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{{Short description|British actor (1928–1982)}}
{{Short description|Welsh actor (1928–1982)}}
{{EngvarB|date=October 2013}}
{{EngvarB|date=October 2013}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
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| yearsactive = 1953–1978
| yearsactive = 1953–1978
}}
}}
'''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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b9efd5d4c|title=Ronald Lewis|work=BFI}}</ref>
'''Ronald Glasfryn Lewis''' (11 December 1928 – 11 January 1982) was a Welsh actor, best known for his appearances in British films of the 1950s and 1960s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b9efd5d4c|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807043958/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b9efd5d4c|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 August 2016|title=Ronald Lewis|work=BFI}}</ref>


==Early life and career==
==Early life and career==
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===Early roles===
===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]]'' at Hammersmith.<ref>Wagner, Laura. "Ronald Lewis", ''[[Classic Images]]''. October 2021</ref>
Lewis's first professional role was in [[Oscar Wilde]]'s ''[[An Ideal Husband]]'' (1950) in repertory at Worthing. He was in ''[[The Square Ring (play)|The Square Ring]]'' at Hammersmith.<ref>Wagner, Laura. "Ronald Lewis", ''[[Classic Images]]''. October 2021</ref>


Lewis had an uncredited bit part in ''[[Valley of Song]]'', set in Wales. He was credited for the film version of ''[[The Square Ring]]'' (1953), for Ealing; ''[[The Beachcomber (1954 film)|The Beachcomber]]'' (1954), as a native islander; ''[[The Face of Love (1954 film)|The Face of Love]]'' (1954) for the BBC; and ''Fantastic Summer'' (1955) for TV. He had a larger part in ''[[Helen of Troy (film)|Helen of Troy]]'' (1955) as [[Aeneas]]<ref>{{Cite news|title=BELAFONTE SIGNS TO STAR IN FILM|author=THOMAS M PRYOR|date=Apr 30, 1954|work=New York Times|id={{ProQuest|112934554}}}}</ref> and provided some romantic interest in ''[[The Prisoner (1955 film)|The Prisoner]]'' (1955), with [[Alec Guinness]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/the-prisoner-v39256/cast-crew|title=The Prisoner (1955) – Peter Glenville &#124; Cast and Crew|website=AllMovie}}</ref>
Lewis had an uncredited bit part in ''[[Valley of Song]]'', set in Wales. He was credited for the film version of ''[[The Square Ring (1953 film)|The Square Ring]]'' (1953), for Ealing; ''[[The Beachcomber (1954 film)|The Beachcomber]]'' (1954), as a native islander; ''[[The Face of Love (1954 film)|The Face of Love]]'' (1954) for the BBC; and ''Fantastic Summer'' (1955) for TV. He had a larger part in ''[[Helen of Troy (film)|Helen of Troy]]'' (1955) as [[Aeneas]]<ref>{{Cite news|title=Belafonte Signs to Star in Film|first=Thomas M |last=Pryor|date=Apr 30, 1954|newspaper=The New York Times|id={{ProQuest|112934554}}}}</ref> and provided some romantic interest in ''[[The Prisoner (1955 film)|The Prisoner]]'' (1955), with [[Alec Guinness]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/the-prisoner-v39256/cast-crew|title=The Prisoner (1955) – Peter Glenville &#124; Cast and Crew|website=AllMovie}}</ref>


He was also in a play ''The Bad Samaritan''.
He was also in a play ''[[The Bad Samaritan]]''.


