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Richard E. Grant

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Richard E. Grant (born Richard Grant Esterhuysen on May 5, 1957) is a British actor, born in Mbabane, Swaziland, and educated in Waterford Kamhlaba School.

At the age of nine, Grant witnessed an adulterous relationship between his mother and another man which subsequently led to the break-up of his parents' marriage. He studied English and Drama at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, and moved to London in 1982. He married Joan Washington in 1986 and has one daughter with her, Olivia, and a step-son, Tom.

Among his best-known roles are the world-weary, drug-crazed Withnail in Withnail & I and the Spice Girls' manager in Spiceworld, their sole 1997 foray into cinema.

Grant is also a successful author, with works such as By Design, calling on his Hollywood experience. He was also for a time the face of the Argos TV commercials.

Trivia

Grant is a teetotaler. After being cast as the alcoholic Withnail the director Bruce Robinson made Grant drink a bottle of vodka in one sitting in order to have experienced the sensation.

Selected filmography

Films

Television

Voice acting

Bibliography

  • With Nails: The Film Diaries of Richard E. Grant
  • By Design: A Hollywood Novel