Britain:Tributes were paid yesterday to Ian Richardson, the actor best known as scheming politician Francis Urquhart in BBC TV's drama House Of Cards, who has died aged 72.
Richardson died in his sleep at his London home in the early hours. Although an acclaimed Shakespearean actor, his portrayal of Machiavellian Tory chief whip Urquhart was the defining role of his career.
Urquhart's catchphrase - "You might very well say that; I couldn't possibly comment" - is now ubiquitous and has even been quoted in the House of Commons.
House Of Cardswas based on the novel by Michael Dobbs, who said yesterday: "I am desperately sad. He is a man I admired immensely. He changed my life. He made a dream of mine a reality. And he did it in a way which transfixed millions of viewers.
" House of Cardswas Ian Richardson. He made the character and brought the whole series to life. Even John Major's leadership campaign in 1990 came to a halt at 9pm on a Sunday night so that the whole campaign team could sit down and see what was happening.
"Urquhart was a wicked character but Richardson portrayed him in such a way that everybody loved it. In anybody else's hands, that role could have fallen flat on his face. I owe him a huge debt."
Richardson's friend, fellow actor Graham Crowden, said: "I always thought he was one of the most gifted speakers of Shakespearean verse, or any verse, of his generation. I only wish there were young actors around today who could emulate that. "He was entirely professional and easy to get on with and had a very splendid career which reached star status. And he used to laugh at my jokes."
Richardson's death came as a shock as he had not been ill and was due to begin filming his next role, in TV drama series Midsomer Murders, next week.
His last role was as the narrator - the voice of Death - in Sky One's Christmas adaptation of Terry Pratchett novel Hogfather. Born in Edinburgh in 1934, Richardson began his acting career at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre.
He is survived by his actress wife, Maroussia, and two sons.
- (PA)