Richard Fraser (born Richard Mackie Simpson; 15 March 1913 – 19 January 1972) was a Scottish film, television, and stage actor. He is perhaps best known for his role in the 1945 film ''

The Picture of Dorian Gray ''The Picture of Dorian Gray'' is a philosophical fiction, philosophical novel by Irish writer Oscar Wilde. A shorter novella-length version was published in the July 1890 issue of the American periodical ''Lippincott's Monthly Magazine''.''Th ...

''.

Early life

After graduating from Sedbergh School as Richard Mackie Simpson, Richard's mother divorced and his name was shortened to Richard Mackie. After attending

Cambridge University , mottoeng = Literal: From here, light and sacred draughts. Non literal: From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge. , established = , other_name = The Chancellor, Masters and Schola ...

, Richard Mackie studied acting at the

Royal Academy of Dramatic Art 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 Sena ...

. Having spent time as a London stage actor, Richard emigrated to the US and in New York married Louise Christine Sheldon, the couple then moved to Hollywood before the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

. Discovering that there was already a Richard Mackie acting in the US he adopted the stage name Richard Fraser. He then signed a contract with

20th Century Fox 20th Century Studios, Inc. (previously known as 20th Century Fox) is an American film studio, film production company headquartered at the Fox Studio Lot in the Century City area of Los Angeles. As of 2019, it serves as a film production arm o ...

and appeared in numerous films.

Career

His American film career reached its peak with his performance as James Vane, the vengeful brother of Sibyl Vane in the film ''

''. Richard retired from acting in 1949, returning to

Britain Britain most often refers to: * The United Kingdom, a sovereign state in Europe comprising the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland and many smaller islands * Great Britain, the largest island in the United King ...

in 1961 with his then-wife, US actress Ann Gillis, spending his most of his last decade working for the BBC in export sales.

Selected filmography

* '' The Ghost Goes West'' (1935) as Son of MacLaggen (uncredited) * '' Man Hunt'' (1941) as Navigator (uncredited) * ''

A Yank in the R.A.F. ''A Yank in the R.A.F.'' is a 1941 American black-and-white war film directed by Henry King and starring Tyrone Power and Betty Grable. Released three months before the attack on Pearl Harbor plunged the United States into World War II, it is ...

'' (1941) as Thorndyke * '' How Green Was My Valley'' (1941) as Davy Morgan * '' Joan of Paris'' (1942) as Geoffrey * '' Eagle Squadron'' (1942) as Lt. Jefferys * ''

Busses Roar ''Busses Roar'' is a 1942 film directed by D. Ross Lederman and starring Richard Travis and Julie Bishop. Plot A bungling saboteur attempts to place a bomb on board a bus so that it will explode as the bus passes by some oil wells.Pryor, Thom ...

'' (1942) as Dick Remick * '' Desperate Journey'' (1942) as Squadron Leader Clark * '' The Gorilla Man'' (1943) as Lieutenant Walter Sibley * '' Truck Busters'' (1943) as Limey * '' Edge of Darkness'' (1943) as Pastor Aalesen * '' Thumbs Up'' (1943) as Douglas Heath * '' Holy Matrimony'' (1943) as John Leek (uncredited) * '' Ladies Courageous'' (1944) as Col. Andy Brennan * ''

'' (1945) as James Vane * '' The Fatal Witness'' (1945) as Inspector William 'Bill' Trent * '' Scotland Yard Investigator'' (1945) as Inspector Cartwright * '' Shadow of Terror'' (1945) as Jim, aka Howard Norton * '' White Pongo'' (1945) as Geoffrey Bishop * '' The Tiger Woman'' (1945) as Stephen Mason * '' The Undercover Woman'' (1946) as Gregory Vixon * ''

Bedlam Bedlam, a word for an environment of insanity, is a term that may refer to: Places * Bedlam, North Yorkshire, a village in England * Bedlam, Shropshire, a small hamlet in England * Bethlem Royal Hospital, a London psychiatric institution and the ...

'' (1946) as Hannay * '' Blonde for a Day'' (1946) as Dillingham 'Dilly' Smith * '' Cloak and Dagger'' (1946) as British Submarine Skipper (uncredited) * '' The Private Affairs of Bel Ami'' (1947) as Philippe de Cantel * ''

Blackmail Blackmail is an act of coercion using the threat of revealing or publicizing either substantially true or false information about a person or people unless certain demands are met. It is often damaging information, and it may be revealed to f ...

'' (1947) as Antoine le Blanc * '' The Lone Wolf in London'' (1947) as David Woolerton * '' Raw Deal'' (1948) as Fields * '' Rogues' Regiment'' (1948) as Rycroft * '' The Cobra Strikes'' (1948) as Michael Kent * '' Alaska Patrol'' (1949) as Operative Farrell (as Dick Fraser) * '' The Red Danube'' (1949) as Transport Pilot (uncredited)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Fraser, Richard (actor) 1913 births 1972 deaths Scottish male stage actors Scottish male film actors Male actors from Edinburgh 20th-century Scottish male actors British expatriate male actors in the United States