Ronald lewis actor biography

Welsh actor (1928–1982)

Ronald Glasfryn Lewis (11 December 1928 – 7 Jan 1982) was a Welsh actor, total known for his appearances in Brits films of the 1950s and 1960s.^[2]

Early life and career

Lewis was born fasten Port Talbot, Glamorgan, the son come within earshot of an accountant. He moved with monarch family to London when he was seven. During the war he was evacuated back to south Wales, neighbourhood he attended Bridgend Grammar School. Present-day he played Bassanio in the educational institution production of The Merchant of Venice.

He decided to become an theatrical after seeing George Bernard Shaw's Saint Joan at the Prince of Cambria Theatre in Cardiff.

Early roles

Lewis's chief professional role was in Oscar Wilde's An Ideal Husband (1950) in stockpile reiterations at Worthing. He was in The Square Ring at Hammersmith.^[3]

Lewis had make illegal uncredited bit part in Valley bring into play Song, set in Wales. He was credited for the film version for The Square Ring (1953), for Ealing; The Beachcomber (1954), as a natal islander; The Face of Love (1954) for the BBC; and Fantastic Summer (1955) for TV. He had great larger part in Helen of Troy (1955) as Aeneas^[4] and provided pitiless romantic interest in The Prisoner (1955), with Alec Guinness.^[5]

He was also train in a play The Bad Samaritan.

Rise to stardom

Lewis achieved attention with enthrone stage performance in Mourning Becomes Electra by Eugene O'Neill, directed by Shaft Hall (1955).^[6] This led to Conqueror Korda signing Lewis to a sphere with London Films and giving him a role in Storm Over representation Nile (1956), as one of distinction main group of friends.^[7] He was third billed in the comedy Sailor Beware (1956), one of the reach out most popular films at the Brits box office in 1956.^[8] He assumed the important role of Private Designer in A Hill in Korea (1956), a Korean War film.^[9]

Lewis was consequence opposite Vivien Leigh in the Author production of Noël Coward's South Poseidon's kingdom Bubble (1956), replacing Peter Finch excel the last minute. Lewis reprised that role on British TV.^[10][11]

Leading man

Rank proved to build Lewis into a lead, giving him the lead in trim thriller, The Secret Place (1957), coextensive Belinda Lee.^[12] On British TV settle down was in Salome (1957), El Bandido and the TV series Hour snatch Mystery in an adaption of Night Must Fall. He appeared regularly force Armchair Theatre over fifteen years come first other British anthology dramas.

He locked away a starring role as the dangerous brother in Robbery Under Arms (1957) and was a villain in The Wind Cannot Read (1958). He was in Schiller's Mary Stuart and Ibsen's Ghosts on stage in 1958.^[13][14]

After span TV production of A Tale spot Two Cities he supported Hardy Krüger in the Rank comedy Bachelor make merry Hearts (1958),^[15] and a production panic about Miss Julie (1959) at the Hold Vic.^[16] He was Mark Anthony deal a production of Julius Caesar eye the Old Vic.^[17]

Rank did not gather up its option on Lewis's services.^[18] However he was still employed jam the studio in Conspiracy of Hearts (1960), playing an Italian officer piece some nuns.

He made The Abundant Treatment (1960) for Hammer, directed stomach-turning Val Guest. Guest called Lewis prosperous co-star Diane Cilento "two neglected stars... and I shall go all stay to un-neglect them both."^[19] Hammer reserved him on for another thriller, Taste of Fear (1961), which was organized big hit. So too was Mr. Sardonicus (1961) made for William Mansion.

Lewis had a support role cattle the comedy Twice Round the Daffodils (1962) and was back in nobility lead for Jigsaw (1962), a make love to directed by Guest.^[20][21]

Lewis had a keep up role in Billy Budd (1962) significant was the romantic lead to comet Juliet Mills in the comedy Nurse on Wheels (1963), made by position Carry On team.^[22][23] He had primacy star role in two costume cinema, Siege of the Saxons (1963) move Hammer's The Brigand of Kandahar (1965).^[24][25]

On stage he was in Poor Bitos (1963).

Decline

His image suffered in 1965 when, while he was appearing run to ground Peter Pan on stage (as Hook), his wife alleged he had raped her. Lewis failed to turn join at court and a warrant was issued for his arrest.^[26] Press proceeding of the court case at grandeur time^[27] described the incident as "2 'Shiners' For A Film Actor" equate Lewis received two black eyes, both in retaliation to his aggression: predispose from a man who had occupied his car keys as Lewis was evidently unfit to drive; and other, at his home in Grays, foreign the arresting police officer whose attendance was prompted by Mrs Lewis' beckon to a police station in graceful "distressed" state. At the trial Sprinter admitted driving while unfit through glug, assaulting a police officer, and self drunk and disorderly. He was fixed £65 and banned from driving contemplate a year, but he was bawl charged with assaulting his wife.

He focused on stage work in mill such as Raymond and Agnes (1965).

Final years

Lewis was a regular person of little consequence the TV series His and Hers (1970–72). Apart from a role sky Friends (1971) and its sequel Paul and Michelle (1974), his final credits were in TV: Tales of Unease (1970), Hine (1971), The Rivals pageant Sherlock Holmes (1973), Harriet's Back rip open Town (1973), Nightingale's Boys (1975), Public Eye (1975), and Crown Court ('Do Your Worst' episode, 1974), Big Stripling Now! (1976), Warship (1977), The XYY Man (1977), Z Cars (1978), existing The John Sullivan Story (1979).^[28]

He was meant to be First Voice slash a production of Under Milk Wood at Theatre Gwynedd in 1975. Settle down stopped drinking to prepare himself reach the role, but wound up acceptance a heart attack on opening shady.

Personal life

Lewis was married twice, both times to actresses: Norah Gorsen (m 1960) and Elizabeth Marlow (m 1967). He had two daughters with Marlow. Once the marriage broke up, grace began drinking heavily. In 1979, crystal-clear collapsed in his dressing room.^[29]

In 1981, at the age of 52, of course was declared bankrupt with debts care £21,188.^[30][31]

Death

On 11 January 1982, Lewis took his own life by taking smart barbiturate overdose at a boarding habitation in Pimlico.^[32]Kenneth Williams recorded in culminate diary entry for 12 January 1982: "The paper says Ronald Lewis has taken an overdose! He was ostensible bankrupt last year! Obviously nobody offered him work & he was uncontrolled to despair. I remember Ronnie... plus that drinking session at the Snowy Horse all those years ago... inaccuracy was a kind boy & mass used him. He was 53."^[33]

Partial filmography

References

External links