Richard Garrick (December 27, 1878 – August 21, 1962) was an Irish-born American actor and director who had a prolific career as a filmmaker in the silent era before transitioning to a long and successful run as a character actor.
Garrick was a true pioneer of early cinema, beginning his career as both an actor and director in the 1910s. By 1916, he was the director general of Gaumont’s film studios in Jacksonville, Florida. He directed over 30 silent films in the U.S. and Europe before returning to his first love, acting.
As a character actor in the sound era, his distinguished presence made him a natural for roles as doctors, judges, and other authority figures. He is best known for his work with director Elia Kazan, appearing in the original Broadway production of A Streetcar Named Desire and its classic 1951 film adaptation, as well as the films Viva Zapata! (1952) and East of Eden (1955).
