Richard Morant who played Dr Dwight Enys in the first series of Poldark has died suddenly in London after a short illness.
Richard as the good Doctor Enys in Poldark 1975
It is desperately sad news. Though we hadn’t met for many years, we’d remained in tenuous touch. He was coming to support the launch of my cookbook in September, but was thwarted by a huge traffic jam on the way out to Chiswick that evening.
Richard had the most life-confirming giggle of anyone I’ve met. He would say something serious and then after a pause, would collapse in self-deprecating laughter–though there was no doubting his sincerity.
In a recent retrospective TV programme about Poldark, he was asked the reason for its continuing success. This was his eloquent and just reply:
“It’s about love—it’s about betrayal—the things that hurt us– the things that give us joy.”
“Like any kind of creation where people you know are going through their emotions, expressing their feelings of love, life and death–it evokes strong attachments, strong passion and you love it.”
“You love them, you love the people, you cherish them, you honour them, you respect them.”
In an email response to the invitation to my book launch, he wrote:
“Someone sent me a link the other day to a YouTube compilation of me in love scenes with Judy Geeson and others… ahhhhh sweet youth. I laughed and felt sad too. It still surprises me from emails and letters, the feeling shared that we touched so many people’s hearts with our simple story, and continue to do so. I feel our world then was a much more innocent place.
Bless you Richard. I was lucky to know you.
Robin Ellis 
I didn’t know him but I watched him many many times. His giggle was just delicious. Seemed like a lovely man.
This is sad, sad news….
For all the people who will miss him, I wish courage and strength.
So sad to hear this news.
I have only just recently re-watched the first Poldark series, and his young face and charm are still so fresh in my mind.
Richard lives eternally in this world as Dr. Dwight Enys.
He will entertain countless future generations, and we will always love him.
Blessings to all his family and friends.
May his soul traverse the heavenly spheres in peace and protection.
Goodbye, Richard
This is sad news indeed, and he was much too young. He was wonderful in Poldark (you all were). Such a touching and believable performance. My condolences, Robin.
Richard will live on in our memories as a truly talented actor and our dear, dear Dwight. He came across as a humble, warm, fun loving and kind human being who instinctively understood that, when the final curtain falls, all that really matters in life is love. God bless you Richard, you touched my heart with your work and your words. My sympathy and thoughts are with your loved ones in their sadness.
Very sad news! I remember him in poldark when I was a child. He was a Great actor
He did, indeed, touch many people’s hearts with Poldark. I hope he knew we cared. I hope you know that, too, Robin. Poldark, which I consider an instant classic, has enriched us all. Thank you.
This makes me so sad and sorry.
My sincerest empathies to his family and friends.
Love and good health to everyone on this forum.
Leonid.
This is truly sad news. i really enjoyed his charm and beauty he brought to the series. This is so sad, but because of what he did he will live on forever for a lo of us.
Thanks for sharing this news Robin
To all his friends and family, i wish them peace during this sad time.
I’m very sorry to hear this news. As the Polish priest and poet Jan Twardowski wrote (but in Polish): “Make haste to love people; they leave so fast.”
Great actor,with a kind heart!….very sad news indeed!, you brought joy into many lives! namnaste
Robin what sad news,I watched that program and remember what he said,so sincere,
He will.be sadly missed.
My condolenses to his family and friends
Very sad, indeed. I always thought of him as the moral compass in the series, around which the other characters depended. He was so convincing.
Thoughts and wishes for peace to his family.
Genie Pohl
Richard, God bless you. In Poldark you made my heart glad. R.I.P. Love you, Beatrice.
how terribly sad!!! far too young 😦 I loved him as Dwight, he was great in Tom Browns Schooldays too – very vivacious and menacing Flashman.
RIP Richard ❤
I must add to my above post that my favorite and most memorable line from Dr. Dwight Enys is the following…addressed to Caroline:
“My love for you, as always, is as fixed as fate.”
Very sad news and much too young only 66.Saw him not so long ago on youtube in a interview.A truly big loss as human and as actor.He will never be forgotten.R.I.P.
Such sad news. I really enjoyed Richard’s portrayal of Dwight Enys. He was more fortunate than many of us, in that he was able to leave his mark on the world in such an enjoyable way. May he rest in peace.
I really miss his presence. He was truly a wonderful person.
Very sad news. He was wonderful in Poldark.
Poldark fueled my fantasies somewhat when I was younger, I’m sorry to hear the news x
Very sad to hear this. Since I watch the series so often, though, he will still seem with us. So handsome and talented. I enjoyed his performance very much, and always will.
