Ralph du Vergier Truman (7 May 1900 – 15 October 1977) was an

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

actor, usually cast as either a villain or an authority figure. He possessed a distinguished speaking voice. He was born in

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

. Truman originally studied at the

Royal College of Music The Royal College of Music is a music school, conservatoire established by royal charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, UK. It offers training from the Undergraduate education, undergraduate to the Doctorate, doctoral level in a ...

and was a regular performer on the radio from 1925, appearing in an estimated 5,000 broadcasts. His best-remembered film roles include

Tigellinus Ofonius Tigellinus (c. 10 – 69) was a prefect of the Roman imperial bodyguard, known as the Praetorian Guard, from 62 until 68, during the reign of emperor Nero. Tigellinus gained imperial favour through his acquaintance wit ...

MGM Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and abbreviated as MGM, is an American film, television production, distribution and media company owned by Amazon through MGM Holdings, founded on April 17, 1924 a ...

's ''

Quo Vadis ''Quō vādis?'' (, ) is a Latin phrase meaning "Where are you marching?". It is also commonly translated as "Where are you going?" or, poetically, "Whither goest thou?" The phrase originates from the Christian tradition regarding Saint Pete ...

'' (1951), the French herald Mountjoy in

Laurence Olivier Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier (; 22 May 1907 – 11 July 1989) was an English actor and director who, along with his contemporaries Ralph Richardson and John Gielgud, was one of a trio of male actors who dominated the Theatre of the U ...

's film ''

Henry V Henry V may refer to: People * Henry V, Duke of Bavaria (died 1026) * Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor (1081/86–1125) * Henry V, Duke of Carinthia (died 1161) * Henry V, Count Palatine of the Rhine (c. 1173–1227) * Henry V, Count of Luxembourg (121 ...

'' (1944), the evil

Monks A monk (, from el, μοναχός, ''monachos'', "single, solitary" via Latin ) is a person who practices religious asceticism by monastic living, either alone or with any number of other monks. A monk may be a person who decides to dedicat ...

David Lean Sir David Lean (25 March 190816 April 1991) was an English film director, producer, screenwriter and editor. Widely considered one of the most important figures in British cinema, Lean directed the large-scale epics ''The Bridge on the River ...

's ''

Oliver Twist ''Oliver Twist; or, The Parish Boy's Progress'', Charles Dickens's second novel, was published as a serial from 1837 to 1839, and as a three-volume book in 1838. Born in a workhouse, the orphan Oliver Twist is bound into apprenticeship with ...

'' (1948), George Merry in the

Walt Disney Walter Elias Disney (; December 5, 1901December 15, 1966) was an American animator, film producer and entrepreneur. A pioneer of the American animation industry, he introduced several developments in the production of cartoons. As a film p ...

version of ''

Treasure Island ''Treasure Island'' (originally titled ''The Sea Cook: A Story for Boys''Hammond, J. R. 1984. "Treasure Island." In ''A Robert Louis Stevenson Companion'', Palgrave Macmillan Literary Companions. London: Palgrave Macmillan. .) is an adventure no ...

'' (1950), and the Police Inspector in

Alfred Hitchcock Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock (13 August 1899 – 29 April 1980) was an English filmmaker. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of cinema. In a career spanning six decades, he directed over 50 featur ...

's '' The Man Who Knew Too Much'' (1956). He also appeared in episodes of several TV series, including ''

Danger Man ''Danger Man'' (retitled ''Secret Agent'' in the United States for the revived series, and ''Destination Danger'' and ''John Drake'' in other overseas markets) is a British television series that was broadcast between 1960 and 1962, and again b ...

''. He died 15 October 1977 in

Ipswich Ipswich () is a port town and borough in Suffolk, England, of which it is the county town. The town is located in East Anglia about away from the mouth of the River Orwell and the North Sea. Ipswich is both on the Great Eastern Main Line r ...

Suffolk Suffolk () is a ceremonial county of England in East Anglia. It borders Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south; the North Sea lies to the east. The county town is Ipswich; other important towns include Lowes ...

aged 77.