==Rise to stardom==
==Rise to stardom==
Lewis achieved attention with his stage performance in ''[[Mourning Becomes Electra]]'' by [[Eugene O'Neill]], directed by [[Peter Hall (director)|Peter Hall]] (1955).<ref>{{cite news|author=Hope-Wallace, P.|date=Jun 11, 1955|title=MOURNING BECOMES ELECTRA|work=The Manchester Guardian|id={{ProQuest|479852000}}}}</ref> This led to [[Alexander Korda]] signing Lewis to a contract with [[London Films]] and giving him a role in ''[[Storm Over the Nile]]'' (1956), as one of the main group of friends.<ref>{{Cite news|title=OBSERVATIONS ON THE BRITISH SCREEN SCENE|author=S. W.|date=Sep 25, 1955|work=New York Times|id={{ProQuest|113205684}}}}</ref> He was third billed in the comedy ''[[Sailor Beware! (1956 film)|Sailor Beware]]'' (1956), one of the ten most popular films at the British box office in 1956.<ref>{{Cite news|title=BRITISH. FILMS MADE MOST MONEY: BOX-OFFICE SURVEY|work=The Manchester Guardian |date=Dec 28, 1956|page=3}}</ref> He played the important role of Private Wyatt in ''[[A Hill in Korea]]'' (1956), a [[Korean War]] film.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/a-hill-in-korea-v94721/cast-crew|title=A Hill in Korea (1956) – Julian Amyes &#124; Cast and Crew|website=AllMovie}}</ref>
Lewis achieved attention with his stage performance in ''[[Mourning Becomes Electra]]'' by [[Eugene O'Neill]], directed by [[Peter Hall (director)|Peter Hall]] (1955).<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-guardian-mourning-becomes-electra/149966652/ |last=Hope-Wallace |first=Philip|date=Jun 11, 1955|title='Mourning Becomes Electra'|newspaper=The Manchester Guardian|id={{ProQuest|479852000}} |page=5 |access-date=2024-06-24 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> This led to [[Alexander Korda]] signing Lewis to a contract with [[London Films]] and giving him a role in ''[[Storm Over the Nile]]'' (1956), as one of the main group of friends.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Observations on the British Screen Scene|author=S. W.|date=Sep 25, 1955|newspaper=The New York Times|id={{ProQuest|113205684}}}}</ref> He was third billed in the comedy ''[[Sailor Beware! (1956 film)|Sailor Beware]]'' (1956), one of the ten most popular films at the British box office in 1956.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-guardian-british-films-made-most-mon/149966581/ |title=British Films Made Most Money: Box-Office Survey|newspaper=The Manchester Guardian |date=Dec 28, 1956|page=3 |access-date=2024-06-24 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> He played the important role of Private Wyatt in ''[[A Hill in Korea]]'' (1956), a [[Korean War]] film.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/a-hill-in-korea-v94721/cast-crew|title=A Hill in Korea (1956) – Julian Amyes &#124; Cast and Crew|website=AllMovie}}</ref>


Lewis was cast opposite [[Vivien Leigh]] in the London production of [[Noël Coward]]'s ''[[South Sea Bubble (play)|South Sea Bubble]]'' (1956), replacing [[Peter Finch]] at the last minute. Lewis reprised this role on British TV.<ref>{{cite news|author=N, S. |date=Mar 20, 1956|title=NEW COMEDY BY NOEL COWARD|work=The Manchester Guardian|id={{ProQuest|479859334}}}}</ref><ref>"Two leading men in the life of Miss Leigh", ''Daily Mail'' (London, England), February 24, 1956, p. 6</ref>
Lewis was cast opposite [[Vivien Leigh]] in the London production of [[Noël Coward]]'s ''[[South Sea Bubble (play)|South Sea Bubble]]'' (1956), replacing [[Peter Finch]] at the last minute. Lewis reprised this role on British TV.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-guardian-new-comedy-by-noel-coward/149966848/ |title=New Comedy by Noel Coward: 'South Sea Bubble' |author=N. S. |date=Mar 20, 1956 |newspaper=The Manchester Guardian|id={{ProQuest|479859334}} |access-date=2024-06-24 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>"Two leading men in the life of Miss Leigh", ''Daily Mail'' (London, England), February 24, 1956, p. 6</ref>


===Leading man===
===Leading man===
Rank tried to build Lewis into a star, giving him the lead in a thriller, ''[[The Secret Place (film)|The Secret Place]]'' (1957), alongside [[Belinda Lee]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6b55c6b9|title=The Secret Place (1957)|website=BFI}}</ref> On British TV he was in ''Salome'' (1957), ''El Bandido'' and the TV series ''[[Hour of Mystery]]'' in an adaption of ''[[Night Must Fall]]''. He appeared regularly in ''[[Armchair Theatre]]'' over fifteen years and other British anthology dramas.
Rank tried to build Lewis into a star, giving him the lead in a thriller, ''[[The Secret Place (film)|The Secret Place]]'' (1957), alongside [[Belinda Lee]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6b55c6b9|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309000035/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6b55c6b9|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 March 2016|title=The Secret Place (1957)|website=BFI}}</ref> On British TV he was in ''Salome'' (1957), ''El Bandido'' and the TV series ''[[Hour of Mystery]]'' in an adaption of ''[[Night Must Fall]]''. He appeared regularly in ''[[Armchair Theatre]]'' over fifteen years and other British anthology dramas.


