A genuine star of cinema on screen and a fiery hell raiser off screen, Richard St John Harris was born on October 1, 1930 in Limerick, Ireland, to a farming family. He was the son of Mildred Josephine (Harty) and Ivan John Harris, and was an excellent rugby player, with a strong passion for literature. Unfortunately, a bout of tuberculosis as a tee...
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A genuine star of cinema on screen and a fiery hell raiser off screen, Richard St John Harris was born on October 1, 1930 in Limerick, Ireland, to a farming family. He was the son of Mildred Josephine (Harty) and Ivan John Harris, and was an excellent rugby player, with a strong passion for literature. Unfortunately, a bout of tuberculosis as a teenager ended his aspirations to a rugby career, but he became fascinated with the theater and skipped a local dance one night to attend a performance of "Henry IV". He was hooked and went on to learn his craft at The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, then spent several years in stage productions. He debuted on screen in Shake Hands with the Devil (1959) and quickly scored regular work in films, including The Wreck of the Mary Deare (1959), A Terrible Beauty (1960) and a good role as a frustrated Australian bomber pilot in The Guns of Navarone (1961).However, his breakthrough performance was as the quintessential "angry young man" in the sensational drama This Sporting Life (1963), which scored him an Oscar nomination. He then appeared in the WW II commando tale The Heroes of Telemark (1965) and in the Sam Peckinpah-directed western Major Dundee (1965). He next showed up in Hawaii (1966) and played King Arthur in Camelot (1967), a lackluster adaptation of the famous Broadway play. Better performances followed, among them a role as a reluctant police informer in The Molly Maguires (1970) alongside Sir Sean Connery. Harris took the lead role in the violent western A Man Called Horse (1970), which became something of a cult film and spawned two sequels.As the 1970s progressed, Harris continued to appear regularly on screen; however, the quality of the scripts varied from above average to woeful. His credits during this period included directing himself as an aging soccer player in the delightful Bloomfield (1971); the western The Deadly Trackers (1973); the big-budget "disaster" film Juggernaut (1974); the strangely-titled crime film 99 and 44/100% Dead (1974); with Connery again in Robin and Marian (1976); Gulliver's Travels (1977); a part in the Jaws (1975) ripoff Orca (1977) and a nice turn as an ill-fated mercenary with Richard Burton and Roger Moore in the popular action film The Wild Geese (1978).The 1980s kicked off with Harris appearing in the silly Bo Derek vanity production Tarzan the Ape Man (1981) and the remainder of the decade had him appearing in some very forgettable productions.However, the luck of the Irish was once again to shine on Harris' career and he scored rave reviews (and another Oscar nomination) for The Field (1990). He then locked horns with Harrison Ford as an IRA sympathizer in Patriot Games (1992) and got one of his best roles as gunfighter English Bob in the Clint Eastwood western Unforgiven (1992). Harris was firmly back in vogue and rewarded his fans with more wonderful performances in Wrestling Ernest Hemingway (1993); Cry, the Beloved Country (1995); The Great Kandinsky (1995) and This Is the Sea (1997). Further fortune came his way with a strong performance in the blockbuster Gladiator (2000) and he became known to an entirely new generation of film fans as Albus Dumbledore in the mega-successful Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001) and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002). His final screen role was as "Lucius Sulla" in Julius Caesar (2002).A diverse, vigorous and captivating actor, Richard Harris passed away from Hodgkin's Disease on October 25, 2002. Show less «
I can see the difficulties of making a movie. Directors and producers have to put up with a lot of r...Show more »
I can see the difficulties of making a movie. Directors and producers have to put up with a lot of rubbish from temperamental actors. Show less «
When I worked with Julie Andrews, I think I experienced the greatest hate I ever had for any human b...Show more »
When I worked with Julie Andrews, I think I experienced the greatest hate I ever had for any human being. Show less «
[in 2000] I made films I did not want to see, I took planes to places I didn't want to visit, I boug...Show more »
[in 2000] I made films I did not want to see, I took planes to places I didn't want to visit, I bought houses I didn't live in. I was numb, and it didn't seem to matter. Show less «
[on Michael Caine] He is an over-fat flatulent 62-year-old windbag, a master of inconsequence now ma...Show more »
[on Michael Caine] He is an over-fat flatulent 62-year-old windbag, a master of inconsequence now masquerading as a guru, passing off his vast limitations as pious virtues. Show less «
I came to England first in 1954 looking for a bedsit, a room to sleep in while going to my academy. ...Show more »