Here is, I assume, the Youtube compilation that Richard wrote about. Very well done. Sweet Tribute.
Robin,
Where can I find a new revised version of the new and revised Making Poldark by Robin Ellis? They keep sending me the 1987 copyright.
Love the cookbook. I gave it to my 99year old neighbor who has Type II Diabetes.
Take care,
Sheila
Just another reminder of how short and precious life is, regardless of who you are and how long you live. It seems it is never long enough when the time comes. So we need to make the most of every day as you seem to do so well.
Thank you, Robin, for the inspiration and tribute to your wonderful friend.
Karina Gentinetta
“Carpe Diem!”–I’m telling myself.
And may I say that you “carpe diem” very well. By the way, I saw your youtube video on making pesto and I had to smile. You are such an Englishman to measure everything so precisely!!! As an Argentine/Italian I am all about “a dash of this and a dash of that.” I’m a mess! You are living life fully and surrounded by all those things that awaken our senses — good food, a wonderful place in the world, and with the person you love. And what’s best of all, is that as successful as you are, you are so personable and so reachable. Thank you for personally replying to not only mine but others’ comments. You have no idea how much something as little as that can mean to us down here. Thank you.
Watching our friend Helen do “a dash of this and a dash of that”–is teaching me to be braver!
We are working on the “demonstrating”!
Dear Robin, I just wrote a lengthy post on my own blog about you, your new cookbook, and Poldark. I hope it meets with your approval. http://karinagentinetta.blogspot.com/2011/11/my-newest-obsession-poldark.html
My word–well you could turn a person’s head!
Beautifully done, thank you.
And it’s so gratifying that the stories hold up even if the production values creak a bit.
I’m delighted it turned your head! Mission accomplished. As you see, I am one to value connections and tell it how it is. I’ve never been one to shy away from telling people how wonderful I think they are and how much they’ve touched me. I think people have lost that passion and zest for life and forget to reach out and thank someone who has inspired us or moved us in some way. After all, isn’t that wonderful feeling in your whole being what life is really all about? I hope to stay in touch with you, even after the titles roll on Episode 29 of Poldark!! I guess I’ll have to move on to “The Europeans”. 🙂 But I love your recipes and I think they are not just for people with diabetes. Helen’s cauliflower recipe is on my list for next week. Forgive me for being so honest in such an open forum. It’s the Italian genes in me! But I can always be reached at my email address as I would love to tell you how life in New Orleans is and just simply stay in touch. Respectfully yours,
Karina Gentinetta
Cher Robin, je suis désolé ainsi! Il semble que mon poste de blog et commente le vôtre ont provoqué beaucoup de fans renouvelés ardents. J’espère que je ne vous ai pas provoqués le chagrin. Karina
Pas de tout!
Bien, alors, l’humour moi et restent en contact avec moi!
Dear Robin,
Was away from my computer for a few days & just read the sad news…I’d seen that You Tube video many times, but it was bittersweet this time listening to the words of the song. What a terrible thing–another one gone too young! I guess if we were all given the full 100 years, we’d still say that, wouldn’t we? He sounded like such a decent, caring man in the newspaper tributes. My condolences and prayers go out to you, his family, and all his friends. He will live on in our memories and forevermore as our wise, loyal “Dwight.”
Me, again. Just thinking about Richard Morant and how it’s a bummer he won’t be around to see the renewed interest that the rerelease of “Poldark” will drum up. That line he said about those memories “making him laugh but feeling sad” at the same time… He sounded nostalgic. Or was fame even important to him?
If you don’t mind my asking, what’s it REALLY like? What’s the best and the worst? I figure the lack of privacy & any Beatlemania-style fanaticism would be hard to handle. (Ringo sounds a bit fed up with it now & again, but Paul still gets up there, throws his head back and is lost in his music–just eats it all up!) And some of the newspaper accounts of your trip to America during the Poldark tour sounded a little um, uncomfortable?–running hither & thither, having preteens like me chasing you around 🙂 and strangers grabbing at you. But I think I get a tiny taste of it and feel so proud when my husband gets recognition for his historical research, or a former student of mine runs up to me to give me a hug in the supermarket. Mostly, I think it would be nice to ditch the old “9 to 5” (never restricted to those hours, I might add!!) and have some free time and extra finances to throw around. I wouldn’t buy a yacht, mind you, but I could save the floundering animal shelters around here, and buy my aging father the fancy medical bed that might help him sleep better. I’ve always dreamed of retiring to England (a pipe-dream), and your life in France certainly sounds relaxed and appealing!