He had a starring role as the bad brother in ''[[Robbery Under Arms (1957 film)|Robbery Under Arms]]'' (1957) and was a villain in ''[[The Wind Cannot Read]]'' (1958). He was in Schiller's ''Mary Stuart'' and Ibsen's ''Ghosts'' on stage in 1958.<ref>{{cite news|author=Thorns, A.|date=Sep 3, 1958|title=POLISH FILM-MAKERS TURN TO SATIRE|work=The Manchester Guardian|id={{ProQuest|480352785}}}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Hope-Wallace, P. |date=Nov 13, 1958|title=FLORA ROBSON IN IBSEN'S "GHOSTS"|work=The Manchester Guardian|id={{ProQuest|480364522}}}}</ref>
He had a starring role as the bad brother in ''[[Robbery Under Arms (1957 film)|Robbery Under Arms]]'' (1957) and was a villain in ''[[The Wind Cannot Read]]'' (1958). He was in Schiller's ''Mary Stuart'' and Ibsen's ''Ghosts'' on stage in 1958.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-guardian-polish-film-makers-turn-to/149966942/ |last=Thorns |first=Anne|date=Sep 3, 1958|title=Polish Film-Makers Turn to Satire|newspaper=The Manchester Guardian|id={{ProQuest|480352785}} |page=5 |access-date=2024-06-24 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Hope-Wallace, P. |date=Nov 13, 1958|title=Flora Robson in Ibsen's 'Ghosts'|newspaper=The Manchester Guardian|id={{ProQuest|480364522}}}}</ref>


After a TV production of ''[[A Tale of Two Cities]]'' he supported [[Hardy Krüger]] in the Rank comedy ''[[Bachelor of Hearts]]'' (1958),<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article43199855 |title=A BACHELOR OF HEARTS |newspaper=[[The Australian Women's Weekly]] |volume=26 |issue=34 |date=28 January 1959 |access-date=25 September 2017 |page=48 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> and a production of ''[[Miss Julie]]'' (1959) at the [[Old Vic]].<ref>{{cite news|author=BLAND, A.|date=Dec 28, 1958|title=Snowflakes|work=The Observer|id={{ProQuest|475401077}}}}</ref> He was Mark Anthony in a production of ''Julius Caesar'' at [[the Old Vic]].<ref>Goring, Edward. "Caesar is muffled in velvet", ''Daily Mail'', October 9, 1958, p. 3</ref>
After a TV production of ''[[A Tale of Two Cities]]'' he supported [[Hardy Krüger]] in the Rank comedy ''[[Bachelor of Hearts]]'' (1958),<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article43199855 |title=A Bachelor of Hearts |newspaper=[[The Australian Women's Weekly]] |volume=26 |issue=34 |date=28 January 1959 |access-date=25 September 2017 |page=48 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> and a production of ''[[Miss Julie]]'' (1959) at the [[Old Vic]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Bland |first=A.|date=Dec 28, 1958|title=Snowflakes|work=The Observer|id={{ProQuest|475401077}}}}</ref> He was Mark Anthony in a production of ''Julius Caesar'' at [[the Old Vic]].<ref>Goring, Edward. "Caesar is muffled in velvet", ''Daily Mail'', October 9, 1958, p. 3</ref>


Rank did not pick up its option on Lewis's services.<ref>Now Belinda Lee gets the axe Author: Edward Goring Date: October 11, 1958
Rank did not pick up its option on Lewis's services.<ref>Now Belinda Lee gets the axe Author: Edward Goring Date: October 11, 1958
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Publication: Daily Mail (London, England) Issue: 19911 p. 8</ref> Hammer kept him on for another thriller, ''[[Taste of Fear]]'' (1961), which was a big hit. So too was ''[[Mr. Sardonicus]]'' (1961) made for [[William Castle]].
Publication: Daily Mail (London, England) Issue: 19911 p. 8</ref> Hammer kept him on for another thriller, ''[[Taste of Fear]]'' (1961), which was a big hit. So too was ''[[Mr. Sardonicus]]'' (1961) made for [[William Castle]].


