Ronald Lacey

Infobox actor
name = Ronald Lacey


imagesize =
caption = Ronald Lacey (left) as Arnold Toht in Raiders of the Lost Ark
birthname =
birthdate = birth date|1935|9|28|df=y
birthplace = Harrow, London, England
deathdate = death date and age|1991|05|15|1935|09|28|df=y
deathplace = London, England
othername =
yearsactive = 1960s–1980s
spouse = Mela White (1959–1971)
Joanna Baker (1972–1989)
homepage =
academyawards =
emmyawards =
tonyawards =

Ronald Lacey (28 September 1935 – 15 May 1991) was an English actor.

Biography

Career

Lacey attended Harrow Weald Grammar School and after a brief stint of national service and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art he began his acting career in 1961 in a TV play "The Secret Agent". His first notable performance was at The Royal Court in 1962's "Chips with Everything". Lacey had an unusual pug look with beady eyes and cherub's cheeks, which landed him repeatedly in bizarre roles on both stage and screen.

After performing on British television throughout the 1960s and 1970s, including a memorable turn as Harris in the Ronnie Barker sitcom "Porridge", Lacey finally landed the role for which these characteristics could be used to full advantage. Disappointed with his acting career by the late '70s, he began to consider starting a talent agency. Spielberg then cast him as the Nazi villain Toht in "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and after basking in the afterglow of the film's blockbuster success, he quickly changed his mind. He followed this with a series of various villain roles for the next five to six years: "Sahara" with Brooke Shields, and 1985's "Red Sonja" with Arnold Schwarzenegger, in addition to 1982's "Firefox" with Clint Eastwood, in which he played a scientist helping the West behind the iron curtain.

Lacey turned in two cinematic performances in full drag: Disney's "Trenchcoat" with Margot Kidder from 1982 and "Invitation to the Wedding" from 1985 – in which he played a husband/wife couple.

Lacey played a number of villainous roles and was known for his trademark smile, which would turn into a gleaming malicious leer. He also had a rather large mole on his left cheek, which he chose not to have removed. In 1982's "Trenchcoat", he used the mole as a beauty mark in his role as Princess Aida, a mysterious and sleazy drag queen on the island of Malta.

Personal life

Lacey was born in Harrow, London. He was known for his generosity and warmth to fans but equally known in the London Theatre scene for having a great fondness for drinking and smoking. Often the actor was noted among the gossip pages. His hobby was collecting Victoriana.

Lacey was twice married. Originally wed to actress Mela White, he became the father of two children, the actors Rebecca and Jonathan Lacey in the 1960s. After a turbulent divorce, he remarried in 1972. Joanna Baker, his second wife, gave birth to his third child, Matthew. His daughter, Rebecca, became a television success on the BBC series "Casualty". His son Matthew is the godson of Hammer Films' Barbara Shelley.

Being of Welsh descent, he owned a family cottage in Wales which was passed on to his three children after his death. The family would spend their holidays together at the cottage.

He had his lower intestines removed in his early twenties and as a result had to have a colostomy bag fitted. Over the years he was refused certain film roles in other countries at his doctor's request. He gained and lost weight over the last 10 years of his life, as he was ill with cancer. He occasionally looked bloated and swollen as a result of medical treatment. He finally succumbed to the cancer when it spread to his liver.

Lacey died in London of liver failure on 15 May 1991. At the time, he was under the care of his daughter, Rebecca (from his first marriage). Ian Bartholomew sang 'Sometimes When We Touch' at Lacey's memorial service which took place at St. James in Covent Garden almost three months after his death in 1991. He also left behind two sons by his second marriage: David and Matthew.

