Editing Richard Harris (section)

== Career ==
=== 1959–1963: Early roles and breakthrough ===
Harris made his film debut in 1959 in the film ''[[Alive and Kicking (1959 film)|Alive and Kicking]]'', and played the lead role in ''[[The Ginger Man (play)|The Ginger Man]]'' in the West End in 1959. In his second film, he had a small role as an IRA Volunteer in ''[[Shake Hands with the Devil (1959 film)|Shake Hands with the Devil]]'' (1959), supporting [[James Cagney]]. The film was shot in Ireland and directed by [[Michael Anderson (director)|Michael Anderson]] who offered Harris a role in his next movie, ''[[The Wreck of the Mary Deare (film)|The Wreck of the Mary Deare]]'' (1959), shot in Hollywood.

Harris played another IRA Volunteer in ''[[A Terrible Beauty (1960 film)|A Terrible Beauty]]'' (1960), alongside [[Robert Mitchum]]. He had a memorable [[bit part]] in the film ''[[The Guns of Navarone (film)|The Guns of Navarone]]'' (1961) as a [[Royal Australian Air Force]] pilot who reports that blowing up the "bloody guns" of the island of Navarone is impossible by an [[strategic bombing|air raid]]. He had a larger part in ''[[The Long and the Short and the Tall (film)|The Long and the Short and the Tall]]'' (1961), playing a British soldier; Harris clashed with [[Laurence Harvey]] and [[Richard Todd]] during filming. For his role in the film ''[[Mutiny on the Bounty (1962 film)|Mutiny on the Bounty]]'' (1962), despite being virtually unknown to film audiences, Harris reportedly insisted on third billing, behind [[Trevor Howard]] and [[Marlon Brando]], an actor he greatly admired. However, Harris fell out with Brando over the latter's behaviour during the film's production.

Harris's first starring role was in the film ''[[This Sporting Life]]'' (1963), as a bitter young coal miner, Frank Machin, who becomes an acclaimed [[rugby league]] football player. It was based on the novel by [[David Storey]] and directed by [[Lindsay Anderson]]. For his role, Harris won [[Best Actor Award (Cannes Film Festival)|Best Actor]] in 1963 at the [[Cannes Film Festival]] and an [[Academy Award for Best Actor|Academy Award nomination]]. Harris followed this with a leading role in the Italian film, [[Michelangelo Antonioni]]'s ''[[Red Desert (film)|Il Deserto Rosso]]'' (''Red Desert'', 1964). This won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival.

Harris received an offer to support [[Kirk Douglas]] in a British war film, ''[[The Heroes of Telemark]]'' (1965), directed by [[Anthony Mann]], playing a Norwegian resistance leader. He then went to Hollywood to support [[Charlton Heston]] in [[Sam Peckinpah]]'s ''[[Major Dundee]]'' (1965), as an Irish immigrant who became a [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] cavalryman during the [[American Civil War]]. He played [[Cain]] in [[John Huston]]'s film ''[[The Bible: In the Beginning...]]'' (1966). More successful at the box office was ''[[Hawaii (1966 film)|Hawaii]]'' (1966), in which Harris starred alongside [[Julie Andrews]] and [[Max von Sydow]].

=== 1967–1971: Rise to prominence ===
As a change of pace, he was the romantic lead in a [[Doris Day]] spy spoof comedy, ''[[Caprice (1967 film)|Caprice]]'' (1967), directed by [[Frank Tashlin]]. Harris next performed the role of [[King Arthur]] in the film adaptation of the musical play ''[[Camelot (film)|Camelot]]'' (1967). Critic [[Roger Ebert]] described the casting of Harris and [[Vanessa Redgrave]] as "about the best King Arthur and Queen Guenevere I can imagine".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/camelot-1967|title= Camelot movie review|website= rogerebert.com|access-date= 25 May 2020}}</ref> Harris revived the role on [[Broadway (theater)|Broadway]] at the [[Winter Garden Theatre]] from 15 November 1981 to 2 January 1982, and broadcast on [[HBO]] a year later. Starring [[Meg Bussert]] as Guenevere, [[Richard Muenz]] as Lancelot and [[Thor Fields]] as Tom of Warwick. Harris, who had starred in the film, and Muenz also took the show on tour nationwide.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.playbill.com/article/richard-harris-king-arthur-of-camelot-on-stage-and-screen-dead-at-72-com-109167|title= Richard Harris, King Arthur of Camelot on Stage and Screen, Dead at 72|website= [[Playbill]].com|date= 25 October 2002|access-date= 25 May 2020}}</ref>