Lewis had a support role in the comedy ''[[Twice Round the Daffodils]]'' (1962) and was back in the lead for ''[[Jigsaw (1962 film)|Jigsaw]]'' (1962), a thriller directed by Guest.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/twice-round-the-daffodils-v136882|title=Twice Round the Daffodils (1962) – Gerald Thomas &#124; Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related|website=AllMovie}}</ref><ref>{{BFI|4ce2b6ad93930|title=Jigsaw (1962)}}</ref>
Lewis had a support role in the comedy ''[[Twice Round the Daffodils]]'' (1962) and was back in the lead for ''[[Jigsaw (1962 film)|Jigsaw]]'' (1962), a thriller directed by Guest.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/twice-round-the-daffodils-v136882|title=Twice Round the Daffodils (1962) – Gerald Thomas &#124; Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related|website=AllMovie}}</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160914182823/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6ad93930 Jigsaw (1962)] at the [[British Film Institute]]{{better source needed|reason=Help request: a live link can be searched for at https://collections-search.bfi.org.uk/web/search/expert - if available, replace the archive URL with the live link. Or if none found, remove this 'better source needed' template. | date=October 2023}}</ref>


Lewis had a support role in ''[[Billy Budd (film)|Billy Budd]]'' (1962) and was the romantic lead to star [[Juliet Mills]] in the comedy ''[[Nurse on Wheels]]'' (1963), made by the ''Carry On'' team.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6a530098|title=Billy Budd (1962)|website=BFI}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/nurse-on-wheels-v104408/cast-crew|title=Nurse on Wheels (1963) – Gerald Thomas &#124; Cast and Crew|website=AllMovie}}</ref> He had the star role in two costume pictures, ''[[Siege of the Saxons]]'' (1963) and Hammer's ''[[The Brigand of Kandahar]]'' (1965).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/siege-of-the-saxons-v110072/cast-crew|title=Siege of the Saxons (1963) – Nathan Juran &#124; Cast and Crew|website=AllMovie}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/the-brigand-of-kandahar-v85991/cast-crew|title=The Brigand of Kandahar (1965) – John Gilling &#124; Cast and Crew|website=AllMovie}}</ref>
Lewis had a support role in ''[[Billy Budd (film)|Billy Budd]]'' (1962) and was the romantic lead to star [[Juliet Mills]] in the comedy ''[[Nurse on Wheels]]'' (1963), made by the ''Carry On'' team.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6a530098|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170727201227/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6a530098|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 July 2017|title=Billy Budd (1962)|website=BFI}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/nurse-on-wheels-v104408/cast-crew|title=Nurse on Wheels (1963) – Gerald Thomas &#124; Cast and Crew|website=AllMovie}}</ref> He had the star role in two costume pictures, ''[[Siege of the Saxons]]'' (1963) and Hammer's ''[[The Brigand of Kandahar]]'' (1965).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/siege-of-the-saxons-v110072/cast-crew|title=Siege of the Saxons (1963) – Nathan Juran &#124; Cast and Crew|website=AllMovie}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/the-brigand-of-kandahar-v85991/cast-crew|title=The Brigand of Kandahar (1965) – John Gilling &#124; Cast and Crew|website=AllMovie}}</ref>


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


===Decline===
===Decline===
His image suffered in 1965 when, while he was appearing in ''[[Peter Pan]]'' on stage (as [[Captain Hook|Hook]]), his wife alleged he had assaulted her. Lewis failed to turn up at court and a warrant was issued for his arrest.<ref>{{cite news|author=Hope-Wallace, P.|date=Dec 18, 1965|title=PETER PAN at the scala theatre|work=The Guardian|id={{ProQuest|185123323}}}}</ref> Press reports of the court case at the time<ref>Daily Mirror, 22 May 1965</ref> 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.
His image suffered in 1965 when, while he was appearing in ''[[Peter Pan]]'' on stage (as [[Captain Hook|Hook]]), his wife alleged he had assaulted her. Lewis failed to turn up at court and a warrant was issued for his arrest.<ref>{{cite news|author=Hope-Wallace, P.|date=Dec 18, 1965|title=Peter Pan at the scala theatre|work=The Guardian|id={{ProQuest|185123323}}}}</ref> Press reports of the court case at the time<ref>Daily Mirror, 22 May 1965</ref> 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, but he was not charged with assaulting his wife.


