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Richard Griffiths

Actor

Richard Griffiths

Born July 31, 1947 in Thornaby-on-Tees, North Yorkshire, England, UKDied March 28, 201359 films

Richard Thomas Griffiths (July 31, 1947 – March 28, 2013) was an English actor of film, television, and stage. For his performance in the stage play The History Boys, Griffiths won a Tony Award, a Laurence Olivier Award, the Drama Desk Award and the Outer Critics Circle Award. For the 2006 film adaptation, Griffiths was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role.

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He played Vernon Dursley in the Harry Potter films (2001-2010) and Great Uncle Matthew Brown "Gum" in the BBC film Ballet Shoes (2007). He also portrayed Uncle Monty in Withnail and I (1987), and Henry Crabbe in Pie in the Sky (1994–1997). Earlier in his career, he had supporting roles in such critically acclaimed films as Chariots of Fire (1981), The French Lieutenant's Woman (1981), Gandhi (1982), and The Naked Gun 2+1⁄2: The Smell of Fear (1991). In his later career he appeared in Sleepy Hollow (1999), The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005), Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011) and in Martin Scorsese's Hugo (2011).

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The best way into Richard Griffiths's work
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban posterFirst watchHarry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban20048.0as Vernon DursleyHarry Potter's life is in danger once more as dangerous wizard Sirius Black has escaped from Azkaban Prison and is heading to Hogwarts.View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone poster7.9Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone2001Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets poster7.7Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets2002Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 poster7.7Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 12010Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix poster7.7Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix2007About Time poster7.9About Time2013Hugo poster7.2Hugo2011Sleepy Hollow poster7.2Sleepy Hollow1999Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides poster6.6Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides2011

Filmography

59 films as actor
  1. 2013About TimeLawyer in Play (uncredited)
  2. 2012Private PeacefulThe Colonel
  3. 2011HugoMonsieur Frick
  4. 2011Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger TidesKing George
  5. 2010Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1Vernon Dursley
  6. 2010Jackboots on WhitehallHermann Goering (voice)
  7. 2010National Theatre Live: The Habit of ArtFitz / W. H. Auden
  8. 2008Bedtime StoriesBarry Nottingham
  9. 2008A Muppets Christmas: Letters to SantaSanta Claus
  10. 2008Ballet ShoesGreat Uncle Matthew
  11. 2007Harry Potter and the Order of the PhoenixVernon Dursley
  12. 2006The History BoysHector
  13. 2006VenusDonald
  14. 2006The World of Peter Rabbit and FriendsMr. Alderman Ptolomy Tortoise/Mr. Jackson/Sir Isaac Newton
  15. 2005Opa!Tierrney
  16. 2005The Hitchhiker's Guide to the GalaxyJeltz (voice)
  17. 2005Princes in the TowerThomas More voice
  18. 2004Stage BeautySir Charles Sedley
  19. 2004Harry Potter and the Prisoner of AzkabanVernon Dursley
  20. 2003The Brides in the BathSir Edward Marshall-Hall
  21. 2002Jeffrey Archer: The TruthWillie Whitelaw
  22. 2002Harry Potter and the Chamber of SecretsVernon Dursley
  23. 2001Harry Potter and the Philosopher's StoneUncle Vernon Dursley
  24. 2000VatelDr. Bourdelot
  25. 1999Sleepy HollowBürgermeister Phillipse
  26. 1998Ted & RalphLandowner at Party
  27. 1998The Animal TrainElephant
  28. 1996The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends: The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies and Mrs. TittlemouseMr. Jackson (voice)
  29. 1995Funny BonesJim Minty
  30. 1994A Breed of HeroesBrian Beasely
  31. 1994Guarding TessFrederick
  32. 1992Mr. Wakefield's CrusadePorter
  33. 1992Blame It on the BellboyMaurice Horton
  34. 1991The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of FearDr. Meinheimer / Earl Hacker
  35. 1991King RalphPhipps
  36. 1989GoldeneyeSecond Admiral
  37. 1987Withnail & IMonty
  38. 1987CasanovaCardinal
  39. 1986Shanghai SurpriseWillie Tuttle
  40. 1984A Private FunctionAllardyce
  41. 1984Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the ApesCaptain Billings
  42. 1983Gorky ParkAnton
  43. 1982The Merry Wives of WindsorSir John Falstaff
  44. 1982GandhiCollins
  45. 1982A Light SnackThe Window Cleaner
  46. 1982The World Cup: A Captain's TaleSidney Barron
  47. 1982Britannia HospitalCheerful Bernie
  48. 1981RagtimeDelmas' Assistant No. 1
  49. 1981The French Lieutenant's WomanSir Tom
  50. 1981Chariots of FireHead Porter - Caius College
  51. 1980Superman IITerrorist
  52. 1980Breaking GlassStudio Engineer
  53. 1979Afternoon OffFactory Boss
  54. 1978The Comedy of ErrorsOfficer
  55. 1977It's Only Rock 'n' RollBoard Member
  56. 1977Twelve Off the BeltBedworth Hogg
  57. 1976It Shouldn't Happen to a VetSam Broadbent
  58. 1976Well Thank You, ThursdayWindow Cleaner
  59. 1974NormaPark Keeper