The actor Ian Richardson, best remembered for television role as the Machiavellian chief whip Francis Urquhart in the BBC series House of Cards, died suddenly today at the age of 72. He died in his sleep at his home at Richmond, Surrey. He had not been ill and his death was a shock, his agent said. The actor was due to start filming an episode of ITV’s Midsomer Murders next week. Richardson, who started as a Shakesperian actor and went on to star in numerous films and other TV dramas, was concerned about being typecast as the scheming Urquhart, which...