novel, The Citadel. In 1961, he played the father in the BBC series, Stranger on the Shore. An early leading role was as wartime agent-turned-criminologist Edwin Oldenshaw in the TV series The Man in Room 17 (1965–66) and its sequel The Fellows (1967).^[2]^[4] He also played a small role as Colonel Smithers, an executive of the Bank of England, in a scene opposite Sean Connery and Bernard Lee in the 1964 James Bond film Goldfinger, discussing how Auric Goldfinger transports his gold overseas.^[5]

He played an unnamed 'city gent' reluctantly sharing a train compartment with the Beatles in A Hard Day's Night, planet designer Slartibartfast in the BBC radio and TV series The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, the occasional character Sir Desmond Glazebrook in the TV series Yes Minister and Yes, Prime Minister, and Mr Becket in Sammy's Super T-Shirt.^[6] He also appeared in the 1965 Morecambe and Wise film The Intelligence Men as patron of the arts Sir Edward Seabrook, Lord Bartelsham in Ripping Yarns, and Squire Dale in the BBC Radio 4 adaptation of The Small House at Allington.^[1]^[7]^[8] He played Admiral Croft in the 1971 BBC television adaptation of Persuasion.^[9] He played the urbane head of the Secret Intelligence Service Sir James Greenley in ITV political drama The Sandbaggers from 1978 to 1980. In 1986 he appeared in Paradise Postponed, and voiced the professor Gus in The Giddy Game Show (1985-7),^[1] in addition to a cameo role (as Professor Jerry Coe) in the video for Experiment IV by Kate Bush. He also appeared in the final episode of Thames Television's production of Rumpole of the Bailey (1992) as Rumpole's exculpatory dentist, Lionel Leering, and in the last series of Lovejoy (1994) playing Tinker's brother-in-law.

On radio, in 1978 he played Sir Gerald Tarrant in a BBC World Service adaptation of the Modesty Blaise book Last Day in Limbo and Professor Misty in the BBC Radio 3 sitcom Patterson in 1981.^[10] He also starred in the title role of Lord Emsworth in several BBC Radio 4 series of Blandings between 1985 and 1992.^[11]

In December 1990 he began teaching a course on stage acting in Harare, Zimbabwe. He moved back to England in January 1992.^[12]

His final film appearance was a cameo at the end of the family film Loch Ness, which was released in 1996.^[13]

Personal life and death

In 1955 he married actress Benedicta Leigh née Hoskyns. They had a daughter Sarah (1956) and a son, Thomas (1958). They divorced in 1990.

Vernon died of complications from Parkinson's disease on December 4, 1997.^[2]

Filmography

Film

Stop Press Girl (1949) - (uncredited)
Indiscreet (1958) - Guide (uncredited)
The Heart of a Man (1959) - Manager (uncredited)
The Siege of Pinchgut (1959) - Under-Secretary
Sapphire (1960) - Detective
Clue of the Twisted Candle (1960) - Viney
Village of the Damned (1960) - Sir Edgar Hargraves
Foxhole in Cairo (1960) - General
Cash on Demand (1961) - Pearson
The Edgar Wallace Mysteries Film series (1962, The Share Out) - John Crewe
Reach for Glory (1962) - Dr. Aldrich
Jigsaw (1962) - (voice)
We Joined the Navy (1962) - (uncredited)
The Edgar Wallace Mysteries Film series (1963, Accidental Death) - John Paxton
Just for Fun (1963) - Prime Minister
The Servant (1963) - Lord Mounset
Hot Enough for June (1964) - Roddinghead
A Hard Day's Night (1964) - Pompous man on train (Johnson)
Goldfinger (1964) - Colonel Smithers
The Counterfeit Constable (1964) (French title: Allez France!) - Lord Brisburn
The Tomb of Ligeia (1964) - Dr. Vivian
The Yellow Rolls-Royce (1965) - Racecourse official (uncredited)
The Intelligence Men (1965) - Sir Edward Seabrook
The Secret of My Success (1965) - Lord Hetherby
The Early Bird (1965) - Sir Roger Wedgewood
Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1969) - Chairman (uncredited)
Song of Norway (1970) - Councilman
She'll Follow You Anywhere (1971) - Andrew Coombes
One Brief Summer (1971) - Hayward
The Satanic Rites of Dracula (1973) - Mathews
Adventures of a Taxi Driver (1976) - Gentleman (uncredited)
The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976) - Professor Hugo Fassbender
Sammy's Super T-Shirt (1978) - Mr. Becket
The Human Factor (1979) - Sir John Hargreaves
Oh! Heavenly Dog (1980) - Quimby Charles
The Box (1981) - (voice)
Evil Under the Sun (1982) - Flewitt
Witness for the Prosecution (1982) - Brogan-Moore, barrister
Gandhi (1982) - Sir Edward Albert Gait
Night Train to Murder (1983) - Uncle Felix
Lady Jane (1986) - The Marquess of Winchester
A Month in the Country (1987) - Colonel Hebron
Loch Ness (1996) - Aged professor (cameo) (final film role)

