He was working as an elevator operator at around the time that Jon Pertwee was performing his first stage role. Fifty years later, they met again when Richard was called in to replace William Hartnell as the First Doctor in the special anniversary programme, The Five Doctors (1983).
Upon playing Doctor Who, he replaced Jon Pertwee as the oldest living cast member. Though that status returned to Pertwee upon his own passing the following year.