
Ralph Truman
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). 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
Filmografi
Ben-Hur1959 · Aide to Tiberius (uncredited)
The Man Who Knew Too Much1956 · Buchanan
Oliver Twist1948 · Monks
Henry V1944 · Mountjoy - The French Herald
Quo Vadis1951 · Tigellinus
Treasure Island1950 · George Merry
El Cid1961 · King Ferdinand
Exodus1960 · Colonel
Under Ten Flags1960 · Admiral Bensen
The Bells1931 · Blacksmith
Nicholas and Alexandra1971 · Rodzianko
The Golden Coach1952 · Duc de Castro
Web of Evidence1959 · Sir Matthew Sprott
Mr. Perrin and Mr. Traill1948 · Comber
The Crimson Circle1936 · Lawrence Fuller
The Master of Ballantrae1953 · Clarendon
The Adventures of Dusty Bates1947 · Merryvale
Fire Over England1937 · Spanish Inquisition Representative (uncredited)
The Ship That Died of Shame1955 · Sir Richard
Beau Brummell1954 · Sir Ralph Sidley
Yangtse Incident: The Story of H.M.S. Amethyst1957 · Vice Admiral
The Night My Number Came Up1955 · Wainwright
The Spaniard's Curse1958 · Sir Robert Wyvern
Robert Newton
Finlay Currie
Amerigo Santarelli
Felix Aylmer
Leo Genn
Marina Berti
Liana Del Balzo
John Laurie
Pietro Tordi
Enzo Fiermonte
Aldo Pini
Anthony Newley