
Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Born
January 14, 1934
Died
February 17, 2013 (age 79)
Place of Birth
Raynes Park, Surrey, England, UK
Richard Briers
Biography
Richard David Briers, CBE (14 January 1934 – 17 February 2013) was an English actor. His fifty-year career encompassed television, stage, film and radio.
Briers first came to prominence as George Starling in Marriage Lines (1961–66), but it was a decade later, when he narrated Roobarb and Noah and Nelly in... SkylArk (1974–76) and when he played Tom Good in the BBC sitcom The Good Life (1975–78), that he became a household name. Later, he starred as Martin in Ever Decreasing Circles (1984–89), and he had a leading role as Hector in Monarch of the Glen (2000–05). From the late 1980s, with Kenneth Branagh as director, he performed Shakespearean roles in Henry V (1989), Much Ado About Nothing (1993), Hamlet (1996), and As You Like It (2006).
Known For

TV
Midsomer Murders
Stephen Wentworth
1997

TV
Doctor Who
Chief Caretaker
1963

TV
Wogan
Self
1982

TV
Parkinson
Self
1998

TV
Play for Today
Mr. Smythe
1970

TV
Play for Today
Commander Jack Broome
1970

TV
Torchwood
Parker
2006

TV
Agatha Christie's Marple
Wilson
2004

TV
BBC Play of the Month
Sandy Tyrell
1965

TV
Screen Two
Old Arthur/George
1985

TV
Tales of the Unexpected
Albert Dobson
1979

TV
Natural World
1983

TV
Theatre 625
David Prentice
1964

TV
New Tricks
James Farlow
2004

TV
Mr. Bean
Mr. Sprout
1990

TV
Extras
Richard Briers
2005

TV
Friday Night with Jonathan Ross
Self
2001

TV
Dixon of Dock Green
Ken Tracey
1955

TV
Lovejoy
Raymond Doncaster
1986

TV
Monarch of the Glen
Hector MacDonald
2000
Filmography
2025FilmThe Good Life: Inside Out2022FilmThe Good Life: Secret & Scandalsas (archive footage)2017FilmRoobarb and Custard: The Complete Collectionas Narrator, Roobarb, Custard / lot of characters. (uncredited)2016FilmBritish Sitcom: 60 Years of Laughing at Ourselvesas Acting Role (archive footage) (uncredited)2013FilmMouse and Mole at Christmas Timeas Mouse (voice)2012FilmCockneys vs Zombiesas Hamish2012FilmRun For Your Wifeas Newspaper Seller2011FilmHorror on the High Rise2010FilmAll About The Good Life2010FilmNational Theatre Live: London Assuranceas Mr. Adolphus Spanker2009FilmPeter Kay's Animated All Star Band: The Official BBC Children in Need Medleyas Roobarb/Custard (voice)2007TVA Bucket O' French and Saunders2007TVThat's What I Call Televisionas Self2007TVKingdomas Jim Wright2006TVTorchwoodas Parker2006FilmAs You Like Itas Adam2006TVMy Appalling School Report2005FilmOur Hidden Livesas Herbert Brush2005TVRoobarb and Custard Tooas Narrator2005TVExtrasas Richard Briers2005FilmThe Funny Blokes of British Comedyas Self2005FilmDadas Larry James2004TVAgatha Christie's Marpleas Wilson2004TVNew Tricksas James Farlow2003FilmPeter Panas Sam "Smee" Smiegel2003TVComedy Connections2003FilmBob the Builder: The Knights of Can-A-Lotas Robert (voice)2002FilmUnconditional Loveas Barry Moore2001TVFriday Night with Jonathan Rossas Self2001FilmVictoria & Albertas Joseph Paxton2000FilmLove's Labour's Lostas Sir Nathaniel2000TVMonarch of the Glenas Hector MacDonald2000TVThe Nearly Complete and Utter History of