So I was wondering…is it worth it? Does that “ahhhh!” feeling ever wear off & it gets boring? Does it go to your head? (You told me you were relieved that you “behaved well” when we met you back then–that was revealing, I think.) Is life relatively stress-free or do you just have a whole different set of worries?
You seem so humble and “normal”…WE, your fans, are the ones who are flattered when you reply and share the highlights & challenges of your life with us! Sometimes I think you & Meredith could be our neighbors and it wouldn’t be weird at all! (Well, after the initial few minutes, anyway! 😉 )
Hope you don’t mind my asking. Now back to my mundane life, haha!
Cheers & extra hugs tonight…
I’ll have to write a book on the subject of “fame”–it’ll be a slim volume!
On Saturday we lost our mum. She got sepsis and her immune system was too weakened after their cancer chemotherapy treatments. She was also a Poldark fan and was so delighted, when I bought the German-DVD Edition.
Now I heard also about the death of Richard Morant. He had such a positive charisma. I can sympathize with his family.
I feel deeply saddened. Life isn’t always fair.
May they rest in peace.
So sorry that your mother has died.
Meredith and I both lost our parents when they were all relatively young. It is devastating.
We send you our condolences, Martina, at this very sad time.
Robin, thanks so much to you and Meredith for your kind expressions of sympathy and your thoughtful condolences.
It’s been a hard year what so sadly will end but your blog was always a continuing support and consoling for myself.
With best wishes, Martina
My three daughters were very skeptical when I first introduced them to Poldark back in the late 1990’s. But it didn’t take long for them to change their minds. Sorry to hear about the loss of another fine actor from the series.
Sincerely Lori
It’s nice to hear when the story crosses generations, Lori–thanks.
Cher Robin, désolé je vous harcèle. La surveillance juste finie de tous les 28 épisodes de Poldark. Aimez-le! Mais je suis un romantique si désespéré. Je suis désolé si nous (et je dis ‘que nous’ puisque je suis sans doute un d’entre beaucoup) semblent juste s’étendre sur Poldark. Je sais qu’il y a beaucoup plus à vous comme un acteur et une personne que Ross Poldark et cela doit être exaspérant pour vous pour faire étendre chacun juste un aspect d’entre vous qui êtes arrivés il y a 36 ans.Et, oui, je suis coupable de cela aussi. Mais je repars… Bien, je crois que puisque vous ne pouvez pas tenir à l’écart des phénomènes de Poldark entiers, vous pourriez aussi le rejoindre de nouveau. Avec cette nouvelle libération par Netflix (et je suppose vous savez que Netflix est si pas je serai heureux d’expliquer), vous recevez tant d’attention de nouveau ici dans les Etats-Unis. Avec la libération de votre livre de cuisine, je sautillerais sur un avion et ferais un livre signings ici dans les Etats-Unis surtout dans de grandes librairies comme Barnes et Noble. Vraiment, les américains ont besoin de la cuisine en bonne santé plus que les européens! Le fast-food est partout ici il semble. Et vos recettes sont magnifiques même pour les gens qui ne sont pas des diabétiques concentrez-vous ainsi que l’aspect aussi comme vous recevrez même plus de disciples.J’ai regardé le stats sur mon blog à la suite de votre histoire et je sais que vous avez toujours beaucoup de disciples, dont beaucoup sont ma génération ou encore plus jeune. Ainsi ‘carpe diem’!!! (et jusqu’à ce que vous m’envoyiez e-mail, je suis forcé à mutiler la langue française – pardonnez-moi s’il vous plaît – dans les espoirs qu’il permet une sorte de vie privée dans mes commentaires). Mais en tout cas, tout cela est mon conseil non sollicité. Je suis juste trop excité des gens quand je me rends compte qu’ils mènent la vie au fullest comme vous sont.
De Nouvelle-Orléans,
Karina
You are very kind and it is lovely that a second and third generation are able to watch Poldark.
I have always said that Winston’s novels were the key. In them he developed characters that “had legs”–so to speak!
These characters spun their stories and it always felt organic rather than manipulated.
We were lucky.
And I have always felt grateful to my friend “Ross”.
Book tours these days are a dying breed and the stores will only do them for “current” people.
Kind as you are I am not on the current list!!
Eh voila!.
