Trivia

Once, visiting the home of Laurence Olivier and his then-wife Vivien Leigh, he was invited to inspect certain paintings which were kept in the attic. Somehow, he contrived to fall over; the floor of the attic gave way under his weight and he fell through it, landing on a bed (which then collapsed) in a room below. He was unhurt, but shaken; he was then scolded at some length by Vivien Leigh, whom he had already annoyed earlier in the day. He later said, "There was a rational basis to Vivien's fury, which we must salute. If you prod a tigress twice in her lair, you must not expect her to purr.".

Famously eccentric, he once stopped in a middle of a stage performance, and addressed the audience enquiring "Is there a doctor in the house?" When a doctor made himself known, Richardson calmly enquired "Isn't this a terrible play, doctor?".

Police once found him walking very slowly along the gutter of an Oxford street. He explained that he was taking his pet mouse for a stroll.

He was created a Knight Bachelor in the 1947 King's New Year Honours List for his services to the stage.

Hobby was collecting motorbikes.

He was viewed as something of an enigma; very few could claim to have known the real Ralph Richardson. He was never keen on granting interviews, and was reputed to have been rather secretive.

Was part of a trio of great English stage actors, the other two being Laurence Olivier and John Gielgud. They appeared in several scenes together in the epic miniseries Wagner (1983), which was released shortly after Richardson's death.

Interred at Highgate Cemetery (East), Highgate, London, England, UK.

Played two roles originally played by Basil Rathbone. He played Karenin in Anna Karenina (1948) (Rathbone was Karenin in the 1935 Anna Karenina (1935) film version). Richardson also played Dr. Sloper in The Heiress (1949) after Rathbone had played Sloper in the Broadway stage version.

Played both God, in Time Bandits (1981); and the Devil, in Tales from the Crypt (1972).

Was nominated three times for Broadway's Tony Award as Best Actor (Dramatic): in 1957, for "The Waltz of the Toreadors"; in 1971, for "Home"; and in 1977, for "No Man's Land"--but never won.

Served in the Fleet Air Arm during the war and was given special leave to appear in a documentary film 'The Soldier's Food'.

The son of a Quaker father and a Roman Catholic mother, Ralph Richardson lived with his mother after she deserted the family home in Gloucestershire, and she raised him Catholic.

Appeared in three Oscar Best Picture nominees: The Citadel (1938), The Heiress (1949) and Doctor Zhivago (1965).

He was awarded the Laurence Olivier Theatre Special Award in 1982 (1981 season) for his lifetime achievement in the theatre.

Pictured with John Gielgud on one of a set of eight British commemorative postage stamps celebrating the 200th anniversary of The Old Vic Theatre, issued 30 August 2018. The stamp shows Richardson and Gielgud in a 1975 performance of "No Man's Land". Other performers appearing on stamps in this set are Laurence Olivier, Glenda Jackson, Albert Finney, Maggie Smith, Sharon Benson, Judi Dench, John Stride, and Richard Burton.

In 1936, he appeared in two films based on novels by H.G. Wells: Things to Come (1936) and The Man Who Could Work Miracles (1936).

A memorial service was held for him at Westminster Abbey, London on 18 November 1983.

Has a son, Charles.

Is portrayed by Rhys McConnochie in Darlings of the Gods (1989)

He pronounced his first name, "Rafe".

Was offered the part of Lord Bartlesham (played by Richard Vernon) in Roger of the Raj (1979), but could not agree to terms and conditions.

Was originally considered for one of the leading roles of Lady L (1965).

Although Celia Johnson played his daughter in the film "The Holly and the Ivy," he was only 6 years her senior.

During WWII he served in the Fleet Air Arm and was seconded from it to make the military-training film "The Soldier's Food" (1941) at Riverside Studios, with locations at Richmond Park.

Made his stage debut as Lorenzo in 'The Merchant of Venice' at the Marina Theatre Lowestoft.