Selected filmography

* ''

City of Song ''City of Song'', also known as ''Farewell to Love'', is a 1931 British/German romance film directed by Carmine Gallone and starring Jan Kiepura, Betty Stockfeld and Hugh Wakefield. It was shot at Wembley Studios.Wood p.69 The film's sets were ...

'' (1931) (uncredited) * '' The Bells'' (1931) as Blacksmith * ''

The Shadow The Shadow is a fictional character created by magazine publishers Street & Smith and writer Walter B. Gibson. Originally created to be a mysterious radio show narrator, and developed into a distinct literary character in 1931 by writer Walter ...

'' (1933) as Elliot * ''

The Perfect Flaw ''The Perfect Flaw'' is a 1934 British crime film directed by H. Manning Haynes and starring Naomi Waters, Ralph Truman and William Hartnell. The screenplay concerns a clerk who is planning to murder a stockbroker but is foiled in the attempt. ...

'' (1934) as Richard Drexel * '' Lieut. Daring R.N.'' (1935) as Mung * ''

D'Ye Ken John Peel? ''D'Ye Ken John Peel?'' (released in America as ''Captain Moonlight'') is a 1935 British adventure film directed by Henry Edwards and starring John Garrick, Winifred Shotter and Stanley Holloway. It was made at Julius Hagen's Twickenham Stud ...

'' (1935) as 1st Ruffian Footman * ''

The Lad ''The Lad'' is a 1935 British comedy film directed by Henry Edwards and starring Gordon Harker, Betty Stockfeld and Jane Carr. It was made at Twickenham Studios. The film is based on a novel by Edgar Wallace. Plot Bill Shane is The Lad, an opp ...

'' (1935) as O'Shea (uncredited) * ''

Three Witnesses The Three Witnesses is the collective name for three men connected with the early Latter Day Saint movement who stated that an angel had shown them the golden plates from which Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon; they also stated tha ...

'' (1935) as Bellman * ''

That's My Uncle ''That's My Uncle'' is a 1935 British comedy film directed by George Pearson and starring Mark Daly, Richard Cooper and Betty Astell. It was made at Twickenham Studios as a quota quickie for release by Universal Pictures.Wood p.88 Cast * Mar ...

'' (1935) as Monty * ''

The Case of Gabriel Perry ''The Case of Gabriel Perry'' is a 1935 British crime film directed by Albert de Courville and starring Henry Oscar, Olga Lindo and Margaret Lockwood. Plot An unstable Victorian doctor murders a woman. Cast * Henry Oscar as Gabriel Perry * Ol ...

'' (1935) as Inspector White * ''

The Silent Passenger ''The Silent Passenger'' is a British black-and-white mystery film produced in 1935 at Ealing Studios, London. It is based on an original story written by Sayers specifically for the screen. Her amateur sleuth was portrayed as a somewhat eccentr ...

'' (1935) as Saunders * ''

Jubilee Window ''Jubilee Window'' is a 1935 British comedy film directed by George Pearson and starring Sebastian Shaw, Ralph Truman and Olive Melville.Wood p.86 Cast * Sebastian Shaw as Peter Ward * Ralph Truman as Dan Stevens * Olive Melville as Marge ...

'' (1935) as Dan Stevens * ''

Father O'Flynn ''Father O'Flynn'' is a 1935 British musical film directed by Wilfred Noy and Walter Tennyson and starring Thomas F. Burke, Jean Adrienne and Robert Chisholm. It was made Shepperton Studios.Wood p.85 Cast * Thomas F. Burke as Father O'Flynn ...

'' (1935) as Fawcett * '' Late Extra'' (1935) as Minor Role (uncredited) * ''

Captain Bill ''Captain Bill'' is a 1936 British comedy film directed by Ralph Ceder and starring Leslie Fuller, Judy Kelly and Hal Gordon. A barge operator helps a schoolteacher tackle a gang of criminals. Cast * Leslie Fuller - Bill * Judy Kelly - Polly * ...

'' (1936) as Red * '' Mr. Cohen Takes a Walk'' (1936) as Sam Cohen * '' The Crimson Circle'' (1936) as Lawrence Fuller * ''

The Marriage of Corbal ''The Prisoner of Corbal'' is a 1936 British historical drama film directed by Karl Grune and starring Nils Asther, Hugh Sinclair and Hazel Terry. It is also known by the alternative title ''The Marriage of Corbal''. It is set against the backdr ...

