Emmerdale star dies aged 79 after ‘short illness’ with tribute to ‘beloved’ veteran actor
Veteran actor Richard Howard, who starred in Emmerdale and appeared in several Olivier-nominated theatre productions, has died at the age of 79, his representatives confirmed
Emmerdale star Richard Howard has died aged 79.
The actor, best known for his impressive career on stage, died following a short illness. His representatives confirmed the sad news in a statement released on Monday (January 29).
The statement from Scott Marshall Partners said: “It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our beloved client, Richard Howard, at the age of 79, after a short illness. He is survived by his son, three stepdaughters and nine grandchildren.”
Howard appeared in a number of Olivier-nominated productions including Shakespeare in Love at the Noel Coward Theatre. He starred as Robert de Lesseps in the original cast of the play – an adaptation of the 1998 film.
Other performances included William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, Macbeth and Romeo And Juliet, with the productions touring across America, Europe and Asia. Howard went on to appear in Stanley, based on the life on painter Sir Stanley Spencer, which won an Olivier award for best new play in 1997. He often acted and directed with the Jill Freud Company and was a member of the London Shakespeare Group.
Howard was was part of the Stables Theatre Club in Manchester, as well as Brian Friel and Stephen Rea’s theatre company Field Day. His talents weren’t only witnessed on stage. In 1979, he landed a role on ITV’s Emmerdale, playing vicar Bob Jerome in 20 episodes of the soap until 1981. Howard also appeared in an episode of Agatha Christie’s Poirot, titled Four And Twenty in 1989.
The actor also made an appearance the two-part drama series David Copperfield. The BBC show, released in 1999, featured a star-studded cast including Harry Potter stars Maggie Smith and Imelda Staunton as well as Lord of the Ring’s Ian McKellan. In his later years, The star taught at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.