He focused on stage work in productions such as ''Raymond and Agnes'' (1965).
He focused on stage work in productions such as ''Raymond and Agnes'' (1965).
Line 65: Line 65:


==Personal life==
==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.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}
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.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/birmingham-evening-mail-tv-star-collapse/149966239/ |title=TV star collapses as play opens |newspaper=[[Birmingham Evening Mail]] |page=22 |date=1979-09-14 |access-date=2024-06-24 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>


In 1981, at the age of 52, he was declared bankrupt with debts of £21,188.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.walesartsreview.org/cinema-the-actors-crucible/|title=Cinema &#124; The Actors' Crucible|date=18 March 2016|website=Wales Arts Review}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=OBITUARY. |date=Jan 12, 1982|work=The Guardian|id={{ProQuest|186370311}}}}</ref>
In 1981, at the age of 52, he was declared bankrupt with debts of £21,188.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.walesartsreview.org/cinema-the-actors-crucible/|title=Cinema &#124; The Actors' Crucible|date=18 March 2016|website=Wales Arts Review}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-guardian-obituary-british-actor/149967195/ |title=Obituary. |date=Jan 12, 1982|newspaper=The Guardian|id={{ProQuest|186370311}} |page=2 |access-date=2024-06-24 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>


===Death===
===Death===
On 11 January 1982, Lewis [[committed suicide]] by taking a [[barbiturate]] overdose at a boarding house in Pimlico.<ref>{{cite book |last=Spignesi |first=Stephen J. |year=2001 |title=The Hollywood Book of Lists: From Great Performances and Romantic Epics to Bad Remakes and Miscasting Debacles |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z6DMMrU4NnwC&q=%22Ronald+Lewis%22+overdose |publisher=Kensington Publishing Corporation |page=127 |isbn=978-0806522128}}</ref> [[Kenneth Williams]] recorded in his [[The Kenneth Williams Diaries|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."<ref>''[[The Kenneth Williams Diaries]]'', edited by Russell Davies, published 1993 by Harper Collins</ref>
On 11 January 1982, Lewis took his own life by taking a [[barbiturate]] overdose at a [[boarding house]] in Pimlico.<ref>{{cite book |last=Spignesi |first=Stephen J. |year=2001 |title=The Hollywood Book of Lists: From Great Performances and Romantic Epics to Bad Remakes and Miscasting Debacles |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z6DMMrU4NnwC&q=%22Ronald+Lewis%22+overdose |publisher=Kensington Publishing Corporation |page=127 |isbn=978-0806522128}}</ref> [[Kenneth Williams]] recorded in his [[The Kenneth Williams Diaries|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."<ref>''[[The Kenneth Williams Diaries]]'', edited by Russell Davies, published 1993 by Harper Collins</ref>


== Partial filmography ==
==Partial filmography==
{{div col begin}}
{{div col begin}}
* ''[[Valley of Song]]'' (1953) – Morgan – Miner (uncredited)
* ''[[Valley of Song]]'' (1953) – Morgan – Miner (uncredited)
* ''[[The Square Ring]]'' (1953) – Eddie Lloyd
* ''[[The Square Ring (1953 film)|The Square Ring]]'' (1953) – Eddie Lloyd
* ''[[The Beachcomber (1954 film)|The Beachcomber]]'' (1954) – Headman's Son
* ''[[The Beachcomber (1954 film)|The Beachcomber]]'' (1954) – Headman's Son
* ''[[The Prisoner (1955 film)|The Prisoner]]'' (1955) – The Guard
* ''[[The Prisoner (1955 film)|The Prisoner]]'' (1955) – The Guard
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* ''[[Paul and Michelle]]'' (1974) – Sir Robert
* ''[[Paul and Michelle]]'' (1974) – Sir Robert
* ''[[Crown Court (TV series)|Crown Court]]'' (1974–1975, TV series) – Dr. Swale / Laurence King / Alexander Gruda
* ''[[Crown Court (TV series)|Crown Court]]'' (1974–1975, TV series) – Dr. Swale / Laurence King / Alexander Gruda
* ''[[Public Eye (TV series)|Public Eye]]'' (1975, TV series) - The Fall Guy - Julian Bradley
* ''[[Big Boy Now!]]'' (1976, TV series) – Roy Marchant
* ''[[Big Boy Now!]]'' (1976, TV series) – Roy Marchant
* ''[[The XYY Man]]'' (1977, TV series) – Peter Thresher
* ''[[The XYY Man]]'' (1977, TV series) – Peter Thresher
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{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


