Ronald Launcelot Squire (25 March 1886 – 16 November 1958) was an English

character actor A character actor is an actor known for playing unusual, eccentric, or interesting character (arts), characters in supporting roles, rather than leading ones.28 April 2013, The New York Acting SchoolTen Best Character Actors of All Time Retrie ...

Biography

Born in Tiverton,

Devon Devon ( ; historically also known as Devonshire , ) is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is bordered by the Bristol Channel to the north, Somerset and Dorset to the east, the English Channel to the south, and Cornwall to the west ...

, England, the son of an army officer, Lt.-Col. Frederick Squirl and his Irish-born wife Mary (Ronald's surname 'Squire' was his stage name), he attended Wellington College and started professional life as a journalist, before training at

RADA The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, also known by its abbreviation RADA (), is a drama school in London, England, which provides vocational conservatoire training for theatre, film, television, and radio. It is based in Bloomsbury, Central Lond ...

. He spent his early acting career in

Liverpool Liverpool is a port City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. It is situated on the eastern side of the River Mersey, Mersey Estuary, near the Irish Sea, north-west of London. With a population ...

repertory theatre A repertory theatre, also called repertory, rep, true rep or stock, which are also called producing theatres, is a theatre in which a resident company presents works from a specified repertoire, usually in alternation or rotation. United Kingdom ...

in light comedy roles, before moving on to films. His appearances include '' The Rocking Horse Winner'', ''

The Million Pound Note ''The Million Pound Note'' is a 1954 British comedy film directed by Ronald Neame and starring Gregory Peck, Ronald Squire, Wilfrid Hyde-White and Jane Griffiths (actress), Jane Griffiths. It is based on the 1893 Mark Twain short story "The Mi ...

'' and

Mike Todd Michael Todd (born Avrom Hirsch Goldbogen; June 22, 1907 – March 22, 1958) was an American theater and film producer, celebrated for his 1956 ''Around the World in 80 Days (1956 film), Around the World in 80 Days'', which won an Academy ...

's lavish 1956 version of '' Around the World in 80 Days''. He died 16 November 1958 aged 72, after being taken ill at his home in Great Ormond Street, London. He made numerous appearances in West End plays alongside his film career. These included performances in '' On Approval'', '' The Bread-Winner'', '' All Rights Reserved'', '' Ducks and Drakes'', '' While the Sun Shines'', '' Jane'', '' The Way Things Go'', '' The Iron Duchess'', '' A Penny for a Song'' and '' A Touch of the Sun''.

Partial filmography

* '' Whoso Is Without Sin'' (1916) - Roger Markham * ''

Unfinished Symphony An unfinished symphony is a fragment of a symphony that is left incomplete. The reason as of why and the state of the sketches themselves can vary considerably. The death of the composer is the most common cause for a symphony to be left unfi ...

'' (1934) - Count Esterhazy * '' Forbidden Territory'' (1934) - Sir Charles Farringdon * '' Wild Boy'' (1934) - Rollo * '' Come Out of the Pantry'' (1935) - Eccles * '' Love in Exile'' (1936) - Paul * '' Dusty Ermine'' (1936) - Jim Kent * '' Action for Slander'' (1938) - Charles Cinderford * '' Freedom Radio'' (1941) - Rudolf Spiedler * '' The Flemish Farm'' (1943) - Hardwicke * '' Don't Take It to Heart'' (1944) - Music Lover at Ball * '' Journey Together'' (1945) - Group Captain on Aircrew Interview Board * '' While the Sun Shines'' (1947) - Duke of Ayr and Sterling * '' The First Gentleman'' (1948) - Mr. Brougham * '' Woman Hater'' (1948) - Jameson * '' The Rocking Horse Winner'' (1949) - Oscar Cresswell * ''

No Highway in the Sky ''No Highway in the Sky'' (also known as ''No Highway'') is a 1951 black-and-white aviation drama film directed by Henry Koster from a screenplay by R. C. Sherriff, Oscar Millard, and Alec Coppel, based on the 1948 novel '' No Highway'' by ...

'' (1951) - Sir John, Director * '' Encore'' (1951) - Doctor (segment "Winter Cruise") * '' It Started in Paradise'' (1952) - Mary Jane * '' My Cousin Rachel'' (1952) - Nicholas Kendall * '' Laxdale Hall'' (1953) - General Matheson * '' Always a Bride'' (1953) - Victor Hemsley * ''

'' (1954) - Oliver Montpelier * '' The Man Who Loved Redheads'' (1955) - Wilberforce (uncredited) * '' Raising a Riot'' (1955) - Grampy * '' Footsteps in the Fog'' (1955) - Alfred Travers * ''

Josephine and Men ''Josephine and Men'' is a 1955 British comedy film directed by Roy Boulting and starring Glynis Johns, Jack Buchanan, Donald Sinden and Peter Finch. It was written by Nigel Balchin, Frank Harvey and Boulting. Produced by the Boulting ...

'' (1955) - Frederick Luton * '' Now and Forever'' (1956) - Waiter * '' The Silken Affair'' (1956) - Marberry * '' Around the World in 80 Days'' (1956) - Reform Club Member #1 * '' Sea Wife'' (1957) - Clubman * '' Island in the Sun'' (1957) - Governor Templeton * '' Law and Disorder'' (1958) - Colonel Masters * '' The Sheriff of Fractured Jaw'' (1958) - Toynbee - His Solicitor * '' The Inn of the Sixth Happiness'' (1958) - Sir Francis Jamison * '' Count Your Blessings'' (1959) - Sir Conrad Allingham (final film role)

References

External links

Stage performances in the Theatre Archive, University of Bristol
* 1886 births 1958 deaths English male film actors English male stage actors People from Tiverton, Devon Male actors from Devon 20th-century English male actors {{England-film-actor-stub