Ronald Glasfryn Lewis (11 December 1928 – 11 January 1982), was an actor, best known for his appearances in British films of the 1950s and 1960s.

Early life and career

Lewis was born in

Port Talbot Port Talbot (, ) is a town and community in the county borough of Neath Port Talbot, Wales, situated on the east side of Swansea Bay, approximately from Swansea. The Port Talbot Steelworks covers a large area of land which dominates the south ...

, Glamorgan, the son of an accountant. He moved with his family to London when he was seven. During the war he was evacuated back to south Wales, where he attended Bridgend Grammar School. There he played Bassanio in the school production of ''

The Merchant of Venice ''The Merchant of Venice'' is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1596 and 1598. A merchant in Venice named Antonio defaults on a large loan provided by a Jewish moneylender, Shylock. Although classified as ...

''. He decided to become an actor after seeing

George Bernard Shaw George Bernard Shaw (26 July 1856 – 2 November 1950), known at his insistence simply as Bernard Shaw, was an Irish playwright, critic, polemicist and political activist. His influence on Western theatre, culture and politics extended from ...

's '' Saint Joan'' at the

Prince of Wales Theatre The Prince of Wales Theatre is a West End theatre in Coventry Street, near Leicester Square in London. It was established in 1884 and rebuilt in 1937, and extensively refurbished in 2004 by Sir Cameron Mackintosh, its current owner. The theatre ...

in Cardiff. He studied at

RADA The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA; ) is a drama school in London, England, that provides vocational conservatoire training for theatre, film, television, and radio. It is based in the Bloomsbury area of Central London, close to the Se ...

, graduating in 1953.

Early roles

Lewis's first professional role was in Oscar Wilde's '' An Ideal Husband'' (1950) in repertory at Worthing. He was in ''

The Square Ring ''The Square Ring'' is a 1953 British tragi-comic drama, directed by Basil Dearden and made at Ealing Studios. It stars Jack Warner, Robert Beatty and Bill Owen. The film, based on a stage play by Ralph Peterson, centres on one night at a f ...

'' at Hammersmith. Lewis had an uncredited bit part in '' Valley of Song'', set in Wales. He was credited for the film version of ''

'' (1953), for Ealing; '' The Beachcomber'' (1954), as a native islander; '' The Face of Love'' (1954) for the BBC; and ''Fantastic Summer'' (1955) for TV. He had a larger part in '' Helen of Troy'' (1955) as

Aeneas In Greco-Roman mythology, Aeneas (, ; from ) was a Trojan hero, the son of the Trojan prince Anchises and the Greek goddess Aphrodite (equivalent to the Roman Venus). His father was a first cousin of King Priam of Troy (both being grandsons ...

and provided some romantic interest in ''

The Prisoner ''The Prisoner'' is a 1967 British television series about an unnamed British intelligence agent who is abducted and imprisoned in a mysterious coastal village, where his captors designate him as Number Six and try to find out why he abruptl ...

'' (1955), with Alec Guinness. He was also in a play ''The Bad Samaritan''.

Rise to stardom

Lewis achieved attention with his stage performance in ''

Mourning Becomes Electra ''Mourning Becomes Electra'' is a play cycle written by American playwright Eugene O'Neill. The play premiered on Broadway at the Guild Theatre on 26 October 1931 where it ran for 150 performances before closing in March 1932, starring Lee Baker ...

'' by

Eugene O'Neill Eugene Gladstone O'Neill (October 16, 1888 – November 27, 1953) was an American playwright and Nobel laureate in Nobel Prize in Literature, literature. His poetically titled plays were among the first to introduce into the U.S. the drama tech ...

, directed by Peter Hall (1955). This led to

Alexander Korda Sir Alexander Korda (; born Sándor László Kellner; hu, Korda Sándor; 16 September 1893 – 23 January 1956)London Films London Films Productions is a British film and television production company founded in 1932 by Alexander Korda and from 1936 based at Denham Film Studios in Buckinghamshire, near London. The company's productions included ''The Private Life o ...

and giving him a role in '' Storm Over the Nile'' (1956), as one of the main group of friends. He was third billed in the comedy '' Sailor Beware'' (1956), one of the ten most popular films at the British box office in 1956. Lewis was cast opposite Vivien Leigh on stage in '' South Sea Bubble'' (1956) by Noël Coward, replacing Peter Finch at the last minute. Lewis reprised this role on British TV. He played the important role of Private Wyatt in ''

A Hill in Korea ''A Hill in Korea'' is a 1956 British war film based on Max Catto's 1953 novel of the same name. The original name was ''Hell in Korea'', but it was changed for distribution reasons—except in the US. It was directed by Julian Amyes and prod ...

