P. H. Moriarty dies aged 86: Tributes to 'gifted' actor best known for his gangster and hardmen roles in The Long Good Friday and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels actor P.H. Moriarty has died aged 86.
The Deptford-born star, praised as 'gifted' and 'talented', was known for his role in the 1998 hit crime film as murderous gangster 'Hatchet' Harry Lonsdale.
Moriarty also played hardman Razors in 1980 movie The Long Good Friday, was a hitman in Outland in 1981 and had a role as Jack Tate in the 1983 film Jaws 3D.
He was additionally in TV shows such as The Bill, Doctors, Judge John Deed and Frank Herbert's Dune as well as the follow-up Frank Herbert's Children of Dune.
The former boxer from South East London had an unusual route to acting, having been spotted by a film crew while working as a docker at Surrey Docks.
His cause of death has not yet been revealed - but tributes have been paid by fans after men's cancer charity Orchid, which he supported, confirmed he had died.
A spokesman said in a post on social media yesterday: 'We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of P.H. Moriarty, a talented actor best known for his roles in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and The Long Good Friday.
'A gifted voice actor and a dedicated supporter of Orchid, Paul's contributions and unwavering commitment will always be remembered. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family, friends, and all who had the privilege of knowing him.'
P.H. Moriarty on set of the 2007 psychological thriller The Riddle, in which he played D.I. Willis
Moriarty was known for his role in the 1998 crime film Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
Moriarty (left) is also remembered for playing Razors in the 1980 movie The Long Good Friday
Family friend Jimmy Tippett Jr told The Sun: 'Paul met Dad when he was very young and they went on to become lifelong friends.
'They always took the time to see each other and Paul often came to see my Dad in care when he was suffering with dementia. I know that Paul died very peacefully, his wife was holding his hand the whole time and talking to him.'
Fans have also taken to social media following the news to pay tribute to Moriarty - who died on Sunday - especially for his role in The Long Good Friday.
One wrote: 'RIP Paul 'PH' Moriarty - fantastic screen presence in everything from Jaws 3 ('guvvvnooorrr') to Lock Stock but achieved screen immortality as 'Razors' in The Long Good Friday. Lovely guy too: old school gentleman.'
Another said: 'RIP PH Moriarty. Proper bloke and Millwall. Me and my late brother knew him from Millwall. After the game we got talking to PH, what a gentleman.
'Sat there for a couple of hours. We stayed in contact with him. A really lovely and interesting bloke. Cut him Razors.'
And a third added: 'Sad to hear about the passing today of actor PH Moriarty, aka Razors in The Long Good Friday.'
Meanwhile a fourth wrote: 'A fine South London man and actor has left us. A lot of pubs I grew up in had a PH Moriarty.'
Moriarty, whose father was a truck driver, got a job at Surrey Docks in Rotherhithe after leaving school.
The Millwall FC supporter told the Southend Echo in April 2011 in an interview looking back on his life that he was working as a longshoreman when he got his first break.
Moriarty said TV producer Tony Garnett had been filming an episode of the 1987 BBC series Law and Order in the area and asked him: 'Why don't you do some acting? You'll enjoy it'.
He soon made his first film appearance in Quadrophenia, the 1979 movie based on The Who's rock opera, but his career really took off with The Long Good Friday the following year as Razors – also dubbed the 'human spirograph'.
Moriarty told the Echo: 'It's the film that made all the difference to my career. After Long Good Friday, I was never really out of work.'
He added: 'A guy in America saw it just after it came out, rang me up, and the next thing I was over there and starring in Jaws 3D. I'd been in a few films before, but that was the one that changed it all.'
He appeared as Bob Hoskins's henchman in The Long Good Friday alongside Dame Helen Mirren, and said of her: 'She was a stunning woman, Helen, absolutely lovely. And a great girl.
Moriarty alongside Derek Thompson and Bob Hoskins in 1980 film The Long Good Friday
Moriarty on set with Vinnie Jones while filming the 2007 psychological thriller The Riddle
Moriarty appeared as Reg Barnes in an episode of The Bill in 2000 alongside Karl Collins
Moriarty plays poker at The Sportsman casino in London in December 2005
'She was just one of the boys, putting back the pints with everyone. We were filming down the docks. She asked me if I could get her into the canteen at the docks.
'Now I had to explain to her that nobody – nobody – who didn't work on the docks ever went into that canteen. It just didn't happen. But she managed it somehow, and they just took her in, like she was one of their own.'
The movie website Collider last year ranked Moriarty's 'Hatchet' from Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels as the fourth best villain in a Guy Ritchie movie.
Author Ryan Heffernan wrote: 'While it has a number of antagonists, 'Hatchet' Harry is the driving force behind the film's violent intensity and the major, overbearing threat to the protagonists.
'In addition to being a cheat, he also showcases an explosive knack for extreme violence, as is displayed when he beats a criminal subordinate to death with a sex toy.
'Menacing, greedy, and ruthless, Harry is perhaps the most intimidating villain in Guy Ritchie's filmography to date.'
His final movie appearance was in 2021 gangster film Rise of the Footsoldier: Origins alongside Vinnie Jones, his co-star in Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels.
