Stan was a television actor, best known for his portrayal of the loveable rogue and ex-gamekeeper, Seth Armstrong, in popular ITV soap serial Emmerdale (formerly Emmerdale Farm), a role he played exclusively from May 1978 until his death of emphysema in 2005, having been originally "signed" to the series for a run of just 4 weeks. He had previously acted in Coronation Street (6 episodes), having started his career aged 15 as a pub pianist and (later) stand-up comic before turning actor.

Having played the piano from the age of ten, Stan had been performing with dance bands in pubs and clubs during the evenings. He formed a comedy and musical quartet called Melody Maniacs when he was 21. 'We played all the clubs in Yorkshire,' says Stan, 'and we were a very successful act. Then I joined another lad, Frankie Newton, who played the drums, sang and did impressions, and I did the comedy and played the piano. In 1965, I went professional with a vocal-comedy quartet called the Four Renowns and, three years later, went solo and performed all over the country, at The Barley Variety Club, social clubs and working-mens clubs. 'I was building up a good reputation when the BBC rang me and asked whether I would be interested in acting in The Price of Coal, which was being directed by Ken Loach.

This acclaimed 1977 Play for Today cast Stan as a friend of the lead character, played by Bobby Knutt, who, almost 20 years later, joined Emmerdale as Albert Dingle. 'It was a two part play,' recalls Stan, 'and we were both miners. I was killed in the second play in a pit explosion and Bobby was badly injured when he got buried under the coal. As a result of doing that, I got an agent and finished up doing all sorts of things on television.' Stan has appeared in series such as The Cuckoo Waltz, Crown Court and Last of the Summer Wine. He also played a pig farmer in All Creatures Great and Small and Councillor Stokes briefly in Coronation Street.

(source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stan_Richards)

NAME: Stan Richards

D.O.B: 08.12.1930 - 11.02.2005

Description: A television actor, best known for his portrayal of the loveable rogue and ex-gamekeeper, Seth Armstrong, in popular ITV soap serial Emmerdale.