I came to England first in 1954 looking for a bedsit, a room to sleep in while going to my academy. And outside the Earl's Court tube station there was a little tobacco-list and paper shop and they had a board. A glass-filled in board with rooms for rent. And I saw one for 13 shillings a week and it said, "No Irishmen or black need apply" and I took my jersey and I put it down over my hand and I put my hand right through the glass and I took it out and I kept it for the rest of my life. That's how we were treated here in 1954. That would cause me grievance. That would cause me anger. Show less «
No one trusts me any more. I spent half the movie [Maigret (1988)] arguing with people and I was acc...Show more »
No one trusts me any more. I spent half the movie [Maigret (1988)] arguing with people and I was accused of causing big on-set rows. But what they won't tell you is I fought for [author Georges Simenon]. I fought for the maintenance of quality. I don't believe in lying down on the job. I've seen these so-called "nice" actors. Very able fellows like Ian McKellen and Kenneth Branagh. But they're like bank managers. So sweet and careful. Who needs them? We are suffering a plague of good taste. Give me Sean Penn and Mickey Rourke any day. They project danger. That's what makes acting--and life--interesting. Show less «
[on Michael Caine receiving his honorary BAFTA] Good luck to him with his BAFTA mask. I hope he does...Show more »
[on Michael Caine receiving his honorary BAFTA] Good luck to him with his BAFTA mask. I hope he does us all a favor and wears the bloody thing in front of his face wherever he goes. Show less «
No one gave me anything. I fought TB, I fought the devil. But I made people laugh. I don't want immo...Show more »
No one gave me anything. I fought TB, I fought the devil. But I made people laugh. I don't want immortality. I've lived it all. I've done it all. Show less «
[on Tom Cruise] He's got very nice teeth, but has he ever read a book?
[on Tom Cruise] He's got very nice teeth, but has he ever read a book?
[his response to hearing he had been Oscar nominated for This Sporting Life (1963)] I've struck a bl...Show more »
[his response to hearing he had been Oscar nominated for This Sporting Life (1963)] I've struck a blow for the Irish rebellion! Show less «
[on his life] I wish I could remember it.
[on his life] I wish I could remember it.
I consider a great part of my career a total failure. I went after the wrong things--got caught in t...Show more »
I consider a great part of my career a total failure. I went after the wrong things--got caught in the '60s. I picked pictures that were way below my talent. Just to have fun. Show less «
[having been called a drunk by Michael Caine] The point about Michael is that he can say what he lik...Show more »
[having been called a drunk by Michael Caine] The point about Michael is that he can say what he likes, I don't mind him opening his mouth and shooting off. I don't care what he says. But don't characterize Richard Burton, Peter O'Toole and me as drunks as if that's all we achieved in our life, because he could live 20 fucking lives and he couldn't achieve as much as we three have achieved. Show less «
Jesus is just a word I use to swear with.
Jesus is just a word I use to swear with.
[upon being carried out on a stretcher from the Savoy Hotel, to people entering the hotel] It was th...Show more »
[upon being carried out on a stretcher from the Savoy Hotel, to people entering the hotel] It was the food! Show less «
There are too many prima donnas in this business and not enough action.
There are too many prima donnas in this business and not enough action.
Actors take themselves so seriously. Samuel Beckett is important, James Joyce is--they left somethin...Show more »
Actors take themselves so seriously. Samuel Beckett is important, James Joyce is--they left something behind them. But even Laurence Olivier is totally unimportant. Acting is actually very simple, but actors try to elevate it to an art. Show less «
[asked if he ever read the Harry Potter books] I haven't, even today I haven't read them. Not becaus...Show more »
[asked if he ever read the Harry Potter books] I haven't, even today I haven't read them. Not because they're not grand, I know they're great. I love the script, but I don't read fiction, it's as simple as that. There's more fiction in my life than in books, so I don't bother with them. Show less «
[on playing Professor Dumbledore] I'll keep doing it as long as I enjoy it, my health holds out and ...Show more »
[on playing Professor Dumbledore] I'll keep doing it as long as I enjoy it, my health holds out and they still want me. But the chances of all three of those factors remaining constant are pretty slim. Show less «
[on his Major Dundee (1965) co-star Charlton Heston'] Heston's the only man who could drop out of a ...Show more »
[on his Major Dundee (1965) co-star Charlton Heston'] Heston's the only man who could drop out of a cubic moon, he's so square. The trouble with him is he doesn't think he's a hired actor, like the rest of us. He thinks he's the entire production. He used to sit there in the mornings and clock us with a stopwatch. Show less «
[on turning 70] I can be eccentric now and get away with it.