'' (1936) as Charles * ''

The Gay Adventure ''The Gay Adventure'' is a 1936 British comedy film directed by Sinclair Hill and starring Yvonne Arnaud, Barry Jones and Nora Swinburne. It was made at Welwyn Studios by the independent company Grosvenor Films.Wood p.90 It was based on the 19 ...

'' (1936) as Buck * '' East Meets West'' (1936) as Abdul * ''

Fire Over England ''Fire Over England'' is a 1937 London Film Productions film drama, notable for providing the first pairing of Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh. It was directed by William K. Howard and written by Clemence Dane from the 1936 novel ''Fire Over ...

'' (1937) as Spanish Inquisition Representative (uncredited) * '' Secret Lives'' (1937) as Prison Guard (uncredited) * ''

The Lilac Domino ''Der lila Domino'' (''The Lilac Domino'') is an operetta in three acts composed by Charles Cuvillier. The original German libretto is by Emmerich von Gatti and Bela Jenbach, about a gambling count who falls in love at a masquerade ball with a n ...

'' (1937) as Doorman (uncredited) * '' Under the Red Robe'' (1937) as Captain at Castle * '' Silver Blaze'' (1937) as Bert Prince * '' Change for a Sovereign'' (1937) as Archduke Paul * ''

Dinner at the Ritz ''Dinner at the Ritz'' is a 1937 British mystery romance film directed by Harold D. Schuster and starring David Niven, Annabella, and Paul Lukas. It was produced by the British branch of 20th Century Fox, and shot at Denham Studios. Synopsis T ...

'' (1937) as Auctioneer * '' It's a Grand Old World'' (1937) as Banks * '' South Riding'' (1938) as Nursing Home Doctor (uncredited) * '' The Drum'' (1938) as Dinner Guest (uncredited) * '' The Challenge'' (1938) as Giordano * ''

Many Tanks Mr. Atkins ''Many Tanks Mr. Atkins'' is a 1938 British comedy film, comedy war film directed by Roy William Neill and starring Claude Hulbert, Reginald Purdell and Barbara Greene. It was made as a quota quickie by Warner Brothers at the company's Teddingt ...

'' (1938) as Zanner * '' Life of St. Paul'' (1938) as Orderly * '' The Outsider'' (1939) as Sir Nathan Israel * '' Black Eyes'' (1939) as Diner * ''

The Saint in London ''The Saint in London'' is a 1939 British crime film, the third of eight films in RKO's film series featuring the adventures of Simon Templar, alias "The Saint". It stars George Sanders as Templar and was produced by William Sistrom. John Pad ...

'' (1939) as Kussella * ''

Just like a Woman "Just Like a Woman" is a song by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan first released on his seventh studio album, ''Blonde on Blonde'' on June 20, 1966. It was written by Dylan and produced by Bob Johnston. A shorter edit was released as a sin ...

'' (1939) as Maharajah * ''

The Seventh Survivor ''The Seventh Survivor'' is a 1942 British spy war film directed by Leslie S. Hiscott and starring Austin Trevor, Linden Travers and John Stuart. It was produced by British National Films and Shaftesbury Films. Shot in 1941, it was released i ...

'' (1942) as Captain * ''

Sabotage at Sea ''Sabotage at Sea'' is a 1942 British, black-and-white, drama, mystery, war film, directed by Leslie S. Hiscott and starring Jane Carr, Margaretta Scott, David Hutcheson and Ronald Shiner as Ernie the Cook. It was produced by British National F ...

'' (1942) as Horace Chandler * '' The Butler's Dilemma'' (1943) as Bishop * ''

'' (1944) as Mountjoy, The French Herald * '' Lisbon Story'' (1946) as Police Commissionaire * ''

Beware of Pity ''Beware of Pity'' is a 1946 British romantic drama film directed by Maurice Elvey and starring Lilli Palmer, Albert Lieven and Cedric Hardwicke. It is based on the novel of the same name by Stefan Zweig. A paraplegic young baroness mistakes co ...

