14 Facts About Richard Vernon

Richard Vernon appeared in many feature films and television programmes, often in aristocratic or supercilious roles.

Prematurely balding and greying, Vernon settled into playing archetypal middle-aged lords and military types while still in his 30s.

Richard Vernon played Slartibartfast in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, the lead role of Edwin Oldenshaw in The Man in Room 17, Sir James Greenley alias "C" in The Sandbaggers, and Sir Desmond Glazebrook in Yes Minister and its sequel series Yes, Prime Minister.

Richard Vernon was born in Reading, Berkshire, in 1925 to British parents, who later lived in Kenya.

Richard Vernon went on to train as an actor at the Central School of Speech and Drama.

Richard Vernon played a small role as Colonel Smithers, an executive of the Bank of England, in a scene opposite Sean Connery and Bernard Lee in the 1964 James Bond film Goldfinger, discussing how Auric Goldfinger transports his gold overseas.

Richard Vernon played an unnamed 'city gent' reluctantly sharing a train compartment with the Beatles in A Hard Day's Night, planet designer Slartibartfast in the BBC radio and TV series The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, the occasional character Sir Desmond Glazebrook in the TV series Yes Minister and Yes, Prime Minister, and Mr Becket in Sammy's Super T-Shirt.

Richard Vernon appeared in the 1965 Morecambe and Wise film The Intelligence Men as patron of the arts Sir Edward Seabrook, Lord Bartelsham in Ripping Yarns, and Squire Dale in the BBC Radio 4 adaptation of The Small House at Allington.

Richard Vernon played Admiral Croft in the 1971 BBC television adaptation of Persuasion.

Richard Vernon played the urbane head of the Secret Intelligence Service Sir James Greenley in ITV political drama The Sandbaggers from 1978 to 1980.

Richard Vernon appeared in the final episode of Thames Television's production of Rumpole of the Bailey as Rumpole's exculpatory dentist, Lionel Leering, and in the last series of Lovejoy playing Tinker's brother-in-law.

Richard Vernon starred in the title role of Lord Emsworth in several BBC Radio 4 series of Blandings between 1985 and 1992.

Richard Vernon's final film appearance was an appearance at the end of the film Loch Ness, which was released in 1996.

Richard Vernon died of complications from Parkinson's disease on 4 December 1997.