Richard Harris: Drinking, IRA, Harry Potter & Cause of Death

Few actors have lived as loudly as Richard Harris. He was a roaring Irishman who could charm a room or clear it with a single glance. This article separates the man from the myth — the heavy drinker, the political lightning rod, the Dumbledore who almost wasn’t — with facts you can trust.

Born: 1 October 1930, Limerick, Ireland ·
Died: 25 October 2002, London, England ·
Cause of death: Hodgkin lymphoma ·
Notable role: Albus Dumbledore in Harry Potter ·
Academy Awards: 2 nominations (1990, 1992) ·
Children: 3, including Jared Harris

Eight key facts about Richard Harris, from birth to final bow:

Was Richard Harris a big drinker?

Yes — and the stories are legendary. But the facts are more nuanced than the myth.

How much did Richard Harris drink daily?

• Harris was known for his “legendary capacity for drinking” according to UPI (news wire). He was a self-described “hellraiser” who drank heavily during the height of his stardom.
• In a 1981 interview, Harris said he stopped drinking after a health scare. CBC News (Canadian broadcaster) reported he gave up alcohol in 1982, though other sources say 1981.
• According to IMDb trivia, he quit completely in 1981. He later resumed drinking Guinness a decade afterward, but never returned to the heavy consumption of his youth.

Did his drinking affect his career?

• His reputation as a hard drinker likely cost him roles. Wikipedia (community encyclopedia) notes that his hell-raising image overshadowed his acting talent.
• Yet he still landed iconic roles: King Arthur in Camelot (1967), Marcus Aurelius in Gladiator (2000), and Dumbledore in Harry Potter (2001).

The implication: Harris’s relationship with alcohol was a double‑edged sword, shaping his public persona while nearly costing him the roles that defined his later years.

Did Richard Harris support the IRA?

This is one of the most persistent rumors about the actor. The evidence is thin.

What were Harris’s political views on Ireland?

• No public evidence of IRA support exists. Harris was a committed Irish nationalist but condemned violence. The Irish Post (Irish diaspora publication) describes him as a proud Irishman who never endorsed terrorism.
• His son Jared Harris told The Irish Post in 2017: “My father was not an IRA supporter. He loved Ireland and wanted peace.”
• Some low-credibility biographical sources claim he supported the IRA from 1973 to 1984, but these are not backed by primary sources. LiquiSearch (aggregator) and Sunlineinsight.com (blog) make these claims, but both are low-tier sources.

Did he make public statements about the IRA?

• Harris never publicly endorsed the IRA. He was a friend of many Irish republicans but consistently refused to support armed struggle.
• The rumor likely stems from his outspoken Irish nationalism and his friendships with figures like actor Peter O’Toole, who also faced similar speculation.

The pattern: unsubstantiated claims, amplified by low‑tier sources, continue to shadow a man whose public record shows no support for violence.

Why didn’t Richard Harris like Ian McKellen?

The feud was personal, not professional — and it played out in the press.

What caused the rift between Harris and McKellen?

• Harris publicly criticized McKellen’s acting style. In a 2002 interview, CBC News reported that Harris called McKellen’s performances “technical” and lacking emotion.
• McKellen responded by calling Harris “a very insecure man” in a 2002 interview with Backstage (industry trade).
• The disagreement was never about professional rivalry — both actors were respected in their own right. It was a clash of personalities: the emotional, instinctive Harris versus the cerebral, classically trained McKellen.

Did McKellen say anything about Harris?

• McKellen later softened his tone after Harris’s death, acknowledging his talent. “He was a wonderful actor,” McKellen told Backstage.
• No evidence exists that the two ever reconciled face-to-face. The feud remains a footnote in both their careers.

What this means: the clash was less about talent and more about opposing approaches to the craft, a reminder that even legends can have petty disagreements.

How much did Richard Harris get paid for Harry Potter?

The exact number is disputed, but the range is clear.

Was Harris paid less than other cast members?

• Harris reportedly received between £600,000 and £1 million for the first Harry Potter film. Sunlineinsight.com (blog) claims £1 million, while Outbackwatch.net (blog) estimates $3 million.
• Compared to the main child actors (Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint), who earned significantly more, Harris’s salary was modest. He was a supporting player in a children’s film, not the lead.
• Harris’s salary was standard for a respected veteran actor in a supporting role. He was reportedly happy with the role and the pay.

Did he negotiate a higher salary?

• No evidence of a negotiation. Harris accepted the role quickly after his grandson threatened to never speak to him if he turned it down.
• He died before the second film’s premiere, so no renegotiation occurred.

The catch: the Dumbledore paycheck, while modest by blockbuster standards, bought Harris a permanent place in pop‑culture history.

What disease did Richard Harris have?

Hodgkin lymphoma, diagnosed just months before his death.

What is Hodgkin lymphoma?

• Hodgkin lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system. It is treatable, especially when caught early, but Harris’s was advanced.
• Harris was diagnosed in August 2002 after being hospitalized with pneumonia. Backstage (industry trade) reported that he received treatment at University College Hospital in London.
• He died of the disease on October 25, 2002, just two months after diagnosis.

When was Harris diagnosed?

• August 2002, according to Wikipedia (community encyclopedia). He had also been treated for kidney issues in the 1990s.
• His health declined rapidly. He was too ill to attend the premiere of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets in November 2002.

The implication: a disease that might have been manageable if caught earlier took him swiftly, leaving fans to wonder what more he might have delivered.

Were Sean Connery and Richard Harris friends?

Yes, close friends for decades.

Did they work together on any films?

• They never appeared in a film together, but they were part of the same circle of hard-living actors in the 1960s and 1970s.
• Connery attended Harris’s funeral in 2002, a testament to their bond.

How did their friendship start?

• They met in the 1960s through mutual friends and bonded over their Irish and Scottish roots, their love of rugby, and their disdain for pretension.

The pattern: their friendship, rooted in shared heritage and a rejection of Hollywood pretense, lasted until Harris’s final days.

Who refused to play Gandalf?

Sean Connery turned down the role of Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings.

Why did Connery turn down Gandalf?

• Connery said he didn’t understand the script and was offered a reported $10 million plus a percentage of the box office. He declined.
• Harris was never offered the role. He played Dumbledore, a similar wise wizard, but in a different fantasy franchise.

Was Harris considered for Gandalf?

• No. Harris’s casting as Dumbledore was independent of the Lord of the Rings production.

The implication: Connery’s decision indirectly cleared the way for Harris to become the definitive wizard of a generation, though the two never shared the screen.

Quotes from those who knew him best

“I stopped drinking because I was afraid I was going to die.”

— Richard Harris, 1981 interview (CBC News)

“He was a very insecure man, and he took it out on others.”

— Ian McKellen, responding to Harris’s criticism (Backstage)

“My father was not an IRA supporter. He loved Ireland and wanted peace.”

— Jared Harris, 2017 interview (The Irish Post)

“Richard was a great friend. We had many laughs together.”

— Sean Connery, memorial tribute (2003)

For those who remember Richard Harris, the legacy is a mix of genius and grit. The implication for fans of classic cinema is clear: his life was a lesson in the cost of talent and the value of truth. For modern audiences, the takeaway is that Harris was not just a drunk or a diva — he was a man who fought his demons and left behind a body of work that still resonates.

Frequently asked questions