Richard Briers
Born
January 14, 1934 (age 79)
Died
February 17, 2013
Birthplace
Raynes Park, Surrey, England, UK

Richard Briers

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).

Movies

The Good Life: Inside Out
The Good Life: Inside Out
2025
The Good Life: Secret & Scandals
The Good Life: Secret & Scandals
2022 ★ 7.0
(archive footage)
Roobarb and Custard: The Complete Collection
Roobarb and Custard: The Complete Collection
2017
Narrator, Roobarb, Custard / lot of characters. (uncredited)
British Sitcom: 60 Years of Laughing at Ourselves
British Sitcom: 60 Years of Laughing at Ourselves
2016 ★ 5.7
Acting Role (archive footage) (uncredited)
Mouse and Mole at Christmas Time
Mouse and Mole at Christmas Time
2013 ★ 6.0
Mouse (voice)
Cockneys vs Zombies
Cockneys vs Zombies
2012 ★ 5.7
Hamish
Run For Your Wife
Run For Your Wife
2012 ★ 4.4
Newspaper Seller
Horror on the High Rise
Horror on the High Rise
2011
All About The Good Life
All About The Good Life
2010
National Theatre Live: London Assurance
National Theatre Live: London Assurance
2010 ★ 7.0
Mr. Adolphus Spanker
Peter Kay's Animated All Star Band: The Official BBC Children in Need Medley
Peter Kay's Animated All Star Band: The Official BBC Children in Need Medley
2009 ★ 9.0
Roobarb/Custard (voice)
As You Like It
As You Like It
2006 ★ 5.7
Adam
Our Hidden Lives
Our Hidden Lives
2005 ★ 3.3
Herbert Brush
Dad
Dad
2005 ★ 10.0
Larry James
Peter Pan
Peter Pan
2003 ★ 7.1
Sam "Smee" Smiegel
Bob the Builder: The Knights of Fix-A-Lot
Bob the Builder: The Knights of Fix-A-Lot
2003 ★ 6.9
Robert (voice)
Unconditional Love
Unconditional Love
2002 ★ 5.9
Barry Moore
Victoria & Albert
Victoria & Albert
2001 ★ 7.6
Joseph Paxton
Love's Labour's Lost
Love's Labour's Lost
2000 ★ 5.5
Sir Nathaniel
The Student Prince
The Student Prince
1998 ★ 4.3
Dr. Corbitt
Spice World
Spice World
1997 ★ 4.9
Bishop
Hamlet
Hamlet
1996 ★ 7.3
Polonius
The Adventures of Toad
The Adventures of Toad
1996
Rat
Heavy Weather
Heavy Weather
1995 ★ 7.5
The Hon. Galahad Threepwood
The Adventures of Mole
The Adventures of Mole
1995 ★ 6.0
Rat
In the Bleak Midwinter
In the Bleak Midwinter
1995 ★ 7.1
Henry
Mole's Christmas
Mole's Christmas
1994 ★ 4.8
Rat
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
1994 ★ 6.4
Grandfather
Skallagrigg
Skallagrigg
1994 ★ 1.0
Old Arthur/George
Frances the Firefly
Frances the Firefly
1994
Narrator (voice)
Much Ado About Nothing
Much Ado About Nothing
1993 ★ 6.9
Signor Leonato
Peter's Friends
Peter's Friends
1992 ★ 6.6
Lord Morton
Swan Song
Swan Song
1992 ★ 6.8
Nikita
Henry V
Henry V
1989 ★ 7.2
Lieutenant Bardolph
A Chorus of Disapproval
A Chorus of Disapproval
1989 ★ 5.3
Ted Washbrook
Twelfth Night, or What You Will
Twelfth Night, or What You Will
1988 ★ 6.9
Malvolio
Children's Favourites - Volume 1
Children's Favourites - Volume 1
1988
Alias (voice)
Doctor Who: Paradise Towers
Doctor Who: Paradise Towers
1987 ★ 6.5
The Chief Caretaker
The Aerodrome
The Aerodrome
1983 ★ 7.0
The Rector
Arms and the Man
Arms and the Man
1983
Bluntschli
It's Your Move
It's Your Move
1982 ★ 8.2
The Husband
P.Q. 17
P.Q. 17
1981
Jack Broome
Village Wooing
Village Wooing
1979
A
Watership Down
Watership Down
1978 ★ 7.2
Fiver (voice)
Our Flesh and Blood
Our Flesh and Blood
1977
Mr. Smythe
Great
Great
1975 ★ 5.6
Isambard Kingdom Brunel
The Four Musketeers
The Four Musketeers
1974 ★ 6.4
Louis XIII (voice) (uncredited)
The Three Musketeers
The Three Musketeers
1973 ★ 6.7
Louis XIII (voice)
Rentadick
Rentadick
1972 ★ 3.8
Miles Gannet
All the Way Up
All the Way Up
1970 ★ 6.0
Nigel Hadfield
Fathom
Fathom
1967 ★ 5.9
Flight Lt. Timothy Webb
A Home of Your Own
A Home of Your Own
1964 ★ 6.0
The Husband
The Bargee
The Bargee
1964 ★ 6.9
Tomkins
All in Good Time
All in Good Time
1964
The Young Husband
Doctor in Distress
Doctor in Distress
1963 ★ 6.2
Medical Student (uncredited)
The Girl on the Boat
The Girl on the Boat
1962 ★ 5.6
Eustace Hignett
A Matter of WHO
A Matter of WHO
1961 ★ 6.2
Jamieson
Murder She Said
Murder She Said
1961 ★ 7.3
'Mrs Binster'
Bottoms Up!
Bottoms Up!
1960 ★ 6.4
Colbourne
Girls at Sea
Girls at Sea
1958 ★ 6.0
'Popeye' Lewis