In ''[[The Molly Maguires (film)|The Molly Maguires]]'' (1970), he played [[James McParland]], the detective who infiltrates the title organisation, headed by [[Sean Connery]]. It was a box office flop. However ''[[A Man Called Horse (film)|A Man Called Horse]]'' (1970), with Harris in the title role, an 1825 English aristocrat who is captured by Native Americans, was a major success. He played the title role in the film ''[[Cromwell (film)|Cromwell]]'' in 1970 opposite [[Alec Guinness]] as King [[Charles I of England]]. That year British exhibitors voted him the 9th-most popular star at the UK box office.<ref>{{cite news|title=Paul Newman Britain's favourite star|work=The Times|location=London, England|date=31 December 1970|page=9|via=The Times Digital Archive}}</ref>

In 1971 Harris starred in a [[BBC]] TV film adaptation ''[[The Snow Goose (film)|The Snow Goose]]'', from a screenplay by [[Paul Gallico]]. It won a [[Golden Globe Award|Golden Globe]] for Best Movie made for TV and was nominated for both a [[British Academy of Film and Television Arts|BAFTA]] and an [[Emmy Award|Emmy]].<ref>{{cite book|title=[[The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946-Present]]|year=2003|publisher=Ballantine Books|isbn=0-345-45542-8|page=1422}}</ref> and was shown in the U.S. as part of the ''[[Hallmark Hall of Fame]]''. He made his directorial debut with ''[[Bloomfield (film)|Bloomfield]]'' (1971) and starred in ''[[Man in the Wilderness]]'' (1971), a [[revisionist Western]] based on the [[Hugh Glass]] story.

=== 1973–1981: Established actor ===
[[File:Orca (1977) trailer - Richard Harris 3.png|thumb|left|Harris in ''[[Orca (1977 film)|Orca]]'']]
Harris starred in a Western for [[Samuel Fuller]], ''Riata'', which stopped production several weeks into filming. The project was re-assembled with a new director and cast, except for Harris, who returned: ''[[The Deadly Trackers]]'' (1973). In 1973, Harris published a book of poetry, ''I, In the Membership of My Days'', which was later reissued in part in an audio [[LP record|LP]] format, augmented by self-penned songs such as "I Don't Know".

Harris starred in two thrillers: ''[[99 and 44/100% Dead]]'' (1974), for [[John Frankenheimer]], and ''[[Juggernaut (1974 film)|Juggernaut]]'' (1974), for Richard Lester. In ''[[Echoes of a Summer]]'' (1976) he played the father of a young girl with a terminal illness. He had a cameo as [[Richard the Lionheart]] in ''[[Robin and Marian]]'' (1976), for Lester, then was in ''[[The Return of a Man Called Horse]]'' (1976). Harris led the all-star cast in the train disaster film ''[[The Cassandra Crossing]]'' (1976). He played Gulliver in the part-animated ''[[Gulliver's Travels (1977 film)|Gulliver's Travels]]'' (1977) and was reunited with Michael Anderson in ''[[Orca (1977 film)|Orca]]'' (1977), battling a killer whale.
[[File:Richard Harris and Jenny Agutter (1971).jpg|thumb|Harris and [[Jenny Agutter]] in ''The Snow Goose'' (1971)]]
He appeared in another action film, ''[[Golden Rendezvous]]'' (1977), based on a novel by Alistair Maclean, shot in South Africa. Harris was sued by the film's producer for his drinking; Harris counter-sued for defamation and the matter was settled out of court.<ref>{{cite news|title=Actor Harris linked to scandal in South Africa|work=Chicago Tribune|date=22 November 1978|page=a6}}</ref> ''Golden Rendezvous'' was a flop but ''[[The Wild Geese]]'' (1978), where Harris played one of several mercenaries, was a big success outside America.<ref name="harris">{{cite news|title=Richard Harris: Ain't Misbehavin'|author=Mann, Roderick|work=Los Angeles Times|date=14 March 1978|page=e8}}</ref> ''[[Ravagers (film)|Ravagers]]'' (1979) was more action, set in a [[Apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction|post-apocalyptic]] world. ''[[Game for Vultures]]'' (1979) was set in Rhodesia and shot in South Africa.