Well, we’ll just have to make you current! I’m not sure if Barnes and Noble will only do “current” people. My goodness, if you are not current (being an English actor with quite an impressive list of credentials), then I don’t know who is! Of course, it may not be what you want to do anyway and I can totally understand that. But don’t sell yourself short! You were great as “Ross,” you are great now in your own name and as a writer and cook. I’m sure everyone who follows you on this Blog will agree!
By the way, among many of the things you and I have in common — you know, the whole eating good food thing, cooking, the Falkland Islands ( you being a Brit and me being from Argentina and all) …. we also share the January 8th birthday. Well, sort of. My son, Liam, turns 8 on January 8. And do you know that also happens to be Elvis Presley’s birthday as well? Yes, found that little piece of trivia when we evacuated from New Orleans during Katrina and ended up in Memphis, Tennessee. Get this, New Orleans residents who were literally stuck there for weeks, could get a free tour of Graceland (Elvis’ former home). So there I was, on the phone with FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) making my report of total loss for my home while touring the most extravagant house of the late King of Rock and Roll. How ironic! Considering that we had no home to return to and given that no one was really occupying Graceland at the time, I think I should have asked if we could have just stayed there until things cleared up for us. Just a thought….
Well, I just rescued a Chihuahua off the streets in New Orleans as I was driving. Poor thing, he was trying to cross the busiest street that runs alongside the Mississippi River next to the old cotton warehouses and almost got run over by some cars. Couldn’t leave him there. So while I have 3 dogs already (one also a Katrina rescued dog), I brought him home until I can find him a good home of his own. I will do a post on him to see if someone may want to adopt him. So I’m off to post some photos.
My best to you and Meredith.
Karina
Mr. Ellis- in 1977, I was graduate student in England. My wife, a Canadian, fell in love with England whilst we were there. She also, as did I, followed the Poldark series with an interest that bordered on the obsessive. Though born in England, I had never been to Cornwall. Poldark motivated us to tour that part of the country. So off we went, in our 1967 Triumph Herald rag- top for a camping adventure! What a time and such a lovely countryside with such friendly people. We were poor as church-mice – our normal daily fare was a pasty or a baguette with cheese but we always seemed to have enough in the kitty for wine, cider or a good pint of bitter!
We thank you for the memories. How can we purchase your cookbook?
All the best from Canada!
Hi Paul–well we were filming Poldark 2 in Cornwall for part of the time you and your wife were open-topping it!
I had the “vitesse” version in the sixties.
Delicious Dishes for Diabetics (recipes good for everyone) is available from Amazon.com.
Healthy Eating for life from Amazon.co.uk.
Thanks for writing and I hope you find the books.
I thought you would like my post today and join me in this effort. http://karinagentinetta.blogspot.com/2011/11/get-mad.html I’m trying to do what I can to help the world in any way I can — one chihuahua, one signature, one child, one person, one flooded city at a time.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and Meredith.
HOLA COMO GRAN FANS DE POLDARK ME ENCANTA TODO LO QUE TENGA QUE VER CON LA SERIE PERO SOBRE TODO CON ROBIN QUE ES MI GRAN IDOLO Y ME GUSTARIA PODER CONSEQUIR UN AUTOGRAFO DE EL.
GRACIAS.
I’m two months late, but I must add my sorrow and condolences after just learning about Richard Morant’s death; he always seemed so full of life that it’s hard to believe. I just finished watching Poldark for the umpteenth time. I’ve reread the novels so many times, many of my copies are in tatters. I wanted to check on the cast (on IMDB) and felt shocked to see another Poldark cast member has left us. It’s gratifying to see you and Angharad Rees doing so well. Thank you all for embodying Winston Graham’s marvelous characters (even if the producers butchered the story lines); I can still conjure you all in my mind’s eye when I reread the novels. I can’t wait to read your cookbook.
Thank you for those kind words, Alex.
Hello Robin, I have just completed watching Poldark Series 1, currently watching series 2. I remember watching this series as a young teenager on cold, rainy winters Sunday nights & imagining how hard life in the 18th century would have been. This time round I’m thoroughly hooked on this amazing series, having experienced life & now being able to relate to the trials & tribulations of Ross Poldark. The BBC did wonderful Regency dramas, comedy & variety back in the 70s, I love British tv & film culture, especially from that time, it was my favorite era, I hope to travel to UK & in the new year & Cornwall is definitely a place I’ll be visiting. Being mesmerized by the acting in this fine series, I quickly hopped onto Google to find out info about the series & the actors & was so saddened & quite shocked to learn that Richard Morant & Angharad Rees had passed away in the last couple of years, way too young! I am so thankful that film – video can capture a performance – moment in time & keep it for posterity. I remember seeing Richard as Flashman in Tom Brown’s School Days when I was a kid, he was such a good villain & so kind hearted as Dr. Enys in Poldark, Richard & Angharad will be sadly missed
It is very sad about Angharad and Richard–like Ralph Bates they died too soon. We have to “seize the day”.
