Richard Leech

Who was Richard Leech?

Richard Leech, born Richard Leeper McClelland, was an Irish actor.

Richard Leeper McClelland was born in Dublin, Ireland, the son of Isabella Frances and Herbert Saunderson McClelland, a lawyer. He was educated at Haileybury and Trinity College, Dublin, and qualified as a doctor in 1945. He worked in that profession from 1945-6, then became a full time actor.

His numerous film credits include The Dam Busters, Night of the Demon, Yangtse Incident: The Story of HMS Amethyst, Ice Cold in Alex, Tunes of Glory, Young Winston, Gandhi and the acclaimed The Shooting Party.

On television Richard Leech appeared in Dickens of London, The Barchester Chronicles, Smiley's People, three episodes of The Avengers in different roles, Redcap, Danger Man, The New Avengers, The Duchess of Duke Street, and starred in a Doctor Who story called The Sun Makers.

He married twice, with Helen Hyslop Uttley and Diane Pearson, and had two children: Sarah-Jane McClelland and Eliza McClelland.