Famously eccentric, he once stopped in a middle of a stage performance, and addressed the audience enquiring "Is there doctor in the house". When a doctor made himself known, Richardson calmly enquired "Isn't this a terrible play doctor ?".
He was awarded the Laurence Olivier Theatre Special Award in 1982 (1981 season) for his lifetime achievement in the theatre.
Hobby was collecting motorbikes.
Interred at Highgate Cemetery (East), Highgate, London, England, UK.
Is portrayed by Rhys McConnochie in Darlings of the Gods (1989) (TV)
Knighted in 1947.
Once found by police walking very slowly along the gutter of an Oxford street, he explained he was taking his pet mouse for a stroll.
Played both God - in Time Bandits (1981) - and the Devil - in Tales from the Crypt (1972).
Played two roles originally played by Basil Rathbone. He played Karenin in Anna Karenina (1948) (Rathbone was Karenin in the Anna Karenina (1935) film version). Richarson also played Dr. Sloper in The Heiress (1949) after Rathbone had played Sloper in the Broadway stage version.
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 was raised Catholic by her.
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.
Was offered the part of Lord Bartelsham (played by Richard Vernon) in Ripping Yarns: Roger Of The Raj, but could not agree to terms and conditions.
Was originally considered for one of the leading roles of Lady L (1965).
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 mini series "Wagner" (1983), which was released shortly after Richardson's death.