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Richard Johnson

Highest Rated: 100% Khartoum (1966)

Lowest Rated: 20% Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001)

Birthday: Jul 30, 1927

Birthplace: Upminster, Essex, England, UK

Famous for his rakish charm and easygoing manner, British actor Richard Johnson had a career that spanned seven decades. Born in Essex in 1927, Johnson attended Felsted School. He eventually made his professional debut at the age of 17, appearing in a production of "Hamlet" with John Gielgud's repertory theater in 1944. The next year, however, World War II compelled the young actor to join the Royal Navy in service of his country. When he completed his service in 1948, he attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Johnson began his career as an actor on the stage, starring in a number of productions with London's Shakespeare Memorial Theatre throughout the '50s and '60s, including "Romeo and Juliet," "As You Like It," and "Julius Caesar." When the troupe was renamed the Royal Shakespeare Company under the direction of Peter Hall, Johnson was named as an Associate Artist of the company. In 1957, he married actress Sheila Sweet. Though the union lasted only five years, the couple produced a son and a daughter. Johnson was cast in his first credited film role, playing Captain Danny De Mortimer in "Never So Few" (1959). His performance persuaded the executives at MGM to grant him a contract. The studio even wrote a part for him into the biblical epic "King of Kings" (1961), though the role was eventually cut from the final film. Johnson remained a popular actor during this period, however, starring in films like the horror classic "The Haunting" (1963). By Johnson's own account, he was even offered the role of James Bond in the film "Dr. No" (1962), but turned the part down. A particularly memorable on-set experience came along for the actor in 1965, when he appeared in the historical comedy "The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders" (1965) with Kim Novak. A romance bloomed between Johnson and his co-star, and the two were married that same year, though they divorced a year later. The '70s found Johnson appearing in films like the Italian film "Zombi 2" (1979) and the thriller "Hennessy" (1975), for which he wrote the original story. Johnson also served as a council member for the British Academy of Film and Television Arts during this period. In 1981, the enterprising performer decided to form his own production company, founding British United Artists. He would serve as CEO of the company for the following ten years, producing films like "Turtle Diary" (1985). In 1982, he married Scandinavian beauty Marie-Louise Norlund, with whom he would have a daughter. Johnson's marriage to Norlund ended in 1989, but his acting career remained prolific. He starred in acclaimed mini-series like "The Chamomile Lawn" (Channel Four, 1992) and "Anglo-Saxon Attitudes" (ITV, 1992). The new millennium found Johnson playing the head of the Illuminati in the action blockbuster "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider" (2001). He married Lynne Gurney in 2004, and continued acting in new projects like the Woody Allen comedy "Scoop" (2006) and the holocaust drama "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas" (2008). Johnson's final film was the dark comedy "Radiator" (2015). Richard Johnson died on June 5, 2015 in London. He was 89 years old.

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Highest rated movies

100% 66% Khartoum
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100% 78% Captain Horatio Hornblower
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100% 74% Radiator
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91% 73% Castaway
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87% 82% The Haunting
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82% 73% Turtle Diary
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75% 54% Operation Crossbow
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75% 39% The Monster Club
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69% 71% The Pumpkin Eater
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65% 85% The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
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Filmography