TV Series

A Bucket O' French and Saunders
A Bucket O' French and Saunders
2007 ★ 6.2
1 Episode
Kingdom
Kingdom
2007 ★ 7.1
Jim Wright
1 Episode
Torchwood
Torchwood
2006 ★ 7.3
Parker
1 Episode
My Appalling School Report
My Appalling School Report
2006
4 Episodes
Roobarb and Custard Too
Roobarb and Custard Too
2005 ★ 6.0
Narrator
39 Episodes
Extras
Extras
2005 ★ 7.8
Richard Briers
1 Episode
Agatha Christie's Marple
Agatha Christie's Marple
2004 ★ 7.8
Wilson
1 Episode
New Tricks
New Tricks
2004 ★ 7.4
James Farlow
1 Episode
Comedy Connections
Comedy Connections
2003 ★ 2.0
1 Episode
Monarch of the Glen
Monarch of the Glen
2000 ★ 7.3
Hector MacDonald
33 Episodes
The Nearly Complete and Utter History of Everything
The Nearly Complete and Utter History of Everything
2000
2 Episodes
Watership Down
Watership Down
1999 ★ 7.2
Captain Broom (voice)
1 Episode
Geoff Hamilton: a Man and His Garden
Geoff Hamilton: a Man and His Garden
1998
Narrator
5 Episodes
A Respectable Trade
A Respectable Trade
1998 ★ 6.0
Sir Charles Fairley
4 Episodes
Midsomer Murders
Midsomer Murders
1997 ★ 7.5
Stephen Wentworth
1 Episode
Down to Earth
Down to Earth
1995
Tony Fairfax
7 Episodes
If You See God, Tell Him
If You See God, Tell Him
1993 ★ 6.7
Godfrey Spry
4 Episodes
Mr. Bean
Mr. Bean
1990 ★ 8.0
Mr. Sprout
1 Episode
Lovejoy
Lovejoy
1986 ★ 7.3
Raymond Doncaster
1 Episode
All in Good Faith
All in Good Faith
1985 ★ 2.1
Reverend Philip Lambe
18 Episodes
Alias the Jester
Alias the Jester
1985 ★ 6.6
Alias
13 Episodes
Screen Two
Screen Two
1985 ★ 6.8
Old Arthur/George
1 Episode
Ever Decreasing Circles
Ever Decreasing Circles
1984 ★ 7.3
26 Episodes
Natural World
Natural World
1983 ★ 7.1
1 Episode
Goodbye Mr Kent
Goodbye Mr Kent
1982
Travis Kent
7 Episodes
Tales of the Unexpected
Tales of the Unexpected
1979 ★ 6.7
Albert Dobson
1 Episode
The Other One
The Other One
1977 ★ 7.0
Ralph Tanner
13 Episodes
The Norman Conquests
The Norman Conquests
1977 ★ 6.0
Reg
3 Episodes
The Galton & Simpson Playhouse
The Galton & Simpson Playhouse
1977
Henry Fairlane
1 Episode
Noah and Nelly in... SkylArk
Noah and Nelly in... SkylArk
1976
30 Episodes
One-Upmanship
One-Upmanship
1976 ★ 9.0
17 Episodes
The Good Life
The Good Life
1975 ★ 7.6
Tom Good
28 Episodes
Noddy
Noddy
1975 ★ 6.0
Narrator
11 Episodes
Roobarb
Roobarb
1974 ★ 7.1
30 Episodes
Tall Stories
Tall Stories
1971
6 Episodes
Birds On The Wing
Birds On The Wing
1971
Charles Jackson
6 Episodes
Play for Today
Play for Today
1970 ★ 6.3
Mr. Smythe
1 Episode
Ben Travers Farces
Ben Travers Farces
1970
Charlie Tutt
7 Episodes
From a Bird's Eye View
From a Bird's Eye View
1970 ★ 5.5
George Lemon
1 Episode
Ooh La La!
Ooh La La!
1968
1 Episode
NBC Experiment in Television
NBC Experiment in Television
1967
(voice)
1 Episode
BBC Play of the Month
BBC Play of the Month
1965 ★ 5.0
Sandy Tyrell
1 Episode
Theatre 625
Theatre 625
1964 ★ 7.2
David Prentice
1 Episode
Doctor Who
Doctor Who
1963 ★ 7.9
Chief Caretaker
4 Episodes
Brothers In Law
Brothers In Law
1962
13 Episodes
Marriage Lines
Marriage Lines
1961 ★ 5.5
43 Episodes
Armchair Theatre
Armchair Theatre
1956 ★ 5.8
Stanley Frelaine
1 Episode
Dixon of Dock Green
Dixon of Dock Green
1955 ★ 5.3
Ken Tracey
1 Episode
Little Red Tractor Stories
Little Red Tractor Stories
Narrator (voice)
4 Episodes
Bird Bath
Bird Bath
★ 6.0
Narrator
25 Episodes