Was born and raised in Scotland, but lost his accent to avoid being typecast.
Was put off acting by his secondary school drama teacher, who said he could not speak properly; became a laboratory technician instead, but decided to attend drama school at 27.
Was awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1994 for his services to drama.
Won the TMA Best Director Award for Mr Kolpert at the Royal Court Theatre in 2000.
In 2010, appeared as Malvolio in Gregory Doran's adaptation of Twelfth Night at the Duke of York's Theatre.
In 2016, was due to reprise his most well-known role of Victor Meldrew at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, but the show was cancelled when he suffered a heart attack.
Is a supporter of multiple charities, including the LGBT rights charity Stonewall, the AIDS charity Terrence Higgins Trust, and Graeae, an accessible theatre company.
Richard Wilson
July 9, 1936 (age 88)
Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland, UK
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Bio
Was born and raised in Scotland, but lost his accent to avoid being typecast.
Was put off acting by his secondary school drama teacher, who said he could not speak properly; became a laboratory technician instead, but decided to attend drama school at 27.
Was awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1994 for his services to drama.
Won the TMA Best Director Award for Mr Kolpert at the Royal Court Theatre in 2000.
In 2010, appeared as Malvolio in Gregory Doran's adaptation of Twelfth Night at the Duke of York's Theatre.
In 2016, was due to reprise his most well-known role of Victor Meldrew at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, but the show was cancelled when he suffered a heart attack.
Is a supporter of multiple charities, including the LGBT rights charity Stonewall, the AIDS charity Terrence Higgins Trust, and Graeae, an accessible theatre company.