Raymond Austin is an English

television Television, sometimes shortened to TV, is a telecommunication Media (communication), medium for transmitting moving images and sound. The term can refer to a television set, or the medium of Transmission (telecommunications), television tra ...

and

film director A film director controls a film's artistic and dramatic aspects and visualizes the screenplay (or script) while guiding the film crew and actors in the fulfilment of that vision. The director has a key role in choosing the cast members, ...

television writer A screenplay writer (also called screenwriter, scriptwriter, scribe or scenarist) is a writer who practices the craft of screenwriting, writing screenplays on which mass media, such as films, television programs and video games, are based. ...

and

producer Producer or producers may refer to: Occupations *Producer (agriculture), a farm operator *A stakeholder of economic production *Film producer, supervises the making of films **Executive producer, contributes to a film's budget and usually does not ...

, and former stunt performer and actor who has worked in both the United Kingdom and the United States.

Career

Austin started his career as a stunt performer on such films as '' North by Northwest'' (1959) and '' Spartacus'' (1960). From 1965 to 1967 he served as stunt coordinator on 50 episodes of ''

The Avengers Avenger, Avengers, The Avenger, or The Avengers may refer to: Arts and entertainment In the Marvel Comics universe * Avengers (comics), a team of superheroes ** Avengers (Marvel Cinematic Universe), a central team of protagonist superheroes o ...

''. For '' The Champions'' he initially became involved as a

second unit director Second unit is a discrete team of filmmakers tasked with filming shots or sequences of a production, separate from the main or "first" unit. The second unit will often shoot simultaneously with the other unit or units, allowing the filming stag ...

, subsequently rising to the position of full director. His work as a TV director includes episodes of ''

'' (1968), '' Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)'' (1969–70), '' Space: 1999'' (1975–76), '' The New Avengers'' (1976–77), and '' V'' (1984). He directed 50 of the 88 episodes of the series ''

Zorro Zorro ( Spanish for 'fox') is a fictional character created in 1919 by American pulp writer Johnston McCulley, appearing in works set in the Pueblo of Los Angeles in Alta California. He is typically portrayed as a dashing masked vigilant ...

'', which was filmed in

Madrid Madrid ( , ) is the capital and most populous city of Spain. The city has almost 3.4 million inhabitants and a metropolitan area population of approximately 6.7 million. It is the second-largest city in the European Union (EU), an ...

between 1989 and 1992 for the American ABC Family Channel. He has also directed some made-for-TV films, including ''

The Return of the Man from U.N.C.L.E. ''The Return of the Man from U.N.C.L.E.: The Fifteen Years Later Affair'' is a 1983 American television film, made-for-television action film, action-adventure film based on the 1964–1968 television series ''The Man from U.N.C.L.E.'' starring R ...

'' (1983), and some

feature film A feature film or feature-length film is a narrative film (motion picture or "movie") with a running time long enough to be considered the principal or sole presentation in a commercial entertainment program. The term ''feature film'' originall ...

s such as '' Virgin Witch'' (1972) and ''

House of the Living Dead ''House of the Living Dead'' (''Skaduwees Oor Brugplaas'', or ''Shadows over Bridge Farm''), also known as ''Doctor Maniac'', is a 1974 science-fiction horror film directed by Ray Austin. The film, an international co-production between Great ...

'' (1974). The Guinness world record site states that "In 1965, Dame Diana Rigg (UK) became the first western actress to perform

kung fu Chinese martial arts, often called by the umbrella terms kung fu (; ), kuoshu () or wushu (), are multiple fighting styles that have developed over the centuries in Greater China. These fighting styles are often classified according to commo ...

on Television when the combat choreographers Ray Austin (UK) and Chee Soo (UK/China) worked elements of the martial art into her fight scenes on ''

''. Certificate presentation was done on '' The New Paul O'Grady Show''."

Television

Stunts

* '' Highway Patrol'', 1955–59 (stunt performer) * '' Thunder Road'', 1958 (stunt performer) * '' North by Northwest'', 1959 (stunt performer) * '' Operation Petticoat'', 1959 (stunt performer) * '' Spartacus'', 1960 (stunt performer) * '' The Sundowners'', 1960 (stunt performer) * '' Have Gun – Will Travel'', 1957–63 (performer) * ''

Peter Gunn ''Peter Gunn'' is an American private eye television series, starring Craig Stevens as Peter Gunn with Lola Albright as his girlfriend, Edie Hart. The series aired on NBC from September 22, 1958, to 1960 and on ABC in 1960–1961. The ser ...

'', 1958–60, 1960–61 (performer) * '' Guns of Navarone'', 1961 (stunt performer) * '' Saturday Night and Sunday Morning'', 1961 (stunt arranger) * '' The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner'', 1962 (stunt arranger) * ''

Tarzan Tarzan (John Clayton II, Viscount Greystoke) is a fictional character, an archetypal feral child raised in the African jungle by the Mangani great apes; he later experiences civilization, only to reject it and return to the wild as a heroic adv ...