Filmography

Movies

* "Angely smerti" (1993)
* "Landslide" (1992) – Fred Donner
* "Valmont" (1989) – José
* "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" (1989) – (uncredited) Heinrich Himmler
* "Manifesto" (1988) – Conductor
* "Dawn of an Evil Millennium" (1988)
* "Jailbird Rock" (1988) – Warden Bauman
* "Sky Bandits" (1986) – Fritz
* "Into the Darkness" (1986)
* "Lone Runner" (1986) – Misha
* "Aces Go Places 4" (1986) – Leader of the Villains
* "Flesh + Blood" (1985) – Cardinal
* "Red Sonja" (1985) – Ikol
* "Invitation to the Wedding" (1985) – Clara/Charles Eatwell
* "The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension" (1984) – President Widmark
* "" (1984) – Oswald
* "Making the Grade" (1984) – Nicky
* "Sahara" (1983) – Beg
* "Yellowbeard" (1983) – Man with Parrot
* "Trenchcoat" (1983) – Princess Aida
* "Firefox" (1982) – Semelovsky
* "Tangiers" (1982) – Wedderburn
* "Raiders of the Lost Ark" (1981) – Major Arnold Toht
* "Nijinsky" (1980) – Léon Bakst
* "Zulu Dawn" (1979) – Norris Newman
* "Charleston" (1977) – Frankie
* "The Likely Lads" (1976) – Ernie
* "The Old Curiosity Shop" (1975) – Harris
* "The Last Days of Man on Earth" (1973) – Shades
* "Gawain and the Green Knight" (1973) – Oswald
* "Disciple of Death" (1972) – Parson
* "Say Hello to Yesterday" (1971) – Car Park Attendant
* "Crucible of Terror" (1971) – Michael
* "Take a Girl Like You" (1970) – Graham
* "Otley" (1968) – Curtis
* "The White Bus" (1967)
* "How I Won the War" (1967) – Spool
* "The Fearless Vampire Killers" (1967) – Village Idiot
* "Catch Us If You Can" (1965) – (uncredited) Yeano (beatnik)
* "Of Human Bondage" (1964) – 'Matty' Mathews
* "Doctor in Distress" (1963) – (uncredited) Cafe Customer
* "The Boys" (1962) – Billy Herne

TV

* "The Strauss Dynasty" (1991) (mini series) – Bauer
* "Face to Face" (1990) – Dr. Brinkman
* "The Nightmare Years" (1989) (mini series) – Emil Luger
* "" (1988) – Winston Churchill
* "The Sign of the Four" (1987) – Thaddeus Sholto/Bartholomew Sholto
* "Blackadder II" (1986) – The Bishop of Bath and Wells
* "Minder on the Orient Express" (1985) – Harry Ridler
* "Magnum, P.I." (1984) – Archer Hayes
* "The Hound of the Baskervilles" (1983) – Inspector Lestrade
* "The Rothko Conspiracy" (1983)
* "P.O.S.H" (1982) – Mr. Vicarage
* "Tiny Revolutions" (1981)
* "Blakes 7" (1 episode, "Killer" 1979) – Tynus (1979)
* "Tropic" (1979) (series) – Geoffrey Turvey
* "Dylan" (1978 TV play) – Dylan Thomas
* "The Mayor of Casterbridge" (1978) (mini series) – Jopp
* "Porridge" (1973) TV Series – Harris (1977)
* "The Next Victim" (1976) – Bartlett
* "Our Mutual Friend" (1976) (mini series) – Mr. Venus
* "A Story to Frighten the Children" (1976) – Lang
* "The Fight Against Slavery" (1975) (mini series) – Charles James Fox
* "The Adventures of Don Quixote" (1973) – Monk
* "Last of the Summer Wine" (1973) – Walter
* "Jason King" (1971–1972) – Ryland
* "The Adventures of Don Quick" (1970) (series) – Sergeant Sam Czopanser
* "The Vessel of Wrath" (1970) – Controleur
* "It Wasn't Me" (1969) – George
* "Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)" (1969)
* "Target Generation" (1969) – Joe Manx
* "These Men Are Dangerous" (1969) (series)
* "Game, Set and Match" (1968)
* "Theatre 625" – "Mille miglia" (1968), "The Burning Bush" (1967), "Firebrand" (1967), "The Nutter" (1965)
* "Boa Constrictor" (1967) – Frankie Three
* "Great Expectations" (1967) (series) – Orlick
* "The Avengers" (1967) – Strange Young Man
* "Who's a Good Boy Then?" (1966) – Billy Oates
* "Day Out for Lucy" (1965)
* "Barnaby Spoot and the Exploding Whoopee Cushion" (1965) – Justin Fribble
* "Fable" (1965) – Len
* "Gideon's Way" (1965) – Jerry Blake
* "The Likely Lads" (1964) series - Ernie

External links

*imdb name | id=0479951| name=Ronald Lacey
*Find A Grave|id=12811

Persondata
NAME= Lacey, Ronald
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Actor
DATE OF BIRTH= 1935-9-28
PLACE OF BIRTH= Harrow, London, England
DATE OF DEATH= 1991-05-15
PLACE OF DEATH= London, England