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25 Oct 02 - 05:11 PM (#811391) Subject: Obit: Richard Harris From: Amergin Actor Richard Harris dies Richard Harris had been expected to join the cast for the third Harry Potter film Celebrated actor Richard Harris has died following a fight against cancer, a family spokesman has confirmed. The Irish screen veteran, 72, had been undergoing chemotherapy for Hodgkin's disease, after falling ill two months ago. His death was announced by sons Damian, Jarid and Jamie who said their "beloved father" had passed away peacefully at University College Hospital, London, at 1900 BST on Wednesday. Harris, already a renowned actor, became known to a new generation of film fans through his role as Professor Albus Dumbledore in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - the first movie based on JK Rowling's tales of the boy wizard. He had just finished work on the second Harry Potter movie, Chamber of Secrets, when he became ill this summer. Harris had expected to be discharged in time to work on the third Potter film, The Prisoner of Azkaban. Harris plays 2,000-year-old Dumbledore Hodgkin's disease - a form of cancer that affects the lymph glands - was diagnosed when Harris went into hospital with a severe chest infection in August. Only a few weeks ago his agent, Sharon Thomas, told BBC News Online he was "responding well to treatment". Seven-film contract Harris built his reputation on his commanding performances in films such as A Man Called Horse and This Sporting Life. But he was also renowned for his hellraiser lifestyle and heavy drinking. He admitted his wayward nature almost lost him the role of Harry Potter's wise old wizard headmaster. He and the rest of the cast were asked to sign up for a seven-movie deal - the number of books JK Rowling has always said she intends to write. "The thought of doing seven films was intimidating," he said at the time. "I'm rebellious by nature and felt it could be rather difficult to handle." Messages transferred from an earlier thread. (Fewer messages/easier to move) --JoeClone |
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25 Oct 02 - 05:22 PM (#811396) Subject: Obit: Richard Harris - RIP From: Fiolar Sadly the death has been announced of the great actor Richard Harris. He had been suffering from Hodgkins Disease for some time and passed away peacefully in University College Hospital, London. Born in Limerick on October 1st 1930, he became probably one of the greatest actors of his generation. Who can forget such films as "Shake Hands With the Devil" (1959) in which he starred with James Cagney; "This Sporting Life" (1963)for which he won the Cannes Festival Acting Award and was Oscar nominated; "The Molly Maguires" (1970) and of course the wonderful "Camelot" (1967) after which pursued a parallel career as a singer. He had a reputation as a hellraiser and always lived life to the full. I'll never forget watching an interview on television in which he told the host about one episode in which he had spent days boozing with friends. When he returned home, his distraught wife asked where the hell he had been. His answer? "Didn't you get the ransom note?" At peace tonight Richard. God Bless. |
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25 Oct 02 - 05:28 PM (#811401) Subject: RE: Obit: Richard Harris - RIP From: Murray MacLeod A truly larger than life character. I will always remember him on some live TV show singing "Bridge over Troubled Water", he didn't quite make the high note at the end first time round, so he turned round and told the orchestra to repeat the final verse. They did, he hit the note perfectly and sustained it forever. He was actually a damn good singer, but seldom showed it. RIP Murray |
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25 Oct 02 - 05:30 PM (#811402) Subject: RE: Obit: Richard Harris From: Ireland A Man Called Horse is one of my favourite films, he was great in The Field, sad news. |
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25 Oct 02 - 05:55 PM (#811427) Subject: RE: Obit: Richard Harris - RIP From: Little Hawk Sigh... Someone left the cake out in the rain. I don't think that I can take it. He certainly had a powerful voice. - LH |
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25 Oct 02 - 06:39 PM (#811463) Subject: RE: Obit: Richard Harris - RIP From: katlaughing What a sad day, with Senator Wellstone and his family and staff dying, then I hear one of my all-time favourite actors/singers has gone along, too. Harris was brilliant and I shall miss him. I didn't like the Harry Potter movie, but I will go see the second one just to see him, again. Isn't heaven getting full, yet? kat |
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25 Oct 02 - 06:44 PM (#811467) Subject: RE: Obit: Richard Harris - RIP From: Susanne (skw) Richard Harris obituary |
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25 Oct 02 - 06:45 PM (#811470) Subject: RE: Obit: Richard Harris - RIP From: catspaw49 The man lived one helluva life and I feel confident he enjoyed it to the hilt.......Wherever he is tonight, he'll be in the thick of it with no quarter asked and none given. Gotta' be a whale of a party somewhere though, now that so many of them are together......Robert Shaw, Richard Burton......Yeah, they be have some good times tonight. Spaw |
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25 Oct 02 - 06:55 PM (#811478) Subject: RE: Obit: Richard Harris - RIP From: GUEST,pat cooksey. A great actor and a nice guy. met him only once some years ago, in a hotel in Limerick, a late night and a memorable one. R.I.P. Pat. |
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25 Oct 02 - 07:42 PM (#811513) Subject: RE: Obit: Richard Harris - RIP From: Genie Another great one gone. Too soon. Genie |
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25 Oct 02 - 07:50 PM (#811520) Subject: RE: Obit: Richard Harris - RIP From: khandu Three things stand out in my mind when I think of Richard Harris; 1- "A Man Called Horse"...Harris' performance made the movie; 2 "Wrestling Ernest Hemingway"...a not so well known movie, again made by Harris' performance along with Robert Duvall; 3- MacArthur Park...I hated the song but loved Harris' rendition. However, it was rather comical to watch him perform it on TV. During the long instrumental part, Harris danced the "Watusi", "Mojo", "Frug", or some other ridiculous dance. It was a hoot, not worthy of Harris. Oh yeah, He did damned good in "Unforgiven". Yes, somewhere out there, there is some good stuff going on! Goodbye, Sir. k |