Everything1999TVWatership Downas Captain Broom (voice)1998FilmThe Student Princeas Dr. Corbitt1998TVGeoff Hamilton: a Man and His Gardenas Narrator1998TVA Respectable Tradeas Sir Charles Fairley1998TVParkinsonas Self1997FilmSpice Worldas Bishop1997TVMidsomer Murdersas Stephen Wentworth1997TVBrass Eyeas Self1996FilmHamletas Polonius1996FilmThe Adventures of Toadas Rat1995FilmHeavy Weatheras The Hon. Galahad Threepwood1995FilmThe Adventures of Moleas Rat1995FilmIn the Bleak Midwinteras Henry1995TVDown to Earthas Tony Fairfax1994FilmFrench and Saunders' Christmas Carolas Self1994FilmMole's Christmasas Rat1994FilmMary Shelley's Frankensteinas Grandfather1994FilmSkallagriggas Old Arthur/George1994FilmFrances the Fireflyas Narrator (voice)1993TVIf You See God, Tell Himas Godfrey Spry1993FilmMuch Ado About Nothingas Signor Leonato1992FilmPeter's Friendsas Lord Morton1992FilmSwan Songas Nikita1990TVMr. Beanas Mr. Sprout1989FilmHenry Vas Lieutenant Bardolph1989FilmA Chorus of Disapprovalas Ted Washbrook1988FilmTwelfth Night, or What You Willas Malvolio1988FilmChildren's Favourites - Volume 1as Alias (voice)1987FilmDoctor Who: Paradise Towersas The Chief Caretaker1986TVLovejoyas Raymond Doncaster1985TVAll in Good Faithas Reverend Philip Lambe1985TVAlias the Jesteras Alias1985TVScreen Twoas Old Arthur/George1984TVEver Decreasing Circles1983FilmThe Aerodromeas The Rector1983TVNatural World1983FilmArms and the Manas Bluntschli1982FilmIt's Your Moveas The Husband1982TVWoganas Self1982TVGoodbye Mr Kentas Travis Kent1981FilmP.Q. 17as Jack Broome1979FilmVillage Wooingas A1979TVTales of the Unexpectedas Albert Dobson1978FilmWatership Downas Fiver (voice)1977TVThe Other Oneas Ralph Tanner1977TVThe Norman Conquestsas Reg1977TVThe Galton & Simpson Playhouseas Henry Fairlane1977FilmOur Flesh and Bloodas Mr. Smythe1976TVNoah and Nelly in... SkylArk1976TVOne-Upmanshipas Stephen Potter1976FilmA Small Miracleas Himself - Commentator1975TVThe Good Lifeas Tom Good1975TVNoddyas Narrator1975FilmGreatas Isambard Kingdom Brunel1974FilmThe Four Musketeersas Louis XIII (voice) (uncredited)1974TVRoobarb1973FilmThe Three Musketeersas Louis XIII (voice)1972FilmRentadickas Miles Gannet1971TVTall Stories1971TVBirds on the Wingas Charles Jackson1970TVPlay for Todayas Mr. Smythe1970TVBen Travers Farcesas Charlie Tutt1970TVFrom a Bird's Eye Viewas George Lemon1970FilmAll the Way Upas Nigel Hadfield1968TVOoh La La!1967FilmFathomas Flight Lt. Timothy Webb1967TVNBC Experiment in Televisionas (voice)1965TVBBC Play of the Monthas Sandy Tyrell1964FilmA Home of Your Ownas The Husband1964TVTheatre 625as David Prentice1964FilmThe Bargeeas Tomkins1964FilmAll in Good Timeas The Young Husband1963TVDoctor Whoas Chief Caretaker1963FilmDoctor in Distressas Medical Student (uncredited)1962FilmThe Girl on the Boatas Eustace Hignett1962TVBrothers In Law1961TVFaces of Jimas John Frobisher1961FilmA Matter of WHOas Jamieson1961FilmMurder She Saidas 'Mrs Binster'1961TVMarriage Lines1960FilmBottoms Up!as Colbourne1958FilmGirls at Seaas 'Popeye' Lewis1956TVArmchair Theatreas Stanley Frelaine1955TVDixon of Dock Greenas Ken Tracey—TVBird Bathas Narrator—TVLittle Red Tractor Storiesas Narrator (voice)