Richard Hurndall, the actor who died on April 13 at the age of 73, was recognized not only for his quality in the theatre, which he entered over 50 years ago, but also on television and as a familiar radio voice. On the stage he is remembered for his work in the three C. P. Snow adaptations of the 1960s.
Born at Darlington on November 3, 1910, Richard Gibbon Hurndall began modestly, after RADA training, in the 1930 revival of A Pantomime Rehearsal. During the next decade he had much repertory and touring experience - including Lord Fancourt Babberley in Charley's Aunt -and a particularly long repertory period at Coventry. From this he went in 1940 to what was then the Stratford upon Avon Memorial Theatre where his good looks and forthright style valuable as Orlando, Bassanoi, and Laertes, as Well as Young Marlow in She Stoops to Conquer.
Five years of Army service followed. Later, after a London season in Private Lives, he had a sustained spell in television and radio (BBC Drama Company, 1949-52) before his most fruitful theatre period, the 1960s. He acted successively in Ronald Miller's three versions of C. P. Snow's novels, The Affair (Strand 1961), The New Men (Strand 1962);. and (as Vernon Royce, Master, of the College) in The Masters (Savoy 1963). Other West End plays were Hostile Witness (1964) and Justice is a Woman (1966).
Hurndall continued to be a popular radio voice; he was in films; and on television he appeared, for example, in the commemorative Dr Who programme as William Hartnell, the original doctor, and in Love in a Cold Climate (Lord Montdore).
He is survived by his wife, the actress Margaret Ward.
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