Richard Woolcott est né le 11 juin 1927 à Sydney, Nouvelle-Galles du Sud, Australie. Il était marié à Birgit Christensen. Il est mort le 2 février 2023 en Australie.
He was awarded the A.O. (Officer of the Order of Australia) on June 10, 1985 in the Queen's Birthday Honors List and the A.C. (Companion of the Order of Australia) on June 13, 1993 in the Queen's Birthday Honors List for his services to diplomacy.