'' (1946) as Maj. Sandor Balinkay * ''

The Laughing Lady ''The Laughing Lady'' is a 1946 British Technicolor musical drama film directed by Paul L. Stein and starring Anne Ziegler, Webster Booth and Francis L. Sullivan. Based on a play by Ingram D'Abbes, its plot follows a young aristocrat who mak ...

'' (1946) as Lord Mandeville * '' Woman to Woman'' (1947) as Colonel * ''

Dusty Bates ''Dusty Bates'' is a 1947 British, Technicolor, children's film, directed by Darrell Catling and starring Ronald Shiner as 'Squeaky' Watts and Anthony Newley in the title role. It was produced by Gaumont-British Instructional and Children's En ...

'' (1947) as Merryvale * ''

Mrs. Fitzherbert Maria Anne Fitzherbert (''née'' Smythe, previously Weld; 26 July 1756 – 27 March 1837) was a longtime companion of George, Prince of Wales (later King George IV of the United Kingdom). In 1785, they secretly contracted a marriage that was i ...

'' (1947) as Richard Brinsley Sheridan * ''

'' (1948) as Monks * ''

Mr. Perrin and Mr. Traill ''Mr. Perrin and Mr. Traill'' is a 1948 British drama film directed by Lawrence Huntington and starring Marius Goring, David Farrar, Greta Gynt, Edward Chapman and Raymond Huntley. It is based on the 1911 novel of the same title by Hugh Walpole ...

'' (1948) as Comber * ''

Eureka Stockade The Eureka Rebellion was a series of events involving gold miners who revolted against the British administration of the colony of Victoria, Australia during the Victorian gold rush. It culminated in the Battle of the Eureka Stockade, which ...

'' (1949) as Gov. Hotham * ''

Christopher Columbus Christopher Columbus * lij, Cristoffa C(or)ombo * es, link=no, Cristóbal Colón * pt, Cristóvão Colombo * ca, Cristòfor (or ) * la, Christophorus Columbus. (; born between 25 August and 31 October 1451, died 20 May 1506) was a ...

'' (1949) as Captain * ''

The Interrupted Journey ''The Interrupted Journey'' is a 1949 British thriller film directed by Daniel Birt and starring Valerie Hobson, Richard Todd, Christine Norden and Tom Walls. The railways scenes were shot at Longmoor in Hampshire. The film includes a train c ...

'' (1949) as Inspector Waterson * '' The Reluctant Widow'' (1950) as Scowler * ''

'' (1950) as George Merry * ''

'' (1951) as Tigellinus * '' The Golden Coach'' (1952) as Duc de Castro * ''

Malta Story ''Malta Story'' is a 1953 British war film, directed by Brian Desmond Hurst, which is set during the air defence of Malta during the Siege of Malta in the Second World War. The film uses real and unique footage of the locations at which the ba ...

'' (1953) as Vice Adm Willie Banks * ''

The Master of Ballantrae ''The Master of Ballantrae: A Winter's Tale'' is an 1889 novel by the Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson, focusing upon the conflict between two brothers, Scottish noblemen whose family is torn apart by the Jacobite rising of 1745. He w ...

'' (1953) as Maj. Clarendon * ''

Knights of the Round Table The Knights of the Round Table ( cy, Marchogion y Ford Gron, kw, Marghekyon an Moos Krenn, br, Marc'hegien an Daol Grenn) are the knights of the fellowship of King Arthur in the literary cycle of the Matter of Britain. First appearing in lit ...

'' (1953) as King Marr (uncredited) * ''

Beau Brummell George Bryan "Beau" Brummell (7 June 1778 – 30 March 1840) was an important figure in Regency England and, for many years, the arbiter of men's fashion. At one time, he was a close friend of the Prince Regent, the future King George IV, but ...

'' (1954) as Sir Ralph Sidley * ''

The Night My Number Came Up ''The Night My Number Came Up'' is a 1955 British supernatural drama film directed by Leslie Norman with the screenplay written by R. C. Sherriff. The plot is based on a real incident in the life of British Air Marshal Sir Victor Goddard; his ...

