Richard E. Grant was born on 5 May 1957 in Mbabane, Swaziland, bearing the name Richard Grant Esterhuysen. He studied English and Drama at University in Capetown, South Africa, before moving to London in 1982 and working in the theater and on British TV.

He won a role in a short film about advertising called 'Honest, Decent and True,' which led to the leading role as an unemployed actor in the cult comedy hit 'Withnail and I' (opposite Paul McGann). This was an indication of the type of offbeat roles Richard would tend to play, and play often.

His next film, 'How to Get Ahead in Advertising' in 1989, had him starring as an ad executive who develops a talking boil on his shoulder. The film that got him the most attention was 'Warlock' in 1991, with Richard as a heroic warrior. A series of films followed on both sides of the Atlantic including 'Hudson Hawk', 'L.A. Story', 'The Player', 'Bram Stoker's Dracula' and 'The Age of Innocence'.

Known for playing lords, princes, society lads and sneaky servants, he has also played priests, vampires and villans, (among others), proving his worth as a talented and skillful character actor. He has played the romantic lead a few times, but truly shines in roles that let him explore the absurd and the unusual.

However, his autobiographical novel "With Nails: the film diaries of Richard E Grant" (1998) reveals a kind, passionate and surprisingly sensible person with strong views and (thankfully) a sense of the ridiculous, who also happens to be an excellent author. He published a second novel 'By Design', that same year.

FILM

• Bright Young Things (2003) .... Father Rothschild
• Monsieur N. (2003) .... Hudson Lowe
• Gosford Park (2001) .... George
• Hildegarde (2001) .... Wolf
• William Shakespeare (2000) (archive footage) .... Withnail
• The Little Vampire (2000) .... Frederick Sackville-Bagg
• Comic Relief: Doctor Who and the Curse of Fatal Death (1999) (V) .... The (Quite Handsome) 10th Doctor
• The Match (1999) .... Gorgeous Gus
• Cash In Hand (1998) .... Sir Harry Parkins
• St. Ives (1998) .... Major Chevening
• Spice World (1997) .... Clifford
• Food of Love (1997) .... Alex Salmon
• Keep the Aspidistra Flying (1997) .... Gordon Comstock
• The Serpent's Kiss (1997) .... James Fitzmaurice
• The Portrait of a Lady (1996) .... Lord Warburton
• Twelfth Night: Or What You Will (1996) .... Sir Andrew Aguecheek
• Jack and Sarah (1995) .... Jack
• Prêt-à-Porter (1994) .... Cort Romney
• In the Cold Light of Day (1994) .... Viktor Marek
• Calliope (1993) .... the Producer
• Franz Kafka's It's a Wonderful Life (1993) .... Franz Kafka
• The Age of Innocence (1993) .... Larry Lefferts
• Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992) .... Dr. Jack Seward
• The Player (1992) .... Tom Oakley
• Hudson Hawk (1991) .... Darwin Mayflower
• L.A. Story (1991) .... Roland Mackey
• Henry & June (1990) .... Hugo Guiler
• Mountains of the Moon (1990) .... Larry Oliphant
• Killing Dad (1989) .... Ali Berg
• Warlock (1989) .... Giles Redferne
• How to Get Ahead in Advertising (1989) .... Denis Dimbleby Bagley
• Hidden City (1988) .... Brewster
• Withnail and I (1987) .... Withnail

TELEVISION

• "Posh Nosh" (2003) .... Simon Marchmont
• The Hound of the Baskervilles (2002) .... Jack Stapleton
• Case of Evil (2002) .... Mycroft
• The Miracle Maker (2000) (voice) .... John the Baptist
• A Christmas Carol (1999) .... Bob Cratchit
• Trial & Retribution III (1999) .... Stephen Warrington
• "The Scarlet Pimpernel (1999) (mini) .... Sir Percy Blakeney/The Scarlet Pimpernel
• Captain Star (1997) (voice) .... Captain Jim Star
• An Evening with Lily Savage (1996) .... Audience Member/Himself
• A Royal Scandal (1996) .... George, Prince of Wales
• Karaoke (1996) (mini) .... Nick Balmer
• Cold Lazarus (1996) (mini) .... Nick Balmer
• Bed (1995) .... Nurse/Bedhead
• Butter (1994)
• Hard Times (1994) .... James Harthouse
• Treasure Island (1993) (voice)
• Suddenly, Last Summer (1993) .... George Holly
• Codename: Kyril (1988) (.... Sculby
• Honest, Decent & True (1985) ... Moonee Livingstone

WEBSITES

• The REG Temple (Fan Site)
• Richard E. Grant @ IMDB
• Richard E. Grant @ Google Directory
• Google Search for Richard E. Grant