'' (1956), a

Korean War , date = {{Ubl, 25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953 (''de facto'')({{Age in years, months, weeks and days, month1=6, day1=25, year1=1950, month2=7, day2=27, year2=1953), 25 June 1950 – present (''de jure'')({{Age in years, months, weeks a ...

film, alongside George Baker,

Harry Andrews Harry Stewart Fleetwood Andrews, CBE (10 November 1911 – 6 March 1989) was an English actor known for his film portrayals of tough military officers. His performance as Regimental Sergeant Major Wilson in ''The Hill'' (1965) alongside Sean ...

Stanley Baker Sir William Stanley Baker (28 February 192828 June 1976) was a Welsh actor and film producer. Known for his rugged appearance and intense, grounded screen persona, he was one of the top British male film stars of the late 1950s, and later a pro ...

, Robert Shaw, and, in his first film role,

Michael Caine Sir Michael Caine (born Maurice Joseph Micklewhite; 14 March 1933) is an English actor. Known for his distinctive Cockney accent, he has appeared in more than 160 films in a career spanning seven decades, and is considered a British film ico ...

Leading man

Rank tried to build Lewis into a star, giving him the lead in a thriller, '' The Secret Place'' (1957), alongside

Belinda Lee Belinda Lee (15 June 193512 March 1961) was an English actress. A profile for the British Film Institute's Screenonline website asserts: "of all the Rank Organisation's starlets, Belinda Lee stands out as the most notorious, yet paradoxicall ...

. On British TV he was in ''Salome'' (1957), ''El Bandido'' and the TV series ''

Hour of Mystery ''Hour of Mystery'' is an hour-long UK mystery anthology television series. Donald Wolfit introduced each of the episodes, which were produced by ABC Weekend TV and aired on the ITV network in 1957. Only two of the episodes are known to exist, ...

'' in an adaption of ''

Night Must Fall ''Night Must Fall'' is a play, a psychological thriller, by Emlyn Williams, first performed in 1935. There have been three film adaptations, '' Night Must Fall'' (1937); a 1954 adaptation on the television anthology series ''Ponds Theater'' sta ...

''. He appeared regularly in ''

Armchair Theatre ''Armchair Theatre'' is a British television drama anthology series of single plays that ran on the ITV network from 1956 to 1974. It was originally produced by ABC Weekend TV. Its successor Thames Television took over from mid-1968. The Canad ...

'' over fifteen years and other British anthology dramas. He had a starring role as the bad brother in ''

Robbery Under Arms ''Robbery Under Arms'' is a bushranger novel by Thomas Alexander Browne, published under his pen name Rolf Boldrewood. It was first published in serialised form by ''The Sydney Mail'' between July 1882 and August 1883, then in three volumes i ...

'' (1957) and was a villain in ''

The Wind Cannot Read ''The Wind Cannot Read'' is a 1958 British drama film directed by Ralph Thomas and starring Dirk Bogarde, Yoko Tani, Ronald Lewis and John Fraser. It was based on the 1946 novel by Richard Mason, who also wrote the screenplay. Songwriter P ...

'' (1958). He was in Schiller's ''Mary Stuart'' and Ibsen's ''Ghosts'' on stage in 1958. After a TV production of ''

A Tale of Two Cities ''A Tale of Two Cities'' is a historical novel published in 1859 by Charles Dickens, set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution. The novel tells the story of the French Doctor Manette, his 18-year-long imprisonment in ...

'' he supported

Hardy Krüger Hardy Krüger (; born Eberhard August Franz Ewald Krüger; 12 April 1928 – 19 January 2022) was a German actor and author, who appeared in more than 60 films from 1944 onwards. After becoming a film star in Germany in the 1950s, Krüger increa ...

in the Rank comedy ''

Bachelor of Hearts ''Bachelor of Hearts'' is a 1958 British comedy film starring Hardy Krüger as a German who studies at Cambridge University. It was made to cash in on Krüger's popularity following the success of the war film '' The One That Got Away'' (1957). ...

'' (1958), and a production of ''

Miss Julie ''Miss Julie'' ( sv, Fröken Julie) is a naturalistic play written in 1888 by August Strindberg. It is set on Midsummer's Eve and the following morning, which is Midsummer and the Feast Day of St. John the Baptist. The setting is an estate of ...

'' (1959) at the

Old Vic Old or OLD may refer to: Places *Old, Baranya, Hungary *Old, Northamptonshire, England * Old Street station, a railway and tube station in London (station code OLD) *OLD, IATA code for Old Town Municipal Airport and Seaplane Base, Old Town, Ma ...

