Richard E. Grant is an actor and presenter who made his film debut as Withnail in the comedy Withnail and I (1987) and went on to receive numerous accolades including critical acclaim for his role as Jack Hock in Marielle Heller's drama film Can You Ever Forgive Me? (2018), winning various awards including the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male. He also received Academy Award, BAFTA, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor.
Richard studied English and drama at university in Capetown, South Africa and was a member of the Space Theatre Company in Cape Town before moving to London in 1982.
The initial E in his name came about because there was already a Richard Grant registered with Equity. Richard was born Richard Grant Esterhuysen, so he added the E. to his name.
He came to public attention in 1987 for playing Withnail, the inebriated title character, in the film 'Withnail and I' and achieved international recognition as John Seward in the 1992 blockbuster film of Bram Stoker's 'Dracula'.
Richard began appearing in Hollywood films and quickly established himself as a powerful character actor in a wide array of films, from blockbuster studio movies to small independent projects. Over the past twenty years, he has had strong supporting roles in Henry & June, L.A. Story, The Player, The Age of Innocence, The Portrait of a Lady, Spice World, Gosford Park, Bright Young Things, and Penelope.
His book 'With Nails: The Film Diaries of Richard E Grant' was published in 1997.
He wrote and directed the 2005 film 'Wah-Wah', loosely based on his own childhood experiences. The film took him over seven years to complete. He kept a diary of the experience which was later published as a book - The Wah-Wah Diaries. The book received positive reviews from critics, many of whom were impressed at the honesty of the tale, especially in regard to his difficult relationship with the producer.