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|hideb=
 
|hideb=
 
|birthname=
 
|birthname=
|born=[[31 July]], [[1940s|1947]]
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|born=[[31 July]], [[1947]]
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|died=[[28 March]], [[2013]] (aged 65)<ref name="BBC">[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21973505 BBC News - Potter and Withnail actor Richard Griffiths dies]</ref>
|died=
 
 
|nationality=[[Great Britain|British]]
 
|nationality=[[Great Britain|British]]
 
|residence=
 
|residence=
 
|gender=Male
 
|gender=Male
|eyes=
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|eyes=Brown
|hair=
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|hair=Grey, formerly brown
 
|height=5' 9"
 
|height=5' 9"
 
|family=Heather Gibson (wife)
 
|family=Heather Gibson (wife)
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|website=
 
|website=
 
|hidec=
 
|hidec=
|yearsactive=[[1974]] to present
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|yearsactive=[[1974]]-[[2013]]
 
|harrypotterrole=[[Vernon Dursley]]
 
|harrypotterrole=[[Vernon Dursley]]
 
|notableroles=*''Hugo'' (2011)
 
|notableroles=*''Hugo'' (2011)
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*''The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear'' ([[1992]])
 
*''The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear'' ([[1992]])
 
*''Gandhi'' ([[1982]])
 
*''Gandhi'' ([[1982]])
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*''Private Peaceful'' ([[2012]])
 
|academyawards=
 
|academyawards=
 
|emmyawards=
 
|emmyawards=
 
|tonyawards=
 
|tonyawards=
 
}}
 
}}
'''Richard Griffiths''' (born [[31 July]], [[1940s|1947]] in Thornaby-on-Tees) is the actor who portrays [[Vernon Dursley]] in the [[Harry Potter (film series)|''Harry Potter'' films]]. He is married to Heather Gibson.
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'''Richard Griffiths''' (31 July 1947 - 28 March 2013) was an [[England|English]] actor, who portrayed [[Vernon Dursley]] in the [[Harry Potter (film series)|''Harry Potter'' films]]. He was married to Heather Gibson.
   
 
==Career==
 
==Career==
Griffiths acting career bagan on radio and the classical stage where he built up an early reputation as a Shakespearean clown, with larger-than-life portrayals of Henry VIII, Falstaff in ''The Merry Wives of Windsor'' and Bottom in ''A Midsummer Night's Dream'' with the Royal Shakespeare Company just a few of his standout credits. The son of deaf mute parents, he learned sign language at an early age and, interestingly enough, developed a talent for dialects which allowed him to show off in a number of ethnic portrayals. Griffiths has been appearing in films since1975 both in Britain and abroad, his most acclaimed roles have been in both contemporary and period pieces.
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Griffiths acting career began on radio and the classical stage where he built up an early reputation as a Shakespearean clown, with larger-than-life portrayals of Henry VIII, Falstaff in ''The Merry Wives of Windsor'' and Bottom in ''A Midsummer Night's Dream'' with the Royal Shakespeare Company just a few of his standout credits. The son of deaf parents, he learned sign language at an early age and, interestingly enough, developed a talent for dialects which allowed him to show off in a number of ethnic portrayals. Griffiths has been appearing in films since 1975 both in Britain and abroad, his most acclaimed roles have been in both contemporary and period pieces. Griffiths also played the part of a police detective-cum-restaurant owner and chef in ''Pie in the Sky''.
   
 
===Achievements===
 
===Achievements===
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===Harry Potter career===
 
===Harry Potter career===
Griffiths plays the magic-disliking [[Vernon Dursley|Uncle Vernon]], who is married to [[Petunia Dursley|Aunt Petunia]], father to [[Dudley Dursley]], brother to [[Marjorie Dursley|Aunt Marge]] and uncle of [[Harry Potter]]. He has appeared in five of the films in the series. His part was written out altogether in ''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)|Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]'' and ''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)|Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince]]. His part in ''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1]]'' was also greatly reduced. He mentioned that he will miss the Dursleys very much now that the series is over.
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Griffiths played the magic-disliking [[Vernon Dursley|Uncle Vernon]], who is married to [[Petunia Dursley|Aunt Petunia]], father to [[Dudley Dursley]], brother to [[Marjorie Dursley|Aunt Marge]], and uncle of [[Harry Potter]]. He had appeared in five of the films in the series. His part was written out altogether in ''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)|Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]'' and ''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)|Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince]]''. His part in {{DH|F1}} was also greatly reduced. He mentioned that he will miss the Dursleys very much now that the series is over.
   
