ONE OF the greatest actors to ever come out of Ireland should have celebrated his 90th birthday today.
Limerick native Richard Harris remains a household name for Irish people of every generation-- from his role as the gruff Bull McCabe to the kindly Dumbledore, his exceptional career ensured he appealed to everyone.
Today should have marked the acclaimed actor's 90th birthday, but sadly he passed away on 25 October 2002, just weeks before the release of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harris's last role.
Today we remember and celebrate his career by counting down seven of Richard Harris's greatest roles.
Albus Dumbledore - The Harry Potter series
Famously, the actor was hesitant to take the role of the powerful wizard as he anticipated the series being such a phenomenal hit that he worried it would be all he would be remembered for.
His young granddaughter, herself a fan of the book series, told him she would stop speaking to him if he turned down the role-- and so he appeared in the first two instalments of the iconic film series.
And any fears he had that it was all he would be remembered for were proven to be false.
The Bull McCabe - The Field
One of the most famous Irish films ever, and arguably one of the most powerful performance from any actor, Richard Harris as the aggressive, threatening but oddly vulnerable Bull McCabe earned him a nomination for Best Performance by an Actor at the Golden Globes in 1991.
Marcus Aurelius - Gladiator
While Harris's role in Gladiator was overshadowed slightly by Gerard Butler and Joaquin Phoenix's incredible performances, the tension between the Emperor Marcus Aurelius and his bloodthirsty son as the Emperor declares him unfit to rule had audiences at the edge of their seat.
King Arthur - Camelot (1982)
As in Gladiator, Richard Harris's ability to exude confidence and leadership landed him a number of roles as a ruler of sorts-- Harris's role in Camelot saw him play the legendary King Arthur in the Broadway revival of the popular musical.
King Arthur - Camelot (1967)
Richard Harris's success as King Arthur in this first production of Camelot led him to getting the role in the 1982 version-- in part thanks to the excellent acting, Camelot was one of the highest-grossing films released in all of 1967 and won three Academy Awards for Best Score, Best Production Design and Best Costume Design.
Oliver Cromwell - Cromwell
One of the most hated men in Ireland, it is a testament to Harris's talent as an actor and general likeability that he was able to expertly portray the man who massacred thousands in Ireland and remained a popular figure in his home country. While the film itself was generally not well-received by audiences, critics did praise the performance of Harris as the titular character.
Shunkawakan - A Man Called Horse
One of Richard Harris's breakthrough roles, A Man Called Horse saw Harris travel to America and Mexico to film the production. A famous scene which sees Harris hang from pins stuck to his chest was ahead of its time with regards to special effects, with make-up artist John Chambers creating an entirely prosthetic chest for the actor.
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