“We want the finest wines available to humanity,” said Hollywood star Richard E Grant in Withnail and I, and the film itself is certainly one of the finest ever made.
Produced by George Harrison’s Handmade Film Company, the film was not a commercial success on its release, but has gained a huge following since its release in 1987.
Star Paul McGann, turns 62 on November 14, and speaking about the films legacy, Paul told BBC Culture: “It’s no exaggeration to say that I’ve probably had every single line of it said back to me.”
Daily Star looks at where the cast of the iconic film are now.
Paul McGann – Marwood
(Image: Handmade Films)
Paul McGann starred in one of his most memorable roles as Withnail’s friend Marwood, or ‘I’ as many viewers have referred to the character.
Paul is one of four brothers from a huge acting family, with brother Stephen playing Dr Turner in Call the Midwife, Joe starring in TV series such as The Upper Hand and Mark McGann starring as John Lennon in John and Yoko: A Love Story, as well as directing and running his own Drama Company.
They also have a sister, Clare McGann.
Having already starred in drama series including The Monocled Mutineer in 1986, he landed yet another huge role as the eighth Doctor in the 1996 TV film adaptation of Doctor Who.
(Image: Handmade Films)
Though his Doctor was not picked up for a series of his own, he has continued to play the Doctor on audio stories, and made an appearance as his character in the short film Night of the Doctor for the show’s 50th anniversary.
He also regularly meets fans at conventions, saying to The Big Issue: “The revived show has such a smile on its face and a sense of humour; now, I couldn’t be happier being part of that world.
“Going to conventions, meeting fans, it feels like you’re in a big gang.”
Since 1992 he has been married to Annie Milner and they have two sons together, Joseph and Jake, who is also an actor.
Richard E Grant – Withnail
(Image: Handmade Films)
Richard E Grant landed his breakout role in the film Withnail and I as one of the titular characters.
His Shakespearean speech at the end of the film and legendary performance of lines including: “We’ve gone on holiday by mistake”, cemented his status as one of the most gripping actors of a generation.
During lockdown, Richard E Grant even posted Withnail and I isolation films, recreating iconic moments and quotes from the film, much to the delight of fans on Twitter.
Since then he has not left our screens, having starring roles in films including Bram Stokers Dracula, Jekyll and Hyde, Game of Thrones and an award winning role as Jack in 2018’s Can you ever forgive me?
(Image: Handmade Films)
In a link to his Withnail co-star Paul, Richard also appeared in Doctor Who as villain The Great Intelligence from 2012-2013.
Richard most recently starred in the Marvel series Loki, as classic Loki, a role that he said he would love to return to if asked.
From 1986, he was married to renowned voice coach Joan Washington, with who he had a daughter Olivia, who also followed their footsteps into the film industry as a casting director.
However, Joan sadly died earlier this year of lung cancer.
Speaking to Daily Mail, he said: “It’s an extraordinary phenomenon to be truly ‘seen’ and ‘known’ by another human, and in Joan, I found someone who innately did both.
“The depth of our grief is mirrored by the magnitude of our love.”
Richard Griffiths – Montague Withnail
(Image: Handmade Films)
Richard Griffiths played Uncle Monty Withnail, another actor in the Withnail family, but viewers will also known him from another of his huge film roles.
He starred as the cruel Uncle Vernon in the Harry Potter series, and Potter star Daniel Radcliffe even worked alongside him again in the stage production of Equus.
Radcliffe told BBC News: “Richard was by my side during two of the most important moments of my career. I was proud to know him.
“Any room he walked into was made twice as funny and twice as clever just by his presence.”
(Image: Handmade Films)
As well as having roles in Hollywood films including Sleepy Hollow and The History Boys, alongside James Corden and Samuel Barnett, he also starred as a detective in the TV series Pie in the Sky.
He was also married to Heather Gibson from 1980.
However, Richard died aged 65 following complications from heart surgery on March 28 2013.
After he died, Withnail co-star Richard E Grant paid tribute to him on Twitter saying: “My beloved Uncle Monty Richard Griffiths died last night. Chin-Chin my dear friend.”
Ralph Brown – Danny
(Image: Handmade Films)
Ralph Brown played Danny in Withnail and I, a role he parodied in 1993’s comedy sequel Wayne’s World 2 as roadie Del Preston.
He and fellow star Paul McGann also hosted a Q&A about the film as part of Liverpool Comedy Festival in 2015.
Like his fellow Withnail and I co-stars, Ralph has enjoyed huge Hollywood success in films including Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, as DJ Bob in 2009’s The Boat that Rocked, Frank Morgan in series one of BBC drama Life on Mars and Dr. Ivchenko in Marvel’s Agent Carter series in 2015.
He also played Barney for five episodes of Coronation Street in 2005.
Most recently he starred in the television series Godfathers of Harlem in 2021 and is listed as starring in films currently in post-production.
Ralph has been married to Jenny Jules since 1992.
Michael Wardle – Mr Parkin
Before playing farmer Mr Parkin, Michael Wardle already had a long career in acting, having starred in programmes including Z-Cars and The Doctors.
After Withnail and I, he had further roles in huge television series including Last of the Summer Wine, Heartbeat and I’m Alan Partridge.
He even had rival soap roles as multiple characters in Emmerdale from 1980-2001 and Coronation Street from 1986-2003.
Michael’s most recent role was in the feature film A Little in Tents as Ron in 2017, and he currently lives in Yorkshire.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