 
==Mobile phones==
 
==Mobile phones==
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May 2006: When a mobile rang out for the third time during his performance as Hector, a teacher, in Alan Bennett's ''The History Boys'' at the Broadhurst Theatre in New York, Griffiths rounded on the theatregoer and thundered: "I am not going to compete with these electronic devices. You were told to turn them off by the stage manager; you were told it was against the law. If we hear one more phone go off, we'll quit this performance. You have been warned."
 
May 2006: When a mobile rang out for the third time during his performance as Hector, a teacher, in Alan Bennett's ''The History Boys'' at the Broadhurst Theatre in New York, Griffiths rounded on the theatregoer and thundered: "I am not going to compete with these electronic devices. You were told to turn them off by the stage manager; you were told it was against the law. If we hear one more phone go off, we'll quit this performance. You have been warned."
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==Personal life==
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Griffiths was married to Heather Gibson. He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2008 New Year Honours.
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Griffiths died at the University Hospital Coventry on 28 March 2013, from complications due to heart surgery.<ref name="BBC"/>
   
 
==Behind the scenes==
 
==Behind the scenes==
*By coincidence, his birthday is the same as that of [[Harry Potter]] and [[J. K. Rowling]], 31st July.
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*By coincidence, his birthday was the same as that of [[Harry Potter]] and [[J. K. Rowling]], 31st July.
*Griffiths appeared together with fellow ''Harry Potter'' film star [[Frances de la Tour]] ([[Olympe Maxime]]) in the [[Between 2010 and 2017|2011]] film ''[[Wikipedia:Hugo (film)|Hugo]]'' (a film adaptation of [[Wikipedia:Brian Selznick|Brian Selznick]]'s ''[[Wikipedia:The Invention of Hugo Cabret|The Invention of Hugo Cabret]]''), in which Griffith's character, Monsieur Frick, served as a love interest for de La Tour's character, Madame Emilie.
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*Griffiths appeared together with fellow ''Harry Potter'' film star [[Frances de la Tour]] ([[Olympe Maxime]]) in the [[2011]] film ''[[Wikipedia:Hugo (film)|Hugo]]'' (a film adaptation of [[Wikipedia:Brian Selznick|Brian Selznick]]'s ''[[Wikipedia:The Invention of Hugo Cabret|The Invention of Hugo Cabret]]''), in which Griffith's character, Monsieur Frick, served as a love interest for de La Tour's character, Madame Emilie.
  +
*Griffiths appeared in ''[[w:c:pirates:Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides|Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides]]'', which also featured [[Johnny Depp]] and [[Bronson Webb]].
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*Griffiths appeared in ''[[Wikipedia:About Time (2013 film)|About Time]]'', which also featured [[Brendan Gleeson]] and [[Bill Nighy]]. This was Griffiths' final film appearance.
   
 
==External links==
 
==External links==
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*[http://www.ibdb.com/person.asp?id=412507 Richard Griffiths] at the Internet Broadway Database
 
*[http://www.ibdb.com/person.asp?id=412507 Richard Griffiths] at the Internet Broadway Database
 
*[http://www.americantheatrewing.org/seminars/detail/actors_on_performing_04_06 Actors On Performing] [http://www.americantheatrewing.org/seminars/ Working in the Theatre Seminar] video at [http://www.americantheatrewing.org/ American Theatre Wing], April 2006
 
*[http://www.americantheatrewing.org/seminars/detail/actors_on_performing_04_06 Actors On Performing] [http://www.americantheatrewing.org/seminars/ Working in the Theatre Seminar] video at [http://www.americantheatrewing.org/ American Theatre Wing], April 2006
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==Notes and references==
 
