Robert Anson Jordan was born on July 19th, 1937 in New York city, New York, the step son of Newlbold Morris, a New York City Council member. As his family was prominent, and well-to-do, Richard went to private schools in Manhattan, attended Hotchkiss Prepatory School in Connecticut.
Robert discovered his talent and love for acting while at Hotchkiss. After being spotted in the school's play of MR ROBERTS, playing the lead, he was offered a place in the Connecticut Summer Stock Company. After graduating from England's Sherbourne School, as an exchange student, Robert attended Harvard College.
It was at Harvard, that Robert decided to become a professional actor. While completing his degree in just 3 years, he began to act on stage with real world stage companies. It is no surprise that after graduating, he went to Broadway to begin his very successful stage theatre career.
Beginning in 1961, Robert enjoyed acting accolades for his performances on Broadway, in TAKE HER, SHE'S MINE, GENERATION, and A PATRIOT FOR ME.
The majority of his over 100 play performances in leading roles were in Off-Broadway, and Off-Off Broadway shows. One reason for this is that Robert was a major catalyst in developing Off-Off Broadway theater, as an actor and as a director, during the 1960s'.
Robert also was a leading actor in the New York Shakespeare Festival, from 1963 -1971.
In 1964, he married stage actress, Kathleen Widdoes, and they had a daughter together, Nina. The marriage broke up in 1972.
In 1971, Robert Jordan made his film debut in a well-received western, LAWMAN.
One of his memorable films was 1972's CHATO'S
LAND.
During the 1970's, Robert was the driving force behind the L.A. Actor's Theatre, where he enjoyed writing, producing and directing his own stage plays.
He was noticed as a valuable asset to the film community, with his performance in the 1973 film, THE FRIENDS OF EDDIE COYLE.
It was the 1976 TV mini-series, CAPTAINS AND KINGS that endeared him to the public and his peers as well, with his wonderful performance as Irish immigrant, Joseph Armagh, that earned him an Emmy normination and a Golden Globe Award.
In the 1980s' he was active on both coasts, as a director and actor, winning awards for his efforts.
He also met his beloved, co-star Blair Brown, with whom he had a son, Robert. They lived together until Robert's 1993 death in their old stone castle in Malibu, California.
Robert enjoyed playing unsympathetic characters, not caring whether he was accepted or not.
In 1992, Robert was originally cast as the villain, Dr. Charles Nichols in THE FUGITIVE (1992), but had to drop out because of his illness, cancer.
Before his death in 1993, his final film role was portraying General Armistead in the movie, GETTYSBURG.
Jordan's Sci-Fi credits include: DUNE (1984), SOLAR BABIES (1986), and
LOGAN'S RUN (1976).
Richard Jordan's other film credits include:
LAWMAN (1971)
VALDEZ IS COMING (1971)
THE FRIENDS OF EDDIE COYLE (1973)
THE YAKUZA (1974)
ROOSTER COGBURN (1975)
INTERIORS (1978)
A NIGHTINGALE SANG IN BERKELEY SQUARE (1979)
OLD BOYFRIENDS (1979)
RAISE THE TITANIC (1980)
A FLASH OF GREEN (1984)
THE MEAN SEASON (1985)
THE MEN'S CLUB (1986)
SECRET OF MY SUCCE$S (1987)
ROMERO (1989)
HUNT FOR
RED OCTOBER (1990)
TIMEBOMB (1991)
DELUSION (1991)
HEAVEN IS A PLAYGROUND (1991)
SHOUT (1991)
PRIVATE MOTIVE (1992)
POSSE (1993)
GETTYSBURG (1993)
Richard Jordan's television credits include:
CAPTAINS AND THE KINGS (Mini-Series)
THE FRENCH ATLANTIC AFFAIR
THE EQUALIZER (TV Series- '87-'88)
Richard Jordan - MovieActors.com