. He was Mark Anthony in a production of ''Julius Caesar'' at

the Old Vic The Old Vic is a 1,000-seat, not-for-profit producing theatre in Waterloo, London, England. Established in 1818 as the Royal Coburg Theatre, and renamed in 1833 the Royal Victoria Theatre. In 1871 it was rebuilt and reopened as the Royal ...

. In September 1958 Rank announced they would not be picking up its option on Lewis's services. However he was still employed by the studio in '' Conspiracy of Hearts'' (1960), playing an Italian officer helping some nuns. He made '' The Full Treatment'' (1960) for Hammer, directed by

Val Guest Val Guest (born Valmond Maurice Grossman; 11 December 1911 – 10 May 2006) was an English film director and screenwriter. Beginning as a writer (and later director) of comedy films, he is best known for his work for Hammer, for whom he direct ...

. Guest called Lewis and co-star Diane Cilento "two neglected stars... and I shall go all out to un-neglect them both." Hammer kept him on for another thriller, ''

Taste of Fear ''Taste of Fear'' is a 1961 British thriller film directed by Seth Holt. The film stars Susan Strasberg, Ronald Lewis, Ann Todd, and Christopher Lee in a supporting role. It was released in the United States as ''Scream of Fear''. Plot After ...

'' (1961), which was a big hit. So too was ''

Mr. Sardonicus ''Mr. Sardonicus'' is a 1961 horror film produced and directed by William Castle. It tells the story of Sardonicus, a man whose face becomes frozen in a horrifying grin while robbing his father's grave to obtain a winning lottery ticket. Castle ...

'' (1961) made for

William Castle William Castle (born William Schloss Jr.; April 24, 1914 – May 31, 1977) was an American film director, producer, screenwriter, and actor. Orphaned at 11, Castle dropped out of high school at 15 to work in the theater. He came to the attenti ...

. Lewis had a support role in the comedy '' Twice Round the Daffodils'' (1962) and was back in the lead for '' Jigsaw'' (1962), a thriller directed by Guest. Lewis had a support role in '' Billy Budd'' (1962) and was the romantic lead to star

Juliet Mills Juliet Maryon Mills (born 21 November 1941) is an English-American actress. She is the daughter of actor Sir John Mills and Mary Hayley Bell and the eldest of three siblings; her younger siblings are actress Hayley Mills and director Jonathan ...

in the comedy '' Nurse on Wheels'' (1963), made by the ''Carry On'' team. He had the star role in two costume pictures, '' Siege of the Saxons'' (1963) and Hammer's ''

The Brigand of Kandahar ''The Brigand of Kandahar'' is a 1965 British adventure film directed by John Gilling and starring Ronald Lewis, Oliver Reed and Duncan Lamont. Case, a British Indian Army officer, is discharged from his regiment after being accused of cowar ...

'' (1965). On stage he was in ''Poor Bitos'' (1963).

Decline

His image suffered in 1965 when, while he was appearing in ''

Peter Pan Peter Pan is a fictional character created by Scottish novelist and playwright J. M. Barrie. A free-spirited and mischievous young boy who can fly and never grows up, Peter Pan spends his never-ending childhood having adventures on the mythi ...

'' on stage (as

Hook A hook is a tool consisting of a length of material, typically metal, that contains a portion that is curved or indented, such that it can be used to grab onto, connect, or otherwise attach itself onto another object. In a number of uses, one e ...

), his wife alleged he had assaulted her. Lewis failed to turn up at court and a warrant was issued for his arrest. Press reports of the court case at the time described the incident as "2 'Shiners' For A Film Actor" after Lewis received two black eyes, both in retaliation to his aggression: one from a man who had taken his car keys as Lewis was evidently unfit to drive; and another, at his home in Grays, from the arresting police officer whose presence was prompted by Mrs Lewis' visit to a police station in a "distressed" state. At the trial Lewis admitted driving while unfit through drink, assaulting a police officer, and being drunk and disorderly. He was fined £65 and banned from driving for a year, he was not charged with assaulting his wife. He focused on stage work in productions such as ''Raymond and Agnes'' (1965).

Final years

Lewis was a regular in the TV series '' His and Hers'' (1970–72). Apart from a role in '' Friends'' (1971) and its sequel ''

Paul and Michelle ''Paul and Michelle'' is a 1974 drama film directed and produced by Lewis Gilbert, whose story Vernon Harris and Angela Huth dramatized. It is a sequel to the 1971 film ''Friends,'' by the same director and with the same lead actors. Plot Taking ...

