Richard Vernon

The British actor Richard Evelyn Vernon was born 7th March 1925.  He appeared in many feature films and television programmes, often in aristocratic or supercilious roles.  By appearance, he was prematurely balding and greying, which led him in to being typecast as the archetypal middle-aged lords and military types while still in his 30’s. During his career he appeared in over 180 film and TV productions.  He began acting near the end of his wartime service with the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve, producing, directing and starring in a production of George Bernard Shaw's 'Heartbreak House' for the Combined Services Club.

His first appearance in film was in an uncredited role in the 1949 film, Stop Press Girl which starred Basil Radford and Naunton Wayne.

His other film career include appearances in; Sapphire 1959, The Siege of Pinchgut 1959, Village of the Damned 1960, Foxhole in Cairo 1960, Cash on Demand 1961 (pictured), Just for Fun 1963, The Beatles A Hard Days Night 1964 – he played the part of the man on the train, Goldfinger 1964, The Early Bird 1965, Goodbye, Mr Chips 1969, One Brief Summer 1971 and Gandhi 1982.

He had much more success on the small-screen; some of his many TV appearances include; 1960’s The Odd Man as Charles Ormiston, as David Gough in Stranger on the Shore 1961 and Stranger in the City 1961, as Edwin Oldenshaw in 1967’s The Fellow, as Oliver Warburton in 1973’s Harriet’s Back in Town, as Lord Wharfedale in 1981’s Bognor and as Sir Horace Mainwaring in 1994’s Class Act.

He died 4th December 1997.