Ronnie Stevens (actor)

Ronald George 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 George Stevens

(1925-09-02)2 September 1925
Peckham, London, England
Died11 November 2006(2006-11-11) (aged 81)
Northwood, London, England
Occupation(s)Actor, voice artist
Years active1949–2000
Spouse
Ann Bristow
(m. 1959; died 2006)
Children2

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 (TV series), 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.

Life and career

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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

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His wife, Ann, predeceased him by six months. His eldest son died from Cystic Fibrosis in 1990. He is survived by his youngest son and one grandson. Ronald was 81 at the time of his death on 11 November, 2006 in Northwood, London, England.[7]

Filmography

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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 Charles James (Annie and Hallie's Maternal Grandfather and Liz's father) Final film role

References

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  1. ^ a b "Ronnie Stevens". BFI. Archived from the original on 4 August 2012.
  2. ^ "Ronnie Stevens Biography (1925-)".
  3. ^ Ronnie Stevens - Gifted and versatile character actor at home in theatre, films and television. The Guardian. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  4. ^ "Australian Television: The Mavis Bramston Show". australiantelevision.net.
  5. ^ "Ronnie Stevens - Movies and Filmography - AllMovie". AllMovie.
  6. ^ Eric Shorter (16 November 2006). "Obituary: Ronnie Stevens". The Guardian.
  7. ^ "Ronnie Stevens". The Daily Telegraph. 15 November 2006.
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