Biography

His mother was an actress and his father a famous clown. He received training in ballet, acting and how to fall down. Later, he and his father were engaged by the actor Leslie Henson to appear with him in pantomime. Eventually, Henson recommended him for the show Nice Goings On, in which he had to play a comical old man, despite being just twenty-four. Through that he became famous as Mr Pastry on television and in films.
- IMDb mini biography by: Tonyman 5

He was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1970 Queen's Birthday Honours List for charitable services to handicapped children.

His father was a circus clown and acrobat. His grandfather was a groom at Sanger's Circus. Richard himself took on the family tradition and became an acrobat, working for a while at Chipperfield Circus. He was proud of having learned 49 different ways of falling down ! He was also successful as a comedian, actor, writer and dancer.

First artist to be known as a "television star" and also the first to have his own regular programme.

He was offered the starring role of the BBC series Doctor Who (1963) after the departure of Jon Pertwee, but his insistence that he play the part in the style of his 'Mr Pastry' character was unacceptable to the series' producer, Barry Letts.

He had 2 daughters.