In Hollywood he appeared in ''[[The Last Word (1979 film)|The Last Word]]'' (1979), then supported [[Bo Derek]] in ''[[Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981 film)|Tarzan, the Ape Man]]'' (1981). He made a film in Canada, ''[[Your Ticket Is No Longer Valid]]'' (1981), a drama about impotence. He followed it with another Canadian film, ''[[Highpoint (film)|Highpoint]]'', a movie so bad it was not released for several years.

=== 1980–1988: Continued success ===
For a while in the 1980s, Harris went into semi-retirement on [[Paradise Island]], in the [[Bahamas]], where he kicked his drinking habit and embraced a healthier lifestyle. It had a beneficial effect. Harris's career was revived by his success on stage in ''[[Camelot (musical)|Camelot]]'', and powerful performance in the [[West End theatre|West End]] run of [[Luigi Pirandello|Pirandello's]] ''[[Henry IV (Pirandello)|Henry IV]]''.<ref>{{cite news|title=Richard Harris obituary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2002/oct/28/guardianobituaries.arts|agency=Associated Press |work=[[The Guardian]]|date=28 October 2002 |access-date=3 October 2020}}</ref>

He was the subject of ''[[This Is Your Life (UK TV series)|This Is Your Life]]'' in 1990, when he was surprised by [[Michael Aspel]] during the curtain call of the [[Luigi Pirandello|Pirandello's]] play ''Henry IV'' at the [[Wyndham's Theatre]] in London.{{Citation needed|date=September 2021}} Over several years in the late 1980s, Harris worked with Irish author [[Michael Feeney Callan]] on his biography, which was published by [[Sidgwick & Jackson]] in 1990. His film work during this period included: ''[[Triumphs of a Man Called Horse]]'' (1983), ''[[Martin's Day]]'' (1985), ''Strike Commando 2'' (1988), ''[[King of the Wind (film)|King of the Wind]]'' (1990) and ''[[Mack the Knife (1989 film)|Mack the Knife]]'' (1990) (a film version of ''[[The Threepenny Opera]]'' in which he played J.J. Peachum ) plus the [[Maigret (1988 film)|TV film version]] of [[Maigret]], opposite [[Barbara Shelley]]. This indicated declining popularity which Harris told his biographer, [[Michael Feeney Callan]], he was "utterly reconciled to".

=== 1989–2002: Stardom and final roles ===
In June 1989, director [[Jim Sheridan]] cast Harris in the lead role in ''[[The Field (1990 film)|The Field]]'', written by the esteemed Irish playwright [[John B. Keane]]. The lead role of "Bull" McCabe was to be played by former [[Abbey Theatre]] actor [[Ray McAnally]]. When McAnally died suddenly on 15 June 1989, Harris was offered the McCabe role. ''The Field'' was released in 1990 and earned Harris his second [[Academy Award for Best Actor|Academy Award nomination for Best Actor]]. He lost to [[Jeremy Irons]] for ''[[Reversal of Fortune]]''. In 1992, Harris had a supporting role in the film ''[[Patriot Games (film)|Patriot Games]]''. He had good roles in ''[[Unforgiven]]'' (1992), ''[[Wrestling Ernest Hemingway]]'' (1993) and ''[[Silent Tongue]]'' (1994). He played the title role in ''[[Abraham (1993 film)|Abraham]]'' (1994) and had the lead in ''[[Cry, the Beloved Country (1995 film)|Cry, the Beloved Country]]'' (1995).

