fbpx
Wikipedia

Richard Pearson (actor)

October 15, 2023

For other people named Richard Pearson, see Richard Pearson (disambiguation).

Richard de Pearsall Pearson (1 August 1918 – 2 August 2011) was an English character actor who appeared in numerous film, television and stage productions over a period of 65 years. He played leading roles in several London West End plays and also supported Maggie Smith, Robert Morley and others in long-running West End stage productions. His many screen appearances included character parts in three Roman Polanski films.

Richard Pearson
Photo by Freddie Feest
Born
Richard de Pearsall Pearson

(1918-08-01)1 August 1918
Monmouth
Died2 August 2011(2011-08-02) (aged 93)
Northwood, London, England
OccupationActor
Years active1937–2009
Spouse
Patricia Dickson
​
(m. 1949)​
Children2

Private life Edit

Richard Pearson was born and brought up in Monmouth.[1] He was educated at Aymestrey Court,[2] Worcester, and at Monmouth School, where his father, Cyril Pearson (1888–1946), taught French.

Richard Pearson's early stage career was interrupted by military service in the Second World War with the 52nd (Lowland) Infantry Division. He was mentioned in dispatches and left the army with the rank of lieutenant-colonel.

He married the actress Patricia Dickson (1927–2014) in 1949. They lived until the late 1950s in Nassau Street, in the Fitzrovia district of London, then in Beckenham, and latterly in Richmond upon Thames. They had two sons, Simon and Patrick; Patrick is also an actor.

In the later years of his life, Pearson suffered from myocardial degeneration. He died on 2 August 2011, the morning after his 93rd birthday.[3][4]

Film and television Edit

"Notable films of his career included Brian Desmond Hurst's Scrooge (1951) as well as a brief appearance in John Schlesinger's Sunday Bloody Sunday (1971) and cameo roles in three films by Roman Polanski: Macbeth (1971), Tess (1979) and Pirates (1986). Pearson did not make his film début until the age of 32, when he played a sergeant in the motion picture The Girl is Mine (1950). This was followed a year later by his performance as Mr Tupper in Scrooge.

In later years, Pearson is perhaps best known for his role as Mole in Cosgrove Hall's The Wind in the Willows (1983), its subsequent television series, which led on from the original film, and its spin-off programme Oh, Mr. Toad, in all of which he starred alongside David Jason, Peter Sallis and Michael Hordern.[5] He also appeared in episodes of "A Fine Romance, and "One Foot in the Grave" as Victor Meldrew's absent-minded brother, Alfred, in the "Men Behaving Badly" episode "Three Girlfriends", as Gary's father Mr Strang, and as Harry King in "My Good Friend", alongside George Cole and Minnie Driver. He played Mr. Pye in the 1985 TV movie Marple: The Moving Finger.[4][3]

Selected filmography Edit

Stage Edit

"Pearson was the kind of actor on which the British theatre has always relied: utterly dependable and totally distinctive. His particular forte, with his slightly fluting voice, was for revealing the chink in the armour of middle-class respectability."[4] He made his stage debut at the age of 18 at London's Collins's Music Hall. Though well known as a character actor, his leading roles in London theatres included Stanley in Harold Pinter's The Birthday Party (Lyric, Hammersmith, 1958), Charles Sidley in Peter Shaffer's The Public Eye (Globe, 1962), Harry in Charles Dyer's Staircase (Arts, Cambridge, 1969), and Mr Hardcastle in Oliver Goldsmith's She Stoops to Conquer (Young Vic, 1972).

With The Birthday Party, after a short, successful provincial tour, "the play was critically slaughtered when it opened at the Lyric Hammersmith in London in May 1958."[4] Critics were baffled "and it was withdrawn after only a few performances – only one critic" (Harold Hobson) "had given it an unqualified welcome. But Pearson's portrait of the lodger fixed itself longest in the critical memory for its study of unexplained but deeply felt terror."[3]

Among those he played beside on stage were Margaret Rutherford, Robert Morley, Maggie Smith, Kenneth Williams, Eileen Atkins and Margaret Tyzack.

