‏Richard Vernon‏ (1303 - 1376)

One of the most memorable of actors, distinguished-looking Richard Vernon completed his training at the Central School of Speech and Drama. From the early 1950's, he enjoyed a very successful career on the stage in London in productions ranging from 'Peter Pan' (as Mr.Darling) to Noël Coward's 'Hay Fever' (as Richard Greatham). During the 1960's, he appeared in supporting roles in several prestigious motion pictures, including Village of the Damned (1960), The Yellow Rolls-Royce (1964) and Goldfinger (1964).Richard was a far more consummate scene stealer on television. Looking older than his years and with his dignified bearing, he specialized in impersonating military or aristocratic types and senior public servants. He enjoyed a successful run in Upstairs, Downstairs (1971), followed by The Duchess of Duke Street (1976), but was ultimately at his best in gleeful old rogues and slightly dishevelled or befuddled eccentrics. He also had a way of delivering even the funniest of lines totally deadpan and matter-of-fact. He was particularly droll as Lord Bartlesham in the Ripping Yarns (1976) episode 'Roger of the Raj'. Probably his most popular role, however, was that of galactic fjord builder Slartibartfast in The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy (1981), a part to which he had originally lent his voice in a 1978 radio serial. A truly unique, immensely likeable actor, Richard Vernon plied his craft until two years prior to his death from Parkinson's Disease.