A lifelong supporter of Jesuit education principles,<ref name="Richard Harris: Sex, Death and the Movies">{{cite book| last = Callan| first = Michael Feeney| title = Richard Harris: Sex, Death and the Movies| year = 2004| publisher = Robson Books| location = London| isbn = 978-1-86105-766-2| page = 212}}</ref> Harris established a friendship with [[University of Scranton]] President Rev. J. A. Panuska<ref name=lewiston>{{cite news|title=Harris Welcomed at U.S. University |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=DBMgAAAAIBAJ&pg=3997,2116635&dq=richard+harris+university+of+scranton&hl=en |agency=Associated Press |publisher=Lewistown Journal |date=18 November 1987 |access-date=3 December 2011}}</ref><ref name=ocala /> and raised funds for a scholarship for Irish students established in honour of his brother and manager, Dermot, who had died the previous year of a heart attack.<ref name=lewiston /><ref name=ocala>{{cite news|title=Richard Harris Establishes Scholarship Fund in Scranton |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=r65PAAAAIBAJ&pg=4159,4546554&dq=richard+harris+university+of+scranton&hl=en |work=[[Ocala Star-Banner]] |date=9 May 1987 |access-date=3 December 2011}}</ref> He chaired acting workshops and cast the university's production of ''[[Julius Caesar (play)|Julius Caesar]]'' in November 1987.

Harris appeared in two films which won the [[Academy Award for Best Picture]]: firstly as the gunfighter "English Bob" in the revisionist Western ''[[Unforgiven]]'' (1992); secondly as the [[Roman Emperor]] [[Marcus Aurelius]] in [[Ridley Scott]]'s ''[[Gladiator (2000 film)|Gladiator]]'' (2000). He also played a lead role alongside [[James Earl Jones]] in the [[Darrell Roodt]] film adaptation of ''[[Cry, the Beloved Country (1995 film)|Cry, the Beloved Country]]'' (1995). In 1999, Harris starred in the film ''[[To Walk with Lions]]''. After ''Gladiator'', Harris played the supporting role of [[Albus Dumbledore]] in the first two of the ''[[Harry Potter (film series)|Harry Potter]]'' films, ''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)|Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone]]'' (2001) and ''[[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film)|Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets]]'' (2002),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.insider.com/photos-harry-potter-movie-cast-then-and-now|title=THEN AND NOW: The cast of the 'Harry Potter' films 20 years later|first=Andrew|last=LaSane|website=Insider}}</ref> the latter of which was his final film role.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e-eNIY9DSaAC&dq=%22richard+harris%22+chamber+secrets+final&pg=PT486|title=ReelViews: The Ultimate Guide to the Best 1,000 Modern Movies on DVD and Video|first=James|last=Berardinelli|date=1 February 2003|publisher=Justin, Charles & Co.|isbn=978-1-932112-06-1|via=Google Books}}</ref> Harris portrayed [[Abbé Faria]] in [[Kevin Reynolds (director)|Kevin Reynolds]]' film adaptation of ''[[The Count of Monte Cristo (2002 film)|The Count of Monte Cristo]]'' (2002). The film ''[[Kaena: The Prophecy]]'' (2003) was dedicated to him posthumously as he had voiced the character Opaz before his death.

Harris hesitated to take the role of Dumbledore in ''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)|Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone]]'' (2001) owing to the multi-film commitment and his declining health, but he ultimately accepted because, according to his account of the story, his 11-year-old granddaughter threatened never to speak to him again if he did not take it.<ref>''[[The Late Show With David Letterman]]'' interview, 2001</ref> In an interview with the ''[[Toronto Star]]'' in 2001, Harris expressed his concern that his association with the ''Harry Potter'' films would outshine the rest of his career. He explained, "Because, you see, I don't just want to be remembered for being in those bloody films, and I'm afraid that's what's going to happen to me."<ref>{{cite web|author=Kristin |url=http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/2003/7/9/on-richard-harris |title=On Richard Harris The Leaky Cauldron |date=9 July 2003 |publisher=The-leaky-cauldron.org |access-date=8 November 2011}}</ref>

Harris also made part of the Bible TV movie project filmed as a cinema production for the TV, a project produced by [[Lux Vide]] Italy with the collaboration of [[RAI]] and Channel 5 of France,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.luxvide.it/en/productions.php?categoria2=4|title=Bible Project for TV|access-date=7 April 2016|archive-date=17 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160317033417/http://luxvide.it/en/productions.php?categoria2=4|url-status=dead}}</ref> and premiered in the United States in the channel TNT in the 1990s. He portrayed the main and [[Abraham|title character]] in the production ''[[Abraham (1993 film)|Abraham]]'' (1993) as well as Saint [[John of Patmos]] in the 2000 TV film production ''[[The Apocalypse (2000 film)|Apocalypse]]''.