Television

ITV Television Playhouse (1956–1963, 5 episodes) as Multiple roles
ITV Play of the Week (1957–1966, 9 episodes) as Multiple roles
Probation Officer (1959–1960, 5 episodes) as Doctor Lessing
No Hiding Place (1959–1961, 2 episodes) as John Eldin/Charles Lacey
Dixon of Dock Green (1960–1962, 2 episodes) as Fellowes/Pascoe
Emergency Ward 10 (1960, 1 episode) as Forrester
Francis Storm Investigates (1960, 1 episode) as Commodore Garwood
Deadline Midnight (1960, 1 episode) as Holroyd
Boyd Q.C. (1960, 1 episode) as Mr. Trottman
Theatre 70 (1960, 1 episode) as Mr. Pearson
The Odd Man (1960, 5 episodes) as Charles Ormiston
The Citadel (1960, 5 episodes) as Doctor Ivory
Jango (1961, 1 episode) as Parkinson
Stranger on the Shore (1961, 6 episodes) as David Gough
Stranger in the City (1962, 6 episodes) as David Gough
The Cheaters (1962, 1 episode) as Ken Northwood
Saki (1962, 8 episodes) as The Major
Maigret (1962, 1 episode) as Philippe
The Last Man Out (1962, 1 episode) as The Colonel
The Avengers (1962, 1 episode) as Lord Matterley
Harpers West One (1962, 1 episode) as Arthur Purvis
Z-Cars (1962, 1 episode) as Det. Chief Insp. Humphries
It Happened Like This (1963, 1 episode) as Harker
24-Hour Call (1963, 1 episode) as Wing Commander Battenby
Walter and Connie (1963, 1 episode) as Mr. Johns
The Saint (1963, 1 episode) as Sir John Ripwell
The Plane Makers (1963, 2 episodes) as Keith Saville
Crane (1964, 1 episode) as Wolsey
The Hidden Truth (1964, 1 episode) as William Anstruthe
Here's Harry (1964, 1 episode) as Self
The Marriage Lines (1964, 1 episode) as Mr. Renfrew-Smith
The Man in Room 17 (1965–1966, 26 episodes) as Edwin Oldenshaw
The Fellows (1967, 13 episodes) as Edwin Oldenshaw
ITV Playhouse (1967–1970, 3 episodes) as Multiple roles
Comedy Playhouse (1968, 1 episode) as Sir Reginald Polk-Mowbray
Mystery and Imagination (1968, 1 episode) as Professor Krempe
Harry Worth (1968, 1 episode) as Mr. Gilmore
The Man in Room 17 (1968–1972, 3 episodes) as Multiple roles
Thirty-Minute Theatre (1968, 1 episode) as Colonel O'Dwyer
Journey to the Unknown (1969, 1 episode) as Sir Gerald Walters
Department S (1969, 1 episode) as Colonel Loring
W. Somerset Maugham (1969, 1 episode) as Lord Kastellan
Fraud Squad (1970, 1 episode) as Sir Roy Prentiss
Biography (1970, 1 episode) as Tycho Brahe
UFO (1971, 1 episode) as Stone
Seasons of the Year (1971, 1 episode) as Lord Rudge
Paul Temple (1971, 1 episode) as Carlton
The Mind of Mr. J.G. Reeder (1971, 1 episode) as Major Olbude
Brett (1971, 1 episode) as Sutherland
Albert and Victoria (1971, 1 episode) as Mr. Ridley
The Persuaders! (1971, 1 episode) as Sir Maxwell Dean
The Guardians (1971, 1 episode) as Face
Hadleigh (1971–1976, 3 episodes) as Sir Geoffrey Osborne
Persuasion (1971, 5 episodes) as Admiral Croft
The Adventurer (1972, 1 episode) as Sir Richard McKenzie
Softly, Softly: Task Force (1972, 1 episode) as Sir Ralph Townley
The Sextet (1972, 8 episodes) as Multiple roles
Man at the Top (1972, 2 episodes) as Lord Belmont
Between the Wars (1973, 1 episode) as Morton
Late Night Theatre (1973, 1 episode) as Morry Sheldon
Special Branch (1973, 1 episode) as Townsend
Upstairs, Downstairs (1973, 2 episodes) as Major Cochrane-Danby
Harriet's Back in Town (1973, 6 episodes) as Oliver Warburton
Dolly (1973, 2 episodes) as Mr. Hilary Musgrave
Dial M for Murder (1974, 1 episode) as The Chief
Justice (1974, 1 episode) as Lord Tilling
Thriller (1974, 1 episode) as George Cornfield