== External links ==
==External links==
* {{IMDb name|0507708|Ronald Lewis}}
* {{IMDb name|0507708|Ronald Lewis}}
* {{tcmdb name|id=113412|name=Ronald Lewis}}
* {{tcmdb name|id=113412|name=Ronald Lewis}}

Revision as of 22:21, 18 August 2024

Ronald Lewis
Born(1928-12-11)11 December 1928
Port Talbot, Glamorgan, Wales
Died11 January 1982(1982-01-11) (aged 53)
Pimlico, London, England
OccupationActor
Years active1953–1978
Spouse(s)Norah Gorsen (1960)[1]
Elizabeth Marlow (1967)

Ronald Glasfryn Lewis (11 December 1928 – 11 January 1982) was a Welsh actor, best known for his appearances in British films of the 1950s and 1960s.[2]

Early life and career

Lewis was born in Port Talbot, 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.

He decided to become an actor after seeing George Bernard Shaw's Saint Joan at the Prince of Wales Theatre in Cardiff. He studied at RADA, graduating in 1953.[3]

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 at Hammersmith.[4]

Lewis had an uncredited bit part in Valley of Song, set in Wales. He was credited for the film version of The Square Ring (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[5] and provided some romantic interest in The Prisoner (1955), with Alec Guinness.[6]

He was also in a play The Bad Samaritan.

Rise to stardom

Lewis achieved attention with his stage performance in Mourning Becomes Electra by Eugene O'Neill, directed by Peter Hall (1955).[7] This led to Alexander Korda signing Lewis to a contract with London Films and giving him a role in Storm Over the Nile (1956), as one of the main group of friends.[8] He was third billed in the comedy Sailor Beware (1956), one of the ten most popular films at the British box office in 1956.[9] He played the important role of Private Wyatt in A Hill in Korea (1956), a Korean War film.[10]

Lewis was cast opposite Vivien Leigh in the London production of Noël Coward's South Sea Bubble (1956), replacing Peter Finch at the last minute. Lewis reprised this role on British TV.[11][12]

Leading man

Rank tried to build Lewis into a star, giving him the lead in a thriller, The Secret Place (1957), alongside Belinda Lee.[13] On British TV he was in Salome (1957), El Bandido and the TV series Hour of Mystery in an adaption of Night Must Fall. He appeared regularly in Armchair Theatre over fifteen years and other British anthology dramas.

He had a starring role as the bad brother in Robbery Under Arms (1957) and was a villain in The Wind Cannot Read (1958). He was in Schiller's Mary Stuart and Ibsen's Ghosts on stage in 1958.[14][15]

After a TV production of A Tale of Two Cities he supported Hardy Krüger in the Rank comedy Bachelor of Hearts (1958),[16] and a production of Miss Julie (1959) at the Old Vic.[17] He was Mark Anthony in a production of Julius Caesar at the Old Vic.[18]

Rank did not pick up its option on Lewis's services.[19] 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. Guest called Lewis and co-star Diane Cilento "two neglected stars... and I shall go all out to un-neglect them both."[20] Hammer kept him on for another thriller, Taste of Fear (1961), which was a big hit. So too was Mr. Sardonicus (1961) made for William Castle.

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.[21][22]

Lewis had a support role in Billy Budd (1962) and was the romantic lead to star Juliet Mills in the comedy Nurse on Wheels (1963), made by the Carry On team.[23][24] He had the star role in two costume pictures, Siege of the Saxons (1963) and Hammer's The Brigand of Kandahar (1965).[25][26]

On stage he was in Poor Bitos (1963).

Decline

His image suffered in 1965 when, while he was appearing in Peter Pan on stage (as Hook), his wife alleged he had assaulted her. Lewis failed to turn up at court and a warrant was issued for his arrest.[27] Press reports of the court case at the time[28] 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, but 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 (1974), his final credits were in TV: Tales of Unease (1970), Hine (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 (1977), The XYY Man (1977), Z Cars (1978), and The John Sullivan Story (1979).[29]

He was meant to be First Voice in a production of Under Milk Wood 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.[30]

In 1981, at the age of 52, he was declared bankrupt with debts of £21,188.[31][32]

Death

On 11 January 1982, Lewis took his own life by taking a barbiturate overdose at a boarding house in Pimlico.[33] Kenneth Williams 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."[34]

