Richard Leigh's sister is the American-British astrologer and author Liz Greene, who briskly referenced the “Jesus Bloodline” in her 1980 novel “The Dreamer of the Vine: A Novel About Nostradamus”. Richard Leigh never married. His major claim to fame was co-writing the book “The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail”, first published in 1982; before being also the co-author with Henry Lincoln and Michael Baigent of the sequel “The Messianic Legacy”, and first published in 1986. After that Leigh co-wrote with Michael Baigent an article about “Black Madonnas” for “The Unexplained Magazine” from issue Number 6 (this article was the genesis of this genre, that never existed before), as well as some books with Michael Baigent, before setting out to write his own books.

The cause of Richard Leigh's death, according to his Jonathan Clowes agency, was related to a heart condition.

Curiously, Richard Leigh was buried in the Leigh Chapel at St Michael's Church, in Rushall, West Midlands (United Kingdom).

Co-written with Michael Baigent and Henry Lincoln
-The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail (1982, UK)
-Holy Blood, Holy Grail (1983, US)
-The Messianic Legacy (1985)

Co-written with Michael Baigent
-The Dead Sea Scrolls Deception (1991)
-The Temple and the Lodge (1991)
-Secret Germany: Claus Von Stauffenberg and the Mystical Crusade Against Hitler (1994)
-The Elixir and the Stone: The Tradition of Magic and Alchemy (1997)
-The Inquisition (1999)

Self published
-Erceldoune & Other Stories (2006)
-Grey Magic (2007)