Ronald Fraser

Ronald Fraser
Born	Ronald Gordon Fraser 11 April 1930(1930-04-11) Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, England,
Died	13 March 1997(1997-03-13) (aged 66) London, England
Nationality	British
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1967 – 1996
Spouse	Elizabeth Howe (1956 - ?)

Ronald Fraser (11 April 1930 – 13 March 1997) was an English character actor, who appeared in numerous British films of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s whilst also appearing in many popular TV shows.

Background

Ronald Fraser was born in Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, England, the son of an interior decorator. He was educated in Scotland and did National Service as a Lieutenant in the Seaforth Highlanders. He trained as an actor at RADA and appeared at the Glasgow Citizens' Theatre before appearing in repertory theatre in London and at the Old Vic from 1954.

Selected filmography

Film credits

• There Was a Crooked Man (1960)
• The Long and the Short and the Tall (1961)
• The Hellions (1961)
• Don't Bother to Knock (1961)
• Private Potter (1962)
• The Pot Carriers (1962)
• The Punch and Judy Man (1963)
• Girl in the Headlines (1963)
• Victim Five (1964)
• Crooks in Cloisters (1964)
• The Beauty Jungle (1964)
• The Counterfeit Constable (1964)
• Flight of the Phoenix (1965)
• The Whisperers (1967)
• Fathom (1967)
• Sebastian (1968)
• The Killing of Sister George (1968)
• Sinful Davey (1969)
• The Bed-Sitting Room (1969)
• Too Late the Hero (1970)
• The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer (1970)
• The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins (Wrath segment) (1971)
• Swallows and Amazons (1974)
• Paper Tiger (1975)
• Hardcore (1977)
• Come Play With Me (1977)
• The Wild Geese (1978)
• Trail of the Pink Panther (1982)
• Tangiers (1982)
• Let Him Have It (1991)

Television credits

• The Ordeal of Dr. Shannon
• The Misfit
• Pygmalion
• The Sweeney
• The Famous Five
• Pennies From Heaven
• Danger Man
• Spooner's Patch
• Taggart
• Melissa
• Minder
• The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes as Horrocks.
• Life Without George
• Sword of Honour
• Lovejoy
• Brideshead Revisited
• Doctor Who (The Happiness Patrol)
• The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles.
• "TFI Friday"

Personal life

Fraser was a resident of Hampstead, London. He was a heavy drinker and a well known figure in the local hostelries. He died of a haemorrhage, aged 66 at London on 13 March 1997. The pallbearers at his funeral were Sean Connery, Peter O'Toole, Simon Ward (who had played his son in The Misfit) and Chris Evans. Nicholas Whittaker, author of Platform Souls and Blue Period, worked in The Belsize Tavern in 1979 and 1980 and recalls Fraser's regular visits to the pub, usually in the company of actor James Villiers. After closing time, the pair would often be found in the Beer & Curry restaurant opposite

External links

• Ronald Fraser at the Internet Movie Database
• Ronald Fraser at Find a Grave