[on turning 70] I can be eccentric now and get away with it.
What I hate about our business today is the elitism. So-called stars ride in private jets and have b...Show more »
What I hate about our business today is the elitism. So-called stars ride in private jets and have bodyguards and dietitians and beauticians. Tom Cruise is a midget and he has eight bodyguards all 6'10", which makes him even more diminutive. It's an absolute joke. Show less «
I was a sinner. I slugged some people. I hurt many people. And it's true, I never looked back to see...Show more »
I was a sinner. I slugged some people. I hurt many people. And it's true, I never looked back to see the casualties. Show less «
People may look at Peter O'Toole, Richard Burton and me and say we never fulfilled our talent. But I...Show more »
People may look at Peter O'Toole, Richard Burton and me and say we never fulfilled our talent. But I laugh at that, and say to anyone with that view that I didn't fulfil their idea of my talent. I didn't fulfil the dreams that they had for me. Show less «
[on Michael Caine's comments about being underappreciated in his own country] He takes himself too s...Show more »
[on Michael Caine's comments about being underappreciated in his own country] He takes himself too seriously. I've made 63 movies and I've never been nominated by BAFTA for anything. Do I care? Not in the slightest. Show less «
Any suggestion that [Michael Caine] Has eclipsed the names of Finney, O'Toole, Burton, Bates, Smith ...Show more »
Any suggestion that [Michael Caine] Has eclipsed the names of Finney, O'Toole, Burton, Bates, Smith and Courtenay is tantamount to prophesying that Rin-Tin-Tin will be solemnised beyond the memory of Brando. Show less «
I feel most alive when I'm working on a film.
I feel most alive when I'm working on a film.
I have no friends in this business. I don't go to their clubs, don't go to their hangouts and don't ...Show more »
I have no friends in this business. I don't go to their clubs, don't go to their hangouts and don't mix at all. I am part of the business but I am apart from it. If anyone ever asks my advice, I tell them, "Don't take yourself too seriously". Show less «
[about Michael Caine comparing himself to Gene Hackman] Hackman is an intimidating and dangerous act...Show more »
[about Michael Caine comparing himself to Gene Hackman] Hackman is an intimidating and dangerous actor. Mr. Caine is about as dangerous as Stan Laurel or Oliver Hardy, or indeed both, and as intimidating as Shirley Temple. Show less «
If ever I was miscast in my life, it was in the role of husband. I was the worst husband in the worl...Show more »
If ever I was miscast in my life, it was in the role of husband. I was the worst husband in the world. Show less «
I hate movies. They're a waste of time. I could be in a pub having more fun talking to idiots rather...Show more »
I hate movies. They're a waste of time. I could be in a pub having more fun talking to idiots rather than sitting down and watching idiots perform. Show less «
Someone asked me once "What is the difference between Tom Cruise now and you when you were a major s...Show more »
Someone asked me once "What is the difference between Tom Cruise now and you when you were a major star?" I said there is a great difference. Look at a photograph of me from the old days and I'm going to one of my film premieres with a bottle of vodka in my hand. Tom Cruise has a bottle of Evian water. That's the difference--a bottle of Evian water. Show less «
I'm not interested in reputation or immortality or things like that . . . I don't care what I'm reme...Show more »
I'm not interested in reputation or immortality or things like that . . . I don't care what I'm remembered for. I don't care if I'm remembered. I don't care if I'm not remembered. I don't care why I'm remembered. I genuinely don't care. Show less «
I would give up all the accolades--people have occasionally written and said nice things--of my show...Show more »
I would give up all the accolades--people have occasionally written and said nice things--of my showbiz career to play just once for the senior Munster team. I will never win an Oscar now, but even if I did I would swap it instantly for one sip of champagne from the Heineken Cup. Show less «
When I'm in trouble, I'm an Irishman. When I turn in a good performance, I'm an Englishman.
When I'm in trouble, I'm an Irishman. When I turn in a good performance, I'm an Englishman.