Born in Upminster, Essex, England in 1927, Richard Johnson attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and then performed in John Gielgud's repertory company until joining the navy during World War II. After the war, he appeared successfully in the West End and made his film debut in the early 1950s. The debonair and handsome Johnson was a natural to portray playboy type characters, perhaps the most memorable being Bulldog Drummond in Deadlier than the Male (1966) and Some Girls Do (1969) . Later in his career, he turned to more serious roles, such as Marc Antony in Antony and Cleopatra (1974) (TV), and also tried his hand at producing in the late 1980s.


Founder of United British Artists (1983 - 1987). According to several sources, Johnson was at least considered for the part of "James Bond" in Dr. No (1962). Some say he was actually offered the part but turned it down because he did not want to sign a multi-picture contract. Nonetheless, he did play a very Bondian version of British detective "Bulldog Drummond" in two late sixties films, Deadlier Than the Male (1967) and Some Girls Do (1969/I). Father-in-law of Will Parnell.