'', 1963 (stunt performer) * ''

Tom Jones Tom Jones may refer to: Arts and entertainment *Tom Jones (singer) (born 1940), Welsh singer * Tom Jones (writer) (1928–2023), American librettist and lyricist *''The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling'', a novel by Henry Fielding published in ...

'', 1963 (stunt arranger) * ''

Cleopatra Cleopatra VII Philopator ( grc-gre, Κλεοπάτρα Φιλοπάτωρ}, "Cleopatra the father-beloved"; 69 BC10 August 30 BC) was Queen of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Ancient Egypt, Egypt from 51 to 30 BC, and its last active ruler. ...

'', 1963 (stunt arranger) * '' The Dirty Dozen'', 1967 (stunt performer) * ''

'' (arranger)

Actor

* '' The Saint'', 1963–64, 1966 * '' The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner'', 1962 (Mr Clay) * ''

'', 1963 (Thug) * '' Clash by Night'', 1963 (Intruder) * '' The V.I.P.s'', 1963 (Chauffeur) * '' Ghost Squad'', 1964 * ''

'', 1965

Director

* ''

The Baron Baron is a title of nobility. Baron, The Baron or Barons may also refer to: Places * Barons, Alberta, Canada * Baron, Gard, France * Baron, Gironde, France * Baron, Oise, France * Baron, Saône-et-Loire, France * Baron-sur-Odon, France * Bar ...

'', 1966 * '' The Saint'', 1968 (2 episodes) * ''

'', 1968 (2 episodes) * '' The Champions'', 1968 * '' Journey to the Unknown'', 1968–69 * ''

The Ugliest Girl in Town ''The Ugliest Girl in Town'' is an American sitcom produced by Screen Gems for ABC. It ran from September 26, 1968, to January 30, 1969. Synopsis Timothy Blair is a Hollywood talent agent. He falls in love with Julie Renfield, a British actress w ...

'', 1968–69 * '' Department S'', 1969 (4 episodes) * '' Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)'', 1969–70 (6 episodes) * ''

Strange Report ''Strange Report'' is a British television crime drama series starring Anthony Quayle as Adam Strange. It was produced by ITC Entertainment and first broadcast in 1969 on ITV In the United States, NBC broadcast ''Strange Report'' between 8 ...

'', 1971 * '' Shirley's World'', 1971–72 * '' The Adventures of Black Beauty'', 1974 * '' Space: 1999'', 1975–76 * '' The New Avengers'', 1976 (1 episode) * '' The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries'', 1977–79 * '' W.E.B.'', 1978 * '' The Professionals'', 1978 (2 episodes) * '' Return of the Saint'', 1978 (1 episode) * ''

Barnaby Jones ''Barnaby Jones'' is an American detective television series starring Buddy Ebsen as a formerly retired investigator and Lee Meriwether as his widowed daughter-in-law, who run a private detective firm in Los Angeles, California. The show was or ...

'', 1978 (1 episode) * '' Sword of Justice'', 1978 (2 episodes) * '' Vega$'', 1978–81 * ''

Salvage 1 ''Salvage 1'' is an American science fiction series that was broadcast for 16 episodes (of the 20 produced) on ABC during 1979. The pilot film, ''Salvage'', was shown on January 20, 1979, to high ratings. Plot The pilot centers on Harry Broder ...

'', 1979 (2 episodes) * '' A Man Called Sloane'', 1979 (1 episode) * '' Hawaii Five-O'', 1979 (1 episode) * '' B. J. and the Bear'', 1979–80 (1 episode) * '' Hart to Hart'', 1979–80, 1984 (5 episodes) * ''

Wonder Woman Wonder Woman is a superhero created by the American psychologist and writer William Moulton Marston (pen name: Charles Moulton), and artist Harry G. Peter. Marston's wife, Elizabeth, and their life partner, Olive Byrne, are credited as being ...

'', 1979 * ''

From Here to Eternity ''From Here to Eternity'' is a 1953 American drama romance war film directed by Fred Zinnemann, and written by Daniel Taradash, based on the 1951 novel of the same name by James Jones. The picture deals with the tribulations of three U.S. ...

'', 1980 * '' The Love Boat'', 1980 (4 episodes) * '' House Calls'', 1980–82 * '' Quincy, M.E.'', 1981 (2 episodes) * '' Magnum, P.I.'', 1981–86 * '' Simon & Simon'', 1982 (2 episodes) * ''

Tales of the Gold Monkey ''Tales of the Gold Monkey'' is an American adventure drama television series broadcast in prime time on Wednesday nights by ABC from September 22, 1982, until June 1, 1983. Debuting the year following the release of ''Raiders of the Lost Ark'' ...

