Ian William Richardson CBE (7 April 1934 - 9 February 2007) was a Scottish actor best known for playing the machiavellian conservative politician Francis Urquhart in the House of Cards trilogy.  His other TV appearances included: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, Private Schulz, and more notably Sir Godber Evans in Channel 4's adaptation of Porterhouse Blue.

He made many film appearances, including Brazil (1985), Dark City (1998), Polonius in Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead (1990), Martin Landau's butler in the Halle Berry film B*A*P*S (1997), Cruella de Vil's solicitor, Mr. Torte, in the live action movie 102 Dalmatians (2000) and From Hell (2001).

100% unofficial, no endorsement implied