Summary
Ronald Stevens (2 September 1925 – 11 November 2006) was an English revue artist, character actor and voice artist credited professionally as Ronnie Stevens.[1]
Ronnie Stevens | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Ronald Stevens 2 September 1925 |
| Died | 11 November 2006 (aged 81) Northwood, London, England |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, voice artist |
| Years active | 1949–2000 |
| Spouse |
Ann Bristow
(m. 1959; died 2006) |
| Children | 2 |
Born in London, England, Ronald Stevens served in World War II in both the Royal Air Force and the British Army's Royal Engineers. He was a versatile actor, appearing in numerous TV comedy series like May to December, Goodnight Sweetheart, and A J Wentworth, BA, as well as other sitcoms and dramas like The Avengers and Rumpole of the Bailey. Stevens co-starred in the Australian TV comedy series The Mavis Bramston Show and appeared in films such as Carry On Cruising, Brassed Off, and The Parent Trap. He co-narrated Noggin the Nog with Oliver Postgate and lent his voice to various children's series and animated films. Ronald died at age 81.
Life and career edit
Stevens was born in London, England, the son of Fanny Elizabeth (Carpenter) and Henry Edward Stevens.[2] He served in World War II in both the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Royal Engineers of the British Army.[3]
He appeared in many television comedy series in regular roles, including May to December, Goodnight Sweetheart and A J Wentworth, BA. He also appeared as the "Minister of Pollution", in The Goodies pollution episode. He played minor roles in many other sitcoms including Wild, Wild Women, Winning Widows, Only When I Laugh, Ever Decreasing Circles, Hi-de-Hi!, Yes, Prime Minister, Terry and June, Chance in a Million and As Time Goes By. He played roles in The Avengers, Dick and the Duchess, Minder, Rumpole of the Bailey, Hetty Wainthropp Investigates, and as Sir Andrew Aguecheek in the 1980 BBC Television Shakespeare series presentation of Twelfth Night.[1] He appeared as Mr Rudge in the Tales of the Unexpected (TV series) episode (9/5) "The Facts of Life" (1988).
In 1965–66 Stevens co-starred in the pioneering Australian TV satirical comedy series The Mavis Bramston Show, where he replaced founding cast member Gordon Chater.[4]
Stevens also appeared in the 1962 film Carry On Cruising, the 1996 film Brassed Off, and the 1998 film The Parent Trap.[5]
He co-narrated Noggin the Nog with Oliver Postgate.[6]
Stevens also lent his voice to the classic children's puppet series Space Patrol and Sara and Hoppity and the children's animated series Captain Zed and the Zee Zone along with various British and Canadian voice actors as well as providing voices for the animated film Rarg.
Personal life edit
His wife, Ann, predeceased him as did his older son Paul, but not his younger son Guy. Ronald was 81 at the time of his death from an illness on November 11, 2006 in Northwood, London, England.[7]
Filmography edit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1949 | Under Capricorn | Officer at Ball | Uncredited |
| 1952 | Top Secret | Aubrey | |
| Made in Heaven | TV Announcer | Uncredited | |
| 1953 | Love in Pawn | Grocer | |
| 1954 | The Scarlet Web | Simpson | |
| The Embezzler | Travel Agent | Uncredited | |
| For Better, for Worse | Fishmonger's Assistant | ||
| 1955 | As Long as They're Happy | Box intruder | |
| The Hornet's Nest | Bill, the Photographer | ||
| Value for Money | Compere | ||
| No Smoking | BBC Man | ||
| An Alligator Named Daisy | Singer | Uncredited | |
| 1956 | The Narrowing Circle | Jimmy | |
| The Extra Day | Reporter | Uncredited | |
| 1957 | Doctor at Large | Waiter at hotel | |
| 1958 | I Was Monty's Double | M.I.5. Tail | |
| Bachelor of Hearts | Shop Assistant | ||
| 1959 | Danger Within | Lt. Meynell, 'The Sewer Rat' | |
| I'm All Right Jack | Hooper | ||
| 1960 | Doctor in Love | Harold Green | |
| Dentist in the Chair | Brian Dexter | ||
| 1961 | Very Important Person | Hankley | |
| Nearly a Nasty Accident | Flight Lt. Pocock | ||
| Dentist on the Job | Brian Dexter | ||
| 1962 | It's Trad, Dad! | TV Director | |
| A Pair of Briefs | Hotel Under-Manager | ||
| Carry On Cruising | Drunk Passenger | ||
| On the Beat | Oberon | ||
| 1963 | Doctor in Distress | Hotel Manager | |
| 1965 | A Home of Your Own | The Architect | |
| Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines | Reporter | Uncredited | |
| San Ferry Ann | Hiker Boy | ||
| Give a Dog a Bone | Ringo | ||
| 1966 | Doctor in Clover | TV Producer | |
| The Sandwich Man | Drunk | ||
| 1967 | Smashing Time | 1st Waiter | |
| 1969 | Some Girls Do | Peregrine Carruthers | |
| Goodbye, Mr. Chips | Algie | ||
| 1974 | All I Want Is You... and You... and You... | Husband | |
| 1979 | S.O.S. Titanic | Doctor McGee - Carpathia | uncredited |
| 1984 | Captain Stirrick | William Perfect | |
| 1985 | Morons from Outer Space | Hotel Manager | |
| 1988 | Rarg | Baby, Senator | (voice) |
| 1989 | Countdown to War | Phipps | |
| 1990 | Secret Weapon | Barber | |
| 1992 | Blame It on the Bellboy | Man on Plane | |
| 1996 | Brassed Off | Albert Hall Judge | |
| 1998 | The Parent Trap | Grandfather | (final film role) |
References edit
- ^ a b "Ronnie Stevens". BFI. Archived from the original on 4 August 2012.
- ^ "Ronnie Stevens Biography (1925-)".
- ^ Ronnie Stevens - Gifted and versatile character actor at home in theatre, films and television. The Guardian. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
- ^ "Australian Television: The Mavis Bramston Show". australiantelevision.net.
- ^ "Ronnie Stevens - Movies and Filmography - AllMovie". AllMovie.
- ^ Eric Shorter (16 November 2006). "Obituary: Ronnie Stevens". The Guardian.
- ^ "Ronnie Stevens". The Daily Telegraph. 15 November 2006.
External links edit
- Ronnie Stevens at IMDb
- Obituary in The Stage
- Daily Telegraph obituary