'' (1974), his final credits were in TV: '' Tales of Unease'' (1970), ''

Hine ''Hine'' is a surname deriving from Middle English. Etymology According to the '' Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland'', the modern name ''Hine'' and its variants derive from the Middle English word ''hine'' (with the addit ...

'' (1971), '' The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes'' (1973), '' Harriet's Back in Town'' (1973), '' Nightingale's Boys'' (1975), '' Public Eye'' (1975), and '' Crown Court'' ('Do Your Worst' episode, 1974), '' Big Boy Now!'' (1976), ''

Warship A warship or combatant ship is a naval ship that is built and primarily intended for naval warfare. Usually they belong to the armed forces of a state. As well as being armed, warships are designed to withstand damage and are usually faster ...

'' (1977), ''

The XYY Man ''The XYY Man'' began as a series of novels by Kenneth Royce, featuring the character of William (or Willie) 'Spider' Scott, a one-time cat-burglar who leaves prison aiming to go straight but finds his talents still to be very much in demand ...

'' (1977), ''

Z Cars ''Z-Cars'' or ''Z Cars'' (pronounced "zed cars") is a British television police procedural series centred on the work of mobile uniformed police in the fictional town of Newtown, based on Kirkby, near Liverpool. Produced by the BBC, it debut ...

'' (1978), and '' The John Sullivan Story'' (1979). He was meant to be First Voice in a production of ''

Under Milk Wood ''Under Milk Wood'' is a 1954 radio drama by Welsh poet Dylan Thomas, commissioned by the BBC and later adapted for the stage. A film version, ''Under Milk Wood'' directed by Andrew Sinclair, was released in 1972, and another adaptation of ...

'' at Theatre Gwynedd in 1975. He stopped drinking to prepare himself for the role, but wound up having a heart attack on opening night.

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, he began drinking heavily. In 1979, he collapsed in his dressing room. In 1981, at the age of 52, he was declared bankrupt with debts of £21,188.

Death

When Lewis committed suicide by taking a barbiturate overdose at a boarding house in Pimlico,

Kenneth Williams Kenneth Charles Williams (22 February 1926 – 15 April 1988) was an English actor of Welsh heritage. He was best known for his comedy roles and in later life as a raconteur and diarist. He was one of the main ensemble in 26 of the 31 '' ...

recorded in his diary entry for 12 January 1982: "The paper says Ronald Lewis has taken an overdose! He was declared bankrupt last year! Obviously nobody offered him work & he was driven to despair. I remember Ronnie... and that drinking session at the White Horse all those years ago... he was a kind boy & people used him. He was 53."'' The Kenneth Williams Diaries'', edited by Russell Davies, published 1993 by Harper Collins

Partial filmography

* '' Valley of Song'' (1953) – Morgan – Miner (uncredited) * ''

'' (1953) – Eddie Lloyd * '' The Beachcomber'' (1954) – Headman's Son * ''

'' (1955) – The Guard * '' Storm Over the Nile'' (1955) – Peter Burroughs * '' Helen of Troy'' (1956) – Aeneas * '' Sailor Beware!'' (1956) – Albert Tufnell * ''

'' (1956) – The National Servicemen: Pte. Wyatt / Pte Wyatt * '' The Secret Place'' (1957) – Gerry Carter * ''

'' (1957) – Dick Marston * ''

'' (1958) – Squadron Leader Fenwick * ''

'' (1958) – Hugo Foster * '' Conspiracy of Hearts'' (1960) – Major Spoletti * '' The Full Treatment'' (1960) – Alan Colby * ''

'' (1961) – Robert * ''

'' (1961) – Sir Robert Cargrave * '' Twice Round the Daffodils'' (1962) – Bob White * '' Jigsaw'' (1962) – Det. Sgt. Jim Wilks * '' Billy Budd'' (1962) – Enoch Jenkins – Maintopman * '' Nurse on Wheels'' (1963) – Henry Edwards * '' Siege of the Saxons'' (1963) – Robert * ''

'' (1965) – Case * '' Friends'' (1971) – Mr. Harrison * '' The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes'' (1973, TV Series) – Dagobert Trostler * ''

'' (1974) – Sir Robert * '' Crown Court'' (1974–1975, TV series) – Dr. Swale / Laurence King / Alexander Gruda * '' Big Boy Now!'' (1976, TV series) – Roy Marchant * ''

'' (1977, TV series) – Peter Thresher

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Lewis, Ronald 1928 births 1982 deaths People from Port Talbot Welsh male stage actors Welsh male film actors Welsh male television actors Drug-related suicides in England Barbiturates-related deaths 20th-century Welsh male actors 1982 suicides