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25 Oct 02 - 08:02 PM (#811535) Subject: RE: Obit: Richard Harris - RIP From: Don Firth Well . . . DAMN!! Don Firth |
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25 Oct 02 - 10:06 PM (#811632) Subject: RE: Obit: Richard Harris - RIP From: smallpiper Ah bugger..... another one goes awol - I liked the man and the actor |
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26 Oct 02 - 12:06 AM (#811692) Subject: RE: Obit: Richard Harris - RIP From: Stilly River Sage I hasn't been a good day, or a good week, in this regard. I'm going to bed. SRS |
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26 Oct 02 - 02:51 AM (#811742) Subject: RE: Obit: Richard Harris - RIP From: Clinton Hammond 72 years... good run ol' man... Get some rest Dick... If Oliver Reed'll let ya relax at all... I'll see ya after... ;-) |
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26 Oct 02 - 03:52 AM (#811750) Subject: RE: Obit: Richard Harris - RIP From: fat B****rd So long Mr. Harris. RIP. |
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26 Oct 02 - 11:57 PM (#812205) Subject: RE: Obit: Richard Harris - RIP From: ex-pat Another of my favourite heroes passes on. He was always an unforgettable character both in life and on film. My nine year old daughter, who is a huge Harry Potter fan, burst into years yesterday when we heard the news on TV. Richard Harris, Rest In Peace. |
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27 Oct 02 - 01:09 AM (#812236) Subject: RE: Obit: Richard Harris - RIP From: EBarnacle1 Arts longa, vita brevis. Out, out, brief candle. |
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27 Oct 02 - 05:40 AM (#812295) Subject: RE: Obit: Richard Harris - RIP From: Fiolar I understand that the Limerick Chamber of Commerce is to errect a monument to the actor in the city centre. |
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27 Oct 02 - 08:06 AM (#812355) Subject: RE: Obit: Richard Harris - RIP From: McGrath of Harlow And his family are taking him home to be buried in Limerick. That should be some wake. The strange thing is that, just as Alec Guinness ended up being known more for Star Wars than for all the parts he'd played down the years, Richard Harris is known to many just as the guy who played Professor Dumbledore. Perhaps they could get Peter O'Toole to take over the part. |
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27 Oct 02 - 08:19 AM (#812364) Subject: RE: Obit: Richard Harris - RIP From: John MacKenzie I was interested to hear in a radio news item on the death of Richard Harris, that he suffered nine broken noses. With that number of noses he was always going to be famous. RIP......Giok |
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27 Oct 02 - 08:59 AM (#812402) Subject: RE: Obit: Richard Harris - RIP From: alanabit I will never forget his portrayal of Oliver Cromwell. He was one of the most welcome Irishman to live on our island in my lifetime. I guess he has earned his ticket home now, but he would have been welcome to stay a little while longer. |
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27 Oct 02 - 11:13 AM (#812472) Subject: RE: Obit: Richard Harris - RIP From: belfast I hope I'm not the only one here old enough to remember This Sporting Life, one of those great English films from a great English novel. It really seems to be true for the man and his work, they don't make them like that any more. |
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27 Oct 02 - 11:33 AM (#812482) Subject: RE: Obit: Richard Harris - RIP From: Peter T. Except for This Sporting Life, in which he was absolutely terrific, he was a dreadful ham actor, I guess no one ever had enough nerve to sit on him and tell him to underplay, and stop the mannered behaviour. He really needed a tough director, and never seems to have got one. He was one of those actors who was wasted by his own behaviour, and the luck of the film draw. I was amused to read about him dissing Michael Caine -- he should have been so lucky. yours, Peter T. |
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28 Oct 02 - 08:16 AM (#813042) Subject: RE: Obit: Richard Harris - RIP From: Fiolar Seems that there is a difference of opinion regarding his funeral. According to one source, he is being buried in Limerick in his red rugby jersey, but according to another one he is being cremated and his ashes scattered at his home in the West Indies. I'll bet he is having a laugh either way. |
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28 Oct 02 - 08:39 AM (#813054) Subject: RE: Obit: Richard Harris - RIP From: JJ All the Richard Harris obits I saw left out his onstage success in CAMELOT, beginning with taking over the role from Burton in LA after Burton's collapse. Harris played New York, London and toured the show for years. I saw him in Boston in the early 80s, and very good he was. A friend who toured with him for almost three years said that while Harris had quit drinking, he was still an absolute maniac. "He could be so frigging charming, and genuinely adored little kids-it was a lovely thing to watch him play with babies and small children-but what a putz he could be." |
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28 Oct 02 - 10:13 AM (#813112) Subject: RE: Obit: Richard Harris - RIP From: Blues=Life My favorite Harris story is the one he told about his drinking in his youth. He had a job driving a truck, and had stopped and had a few too many. He got back in the truck, proceeded to go the wrong path, tried to get under a low bridge, and managed to impale the truck immoveably under the bridge. The local peace officer arrived, and asked him what he thought he was doing. His response: "I'm delivering that new bridge you ordered, now where in the hell do you want it?" He shall be missed. Blues |