Movies

Credit
63% 71% The Man Who Knew Infinity Vice Master Henry Jackson (Character) $3.9M 2015
No Score Yet No Score Yet Drifter Don (Character) - 2014
100% 74% Radiator Leonard (Character) - 2014
65% 85% The Boy in the Striped Pajamas Grandpa (Character) $9.0M 2008
No Score Yet No Score Yet Two Families Don Cataldo (Character) - 2007
No Score Yet 41% The Raven Narrator/The Raven (Voice) - 2007
No Score Yet 51% Jump! Judge Larcher (Character) - 2007
No Score Yet No Score Yet Whatever Love Means Lord Mountbatten (Character) - 2005
20% 47% Lara Croft: Tomb Raider Distinguished Gentleman (Character) $131.1M 2001
No Score Yet 29% Milk John (Character) - 1999
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Echo Lawrence (Character) - 1998
No Score Yet 83% Breaking the Code Dilwyn "Dilly" Knox (Character) - 1992
No Score Yet No Score Yet Anglo-Saxon Attitudes Unknown (Character) - 1992
No Score Yet 31% The Crucifer of Blood Dr. Watson (Character) - 1991
No Score Yet No Score Yet Crackdown Big City Blues Unknown (Character) - 1991
No Score Yet 38% The Secret Life of Ian Fleming Gen. Halmsden (Character) - 1990
No Score Yet 76% Treasure Island Squire Trelawney (Character) - 1990
No Score Yet No Score Yet Diving In Richard Anthony (Character) - 1990
No Score Yet No Score Yet A Man for All Seasons Duke of Norfolk (Character) - 1988
91% 73% Castaway Executive Producer $229.9K 1987
82% 73% Turtle Diary Mr. Johnson (Character),
Producer
$2.2M 1985
No Score Yet 18% What Waits Below Ben Gannon (Character) - 1984
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Aerodrome Air Commander (Character) - 1982
75% 39% The Monster Club Busotsky's Father (Character) - 1981
No Score Yet No Score Yet Portrait of a Rebel: The Remarkable Mrs. Sanger Havelock Ellis (Character) - 1980
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Marquise Raoul De Vriac (Character) - 1980
No Score Yet 42% A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square Inspector Watford (Character) - 1979
No Score Yet 21% The Great Alligator Prophet Jameson (Character) - 1979
43% 69% Zombi 2 Dr. David Menard (Character) - 1979
60% 35% Screamers Edmond Rackham (Character) - 1978
No Score Yet 31% The Comeback Macauley (Character) - 1978
No Score Yet 31% The Four Feathers Abou Fatma (Character) - 1978
No Score Yet 31% The Night Child Michael Williams (Character) - 1976
No Score Yet 66% Aces High Major Lyle (Character) - 1976
No Score Yet No Score Yet Take All of Me Richard Lasky (Character) - 1976
No Score Yet 22% Hennessy Insp. Hollis (Character) - 1975
60% 24% Beyond the Door Dimitri (Character) - 1974
No Score Yet No Score Yet Murder in Mind George Drew (Character) - 1973
No Score Yet 50% The Fifth Day of Peace Cap. John Miller (Character) - 1970
No Score Yet No Score Yet Restless Orestes (Character) - 1970
40% 36% Julius Caesar Caius Cassius (Character) - 1970
No Score Yet No Score Yet Lady Hamilton Horatio Nelson (Character) - 1970
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Beloved Orestes (Character) - 1970
No Score Yet No Score Yet Some Girls Do Hugh Drummond (Character) - 1969
No Score Yet No Score Yet A Twist of Sand Geoffrey Peace (Character) - 1968
No Score Yet No Score Yet Oedipus the King Creon (Character) - 1968
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Making of a Lady Horatio Nelson (Character) - 1968
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Rover Real (Character) - 1967
No Score Yet No Score Yet Danger Route Jonas Wilde (Character) - 1967
No Score Yet 61% Deadlier Than the Male Hugh "Bulldog" Drummond (Character) - 1967
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Witch Sergio Logan (Character) - 1966
100% 66% Khartoum Col. J.D.H. Stewart (Character) - 1966
No Score Yet 45% The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders Jemmy (Character) - 1965
75% 54% Operation Crossbow Duncan Sandys (Character) - 1965
69% 71% The Pumpkin Eater Giles (Character) - 1964
No Score Yet No Score Yet Cairo Ali (Character) - 1963
87% 82% The Haunting Dr. John Markway (Character) - 1963
No Score Yet 33% 80,000 Suspects Dr. Steven Monks (Character) - 1963
40% 33% Never So Few Capt. Danny De Mortimer (Character) - 1959
100% 78% Captain Horatio Hornblower Macrae (Character) - 1951

TV

Credit
No Score Yet No Score Yet Silent Witness Sir William Embleton (Guest Star) 2013
No Score Yet No Score Yet Lewis Unknown (Guest Star) 2010
82% 96% Doc Martin Colonel Gilbert Spencer (Guest Star) 2004
No Score Yet 85% Midsomer Murders James Fitzroy (Character) 1999
82% 90% Tales From the Crypt Unknown (Character) 1996
No Score Yet No Score Yet Masterpiece Theatre Unknown (Character) 1996
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Camomile Lawn Unknown (Character) 1992
No Score Yet 89% Murder, She Wrote Lord Geoffrey Constable (Guest Star) 1987
No Score Yet 95% Magnum, P.I. Brigadier General Alistair Ffolkes (Guest Star) 1981 1983
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Dukes of Hazzard Skip (Guest Star) 1983
No Score Yet No Score Yet Tales of the Unexpected James (Character) 1980-1982
No Score Yet No Score Yet Hart to Hart Unknown (Guest Star) 1979
No Score Yet No Score Yet Alfred Hitchcock Hour Unknown (Character) 1965