Atque In Perpetuum, Ian. Ave Atque Vale.
[Note: This post has been updated (1) as of 2:33 AM Eastern on 10 Feb. See below.]
A sad and unexpected passing: the great British actor Ian Richardson is dead at age 72. Best known in this country for his charmingly chilling portrayal of chief whip Francis Urquhart (whose deathless, deliciously ambiguous signature line, "You might very well say that. I couldn't possibly comment," became an instant staple of my own personal store of retorts) in the 1990 PBS Masterpiece Theater presentation of the brilliant political thriller, House of Cards, he was as well a Shakespearean actor of the first water, and an actor of great discernment who brought to all his roles — from commercials (Grey Poupon most notably in this country) to starring roles in a number of TV dramas — an intelligence rare to behold in members of his professional fraternity. He will be sorely missed.
Brief, Brit obit can be read here. Nothing yet in The New York Times.
Update (2:33 AM Eastern on 10 Feb): The New York Times obit can be read here.