{{Imagecat|Images of Richard Griffiths}}
 
{{Imagecat|Images of Richard Griffiths}}
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{{Reflist}}
   
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[[de:Richard Griffiths]]
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[[es:Richard Griffiths]]
 
[[fr:Richard Griffiths]]
 
[[fr:Richard Griffiths]]
 
[[pl:Richard Griffiths]]
 
[[pl:Richard Griffiths]]
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[[pt:Richard Griffiths]]
 
[[ru:Ричард Гриффитс]]
 
[[ru:Ричард Гриффитс]]
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[[Category:Actors (real-world)|Griffiths, Richard]]
 
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Griffiths, Richard}}
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[[Category:Deceased actors (real-world)]]
 
[[Category:English actors (real-world)]]
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[[Category:Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets actors]]
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[[Category:Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 actors]]
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[[Category:Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix actors]]
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[[Category:Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone actors]]
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[[Category:Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban actors]]
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[[Category:Vernon Dursley actors]]

Latest revision as of 01:21, 15 November 2022

Richard Griffiths (31 July 1947 - 28 March 2013) was an English actor, who portrayed Vernon Dursley in the Harry Potter films. He was married to Heather Gibson.

Career

Griffiths acting career began on radio and the classical stage where he built up an early reputation as a Shakespearean clown, with larger-than-life portrayals of Henry VIII, Falstaff in The Merry Wives of Windsor and Bottom in A Midsummer Night's Dream with the Royal Shakespeare Company just a few of his standout credits. The son of deaf parents, he learned sign language at an early age and, interestingly enough, developed a talent for dialects which allowed him to show off in a number of ethnic portrayals. Griffiths has been appearing in films since 1975 both in Britain and abroad, his most acclaimed roles have been in both contemporary and period pieces. Griffiths also played the part of a police detective-cum-restaurant owner and chef in Pie in the Sky.

Achievements

2004 - Won the Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Hector in The History Boys at the National Theatre (Lyttleton) (London).

He was awarded the 2006 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for his performance as "Hector" in Alan Bennett's The History Boys.

Past performances/earlier career Griffiths was considered by the producers of Doctor Who for the role of the Doctor himself, however, the original series did not continue from 1989.

He has been in over sixty productions in both films and theatre.

He also starred with Emma Watson (Hermione Granger) in the British-Film made for TV, Ballet Shoes.

Harry Potter career

Griffiths played the magic-disliking Uncle Vernon, who is married to Aunt Petunia, father to Dudley Dursley, brother to Aunt Marge, and uncle of Harry Potter. He had appeared in five of the films in the series. His part was written out altogether in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. His part in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 was also greatly reduced. He mentioned that he will miss the Dursleys very much now that the series is over.

Mobile phones

Richard Griffiths has been known to take public issue with mobile/cell phones ringing in the audience during his stage performances.

June 2005: he ordered a man out of the National Theatre, London, when his mobile phone went off for the sixth time during a performance of Alan Bennett's The History Boys. The actor stopped in the middle of his lines, fixed the offender with an icy stare and said: "I am asking you to stand up, leave this auditorium and never, ever come back". Other members of the audience applauded as the man left the theatre.

October 2005: Was performing in the stage play Heroes in London's Wyndham Theatre when a lady's mobile phone kept ringing in the audience. After it rang a third time, he stopped the play and - to loud applause - had her ejected from the theatre.

May 2006: When a mobile rang out for the third time during his performance as Hector, a teacher, in Alan Bennett's The History Boys at the Broadhurst Theatre in New York, Griffiths rounded on the theatregoer and thundered: "I am not going to compete with these electronic devices. You were told to turn them off by the stage manager; you were told it was against the law. If we hear one more phone go off, we'll quit this performance. You have been warned."

Personal life

Griffiths was married to Heather Gibson. He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2008 New Year Honours.

Griffiths died at the University Hospital Coventry on 28 March 2013, from complications due to heart surgery.[1]

Behind the scenes

External links

Notes and references

Wiki
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