My Father Wore Black Spats

[Roger Ryan]

Yes, Welles' elder brother Richard was institutionalized at various times and would tend to reappear in Welles' life at inopportune moments (one account claimed that Richard made statements to the press in 1941 that he was the one who wrote "Citizen Kane"). While Welles never publicly discussed his relationship with Richard, certainly the brother characters in both "Bright Lucifer" (Welles' early stage play attempt) and "The Big Brass Ring" are inspired by him.

[Terry]

Welles' brother Richard also is said to have had a stuttering problem, and those who look for autobiographical influences in Welles' films point to the character of Silence in Chimes at Midnight.

[Bantock]

The night man in "Touch of Evil" too, I think.

[jaime marzol]

i read somewhere that when welles was riding high, brother richard tried to embark on a lecture tour as orson welles' brother. i can see now how a stuttering problem might hamper the tour.

also read somewhere about the brother taking credit bit. i think i might remember it being war of the worlds that richard tried to take credit for?