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Ian Richardson

Ian Richardson

Actor · Died February 9, 2007, aged 72 · Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

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.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
April 7, 1934
Died
February 9, 2007 (aged 72)
From
Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
Works as
Actor
Titles
42 on MovieCove · 110 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26

What are Ian Richardson's films like?

Across their 35 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Genres

Drama7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 68th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 52nd percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Adventure5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 53rd percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Biography4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 61st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Crime4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 60th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Self
22%
Bonds
21%
Morality
20%
Power
16%
Ideas
9%
Society
7%
Survival
5%
Romantic love8 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity8 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice5 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition7 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds3 titles, browse their movies with this themePower3 titles, browse their movies with this themeClass4 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 30 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 7 · Stylized 14 · Heightened 9

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 7 · Charged 15 · Intense 8

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 10 · Shifting 18 · Whiplash 2

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 13 · Some laughs 12 · Funny 5

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 13 · Even-paced 16 · Relentless 1

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 9 · Engaged 15 · Full focus 6

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 12 · Affecting 8 · Heavy 10

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 20 · Open-ended 5 · Ambiguous 5

Roles they play

15 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 4 of 15 analyzed roles.

Shadow
4 of 15
Hero
3 of 15
Ally
3 of 15
Mentor
2 of 15
Threshold guardian
2 of 15
Trickster
1 of 15
Show the 15 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
18
Melancholic
12
Contemplative
13
Romantic
9
Absurd
8
Other
34

How their films linger

Bittersweet13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 9 with a twist

  • Happy11
  • Bittersweet15
  • Tragic6
  • Ambiguous3

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Ian Richardson's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 27 of their 42 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (18).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Ian Richardson's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

110 credits, 42 with a MovieCove page; 5 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Memorial Memorial (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    as Francis Urquhart (voice)

  • Hogfather (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Death

  • Becoming Jane(2007)

    as Richter Langlois

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Hogfather (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 2 episodes · as Death

  • Twice Upon a Time(2006)

    as Lord Evelyn Gaylord

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • The Booze Cruise III: The Scattering (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Marcus

  • The Booze Cruise II: The Treasure Hunt (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Marcus Foster

  • Joyeux Noel(2005)

    as The Bishop

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • The Adventures of Greyfriars Bobby(2005)

    as Judge

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Bleak House(2005)

    Show 5 episodes · as Chancellor

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Agatha Christie's Marple(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as Conway Jefferson

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • Imperium: Nero (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 2 episodes · as Settimio

  • Nero(2004)

    as Septimus

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Dæmos Rising (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Narrator

  • Strange (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 6 episodes · as Canon Adolphus Black

  • Sherlock Holmes' mysteries : The White Knight Stratagem (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Dr. Joseph Bell

  • Murder Rooms: The Dark Beginnings of Sherlock Holmes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 4 episodes · as Dr. Joseph Bell

  • From Hell(2001)

    as Sir Charles Warren

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • 3-D Halloween (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Narrator

  • 102 Dalmatians(2000)

    as Mr. Torte

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Gormenghast (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 2 episodes · as Lord Groan

  • Murder Rooms: The Dark Beginnings of Sherlock Holmes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Dr. Joseph Bell

  • The Magician's House (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 12 episodes · as Stephen Tyler

  • The King and I(1999)

    as The Kralahome (voice)

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Alice Through the Looking Glass(1998)

    as Wasp

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • A Knight in Camelot(1998)

    as Merlin

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Dark City(1998)

    as Mr. Book

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • The Woman In White (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Mr. Fairlie

  • The Woman In White (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 2 episodes · as Mr. Fairlie

  • The Fifth Province (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Dr. Drudy

  • Incognito(1997)

    as Turley (prosecutor)

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • The Canterville Ghost (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Simon de Canterville

  • A Royal Scandal(1996)

    as Narrator

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • B*A*P*S(1997)

    as Manley

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • The Treasure Seekers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Haig

  • Catherine the Great(1995)

    as Vorontzov

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • The Final Cut (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 4 episodes · as Francis Urquhart

  • Savage Play (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Count

  • A Change of Place (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Henri Chambertin

  • Words Upon the Window Pane(1994)

    as Dr. Trench

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • To Play the King(1993)

    Show 4 episodes · as Francis Urquhart

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Dirty Weekend (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Nimrod

  • Remember (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Philip Rawlings

  • M. Butterfly(1993)

    as Ambassador Toulon

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Foreign Affairs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Edwin

  • Highlander(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Max Leiner

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows

  • An Ungentlemanly Act (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as His Excellency, Governor Rex Hunt

  • Year of the Comet(1992)

    as Sir Mason Harwood

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • The Gravy Train Goes East (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 4 episodes · as Michael Spearpoint

  • Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead(1990)

    as Polonius

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • House of Cards (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 4 episodes · as Francis Urquhart

  • The Gravy Train (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 4 episodes · as Michael Spearpoint

  • King of the Wind(1989)

    as Bey of Tunis

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • The Phantom of the Opera (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 2 episodes · as Alain Choleti

