R.I.P. Ian Richardson

Actor Ian Richardson, best known for his role as scheming chief whip Francis Urquhart in the BBC's House of Cards, has died suddenly at the age of 72.

The stage and TV veteran had not been ill and had been due to begin filming an episode of ITV's Midsomer Murders next week, according to his agent.

Born in Edinburgh in 1934, he was an honorary associate artist of the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Famous for his sonorous voice and stern demeanour, he was made a CBE in 1989.

Richardson won a Bafta award for his role as the Machiavellian Urquhart in 1990's House of Cards. He went on to be nominated for both its sequels, To Play the King and The Final Cut, as well as the 1992 drama An Ungentlemanly Act.

Other TV roles included Sherlock Holmes, Lord Groan in Gormenghast, the Chancellor in Blak House, Death in Hogfather, General Neuheim in the award winning Private Schulz, "Tailor" in the BBC adaptation of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and Sir Godber Evans in Porterhouse Blue.

His many films included Terry Gilliam's Brazil, Tom Stoppard's Rosencrantz And Guildenstern are Dead, Dark City, From Hell and Jane Austen biopic Becoming Jane, due for release next month.

He was also familiar to American television viewers as the man in the Rolls Royce who asks 'Pardon me, would you have any Grey Poupon?' in the commercials for Grey Poupon Dijon Mustard.

But it is for the deliciously devious Urquhart - a character he based on Richard III - that he remains best known.

The Tory politician's famous one-liner - "You may very well think that; I couldn't possibly comment" - has since passed into Westminster parlance.

Richardson died in his sleep at his London home in the early hours of Friday morning. He is survived by his wife, Maroussia, and two sons.

House of Cards director Paul Seed said: "I just loved working with him and am hugely in admiration at the talent and technique that he had. His passing is the end of a generation of that kind of actor."