Richard Hayward (actor)
# Richard Hayward (actor)

Richard Hayward (1892–1964) was a British film actor, writer and musician.

## Life and career

Born in Southport, Lancashire, his family moved to Ireland when he was a baby. Hayward was an enthusiast for all Ulster regional popular culture. He was a member of the Orange Order, to which he dedicated much time. After a period working at the Gaiety Theatre, Dublin he helped form the Belfast Repertory Theatre Company. He was a popular singer in the forties and fifties. His career meant he lived a typical theatrical lifestyle being constantly on the move.

Hayward wrote a number of travel books about Ireland, exploring every county. He was closely associated with the Belfast Naturalists' Field Club, serving as its president in 1951.

## Death

He died due to a road accident outside Ballymena, in October 1964.

## Selected filmography

* Flame in the Heather (1935) - Fassiefern
* The Voice of Ireland (1936)
* The Early Bird (1936) - Daniel Duff
* The Luck of the Irish (1936) - Sam Mulhern
* Shipmates o' Mine (1936) - Mike Dooley
* Devil's Rock (1938) - Sam Mulhern
* Irish and Proud of It (1938) - Donogh O'Connor
* A Night to Remember (1958) - Victualling Officer (final film role)

Hayward also wrote the screenplay of the musical drama Devil's Rock.

## Selected books

He wrote a number of books, mostly topographical, about Ireland, including:

* In praise of Ulster (Arthur Barker, 1938)
* Where the Shannon flows (1940)
* Corrib Country (Dundalgan Press, 1943)
* In the Kingdom of Kerry (Dundalgan Press, 1946)
* Leinster and the city of Dublin (Arthur Barker, 1949)
* Ulster and the City of Belfast (Arthur Barker, 1950)
* Belfast through the ages (Dundalgan Press, 1952)
* Connacht and the city of Galway (Arthur Barker, 1952)
* Story of the Irish Harp (Arthur Guinness, Son & Co., 1954)
* Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim & Roscommon (Arthur Barker, 1955)
* Munster and the city of Cork (Phoenix House, 1964)