'', 1982 (

pilot episode A television pilot (also known as a pilot or a pilot episode and sometimes marketed as a tele-movie), in United States television, is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell a show to a television network or other dist ...

) * ''

The Mississippi The Mississippi River is the second-longest river and chief river of the second-largest drainage system in North America, second only to the Hudson Bay drainage system. From its traditional source of Lake Itasca in northern Minnesota, it f ...

'', 1983–84 * ''

'', 1983 (pilot) * '' Jessie'', 1984 * '' The Master'', 1984 * ''

Airwolf ''Airwolf'' is an American action military drama television series that centers on a high-technology military helicopter, code-named ''Airwolf'', and its crew. The show follows them as they undertake various exotic missions, many involving e ...

'', 1984 (1 episode) * '' The Fall Guy'', 1984 (2 episodes) * '' Lime Street'', 1985, 1987 (5 episodes, including pilot) * '' V'', 1985 (1 episode) * ''

Our House Our House may refer to: Film and television * ''Our House'' (2003 film) or ''Duplex'', an American film by Danny DeVito * ''Our House'' (2006 film), a television movie starring Doris Roberts * ''Our House'' (2018 film), an American-Canadian-Ge ...

'', 1986–87 * ''

The Return of the Six Million Dollar Man and the Bionic Woman ''The Return of the Six Million Dollar Man and the Bionic Woman'' is a made-for-television science fiction action film which originally aired on May 17, 1987 on NBC. The movie reunited the main casts of the television series ''The Six Million Dolla ...

'', 1987 (film) * '' Snoops'', 1989 * '' The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents'', 1989 (1 episode) * ''

'', 1992 * ''

The Boys of Twilight The Boys of Twilight is an American western drama series that aired on CBS from February 29 until March 21, 1992. Plot Set in Twilight, Utah, the series centered around aging Sheriff Cody McPherson (Farnsworth) and his Deputy Bill Huntoon (Brimle ...

'', 1992 * '' Highlander: The Series'', 1992–93 * '' Pensacola: Wings of Gold'', 1997 (1 episode) * '' CI5: The New Professionals'', 1999 (2 episodes)

Writer

* '' Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)'', 1969 * '' Department S'', 1971 * '' Shirley's World'', 1971–72 * '' The Adventures of Black Beauty'', 1974 * '' Magnum, P.I.'', 1980–86 * '' Hart to Hart'', 1984 * '' The Master'', 1984 * '' The Zany Adventures of Robin Hood'', 1984 (TV film) * ''

'', 1985 * '' Lime Street'', 1985 * '' Spenser: For Hire'', 1986 * ''

'', 1986–88

Producer

* '' Shirley's World'', 1971–72 * '' JAG'', 1995–96, 1997 * '' The New Avengers'' * ''

Film

Stunts

* '' North by Northwest'', 1959 (stunt performer) * '' Operation Petticoat'', 1959 (stunt performer) * '' Spartacus'', 1960 (stunt performer) * '' Saturday Night and Sunday Morning'', 1961 (stunt arranger) * '' The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner'', 1962 (stunt arranger) * ''

'', 1963 (stunt arranger) * ''

'', 1963 (stunt arranger)

Director

* '' Saturday Night and Sunday Morning'', 1961 (

second unit Second unit is a discrete team of filmmakers tasked with filming shots or sequences of a production, separate from the main or "first" unit. The second unit will often shoot simultaneously with the other unit or units, allowing the filming stag ...

) * '' Fun and Games'', 1971 * '' Virgin Witch'', 1972 * ''

'', 1973

Actor

* '' The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner'' (1962) as Craig * '' The V.I.P.s'' (1963) as Rolls-Royce chauffeur * '' Clash by Night'' (1963) as Intruder

Novelist

*''Beauford Sloan Mysteries'' series: ** ''The Eagle Heist'' (2002) ** ''Dead Again'' (2002) ** ''Your Turn to Die'' (2006) * ''Keep Running Or Die'' (2020) * ''Love Loves A Mystery'' (2020) * ''Home For The Holiday'' (2021)

Personal life

Austin was married from 1976 to actress Yasuko Nagazumi, who performed in some of the series he worked on, notably '' Space: 1999''. He later divorced Nagazumi and married British producer and writer Wendy DeVere Knight-Wilton in 1984; they now live on their estate in Earlysville, Virginia.

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Austin, Ray Living people 20th-century English male actors 20th-century English male writers 20th-century English screenwriters 21st-century English male writers 21st-century English novelists Action choreographers British male television writers Crime novelists English crime fiction writers English expatriates in the United States English male film actors English male novelists English male television actors English mystery writers English stunt performers English television directors English television producers English television writers Film directors from London Male actors from London Novelists from Virginia People from Albemarle County, Virginia Screenwriters from Virginia Television producers from Virginia Writers from London Year of birth missing (living people)