Origins & Early Life

Richard Thomas Griffiths (31 July 1947 – 28 March 2013) was an English actor. He was known for his portrayals of Vernon Dursley in the Harry Potter films (2001–2011), Uncle Monty in Withnail and I (1987), and Henry Crabbe in Pie in the Sky (1994–1997). He received numerous accolades in his career and was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Queen Elizabeth II in 2008. For his performance in the stage play The History Boys, Griffiths won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play and a Laurence Olivier Award in the same category.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

For the 2006 film adaptation, Griffiths was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role. Griffiths is also known for his performances at the National Theatre including Equus (2008), The Habit of Art (2010), and The Sunshine Boys (2012). Griffiths had supporting roles in such critically acclaimed films as Chariots of Fire (1981), The French Lieutenant's Woman (1981), Gandhi (1982), A Private Function (1984), Venus (2006), Ballet Shoes (2007), and Hugo (2011). He also acted in The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear (1991), Sleepy Hollow (1999), The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005), and Pirates of the Caribbean:...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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• Bernadette Lafont — Contemporary (Died in 2013) (2013): Iconic French actress, celebrated for her role in the New Wave movement.
• Bobby Bland — Contemporary (Died in 2013) (2013): Pioneering blues and soul artist known for tempestuous arias of love and betrayal.
• Boris Berezovsky (businessman) — Contemporary (Died in 2013) (2013): Russian oligarch and businessman known for accumulating vast wealth through privatization.
• Alan Parker — Shared historical date (07-31 · Died) (2020): Acclaimed English filmmaker known for genre versatility and numerous BAFTA and Golden Globe wins.
• Bill Russell — Shared historical date (07-31 · Died) (2022): Center for the Boston Celtics, a 12-time champion and basketball legend.
• Alexander Grothendieck — Shared historical date (03-28 · Born) (1928): Pioneering figure in modern algebraic geometry and category theory.
• Arsène Houssaye — Shared historical date (03-28 · Born) (1814): French novelist, poet, and man of letters, active from the 1830s to the 1890s.
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