Grant, Richard E (1957– )

Swaziland-born British actor. While studying drama at Cape Town University, South Africa, he founded a multi-racial, avant garde theatre company. He left for England in 1982, and in 1984 was nominated as ‘most promising newcomer’ for his performance in Tramway Road at the Lyric Theatre, London, England. His first film was an acclaimed television production, Honest, Decent and True, and led to his lead role in the cult film Withnail and I, co-starring Paul McGann. Grant has become a familiar face in adaptations of classic novels, appearing in Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992), The Age of Innocence (1993), and Keep the Aspidistra Flying (1997). He also appeared in the final dramas by Dennis Potter, Karaoke and Cold Lazarus (1996).