Selected London appearances Edit

References Edit

  1. ^ Monmouth and Monmouthshire were not definitively incorporated into Wales until 1974. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
  2. ^ Former school: Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d "Richard Pearson – Obituary – The Telegraph". telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Richard Pearson obituary | Stage | The Guardian". guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  5. ^ Vahimagi, Tise (1994). British Television. Oxford University Press, ISBN 978-0-19-818336-5
  6. ^ IMDb Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  7. ^ IMDb Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  8. ^ Arthur Macrea [1], [2], Retrieved 2 August 2014.
  9. ^ Retrieved 2 August 2014.
  10. ^ Gielgud's Letters ed. Richard Mangan Retrieved 2 August 2014, 20 June 1970.
  11. ^ Retrieved 2 August 2014.. Peter Shaffer in the introduction to the published edition of the play (London: André Deutsch, 1988): "Initially Miss Smith offers a comic solo of glittering perfection. When she is joined by Margaret Tyzack – a performer to match her royally – this turns into a duet of glittering perfection. And when finally she is joined by Mr Pearson this turns into a trio which creates on the stage of the Globe a compound interest of intoxication."
  12. ^ Gillespie, M.P. (1996). Oscar Wilde and the Poetics of Ambiguity. University Press of Florida. p. 100. ISBN 9780813014531. Retrieved 26 February 2015.

