Ralph Truman

Known for ActingBorn 1900-05-07Died 1977-10-15London, England, UK

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 / [email protected]Read more

Movies & web series

Papworth Village Settlement

Partners Please

Change for a Sovereign

The Case of Gabriel Perry

The Main Chance

Ben-Hur

Captain Bill

The Bells

The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes

Oliver Twist

Mr. Perrin and Mr. Traill

The Man Who Knew Too Much

The Laughing Lady

Danger Man

Yangtse Incident: The Story of H.M.S. Amethyst

The Ship That Died of Shame

Nicholas and Alexandra

The Golden Coach

Quo Vadis

The Good Companions

The Long Arm

Mr. Cohen Takes a Walk

The Night My Number Came Up

El Cid

The Perfect Flaw

Exodus

The Man Within

The Reluctant Widow

Mrs. Fitzherbert

Beware of Pity

Henry V

Secret Lives

Beau Brummell

Treasure Island

South Riding

The Black Tent

Sabotage at Sea

Malta Story

The Butler's Dilemma

The Seventh Survivor

The Challenge

Lisbon Story

Lady Caroline Lamb

Black Eyes

Fire Over England

Eureka Stockade

The Drum

The Master of Ballantrae