Character actor Addison Richards built one of the most prolific careers in Hollywood history, appearing in more than 300 feature films and countless television episodes during a career that spanned over three decades. Blessed with a commanding voice, distinguished appearance, and remarkable versatility, Richards became one of the industry’s most dependable supporting actors, portraying judges, military officers, businessmen, politicians, attorneys, and authority figures in productions ranging from Westerns and war films to film noir and television dramas. (Wikipedia)
Although Richards was best known for his extensive film career, he never lost touch with the stage. In the summer of 1962, he joined the distinguished roster of stars appearing at Denver’s Historic Elitch Theatre, continuing the theatre’s long tradition of welcoming accomplished Hollywood performers back to live theatre. During his engagement, Richards appeared as Father Moynihan in Jenny Kissed Me, bringing decades of professional experience to Elitch audiences. His appearance came during the final years of the theatre’s legendary summer stock era, when nationally recognized screen performers regularly returned to perform live on the historic Elitch stage.
Richards’ screen career placed him alongside many of the greatest stars of Hollywood’s Golden Age. His credits included acclaimed films such as Ball of Fire (1941), The Pride of the Yankees (1942), Air Force (1943), A Guy Named Joe (1943), The Great Lie (1941), Inherit the Wind (1960), and Cecil B. DeMille’s epic The Ten Commandments (1956). As television became dominant during the 1950s and early 1960s, Richards seamlessly transitioned to the new medium, becoming a familiar face on series including Perry Mason, The Beverly Hillbillies, Petticoat Junction, The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, and dozens of other popular programs. (Wikipedia) Like many Elitch alumni, Addison Richards exemplified the close relationship between America’s summer stock theatres and Hollywood. His appearance at Historic Elitch Theatre demonstrated how established film and television actors continued to value the immediacy of live performance. Today, Richards remains remembered not only for the extraordinary breadth of his screen career but also as one of the many accomplished character actors whose appearance at Elitch helped cement the theatre’s reputation as one of America’s premier summer stock stages.
Seasons at the Theatre
- 1962
Productions/Roles:
- Jenny Kissed Me (July 1962 – week 4) – Father Moynihan
Notable Roles, Awards, and Other Work:
- Ball of Fire (1941)
- The Pride of the Yankees (1942)
- Air Force (1943)
- A Guy Named Joe (1943)
- The Great Lie (1941)
- Nick Carter, Master Detective (1939)
- The Ten Commandments (1956)
- Inherit the Wind (1960)
- Recurring role as George Benedict, father of Polly Benedict, in several Andy Hardy films.
- Frequent television guest star on series including:
- Perry Mason
- The Beverly Hillbillies
- Petticoat Junction
- The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
- Pete and Gladys
- No Time for Sergeants (his final screen appearance)
Elitch Theatre Connections:
- Alum, Cecil B. DeMille’s film, The Ten Commandments, featured multiple Elitch Theatre alum, including: Edward G. Robinson, Vincent Price, Addison Richards, Douglass Dumbrille, and Maude Fealy.
- Richards was in Nick Carter, Master Detective with Walter Pidgeon.
- Mickey Rooney (Elitch alum, 1972) – Boys Town (1938) — Richards played “The Judge”; Rooney starred as Whitey Marsh
- Mickey Rooney (Elitch alum, 1972) – Men of Boys Town (1941) — Richards again played “The Judge”
- Mickey Rooney (Elitch alum, 1972) – Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever (1939), Andy Hardy Meets Debutante (1940), Andy Hardy’s Private Secretary (1941), Love Laughs at Andy Hardy (1946) — Richards recurred as “Mr./George Benedict,” father of Andy’s girlfriend Polly, across the MGM series starring Rooney
- Lewis Stone (Elitch alum, 1913) Same Andy Hardy films listed above — Stone played patriarch Judge James Hardy throughout the series, meaning he and Richards shared the screen repeatedly
- Walter Pidgeon (Elitch alum, 1964) Flight Command (1940) — a second pairing beyond the Nick Carter connection already on file; Richards played the Vice Admiral, Pidgeon the squadron commander
- Teresa Wright (Elitch alum, 1976) The Pride of the Yankees (1942) — Richards played “Coach”; Wright played Eleanor Gehrig opposite Gary Cooper
- Van Johnson (Elitch alum, 1977) and Barry Nelson (Elitch alum, 1968) A Guy Named Joe (1943) — Richards played Major Corbett; Johnson had his star-making role as Ted Randall, and Barry Nelson appeared as Dick Rumney
- Fredric March (Elitch alum, 1926) and Florence Eldridge (Elitch alum, 1925) Inherit the Wind (1960) — Richards had an uncredited townsman role; March starred as Matthew Harrison Brady with his real-life wife Eldridge as Sarah Brady
- George Brent (Elitch alum, 1929) and Charles Trowbridge (Elitch alum, 1920) The Great Lie (1941) — Richards played Mr. Talbot; Brent starred as Peter Van Allen, with Trowbridge as Senator Greenfield
- Gig Young (Elitch alum, 1973) Air Force (1943) — Richards played Major Daniels; Young played co-pilot Lt. Williams in this Howard Hawks WWII ensemble film
- Raymond Burr (Elitch alum, 1944) Perry Mason (1957), Season 1, Episode 7, “The Case of the Angry Mourner” — Richards played rival attorney George Lansing opposite Burr’s Perry Mason. Perry Mason (1961), Season 5, Episode 8, “The Case of the Travelling Treasure” — a second appearance with Burr