Indeed!!! happy New Year to you Robin
Just watching the Poldark series (yet again); I never grow tired of it. Having read all the books, it was a shame that the whole lot never made it to the big screen (or little). Glad to see you looking so well. The loss of Angharad, Richard, Clive and Ralph seems such a pity. However, enjoy seeing “Drake” in the Pirates of the Caribbean films.
Clive is alive and I trust well, Carole. Angharad, Richard and Ralph died well before their time and are missed.
I haven’t watched Polldark for ages but remember it vividly from my teen years when the whole family would religiously glue themselves to the box each week to devour both the enthralling, thrilling storylines and the wonderfully atmospheric ‘Cornish’ settings! On the strength of the series I developed a lifelong passion for all things ‘Cornwall’ and simply adore annual summer ‘pligrimages’ to the Celtic West, especially the wonderful, rugged Penwith Peninsula and dear old Penzance!
I also thoroughly recommend Winston’s books – delicious sagas with such heart and so perfectly brought to life by you all, including our late friend, Richard Morant.
He had great screen presence. I saw him on dvd recently , opposite Joanna David in an early 80s Agatha Christie play version of her short story, The Red Signal. Brilliant cast and Richard carried the lead role with customary panache. You always sensed here was a gentle, sincere , fun and kindly person , no matter how dastardly part he could play with zest, as in his Flashman persona! The world’s a poorer place with his going but blessed to have had him.
A lovely tribute with which I wholeheartedly concur–thanks Ewan.
Just finished watching the 1974 “Affairs of the Heart” series of Henry James short stories. When I got to the episode entitled “Leonie,” I was surprised to see Richard Morant in a starring role and looking as young and romantic as he did in Poldark. It was such a pleasure to see him, and in such an unexpected manner. We miss you Richard.
Thnaks, Robin, for your kind reply!
I’m just amazed the BBC don’t broadcast re-runs of the series, instead of endlessly redoing the same old ones virtually back to back!
Poldark had real ‘class’. In series one, I loved so many of the characters – but apart from yourself and Demelza and of course Dr Dwight Enys I loved such rascals as Prudie , Jim Carter, old lawyer Pearce and his cheeky servant and I must confess I had a definite ‘yen’ for cousin Verity!
Sadly they just don’t write scripts like this any more. Mind you, Poldark was always superior stuff, even when the ‘competition’ was thick on the ground.
Simple fact is, Winston Graham knew how to write a good story, the script writers were adept in adapting it and, crucially, the actors and actresses were brilliant in bringing it all to life, and perfectly cast.
Winston was a wonderful storyteller–you are right.
I met with the producers of the new version and I know it’s in good hands. Winston would have no worries.
It might also amuse you to know that it was mainly on the back of Poldark that I have even steeped myself in a long fascination with the old Celtic Cornish language and can read it reasonably well and do have the occasional, halting conversation in it with other ‘revivalists’! It would have still been limping along during the period of the Poldark story- maybe folks like Prudie or Demelza would have been amoung its last native speakers. The last actual monoglot Cornish speaker is popularly held to have been Dolly Pentreath of Mousehole. There’s now a plaque to commemorate the old dame on her cottage near the harbour and a fine gravestone up in Paul Churchyard.
Often wonder if Poldark had any Celtic Cornish himself!
As I have the time now and I watch Poldark again I am struck at how well cast Richard was.His Dwight Enys is idealistic but also impassioned.The casting was brilliant in the series. A lot of BBC series use actors with a strong background in stage work which makes a huge difference. I know I was one of many with crushes on both Ross and Dr Enys.There really was,something about standout acting and a brilliant use of location that made the series unique and unforgettable for many.
Just been looking through Richad Morant credits – trying to confirm/disprove a memory I have. Did he have a role in the Archers (c 1967) playing Lilian Archer’s first husband Nick (a Canadian pilot who was killed in an air accident)?
Hope someone can help.
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I adore him still. I was 7 in 1971, totally in love with Flashman.
Wish I’d met him.