Richard Harris: Sex, Death & the Movies

by Michael Feeney Callan

Richard Harris was a genius whose frenzied existence sometimes overshadowed his enormous talent. Over 45 years, his career spanned small theatrical productions and Hollywood blockbusters. Renowned for his roles in classics like Mutiny on the Bounty, A Man Called Horse, Camelot, The Field, and Unforgiven, Harris’ off-screen drinking and womanizing with fellow hell-raisers Richard Burton and Peter O'Toole also brought him notoriety. Although few people accompanied Harris for any duration on the roller-coaster ride of his life, award-winning writer, director, and fellow Irishman Michael Feeney Callan joined the ride and stayed the course. After striking up a warm friendship with the actor in the mid-‘70s, Callan embarked on an authorized biography. To mark Richard Harris’ passing, Callan has revisited and expanded on his original book to create this fresh and revealing tribute.

Genres: Biography, Theatre, Film

354 pages, Paperback

First published December 31, 1990

About the author

Michael Feeney Callan is an Irish born poet, novelist and filmmaker, also known for his biographical writing.

He wrote the template Irish TV police procedural series The Burke Enigma, then went on to write for ITV's The Professionals and adapt Frederick Forsyth stories for PBS. He was story editor at BBC TV Drama in London, where he edited the series, Shoestring, and at Ardmore Studios in Ireland.

A Hennessy Literary Award winner for his short fiction, Callan has published original and TV adaptation novels, as well as biographies of Sean Connery, Anthony Hopkins, Richard Harris, Julie Christie and the New York Times bestseller Robert Redford: The Biography.

As a poet, Callan began publishing in his teens in David Marcus' New Irish Writing, and has published two volumes of poetry, Fifty Fingers (2003) and An Argument for Sin (2013).

As a filmmaker, Callan has written and directed documentaries on The Dubliners' Luke Kelly, animators Don Bluth and Gary Goldman and The Beach Boys.

Reviews

[Mick Meyers · Rating 5 out of 5]

very good biography on the troubled star.besides his late diagnosed medical conditions i wonder if he suffered with adhd,not commonly known about back then.his films were reasonable with some bad choices.drugs and drink again taking centre stage.

[Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a fabulous and interesting man. That said, as a Location Manager in film and TV for 35 years, I'm glad I didn't have to work with him:-)

[Russell R · Rating 5 out of 5]

good book!

[JCB · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not near a salacious a read as you'd think. Not many drunken tales of mischief; few stories about actresses he seduced; no criticisms of actors he disliked (Branagh, Caine); just a mostly straight forward telling of his career, and the many movies he made (never realized just how many bad movies there were). But while not very gossipy, it is very interesting, and not at all hagiographic. If you liked Harris, you’ll like the book. It really doesn’t disappoint, but it does make Richard Harris seem less the towering figure that I thought he was.