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Ralph Truman
Actor

Ralph Truman

7 May 1900Born
15 Oct 1977Died
77Age at death
68Credits

Biography

Veteran British character player Ralph Truman was a pioneer radio actor and appeared in over 5000 broadcasts during his career. Born in London at the turn of the century, his overall film career was commendable but less enviable than his voice work on the airwaves. Originally from the stage, he had just finished a run of "Josef Suss" in 1930 when he moved directly into films, making his unbilled debut in the early talkie Farewell to Love (1931). Throughout the 1930s he would be found steadily in "B" films including The Bells (1931), That's My Uncle (1935), The Lad (1935), Mr. Cohen Takes a Walk (1935), Under the Red Robe (1937) and Dinner at the Ritz (1937).

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In the 1940s the distinctively balding, hook-nosed actor found featured work in more important films such as his Mountjoy in Laurence Olivier's stellar Shakespearean piece Henry V (1944). A natural for period settings, Truman played the nefarious Monks in Oliver Twist (1948), and was part of the large-scale proceedings in Christopher Columbus (1949) and Treasure Island (1950), giving animated Robert Newton a run for the money in the latter with a ripe, over-the-top pirate performance as George Merry. Married to fellow radio artist Ellis Powell, he was best known in later years for playing men of high ranking or position (lords, captains, admirals, governors, etc.). He retired after appearing in two final period epics: Nicholas and Alexandra (1971) and Lady Caroline Lamb (1972). He passed away a few years later.

- IMDb mini biography by: Gary Brumburgh / gr-home@pacbell.net

Known for

Filmography

  1. 1974Churchill's PeopleSeries: Earl of Surrey (1 episode)
  2. 1972Lady Caroline LambFilm: Admiral
  3. 1971Nicholas and AlexandraFilm: Rodzianko
  4. 1971The Rivals of Sherlock HolmesSeries: Foreign Secretary (1 episode)
  5. 1969The Main ChanceSeries: Reginald Crowther (1 episode)
  6. 1961El CidFilm: King Ferdinand
  7. 1960ExodusFilm: Colonel
  8. 1960Under Ten FlagsFilm: Admiral Bensen
  9. 1960Danger ManSeries: Minister (1 episode)
  10. 1959Ben-HurFilm: Aide to Tiberius (uncredited)
  11. 1959Web of EvidenceFilm: Sir Matthew Sprott
  12. 1958The Spaniard's CurseFilm: Sir Robert Wyvern
  13. 1957The Good CompanionsFilm: George Memsford
  14. 1957Yangtse Incident: The Story of H.M.S. AmethystFilm: Vice Admiral
  15. 1956The Long ArmFilm: Colonel Blenkinsop
  16. 1956Wicked as They ComeFilm: John Dowling
  17. 1956The Man Who Knew Too MuchFilm: Buchanan
  18. 1956Tons of TroubleFilm: Inspector Bridger
  19. 1956The Black TentFilm: Major Cross
  20. 1955The Ship That Died of ShameFilm: Sir Richard
  21. 1955The Night My Number Came UpFilm: Wainwright
  22. 1954Beau BrummellFilm: Sir Ralph Sidley
  23. 1953The Master of BallantraeFilm: Clarendon
  24. 1953Malta StoryFilm: Vice Adm Willie Banks
  25. 1952The Golden CoachFilm: Duc de Castro
  26. 1951Quo VadisFilm: Tigellinus
  27. 1950Treasure IslandFilm: George Merry
  28. 1950The Reluctant WidowFilm: Scowler
  29. 1949Christopher ColumbusFilm: Captain
  30. 1949The Interrupted JourneyFilm: Inspector Waterson
  31. 1949Eureka StockadeFilm: Gov. Hotham
  32. 1948Mr. Perrin and Mr. TraillFilm: Comber
  33. 1948Oliver TwistFilm: Monks
  34. 1947Mrs. FitzherbertFilm: Richard Brinsley Sheridan
  35. 1947The Adventures of Dusty BatesFilm: Merryvale
  36. 1947The Man WithinFilm: Prison Interrogator
  37. 1946The Laughing LadyFilm: Lord Mandeville
  38. 1946Papworth Village SettlementFilm: Narrator (voice)
  39. 1946Beware of PityFilm: Maj. Sandor Balinkay
  40. 1946Lisbon StoryFilm: Police Commissionaire
  41. 1945Read All About ItFilm: Robertson
  42. 1944Henry VFilm: Mountjoy - The French Herald
  43. 1943The Butler's DilemmaFilm: Bishop
  44. 1942Sabotage at SeaFilm: Horace Chandler
  45. 1942The Seventh SurvivorFilm: Captain
  46. 1939The Saint in LondonFilm: Kussella
  47. 1939Black EyesFilm: Diner
  48. 1939The OutsiderFilm: Sir Nathan Israel
  49. 1938Life of St. PaulFilm: Orderly
  50. 1938South RidingFilm: Nursing Home Doctor
  51. 1938The ChallengeFilm: Giordano
  52. 1938The DrumFilm: Dinner Guest (uncredited)
  53. 1937Dinner at the RitzFilm: Auctioneer
  54. 1937Change for a SovereignFilm: Archduke Paul
  55. 1937Secret LivesFilm: Prison Guard
  56. 1937Fire Over EnglandFilm: Spanish Inquisition Representative (uncredited)
  57. 1936Dusty ErmineFilm: Second Thug (uncredited)
  58. 1936The Crimson CircleFilm: Lawrence Fuller
  59. 1936The Marriage of CorbalFilm: Charles
  60. 1935Mr. Cohen Takes a WalkFilm: Sam Cohen
  61. 1935Captain BillFilm: Red
  62. 1935The Silent PassengerFilm: Saunders
  63. 1935The Case of Gabriel PerryFilm: Inspector White
  64. 1935Three WitnessesFilm: Bellman
  65. 1934The Perfect FlawFilm: Richard Drexel
  66. 1933The ShadowFilm: Chief Inspector Elliot
  67. 1932Partners PleaseFilm: CID Man
  68. 1931The BellsFilm: Blacksmith

Biography and credits from TMDB. This website uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.