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Richard Morant (30 October 1945 – 9 November 2011) was an English actor.
BiographyEdit
Morant was born in Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Circular reference His father was Shakespearean actor Philip Morant (1909–1993).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=telegraph/> His sister is actress Angela Morant. He was also a nephew of actors Bill and Linden Travers, and a cousin of actress Penelope Wilton.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama before joining the Prospect Theatre Company, and touring with Ian McKellen in Richard II, Edward II and Twelfth Night.<ref name=independent>Template:Cite news</ref>
Morant had a long television and theatrical career, first as Flashman in a BBC adaptation of the Thomas Hughes novel, Tom Brown's Schooldays (1971), and a starring role in Thames Television's Armchair Theatre play Verité (1972) and a regular role as Dr Dwight Enys in the BBC series Poldark (1975).<ref name=guardianobit/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Morant also appeared in several BBC serials, including adaptations of Walter Scott's Woodstock (1973), as the future Charles II, and The Talisman (1980), as Conrade of Montserrat.<ref name=guardianobit/>
He played Maximilien Robespierre in The Scarlet Pimpernel (1982), and the titular character in the second series of the children's programme Captain Zep - Space Detective. He later played Mervyn Bunter, the valet of Lord Peter Wimsey, in A Dorothy L. Sayers Mystery, the BBC's 1987 productions of Strong Poison, Have His Carcase and Gaudy Night (all based on Dorothy Sayers's original novels).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 1988 he played Theodore Dyke Acland in the serial Jack the Ripper.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
His film roles included Zeppelin (1971), Mahler (1974), The Company of Wolves (1984), The Second Victory (1986), Scandal (1989) and Janice Beard (1999).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
His stage appearances included a starring role in Noël Coward's Private Lives at the Theatre Royal, Bath in 1984.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The following year he co-starred with Stephanie Beacham and Pam Ferris in ITV's rag-trade soap drama, Connie.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He also did voice-over, radio, and audio book work including voicing books by Julian Barnes and Julian Fellowes.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }} (subscription required)</ref>
Personal lifeEdit
Morant's first wife was Melissa Fairbanks, a daughter of Douglas Fairbanks Jr., with whom he had a son and daughter. His second wife was Valerie Buchanan, with whom he had another son and daughter.<ref name=telegraph>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
He had a sideline as a dealer in Asian carpets and textiles, including running his own gallery in Notting Hill.<ref name=independent/> In 2005 he became the sole owner of an established company specialising in carpets and fine textiles,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> headquartered in Notting Hill, London. After suffering a short illness, Morant died suddenly of an aneurysm<ref name=guardianobit>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> on 9 November 2011, aged 66.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
FilmographyEdit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Battle of Britain | Replacement Pilot - Red Section 'Red 2' | Uncredited |
| 1971 | Zeppelin | Billy Chisholm | Uncredited |
| 1974 | Mahler | Max | |
| 1974 | The Protectors - Episode The Bridge | David Mitchell | TV series |
| 1975 | Hijack! | Colin | |
| 1975 | Poldark | Dr Dwight Enys | TV movie |
| 1977 | The Hunchback of Notre Dame | Phoebus | TV movie |
| 1980 | The Merchant of Venice | Lorenzo | TV movie |
| 1982 | The Scarlet Pimpernel | Maximilien Robespierre | |
| 1983 | On the Third Day | Jeremy Bolt | |
| 1984 | The Company of Wolves | Wealthy Groom | |
| 1985 | The Last Place on Earth | Lawrence Oates | |
| 1987 | The Second Victory | Capt. Johnson | |
| 1989 | Scandal | D'Lazlo | |
| 1999 | Janice Beard | Boss | |
| 2006 | Day Night Day Night | Flirt | Final film role |