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Richard Saint John Harris (1 October 1930 – 25 October 2002) was an Irish actor, singer-songwriter, theatrical producer, film director and writer. He appeared on stage and in many films, and is perhaps best known for his roles as King Arthur in Camelot (1967), as Oliver Cromwell in Cromwell (1970) and for his portrayal of Albus Dumbledore in Harry Potter and the Sorccer's Stone (2001) and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002), his last film. He also played a British aristocrat and prisoner in A Man Called Horse (1970), a gunfighter in the Clint Eastwood directed western Unforgiven (1992), and emperor Marcus Aurelius in Gladiator (2000). As a singer, Harris is best remembered for his recording of Jimmy Webb's "MacArthur Park", which reached the top ten on both sides of the Atlantic in 1968.

Early life and career

Harris, the fifth of eight children, was born in Limerick, Ireland, the son of Ivan John (b. 1896, son of Richard Harris b.1854, son of James Harris, St. Michael's, Limerick) and Mildred Josephine Harris(née Harty) (b. 1898, Daughter of James Harty, St. John's, Limerick who owned a flour mill.) He was schooled by the Jesuits at Crescent College. A talented rugby player, he was on several Munster Junior and Senior Cup teams for Crescent, and played for Garryowen.Limerick rugby full of heroes He might have become a provincial or international-standard rugby player, but his athletic career was cut short when he contracted tuberculosis in his teens. He remained an ardent fan of Munster Rugby until his death, attending many matches, and there are numerous stories of japes at rugby matches with fellow actors and rugby fans Peter O'Toole and Richard Burton.