Partial filmography

References

  1. ^ McFarlane, Brian; British Film Institute (2005). The encyclopedia of British film. Methuen. p. 415. ISBN 9780413775269.
  2. ^ "Ronald Lewis". BFI. Archived from the original on 7 August 2016.
  3. ^ "Ronald Allen — RADA". www.rada.ac.uk.
  4. ^ Wagner, Laura. "Ronald Lewis", Classic Images. October 2021
  5. ^ Pryor, Thomas M (30 April 1954). "Belafonte Signs to Star in Film". The New York Times. ProQuest 112934554.
  6. ^ "The Prisoner (1955) – Peter Glenville | Cast and Crew". AllMovie.
  7. ^ Hope-Wallace, Philip (11 June 1955). "'Mourning Becomes Electra'". The Manchester Guardian. p. 5. ProQuest 479852000. Retrieved 24 June 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ S. W. (25 September 1955). "Observations on the British Screen Scene". The New York Times. ProQuest 113205684.
  9. ^ "British Films Made Most Money: Box-Office Survey". The Manchester Guardian. 28 December 1956. p. 3. Retrieved 24 June 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "A Hill in Korea (1956) – Julian Amyes | Cast and Crew". AllMovie.
  11. ^ N. S. (20 March 1956). "New Comedy by Noel Coward: 'South Sea Bubble'". The Manchester Guardian. ProQuest 479859334. Retrieved 24 June 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Two leading men in the life of Miss Leigh", Daily Mail (London, England), February 24, 1956, p. 6
  13. ^ "The Secret Place (1957)". BFI. Archived from the original on 9 March 2016.
  14. ^ Thorns, Anne (3 September 1958). "Polish Film-Makers Turn to Satire". The Manchester Guardian. p. 5. ProQuest 480352785. Retrieved 24 June 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ Hope-Wallace, P. (13 November 1958). "Flora Robson in Ibsen's 'Ghosts'". The Manchester Guardian. ProQuest 480364522.
  16. ^ "A Bachelor of Hearts". The Australian Women's Weekly. Vol. 26, no. 34. 28 January 1959. p. 48. Retrieved 25 September 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  17. ^ Bland, A. (28 December 1958). "Snowflakes". The Observer. ProQuest 475401077.
  18. ^ Goring, Edward. "Caesar is muffled in velvet", Daily Mail, October 9, 1958, p. 3
  19. ^ Now Belinda Lee gets the axe Author: Edward Goring Date: October 11, 1958 Publication: Daily Mail (London, England) Issue: 19432 p. 1
  20. ^ Yet again somebody has discovered Miss Cilento Author: Cecil Wilson Date: April 29, 1960 Publication: Daily Mail (London, England) Issue: 19911 p. 8
  21. ^ "Twice Round the Daffodils (1962) – Gerald Thomas | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related". AllMovie.
  22. ^ Jigsaw (1962) at the British Film Institute[better source needed]
  23. ^ "Billy Budd (1962)". BFI. Archived from the original on 27 July 2017.
  24. ^ "Nurse on Wheels (1963) – Gerald Thomas | Cast and Crew". AllMovie.
  25. ^ "Siege of the Saxons (1963) – Nathan Juran | Cast and Crew". AllMovie.
  26. ^ "The Brigand of Kandahar (1965) – John Gilling | Cast and Crew". AllMovie.
  27. ^ Hope-Wallace, P. (18 December 1965). "Peter Pan at the scala theatre". The Guardian. ProQuest 185123323.
  28. ^ Daily Mirror, 22 May 1965
  29. ^ "Ronald Lewis". www.aveleyman.com.
  30. ^ "TV star collapses as play opens". Birmingham Evening Mail. 14 September 1979. p. 22. Retrieved 24 June 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  31. ^ "Cinema | The Actors' Crucible". Wales Arts Review. 18 March 2016.
  32. ^ "Obituary". The Guardian. 12 January 1982. p. 2. ProQuest 186370311. Retrieved 24 June 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  33. ^ Spignesi, Stephen J. (2001). The Hollywood Book of Lists: From Great Performances and Romantic Epics to Bad Remakes and Miscasting Debacles. Kensington Publishing Corporation. p. 127. ISBN 978-0806522128.
  34. ^ The Kenneth Williams Diaries, edited by Russell Davies, published 1993 by Harper Collins

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