Richard Vernon

Acting · Directing

Born March 7, 1925, Reading, Berkshire, England, UK

Richard Vernon was a distinguished British actor known for his contributions to film, television, and theater. He had a prolific career spanning several decades. Vernon appeared in various roles across different genres, showcasing his versatility and talent. While perhaps best known for his role as Slartibartfast in the original television adaptation of "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy," his career encompassed numerous other productions. His performances in both classical theater and modern works solidified him as a respected figure in the British entertainment industry. Vernon's contributions to acting continue to be remembered and appreciated by audiences worldwide.

Filmography

• 1996Loch Ness — Aged Professor
• Class Act — Sir Horace Mainwaring
• 1993Detectives on the Edge of a Nervous Breakdown — Suspect
• Frank Stubbs Promotes — Lord Dunstable
• The Return of the Borrowers — Mr. Pott
• 1992A Masculine Ending — Miriam's father
• 1992Blood and Dust — Heraclius
• The Borrowers — Mr. Pott
• The Camomile Lawn — The General
• You Rang, M'Lord? — The Earl of Swaffham
• A Gentleman's Club — George
• The Storyteller — King
• 1988The Storyteller: A Story Short — King
• 1987A Month in the Country — Colonel Hebron
• Casualty — Dr. RIchard Payton
• Ladies in Charge — Lord Brompton
• 1986Lady Jane — The Marquess of Winchester
• Lovejoy — Roger Nettleton
• 1986Paradise Postponed — Sir Nicholss Fanner
• Paradise Postponed — Sir Nicholas Fanner
• The Return of the Antelope — Mr. Garstanton
• Yes, Prime Minister
• 1985A Still Small Shout — Thompson
• Lytton's Diary — Duncan Anderson
• Roll Over Beethoven — Oliver Purcell
• 1984C.Q. — Sir Roland Hall
• Leaving — Mr. Chessington
• 1984Night Train to Murder — Uncle Felix
• 1983Waters of the Moon — Colonel Selby
• 1982Evil Under the Sun — Flewitt
• 1982Gandhi — Sir Edward Gait
• Legacy of Murder — Roland Tolhurst
• Something in Disguise — Herbert Browne-Lacey
• 1982Witness for the Prosecution — Brogan-Moore
• Nanny
• 1981The Box — (voice)
• 1981The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy — Slartibartfast
• The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy — Slartibartfast
• 1981The Kamikaze Ground Staff Reunion Dinner — Makato
• A Question of Guilt — Judge
• 1980Oh! Heavenly Dog — Quimby Charles
• Yes Minister
• 1979Roger of the Raj — Lord Bartlesham
• 1979The Human Factor — Sir John Hargreaves
• Do You Remember? — Lord Greenham
• 1978Sammy's Super T-Shirt — Mr. Becket
• Strangers — Sir Geoffrey
• 1978The After Dinner Joke — Mr. Price
• The Sandbaggers — C
• The Sunday Drama — Tom Hampton
• 1976Adventures of a Taxi Driver — Gentleman (uncredited)
• Ripping Yarns — Lord Bartlesham
• The Duchess of Duke Street — Major Toby Smith-Barton
• 1976The Pink Panther Strikes Again — Fassbender
• Rumpole of the Bailey — Lionel Leering
• 1975Sporting Chance — Sir Maxwell Dean (archive footage)
• Affairs of the Heart — Colonel Chart
• Dial M for Murder — The Chief
• 1974In the Steps of a Dead Man — George Cornfield
• Village Hall — Cedric Wellbeloved
• 1973A Friend Indeed — Sir Lionel Hibury
• Between the Wars — Morton
• Last of the Summer Wine
• 1973The Satanic Rites of Dracula — Col. Mathews
• Thriller — George Cornfield
• 1972Follow the Yellow Brick Road — Dr Whitman
• 1972Night Duty — Stanley
• 1972On Call — Dr. Edwards
• The Adventurer — Sir Richard McKenzie
• The Sextet — Baldwin, Stanley, Sir Lionel Compton, Dr Whitman, Stoker Leishman, Colin, Alban Gascoyne, Thomas Ramsdale
• Brett — Sutherland
• Justice — Lord Tilling
• 1971One Brief Summer
• Persuasion — Admiral Croft
• 1971She'll Follow You Anywhere — Andrew Coombes
• The Guardians — Dace
• The Persuaders! — Sir Maxwell Dean
• Upstairs, Downstairs — Major Cochrane-Danby
• 1971Will Amelia Quint Continue Writing 'A Gnome Called Shorthouse'? — Lewis
• Play for Today — Mr. Price
• 1970Song of Norway — Councilman
• UFO — Pa Stone
• Department S — Colonel Loring
• 1969Destiny of a Spy — Colonel
• 1969Goodbye, Mr. Chips — Chairman of the Board of Governors (uncredited)
• Hadleigh — Sir Geoffrey Osborne
• 1968Cause of Death — Colonel O'Dwyer
• 1968Frankenstein — Professor Krempe
• Journey to the Unknown — Sir Gerald Walters
• ITV Playhouse — Lord Augustus Lorton
• The Fellows — Edwin Oldenshaw
• 1966End in Tears
• Mystery and Imagination — Professor Krempe
• BBC Play of the Month — Henry Gore-Browne, Raoul
• 1965The Early Bird — Sir Roger Wedgewood
• 1965The Intelligence Men — Sir Edward Seabrook
• The Man in Room 17 — Oldenshaw
• 1965The Secret of My Success — Lord Hetherby
• Thirty-Minute Theatre — Colonel O'Dwyer
• 1964A Hard Day's Night — Man on Train
• 1964Goldfinger — Smithers
• 1964Hot Enough for June — Roddinghead
• 1964The Counterfeit Constable — Lord Brisburn
• 1964The Tomb of Ligeia — Dr. Vivian
• The Wednesday Play — Brigadier Samson, Lord Oscar
• 1964The Yellow Rolls-Royce — Race Course Official (uncredited)
• 1963Accidental Death — Johnnie Paxton
• 1963Just for Fun — Prime Minister
• 1963The Servant — Lord Willie Mounset
• 1963We Joined the Navy — Government Official at Enquiry (uncredited)
• 1962Reach for Glory — Dr. Aldrich
• Studio 4 — Mr Endworth
• The Saint — Sir John Ripwell
• 1962The Share Out — John Crewe
• 1961Cash on Demand — Pearson
• Drama 61-67 — Colonel Johnson
• Jango — Parkinson
• The Avengers — Lord Matterley
• The Younger Generation — The Major
• 1960Clue of the Twisted Candle — Viney
• Maigret
• The Odd Man — Charles Ormiston
• 1960Village of the Damned — Edgar Hargraves
• No Hiding Place — Charles Lacey
• Probation Officer — Lessing
• 1959Sapphire — Doctor at Crime Scene
• 1959The Heart of a Man — Manager
• 1959The Siege of Pinchgut — Under Secretary
• 1958Indiscreet — Leading man in play
• The Adventures of William Tell — Merchant
• Theatre Night — Charles Pleydon, MP
• Armchair Theatre — Lewis
• Dixon of Dock Green — Mr. Pascoe, Mr. Fellowes
• ITV Play of the Week — Sir Hector Rose
• 1953Street of Shadows — Director, Screenplay
• Hallmark Hall of Fame — Brogan-Moore
• Sunday Night Theatre — Egeon