'' (1955) as Wainwright * ''

The Ship That Died of Shame ''The Ship That Died of Shame'', released in the United States as ''PT Raiders'', is a black-and-white 1955 Ealing Studios crime film directed by Basil Dearden and starring George Baker, Richard Attenborough, Roland Culver and Bill Owen. The ...

'' (1955) as Sir Richard * '' Tons of Trouble'' (1956) as Inspector Bridger * ''

The Black Tent ''The Black Tent'' is a 1956 British war film directed by Brian Desmond Hurst and starring Donald Sinden, Anthony Steel (actor), Anthony Steel, Anna Maria Sandri, André Morell and Donald Pleasence. It is set in North Africa, during the Second Wor ...

'' (1956) as Maj. Croft * '' The Man Who Knew Too Much'' (1956) as Inspector Buchanan * ''

Wicked as They Come ''Wicked as They Come'' (''Portrait in Smoke'' in the United States) is a 1956 British film noir directed by Ken Hughes and starring Arlene Dahl, Philip Carey and Herbert Marshall. Plot Poor girl from the slums Katherine Allenbourg trades on ...

'' (1956) as John Dowling * '' The Long Arm'' (1956) as Colonel Blenkinsop * ''

The Silken Affair ''The Silken Affair'' is a 1956 British romantic comedy film directed by Roy Kellino and starring David Niven, Geneviève Page, Wilfrid Hyde-White, Joan Sims, Irene Handl and Ronald Squire. The screenplay concerns an accountant who is creative ...

'' (1956) as Minor Role (uncredited) * ''

The Good Companions ''The Good Companions'' is a novel by the English author J. B. Priestley. Written in 1929, it follows the fortunes of a concert party on a tour of England. It is Priestley's most famous novel and established him as a national figure. It won ...

'' (1957) as Memsford * '' Yangtse Incident: The Story of H.M.S. Amethyst'' (1957) as Vice-Admiral * ''

The Spaniard's Curse ''The Spaniard's Curse'' is a 1958 British thriller film directed by Ralph Kemplen and starring Tony Wright, Lee Patterson, Michael Hordern, Susan Beaumont and Henry Oscar. It was shot at Walton Studios near London with sets designed by the ...

'' (1958) as Sir Robert Wyvern * '' Beyond This Place'' (1959) as Sir Matthew Sprott * '' Ben-Hur'' (1959) as Aide to Tiberius (uncredited) * ''

Under Ten Flags ''Under Ten Flags'' ( it, Sotto dieci bandiere) is a 1960 Italian-American war film directed by Duilio Coletti and starring Van Heflin, Charles Laughton, and Mylène Demongeot. It was entered into the 10th Berlin International Film Festival. ...

'' (1960) as Admiral Benson * ''

Exodus Exodus or the Exodus may refer to: Religion * Book of Exodus, second book of the Hebrew Torah and the Christian Bible * The Exodus, the biblical story of the migration of the ancient Israelites from Egypt into Canaan Historical events * Ex ...

'' (1960) as Colonel * ''

El Cid Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar (c. 1043 – 10 July 1099) was a Castilian knight and warlord in medieval Spain. Fighting with both Christian and Muslim armies during his lifetime, he earned the Arabic honorific ''al-sīd'', which would evolve into El ...

'' (1961) as King Ferdinand * ''

Nicholas and Alexandra ''Nicholas and Alexandra'' is a 1971 British epic film, epic historical drama film directed by Franklin J. Schaffner, from a screenplay written by James Goldman and Edward Bond, based on Robert K. Massie's 1967 Nicholas and Alexandra (book), boo ...

'' (1971) as Rodzianko * ''

Lady Caroline Lamb Lady Caroline Lamb (née Ponsonby; 13 November 1785 – 25 January 1828) was an Anglo-Irish aristocrat and novelist, best known for ''Glenarvon'', a Gothic novel. In 1812 she had an affair with Lord Byron, whom she described as "mad, bad, and ...

'' (1972) as Admiral

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Truman, Ralph 1900 births 1977 deaths English male stage actors English male film actors English male television actors English male radio actors Male actors from London 20th-century English male actors