External links Edit

  • Richard Pearson at IMDb
  • Obituary in The Independent

October 15, 2023
richard, pearson, actor, other, people, named, richard, pearson, richard, pearson, disambiguation, richard, pearsall, pearson, august, 1918, august, 2011, english, character, actor, appeared, numerous, film, television, stage, productions, over, period, years,. For other people named Richard Pearson see Richard Pearson disambiguation Richard de Pearsall Pearson 1 August 1918 2 August 2011 was an English character actor who appeared in numerous film television and stage productions over a period of 65 years He played leading roles in several London West End plays and also supported Maggie Smith Robert Morley and others in long running West End stage productions His many screen appearances included character parts in three Roman Polanski films Richard PearsonPhoto by Freddie FeestBornRichard de Pearsall Pearson 1918 08 01 1 August 1918MonmouthDied2 August 2011 2011 08 02 aged 93 Northwood London EnglandOccupationActorYears active1937 2009SpousePatricia Dickson m 1949 wbr Children2 Contents 1 Private life 2 Film and television 2 1 Selected filmography 3 Stage 3 1 Selected London appearances 4 References 5 External linksPrivate life EditRichard Pearson was born and brought up in Monmouth 1 He was educated at Aymestrey Court 2 Worcester and at Monmouth School where his father Cyril Pearson 1888 1946 taught French Richard Pearson s early stage career was interrupted by military service in the Second World War with the 52nd Lowland Infantry Division He was mentioned in dispatches and left the army with the rank of lieutenant colonel He married the actress Patricia Dickson 1927 2014 in 1949 They lived until the late 1950s in Nassau Street in the Fitzrovia district of London then in Beckenham and latterly in Richmond upon Thames They had two sons Simon and Patrick Patrick is also an actor In the later years of his life Pearson suffered from myocardial degeneration He died on 2 August 2011 the morning after his 93rd birthday 3 4 Film and television Edit Notable films of his career included Brian Desmond Hurst s Scrooge 1951 as well as a brief appearance in John Schlesinger s Sunday Bloody Sunday 1971 and cameo roles in three films by Roman Polanski Macbeth 1971 Tess 1979 and Pirates 1986 Pearson did not make his film debut until the age of 32 when he played a sergeant in the motion picture The Girl is Mine 1950 This was followed a year later by his performance as Mr Tupper in Scrooge In later years Pearson is perhaps best known for his role as Mole in Cosgrove Hall s The Wind in the Willows 1983 its subsequent television series which led on from the original film and its spin off programme Oh Mr Toad in all of which he starred alongside David Jason Peter Sallis and Michael Hordern 5 He also appeared in episodes of A Fine Romance and One Foot in the Grave as Victor Meldrew s absent minded brother Alfred in the Men Behaving Badly episode Three Girlfriends as Gary s father Mr Strang and as Harry King in My Good Friend alongside George Cole and Minnie Driver He played Mr Pye in the 1985 TV movie Marple The Moving Finger 4 3 Selected filmography Edit The Girl Is Mine 1950 Sergeant The Woman with No Name 1950 Tony The Woman in Question 1950 Detective The Clouded Yellow 1950 Det Sgt Stewart uncredited Scrooge 1951 Mr Tupper The Blue Parrot 1953 Quinney Dangerous Cargo 1954 Noel Butler Svengali 1954 Lambert Fabian of the Yard 1954 Battle of the V 1 1958 Senior RAF Officer uncredited Sea Fury 1958 Kershaw Model for Murder 1959 Bullock The Crowning Touch 1959 Roger Life in Danger 1959 Sgt Norris 6 Libel 1959 The Butler Man in the Moon 1960 Doctor No 1 Attempt to Kill 1961 Frank Weyman 7 Guns of Darkness 1962 Bastian The King s Breakfast 1963 Violinist The Comedy Man 1964 Advertising Man uncredited The Yellow Rolls Royce 1964 Osborn The Caramel Crisis 1966 Cloon Charlie Bubbles 1967 Accountant How I Won the War 1967 Old Man at Alamein Inspector Clouseau 1968 Shockley The Strange Affair 1968 Constable The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer 1970 Wilting Sunday Bloody Sunday 1971 Patient To Catch a Spy 1971 Haldane The Tragedy of Macbeth 1971 Doctor Pope Joan 1972 Friar Timothy Columbo 1972 Dr Diver Police Pathologist S2E4 One of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing 1975 Sir Geoffrey Royal Flash 1975 Duchy Chamberlain The Blue Bird 1976 Bread It Shouldn t Happen to a Vet 1976 Granville Tess 1979 Vicar of Marlott God s Wonderful Railway 1980 Mr Jellicoe The Mirror Crack d 1980 Doctor Haydock The Wind in the Willows 1983 Mole voice Water 1985 Foreign Secretary Pirates 1986 Padre Whoops Apocalypse 1986 Michael Sumpter Defence Secretary Stage Edit Pearson was the kind of actor on which the British theatre has always relied utterly dependable and totally distinctive His particular forte with his slightly fluting voice was for revealing the chink in the armour of middle class respectability 4 He made his stage debut at the age of 18 at London s Collins s Music Hall Though well known as a character actor his leading roles in London theatres included Stanley in Harold Pinter s The Birthday Party Lyric Hammersmith 1958 Charles Sidley in Peter Shaffer s The Public Eye Globe 1962 Harry in Charles Dyer s Staircase Arts Cambridge 1969 and Mr Hardcastle in Oliver Goldsmith s She Stoops to Conquer Young Vic 1972 With The Birthday Party after a short successful provincial tour the play was critically slaughtered when it opened at the Lyric Hammersmith in London in May 1958 4 Critics were baffled and it was withdrawn after only a few performances only one critic Harold Hobson had given it an unqualified welcome But Pearson s portrait of the lodger fixed itself longest in the critical memory for its study of unexplained but deeply felt terror 3 Among those he played beside on stage were Margaret Rutherford Robert Morley Maggie Smith Kenneth Williams Eileen Atkins and Margaret Tyzack Selected London appearances Edit Macadam and Eve by Roger MacDougall 1950 The Mortimer Touch by Eric Linklater 1952 Both Ends Meet by Arthur Macrae 1954 also in the BBC television adaptation of 1962 8 A Likely Tale by Gerald Savory 1956 with Margaret Rutherford and Robert Morley 9 The Iron Duchess by William Douglas Home 1957 The Birthday Party by Harold Pinter 1958 creating the role of Stanley also in the 1960 ITV production 4 The Private Ear and the Public Eye by Peter Shaffer 1962 with Maggie Smith and Kenneth Williams 3 Tiny Alice by Edward Albee at the Aldwych Theatre in 1970 4 Vivat Vivat Regina by Robert Bolt 1970 Chichester and London with Sarah Miles and Eileen Atkins 10 Arms and the Man by George Bernard Shaw 1981 Lettice and Lovage by Peter Shaffer 1987 as Mr Bardolph with Maggie Smith and Margaret Tyzack 11 The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde 1993 as Dr Chasuble with Maggie Smith as Lady Bracknell 12 References Edit Monmouth and Monmouthshire were not definitively incorporated into Wales until 1974 Retrieved 21 April 2014 Former school Retrieved 31 August 2018 a b c d Richard Pearson Obituary The Telegraph telegraph co uk Retrieved 26 February 2015 a b c d e f Richard Pearson obituary Stage The Guardian guardian co uk Retrieved 26 February 2015 Vahimagi Tise 1994 British Television Oxford University Press ISBN 978 0 19 818336 5 IMDb Retrieved 4 August 2018 IMDb Retrieved 4 August 2018 Arthur Macrea 1 2 Retrieved 2 August 2014 Retrieved 2 August 2014 Gielgud s Letters ed Richard Mangan Retrieved 2 August 2014 20 June 1970 Retrieved 2 August 2014 Peter Shaffer in the introduction to the published edition of the play London Andre Deutsch 1988 Initially Miss Smith offers a comic solo of glittering perfection When she is joined by Margaret Tyzack a performer to match her royally this turns into a duet of glittering perfection And when finally she is joined by Mr Pearson this turns into a trio which creates on the stage of the Globe a compound interest of intoxication Gillespie M P 1996 Oscar Wilde and the Poetics of Ambiguity University Press of Florida p 100 ISBN 9780813014531 Retrieved 26 February 2015 External links EditRichard Pearson at IMDb Obituary in The Independent Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Richard Pearson actor amp oldid 1177431100, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.