Richard Murdoch
Born: 1907-04-06 in Keston, Kent, England, UK
Died: 1990-10-09
Known For: Acting
Biography
Richard Bernard Murdoch was educated at Charterhouse School in Surrey, and Pembroke College, Cambridge University. Whilst at university he participated in the Footlights Dramatic Club's performances. Murdoch's first appearance in cinema was as an uncredited dancing extra in 1932 film Looking on the Bright Side. In 1937 he was listed among the cast of the "Television Follies", an early BBC Television programme. He received his big professional break in the British Broadcasting Corporation's comedy radio programme Band Waggon in 1938 as part of a double act with the then rising star Arthur Askey, acquiring the nickname "Stinker" in mocking reference to his superior formal education. As Askey moved from radio performing into cinema at the end of the 1930s Murdoch went with him and they appeared in a number of Askey star vehicle films together, Murdoch's tall athletic physique, good looks and upper middle class English Home Counties demeanor contrasting comedically with Askey's short stature, homely appearance, Lancashire provincial accent and working class performance persona. Their working partnership broke up during World War 2 when Murdoch joined the Armed Forces, but they briefly reprised it in the late 1950s for the television series Living It Up. Murdoch was conscripted into the Royal Air Force in 1941, serving as a junior intelligence officer with Bomber Command, before being posted to the Department of Allied Air Force and Foreign Liaison as a Flight Lieutenant. In 1943 he joined the Directorate of Administrative Plans at the Air Ministry, where he shared an office with Wing Commander Kenneth Horne, being responsible for the supply of aircraft and air equipment to Russia. He finished the war with the rank of Squadron Leader.
Filmography
1986
- Whoops Apocalypse as Cabinet Minister
1983
- Blackadder as Ross, a Lord
1980
- The Mystery of the Disappearing Schoolgirls as Lord Chamberlain
1978
- Hazell as Dornford
- The Moomins as Narrator
1977
- The Professionals as Sir Alan Sternfield
1976
- The New Avengers as Pinman Perry
1975
- Rumpole of the Bailey as Uncle Tom
1970
- Under the Table You Must Go as Self
1960
1959
- Strictly Confidential as Cmdr. Bissham-Ryley
1957
- Living It Up as Stinker
1952
- The Magic Box as Sitter in Bath Studio
1950
- Lilli Marlene as Flight Lieutenant Murdoch / Capt. Wimpole
1949
- Golden Arrow as David Felton
1948
- It Happened in Soho as Scott the News Reporter
1944
- One Exciting Night as Illusionist
1941
- The Ghost Train as Teddy Deakin
- I Thank You as Stinker
1940
- Band Waggon as Stinker Murdoch
- Charley's (Big-Hearted) Aunt as 'Stinker' Burton
1938
- The Terror as Detective Lewis
1937
- Over She Goes as Sergeant Oliver
1932
- Looking on the Bright Side as Dancer (uncredited)