Tony Nominated 'My Fair Lady' Star Richardson Dies at 73

Ian Richardson, the theatre, film and TV star who earned a Tony nomination for his performance as Henry Higgins in the 1976 revival of My Fair Lady, has passed away at the age of 73.

He died on February 9th in his London home.  According to a BBC News article, Richardson had not been ill and had been scheduled to film a TV show next week.

The actor, who was "famous for his sonorous voice and stern demeanour" often played sophisticated and/or devious characters.  He was well-known to British TV audiences for his work as Francis Urquhart in "House of Cards," for which he won a BAFTA Award.  Richardson, an accomplished Shakespearean, had based the character on Richard III.

Born in Edinburgh, Scotland on April 7th, 1934, Richardson trained at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama before becoming one of founding members of the Royal Shakespeare Company, established in 1960 by Sir Peter Hall.  He notably originated the role of Marat in the company's groundbreaking production of Marat/Sade (he also reprised his work in the film version, which was also directed by Peter Brook). 

He appeared in Marat/Sade on Broadway, as well as in My Fair Lady and Edward Albee's adaptation of Vladimir Nabokov's Lolita (in the role of "A Certain Gentleman").  His film credits included Dark City, Brazil, M. Butterfly, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead and the upcoming Jane Austen biopic Becoming Jane.  His TV work included "Gormenghast," "The Hound of the Baskervilles," "Porterhouse Blue," and "Bleak House."  He also reprised the role of Francis Urquhart from "House of Cards" in numerous TV movies.

"I cast him in 'House of Cards' because of his comic talent and he was utterly brilliant. He was the most sophisticated craftsman comic actor in this country," said "House of Cards" director Paul Seed.

Richardson is survived by his wife, Maroussia, and two sons.