  • The Plot to Kill Hitler(1990)

    as Ludwig Beck

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Chillers(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Lee Mandeville

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all shows

  • The Winslow Boy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Sir Robert Morton, KC

  • Twist of Fate (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 2 episodes · as SS-Sturmbannführer Doctor Schlossberg

  • Burning Secret(1988)

    as Edmund's Father

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Troubles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 2 episodes · as Edward Spencer

  • Cry Freedom(1987)

    as State Prosecutor

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Porterhouse Blue(1987)

    Show 4 episodes · as Sir Godber Evans

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • The Devil's Disciple (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as General Burgoyne

  • The Fourth Protocol(1987)

    as Sir Nigel Irvine

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Blunt (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Anthony Blunt

  • Whoops Apocalypse(1987)

    as Rear Admiral Bendish

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Lord Mountbatten: The Last Viceroy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 6 episodes · as Nehru

  • Star Quality (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Ray Malcolm

  • Theatre Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as General Burgoyne

  • Brazil(1985)

    as Mr. Warrenn

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Screen Two (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Anthony Blunt

  • Monsignor Quixote (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Bishop of Motopo

  • Mistral's Daughter(1984)

    Show 8 episodes · as Adrien Avigdor

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all shows

  • Slimming Down (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Mr. Shrigley

  • The Master of Ballantrae(1984)

    as Mr. MacKellar

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • The Sign of Four(1983)

    as Sherlock Holmes

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • The Hound of the Baskervilles(1983)

    as Sherlock Holmes

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Brass (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 2 episodes · as Marshall Snelgrove, QC

  • Number 10 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 1 episode · as James Ramsay MacDonald

  • Salad Days (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Uncle Zed

  • Passing Through (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Richard

  • The Woman in White (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 5 episodes · as Frederick Fairlie

  • A Cotswold Death (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Inspector Anthony Arrowsmith

  • Private Schulz (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 4 episodes · as Gerald Melfort · as Major Neuheim · as Stanley Kemp

  • Gauguin the Savage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Degas

  • Charlie Muffin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Cuthbertson

  • Churchill and the Generals (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Gen. Bernard L. Montgomery

  • Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 5 episodes · as Bill Haydon

  • Ike (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 3 episodes · as FM Sir Bernard Montgomery

  • Ike: The War Years(1979)

    as FM Sir Bernard Montgomery

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Sorry... (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Michael - 'Private View'

  • Danton's Death (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Robespierre

  • Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Richard

  • Gawain and the Green Knight(1973)

    as Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Man of La Mancha(1972)

    as The Padre

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • The Darwin Adventure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Capt. Fitzroy

  • Eyeless in Gaza (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 5 episodes · as Anthony Beavis

  • Great Performances (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Bishop of Motopo

  • Play for Today (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 1 episode · as Inspector Anthony Arrowsmith

  • Plays of Today (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as The Son

  • Civilisation(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Hamlet

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • A Midsummer Night's Dream(1969)

    as Oberon

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • All's Well That Ends Well (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Bertram

  • Marat/Sade(1967)

    as Jean-Paul Marat

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • NET Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Show 1 episode · as Antipholus of Ephesus

  • BBC Play of the Month (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Maximilien Robespierre

  • Theatre 625 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Festival (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Antipholus of Ephesus

  • As You Like It (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    as Le Beau

  • Hallmark Hall of Fame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. MacKellar

Career shape

Star power in the 98th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 110 titles from 1951 to 2022; peak year 1998.

Biggest box office

102 Dalmatians (2000)

$184M worldwide

Highest rated

Civilisation (1969)

Midcredits 98th

Most popular right now

Agatha Christie's Marple (2004)

Film career

MilestoneBreakout
19512022

Peak 1998 · steadily prominent in film for years. Top draw in 7 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting110 of 110: 110 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score62nd

By decade

1950s1 · acting1960s10 · acting1970s14 · acting1980s29 · acting1990s34 · acting2000s21 · acting2020s1 · acting

Billing

usually 5th · top billed in 8% of 24 roles
678797

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Ian Richardson's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 57th percentile, the median of all 34; across their 30 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 57th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

57thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 30

Approval · how many liked their films

57thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 30

Reach · how many have seen their films

60thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 30

Midcredits score across 42 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up13
  • 50th to 74th14
  • 25th to 49th11
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

18 of their 42 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved8
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser18
  • Mixed15

Most divisive · actor

B*A*P*S (1997)

84th percentile spread · 39% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Brazil (1985)

Midcredits 97th · 84% liked

Reviewers score the acting 70/100 in their films, across 29 reviewed titles; fans 79, detractors 44. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Ian Richardson's work okay for kids?

Across up to 11 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore4 titlesmedian 64 · intenseMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity11 titles36–59 · median 43 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity4 titlesmedian 32 · mildMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs4 titlesmedian 30 · mildMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense5 titles23–82 · median 58 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Ian Richardson work with?

People who share at least 2 of Ian Richardson's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Brian Blessed shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and cinematographers

Producers