Ian Richardson
ActingAbout Ian Richardson
Ian William Richardson CBE (7 April 1934 – 9 February 2007) was a Scottish actor, best known for his portrayal of the Machiavellian Tory politician Francis Urquhart in the BBC's House of Cards trilogy. He was also a leading Shakespearean stage actor. Description above from the Wikipedia article Ian Richardson, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Career Statistics & Market Influence
Analyzing the cinematic journey of Ian Richardson reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 50 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.
Genre Dominance: Drama
The majority of Ian Richardson's filmography leans towards the Drama genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.
The "Box Office" Signature
With a 38% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Ian Richardson remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in Monsignor Quixote, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.
Best Ian Richardson Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Ian Richardson's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Ian Richardson.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Hogfather | Death | Hit | Similar → |
| 2007 | Becoming Jane | Richter Langlois | Hit | Similar → |
| 2006 | Twice Upon a Time | Lord Evelyn Gaylord | Average | Similar → |
| 2006 | The Booze Cruise III: The Scattering | Marcus | Hit | Similar → |
| 2005 | The Booze Cruise II: The Treasure Hunt | Marcus Foster | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2005 | Joyeux Noel | The Bishop | Hit | Similar → |
| 2005 | The Adventures of Greyfriars Bobby | Judge | Flop | Similar → |
| 2004 | Nero | Septimus | Average | Similar → |
| 2004 | Dæmos Rising | Narrator | Average | Similar → |
| 2001 | From Hell | Sir Charles Warren | Hit | Similar → |
| 2000 | 102 Dalmatians | Mr. Torte | Average | Similar → |
| 2000 | Murder Rooms: The Dark Beginnings of Sherlock Holmes | Dr. Joseph Bell | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1999 | The King and I | The Kralahome (voice) | Flop | Similar → |
| 1998 | Alice Through the Looking Glass | Wasp | Flop | Similar → |
| 1998 | A Knight in Camelot | Merlin | Average | Similar → |
| 1998 | Dark City | Mr. Book | Hit | Similar → |
| 1997 | The Fifth Province | Dr. Drudy | Average | Similar → |
| 1997 | Incognito | Turley (prosecutor) | Average | Similar → |
| 1997 | A Royal Scandal | Narrator | Hit | Similar → |
| 1997 | B.A.P.S | Manley | Flop | Similar → |
| 1997 | The Woman In White | Mr. Fairlie | Hit | Similar → |
| 1996 | The Treasure Seekers | Haig | Flop | Similar → |
| 1996 | Catherine the Great | Vorontzov | Average | Similar → |
| 1994 | A Change of Place | Henri Chambertin | Flop | Similar → |
| 1993 | Dirty Weekend | Nimrod | Flop | Similar → |
| 1993 | M. Butterfly | Ambassador Toulon | Hit | Similar → |
| 1993 | Foreign Affairs | Edwin | Hit | Similar → |
| 1992 | An Ungentlemanly Act | His Excellency, Governor Rex Hunt | Average | Similar → |
| 1992 | Year of the Comet | Sir Mason Harwood | Average | Similar → |
| 1991 | Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead | Polonius | Hit | Similar → |
| 1990 | King of the Wind | Bey of Tunis | Average | Similar → |
| 1990 | The Plot to Kill Hitler | Ludwig Beck | Average | Similar → |
| 1989 | The Winslow Boy | Sir Robert Morton, KC | Average | Similar → |
| 1988 | Burning Secret | Edmund's Father | Average | Similar → |
| 1987 | Cry Freedom | State Prosecutor | Hit | Similar → |
| 1987 | The Devil's Disciple | General Burgoyne | Average | Similar → |
| 1987 | The Fourth Protocol | Sir Nigel Irvine | Average | Similar → |
| 1986 | Whoops Apocalypse | Rear Admiral Bendish | Average | Similar → |
| 1985 | Star Quality | Ray Malcolm | Flop | Similar → |
| 1985 | Brazil | Mr. Warrenn | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1985 | Monsignor Quixote | Bishop of Motopo | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1984 | The Master of Ballantrae | Mr. MacKellar | Average | Similar → |
| 1983 | The Sign of Four | Sherlock Holmes | Average | Similar → |
| 1983 | The Hound of the Baskervilles | Sherlock Holmes | Hit | Similar → |
| 1982 | A Cotswold Death | Inspector Anthony Arrowsmith | Hit | Similar → |
| 1979 | Charlie Muffin | Cuthbertson | Average | Similar → |
| 1979 | Ike | FM Sir Bernard Montgomery | Average | Similar → |
| 1972 | Man of La Mancha | The Padre | Hit | Similar → |
| 1968 | A Midsummer Night's Dream | Oberon | Average | Similar → |
| 1967 | Marat/Sade | Jean-Paul Marat | Average | Similar → |
Ian Richardson - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Ian Richardson?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Ian Richardson is "Monsignor Quixote" with a rating of 8.5/10.
How many movies has Ian Richardson acted in?
Ian Richardson has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Ian Richardson?
Other notable films include "Murder Rooms: The Dark Beginnings of Sherlock Holmes", "The Booze Cruise II: The Treasure Hunt", and "Brazil".