A NEW documentary exploring Richard Harris’ fascinating life both on and off-screen will be aired on TG4 on New Year’s Day at 9.30pm.
The larger-than-life Limerick man was famed as an actor, writer, director, singer, poet, sportsman and one of the most notorious hell-raisers of all time,
For the first time ever, his life will be explored and celebrated in a documentary packed with drama, intrigue, fun and hilarious stories exploring a larger than life character who lived his eccentric life to the full and left behind a body of work unrivalled by any other Irish actor.
Harris was celebrated as much for his colourful life off-screen, as for his many memorable roles on screen.
He made more than 70 movies, won a Golden Globe and an award at Cannes for Best Actor.
He also won a Grammy and had an international hit with his rendition of McArthur Park, lamenting how someone left a cake out in the rain.
He was nominated for two Oscars and drank for Ireland. He dominated any film he was in and held his own against Brando in ‘Mutiny on the Bounty’ and Eastwood in ‘Unforgiven’.
Between those two career highs, he starred in ‘Camelot’, ‘A Man Called Horse’ and played Dumbledore in the Harry Potter series – although he did so reluctantly, only taking the part after his granddaughter threatened to never speak with him again if he turned the part down.
However, his acting prowess went hand in hand with his drinking prowess and along with his friends and fellow hell-raisers, Richard Burton and Peter O’Toole, he tore through the film establishment in a blaze of whiskey and wine.
He was the last of the great hell-raisers; a dinosaur from an era when movie stars misbehaved and the public loved him for it.
The documentary zones in on how he wore his Irish heritage as a badge of pride and talked of Ireland and Limerick every chance he got.
Also how he laid the groundwork for everyone who came after him. and set the bar high in terms of acting achievements and low in the way he behaved off-screen.
“Without Harris there would be no Gabriel Byrne, Liam Neeson or Colin Farrell,” a spokesman for documentary producers, Derg Films, said.
Featuring exclusive interviews with some of Hollywood’s elite, including Clint Eastwood, Daniel Radcliffe, Robert Duvall, Ridley Scott, Jim Sheridan, Gabriel Byrne and Stephen Rea, this documentary explores Harris’ fascinating and colourful life .
