HAMMER FILMS ACTOR JOHN RICHARDSON DIES AGED 86

NEWS HAS JUST BROKEN that actor, John Richardson has sadly passed away..... over at the Facebook PCASUK Fan Page many followers and friends are sharing their thoughts and memories of Richardson's work and his film with Peter Cushing 'She'. Here is a link to the post: HERE

 

JOHN RICHARDSON was born in Worthing, Sussex. He was spotted by a talent scout in local amateur theatre from 20th Century Fox who put him under contract. This lasted for two years, but frustrating for him, he did little. But his career did open up when he took some small roles in films for the Rank Organisation, including 'A Night to Remember' directed by Roy Ward Baker (1958), Sapphire (1959). His first role of note, was opposite fellow British actress Barbara Steele in the Italian gothic horror film, 'Black Sunday' in 1960. Directed by Mario Bava, the film went on to be a cult genre classic. Richardson decided to stay on in Italy for a supporting role in the swashbuckling 'Pirates of Tortuga' in 61. 

 

RETURNING TO BRITAIN, he had minor roles in 'Tender Is the Night' in 1962 and Lord Jim in 65. Richardson's big break came when film producer Ray Stark spotted him in the offices of Seven Arts Productions, and cast him as the male lead, alongside #PeterCushing and #ChristopherLee in 'She' in 1965, which at the time, they were co-producing with #HammerFilms. The film was the first of Hammer's 'bigger budget' productions and became a box office hit! When Hammer decided to make a sequel to She, Richardson was the only actor to reprise his role, for 'The Vengeance of She' in 1968.

 

HAMMER FILMS AND SEVEN ARTS used Richardson again supporting another female star, this time Raquel Welch in One Million Years B.C. in 1966. It Hammer were on a role, and the film was another big hit. Richardson later married his co-star, in the film, Martine Beswick.
 

IN THE LATE 1960'S, Richardson was considered for the role of James Bond in 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service' when Sean Connery first left the James Bond franchise, but sadly, he lost out to George Lazenby. Richardson also starred in the spaghetti Westerns John the Bastard (1967), Execution (1968) and A Candidate for a Killing (1969) and had a supporting turn in Vincente Minnelli's On a Clear Day You Can See Forever (1970), starring Barbra Streisand. 

 

RICHARDSON spent most of the '70s working in Italy in such films as Frankenstein '80 (1972), Torso (1973), Eyeball (1975), Reflections in Black (1975), Duck in Orange Sauce (1975), Nine Guests for a Crime (1977) and War of the Planets (1977).

 

IT WAS A GREAT SHAME, that Richardson only appeared in one film with Peter Cushing. During their time on screen, they both gelled and his scenes with Christopher Lee and Andress, were probably some of the best of the film. A sad passing and a career, that for him should have presented more. 

 

John Richardson January 1934 - January 2021.  

 

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