Biography

Son of a Scottish coal exporter, William Sydney Kuttner was born in Glasgow in 1928 and went to Fettes public school in Edinburgh. He began his career as a journalist for Scottish newspapers, and at the age of 21 decided to adopt the pen name "Richard Kayne." After service in the RAF he went to Lausanne University to study modern languages, but in the evenings worked as a cocktail pianist at the Lausanne Palace Hotel. Returning to the UK he continued his musical career in London writing for revues and cabaret. In 1953, after publishing his first novel Mrs Livingstone I Presume! (Island Press, London), he moved to the United States and joined ASCAP. Together with composer Vernon Duke he wrote the lyrics for the musical version of Les Enfants Du Paradis, then on his own the words and music for the song Tall Boy (1956) recorded by Julie London. Teaming up with Richard Loring he co-wrote a number of musical pieces, the best remembered of which is the haunting theme from House On Haunted Hill (1959, with Vincent Price).

Returning to London in 1961, he composed the song Make Room For Miracles for the British film Bomb in the High Street, then he switched his affiliation from ASCAP to the Performing Right Society. From 1969 he became resident composer at the Chichester Festival Theatre, scoring sixteen plays including The Magistrate (1969, with Alastair Sim and Patricia Routledge), The Lady's Not For Burning (1970, with Richard Chamberlain) and Reunion In Vienna (1971, with Nigel Patrick and Margaret Leighton). Richard's career as a journalist continued into the 1980s, particularly on the subject of food and drink, and he became a member of the Circle of Wine Writers who are devoted to improving standards of communication on fine wines and spirits. His articles appeared in The Diplomat and The Westminster Review, and in 1980 he was voted Qantas Wine Writer of the Year. He was also elected Chevalier du Bellay, a French brotherhood who promote good food and wine.

In 1995 Richard's old school Fettes announced his death, which happily proved to be an error. As at December 2005 he is still living in central London, and is preparing another book.
- IMDb mini biography by: Jim Marshall