Village Hall (1974, 1 episode) as Cedric Wellbeloved
Affairs of the Heart (1974, 1 episode) as Colonel Chart
Edward the Seventh (1975, 3 episodes) as Lord Salisbury
Dawson's Weekly (1975, 1 episode) as Solicitor
The Duchess of Duke Street (1976–1977, 18 episodes) as Major Smith-Barton
Ripping Yarns (1976, 1 episode) as Lord Bartlesham
The Cedar Tree (1977, 2 episodes) as Lord Evelyn Forbes
Do You Remember? (1978, 1 episode) as Lord Greenham
The Sandbaggers (1978–1980, 12 episodes) as Sir James Greenley / "C"
Yes Minister (1980–1981, 2 episodes) as Sir Desmond Glazebrook
Bognor (1981, 6 episodes) as Lord Wharfedale
Roger Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1981, 1 episode) as Judge
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (1981, 2 episodes) as Slartibartfast
Legacy of Murder (1982, 6 episodes) as Roland Tolhurst
L for Lester (1982, 5 episodes) as Mr. Davies
Something in Disguise (1982, 5 episodes) as Herbert Browne-Lacey
Strangers (1982, 1 episode) as Sir Geoffrey
Nanny (1982, 6 episodes) as Duke of Broughton
The Boy Who Won the Pools (1983, 2 episodes) as Sir Malvern West
Pig in the Middle (1983, 1 episode) as Lord Gathorne
Leaving (1984, 6 episodes) as Mr. Chessington
Roll Over Beethoven (1985, 13 episodes) as Oliver Purcell
Summer Season (1985, 1 episode) as Thompson
Ladies in Charge (1986, 1 episode) as Lord Brampton
Lytton's Diary (1986, 1 episode) as Duncan Anderson
Paradise Postponed (1986, 9 episodes) as Sir Nicholas Fanner
Chance in a Million (1986, 1 episode) as Uncle Evelyn
The Return of the Antelope (1986–1988, 13 episodes) as Mr. Garstanton
Last of the Summer Wine (1987, 1 episode) as The Vicar
Yes, Prime Minister (1987, 1 episode) as Sir Desmond Glazebrook
Hot Metal (1988, 1 episode) as Lord Gilbert
A Gentleman's Club (1988, 6 episodes) as George
Casualty (1988, 1 episode) as Dr. Richard Payton
Helping Henry (1988, 6 episodes) as Cosmic 1
The Storyteller (1988, 1 episode) as King
About Face (1989, 1 episode) as Bingham
KYTV (1992, 1 episode) as Chester Chuckles
The Camomile Lawn (1992, 2 episodes) as General Peachum
Rumpole of the Bailey (1992, 1 episode) as Lionel Leering
Bonjour la Classe (1993, 1 episode) as Sir Lionel
You Rang, M'Lord? (1993, 1 episode) as The Earl of Swaffham
The Return of the Borrowers (1993, 3 episodes) as Mr. Pott
Rides (1993, 1 episode) as Arthur Copthorne
Frank Stubbs Promotes (1994, 1 episode) as Lord Dunstable
Lovejoy (1994, 1 episode) as Roger Nettleton
Class Act (1994–1995, 14 episodes) as Sir Horace Mainwaring

References

^ ^a ^b ^c "Richard Vernon". ftvdb.bfi.org.uk. Archived from the original on 17 December 2007. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Obituary: Richard Vernon". Independent.co.uk. 13 December 1997. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
^ Richard Vernon: Theatre & Performance Biographical File
^ "Fellows [26/06/1967] (1967)". BFI. Archived from the original on 14 February 2019.
^ "BFI Screenonline: Goldfinger (1964) Credits". www.screenonline.org.uk.
^ "Richard Vernon". www.aveleyman.com.
^ "BFI Screenonline: Ripping Yarns (1976-79)". www.screenonline.org.uk.
^ "Classic Serial: The Small House at Allington". 7 October 1993. p. 109 – via BBC Genome.
^ "Persuasion Part 5 (1971)". BFI. Archived from the original on 14 February 2019.
^ "Patterson". 26 February 1981. p. 65 – via BBC Genome.
^ "Blandings". 1 March 1990. p. 63 – via BBC Genome.
^ Wildlife Tourism by Myra L. Shackley · 1996
^ "Richard Vernon - Movies and Filmography". AllMovie.