- His family are urging the makers of Harry Potter to pass the part of Professor Dumbledore to his drinking friend Peter O'Toole -- Harris' brother Noel says Peter was a great friend of Harris' for most of his life and he has similar qualities on screen. (January 10, 2003)
- Reports that late HARRY POTTER star Richard Harris will be created by computer trickery in the next installment of the franchise have been proved false -- insiders at Warner Bros. have stated categorically that they will not undertake the feat by using computer technology. (December 21, 2002)
- Was honored for his outstanding contribution to film at the fifth annual British Independent Film Awards - the award was accepted Wednesday by Harris' three sons: Damian, Jared and Jamie. (November 1, 2002)
- Harris's turn as violent coal miner Frank Machin 1963's THIS SPORTING LIFE earned him a Best Actor Award at the Cannes Film Festival
- Nominated for Oscars twice, for THIS SPORTING LIFE (1964) and THE FIELD (1991)
- Harris' celluloid résumé in films includes the 1962 Marlon Brando version of MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY and ROBIN AND MARIAN, in which he costarred with Sean Connery and Audrey Hepburn, and 1970's THE MOLLY MAGUIRES, also with Connery.
- Was once drinking buddy to Peter O'Toole and the late Richard Burton.
- Harris nearly died from a cocaine overdose in 1978.
- He had a major hit on the pop charts with his version of Jimmy Webb's MacArthur Park, which went to No. 2 in 1968.
- He reportedly took the role in POTTER because his 11-year-old niece said she would never speak to him again if he didn't.
- Harris was divorced twice and is survived by three sons.
- Harris was admitted to hospital with suspected pneumonia placing his future as a certain wise wizard in question. (August 31, 2002)
- His movie career continued with his best-known (though maybe not his best) films of the '70s including A MAN CALLED HORSE (1970), a violent Western in which he played an English aristocrat who is tortured and eventually adopted by the Sioux.
- He kicked off the new century as the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius in Ridley Scott's epic GLADIATOR, starring alongside the likes of Russell Crowe, Derek Jacobi, Joaquin Phoenix, and David Hemmings.
- In 1963, the actor made good use of his rugby skills as a coal miner who aspires to be an athlete in THE SPORTING LIFE that earned him a Best Actor award at Cannes and an Oscar nomination.
- In 1990, Harris made a strong comeback when he was nominated for a Golden Globe and an Oscar for his hard-hitting performance in Jim Sheridan's THE FIELD.
- Married his leading lady Ann Turkel after 99 AND 44/100% DEAD (1974) wrapped.
- Only agreed to taking the part of Albus Dumbledore in HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE (2001) after his eleven year old granddaughter threatened never to speak to him again.
- (ECHOES OF SUMMER (1976)) He thought the script was faulty and threatened director Don Taylor (I) with a good thrashing. He also locked fellow star William Windom in his dressing-room for several hours.
- Was originally set to play Commodus in THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE (1964) (but left the film due to artistic differences with director Anthony Mann and was replaced by Christopher Plummer).
- Nominated for Outstanding Performance by the Cast of a Theatrical Motion Picture at Screen Actors Guild Awards for GLADIATOR (2001)
- Nominated for Outstanding Single Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role at Emmy Awards for THE SNOW GOOSE (1972)
- Nominated for Best British Actor at BAFTA Awards for THIS SPORTING LIFE (1964)
Quotes- "I'm not interested in reputation or immortality or things like that. I genuinely don't care."
- "I formed a new group called Alcoholics-Unanimous. If you don't feel like a drink, you ring another member and he comes over to persuade you."
- "Jesus is just a word I use to swear with"
- "Marriage is a custom brought about by women who then proceed to live off men and destroy them, completely enveloping the man in a destructive cocoon or eating him away like a poisonous fungus on a tree"
Awards- British Independent Film Awards: Richard Harris Award (2002)
- Empire Awards: Lifetime Achievement Award (2001)
- European Film Awards: Life Achievement Award (2000)
- Wine Country Film Festival: Lifetime Achievement Award (2000)
- Western Heritage Awards: Bronze Wrangler - Theatrical Motion Picture, UNFORGIVEN (1993)
- Moscow International Film Festival: Best Actor, CROMWELL (1971)
- Western Heritage Awards: Bronze Wrangler - Theatrical Motion Picture, A MAN CALLED HORSE (1971)
- Golden Globe Awards: Best Actor in a Leading Role-Musical or Comedy, CAMELOT (1967)
- Cannes Film Festival: Best Actor, THIS SPORTING LIFE (1963)
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