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Richard Griffiths left a lasting impact on the world of acting, receiving numerous accolades and leaving behind a legacy of unforgettable performances.
In today’s article, we take a look into his life as we find out more on his cause of death and how it all happened.
Richard Griffiths’ Biography
Richard Thomas Griffiths OBE was born on July 31, 1947, in Thornaby-on-Tees, North Riding of Yorkshire, England.
He was the son of Jane and Thomas Griffiths, and he had two older brothers and one older sister, all of whom died when he was little.
Griffiths had a peculiar background growing up in a Roman Catholic household. His parents were both deaf, and he learned British Sign Language at a young age.
Griffiths struggled with his weight as a child. He had radiation therapy on his pituitary gland when he was eight years old, which permanently delayed his metabolism and caused him to suffer from obesity for the remainder of his life.
Despite these obstacles, Griffiths was determined to pursue a career in acting.
Griffiths dropped out of school at the age of 15 but subsequently decided to return after being convinced by his employer at his job as a porter for Littlewoods.
He studied drama at Stockton & Billingham College and then at Manchester Polytechnic School of Theatre, which is now known as Manchester School of Theatre.
Griffiths began his acting career after graduating with a contract with BBC Radio’s Radio Drama Company.
He then moved on to work in tiny theatres as an actor and manager.
He rose to prominence as a Shakespearean clown after playing Pompey in “Measure for Measure” and Bottom in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” with the Royal Shakespeare Company. He went on to play the Kings in “Love’s Labour’s Lost” and “Henry V.”
In the early 1980s, Griffiths began to obtain supporting roles in critically acclaimed films like “Chariots of Fire,” “The French Lieutenant’s Woman,” and “Gandhi.”
In addition, he appears in recent films such as “The Naked Gun 212: The Smell of Fear,” “Sleepy Hollow,” and “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.” Griffiths’ talent and adaptability propelled him to fame in both film and television.
Griffiths rose to prominence for his depiction as Vernon Dursley in the Harry Potter film series. He was in five of the eight films, including “Philosopher’s Stone,” “Chamber of Secrets,” “Prisoner of Azkaban,” “Order of the Phoenix,” and “Deathly Hallows – Part 1.”
His portrayal of the resentful uncle struck a chord with audiences all across the world.
Griffiths was a well-known stage actor in addition to his cinema performances. He received Tony and Olivier Awards for his role in “The History Boys.”
He also appeared in several National Theatre plays, including “Equus,” “The Habit of Art,” and “The Sunshine Boys.”
Griffiths also served as the godfather to comedian Jack Whitehall.
Richard Griffiths, 65, passed away on March 28, 2013, at University Hospital Coventry. He suffered issues after having heart surgery.
Richard Griffith’s Cause Of Death
Richard Griffiths’ cause of death is reported to have been due to complications from a heart surgery which he underwent.
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