Thorp’s leading television roles included Dr. John Rennie in Emergency – Ward 10 from 1957 to 1961, and Doug Randall in Crossroads in 1975. He also appeared in a 1982 episode of Strangers. He was the longest-serving member of Emmerdale since the death of Clive Hornby in 2008. While he was happy to stay in the role of Alan Turner for so long, he complained that his character was not used as much any more.

Thorp was one of Emmerdale’s most private actors, although he gave an interview in 1995 with The People and revealed that he was separated from his wife, but they still lived in the same house together. Thorp was very good friends with Lorraine Chase, who played his on-screen daughter, Steph Stokes in Emmerdale, and Sheree Murphy, who played his on-screen granddaughter, Tricia Stokes in Emmerdale.

Thorp took a break from Emmerdale in July 2009 after undergoing a knee operation and returned in April 2010.

Thorp died in Shrewsbury on 22 May 2013. Emmerdale producer Kate Oates stated: “Richard’s death is a sad loss to Emmerdale, of which he was at the heart for so many wonderful years. Richard had a brilliant sense of humour and he will be missed by every single member of our production whose lives he touched.”