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Ronald Hines
Ronald Hines
Ronald Hines
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Ronald Charles Andrew Hines (20 June 1929 – 28 March 2017) was a British television actor.[1] He had a lengthy career, but possibly his most prominent roles were as Henry Corner in three of the four series of Not in Front of the Children,[2][3] and as William Cecil in Elizabeth R.

Key Information

After graduating from RADA in 1950, Hines started on stage at Stratford, and made many theatrical appearances throughout his career, including at the Royal Court, the Old Vic and the National Theatre.[4][5]

On television, he starred in the 1959–60 sitcom Tell It to the Marines.[6] In 1965 he was a regular on the first series of the BBC oil industry drama The Troubleshooters (then titled Mogul). In 1966, Hines played Eric Redman in the 11th episode of the 5th series of the popular British action adventure The Saint (episode entitled "Paper Chase").[7] He also appeared on Jackanory several times, usually narrating stories about The Wombles.

Hines appeared as John Copeland in the crime drama series The Professionals (episode "The Acorn Syndrome") in 1980.[8] In 1988 he played Home Secretary Henry Matthews in the TV film Jack the Ripper, which starred Michael Caine.[9] He portrayed Hoofd Commissaris Samson in Thames Television's Amsterdam-set detective series Van der Valk (1991–92).[10]

He also appeared in a number of films, starting with Dunkirk, in 1958 and finishing with Rough Cut, in 1980.[11] All his subsequent screen roles were on television rather than in films.

Hines died in Midhurst, West Sussex, England, on 28 March 2017, at the age of 87.[12]

Select filmography

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1958 Dunkirk Miles
1958 The Two-Headed Spy German Corporal
1960 Sink the Bismarck! Officer on Bridge of 'Prince of Wales' Uncredited
1960 The Angry Silence Ball
1961 House of Mystery Young husband
1961 Whistle Down the Wind P.C. Thurstow
1961 Echo of Barbara Mike Roscoe
1963 The Informers Geoff Lewis
1963 The Hi-Jackers Jim Brady
1964 Séance on a Wet Afternoon Policeman Outside Clayton's
1966 The Saint Redman TV series, 1 episode
1971 Elizabeth R William Cecil (Lord Burghley) TV mini-series, 5 episodes
1972 Young Winston Adjutant
1972 Dead of Night Frank Pullar TV series, 1 episode
1973 Take Me High Sam
1980 Rough Cut Capt. Small
1980 Shoestring, The Farmer Had a Wife David Mortimer TV series, 1 episode
1988 Jack the Ripper Henry Matthews
1990 Poirot, The Kidnapped Prime Minister Sir Bernard Dodge TV series, 1 episode
1991 Sherlock Holmes and the Leading Lady Sir Reginald Cholmondley

References

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Ronald Hines

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Ronald Hines (20 June 1929 – 28 March 2017) was a British renowned for his extensive work in , television, and film, particularly in comedic and dramatic roles that highlighted his versatility across decades of British entertainment. Born in , , Hines began his career after training at the , graduating in 1950, and quickly established himself on stage with appearances at and the Royal Court Theatre, while maintaining a parallel career in screen work. His early film appearances included supporting roles in notable productions such as Whistle Down the Wind (1961), where he played P.C. Thurstow in the Bryan Forbes-directed drama, and Dunkirk (1958), contributing to the World War II ensemble cast. Hines achieved prominence in television through a series of memorable performances, most famously as the henpecked husband Henry Corner in the BBC sitcom Not in Front of the Children (1967–1970), which he portrayed in three of its four series alongside Wendy Craig, earning acclaim for capturing the everyday struggles of a 1960s middle-class family. He also starred in the World War II drama We'll Meet Again (1982) as Major Ronald Dereham, a key character navigating wartime tensions, and appeared in the naval comedy Mess Mates (1960) as 'Dapper' Drake, showcasing his range including in period pieces. Later film credits included Young Winston (1972), where he supported the biopic of Winston Churchill as an adjutant, directed by Richard Attenborough. Throughout his career, spanning over 60 credits, Hines contributed to British cultural staples, often embodying relatable everyman figures in both light-hearted and serious narratives, until his death in Midhurst, West Sussex, at age 87.

Early life and education

Birth and family

Ronald Charles Andrew Hines was born on 20 June 1929 in the area of , . Hines grew up in a working-class household, where his father died when he was very young. His mother worked hard to support the family through these hardships, shaping his early experiences in modest circumstances amid 's urban environment. Details on siblings are scarce. This foundational period culminated in his pursuit of dramatic at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), marking a key transition from childhood adversity.

Training

Following the end of , London's theatre scene underwent a gradual recovery from the extensive damage and closures caused by , with West End productions rebounding significantly by the late 1940s—1948 saw the strongest attendance in a decade, fueled by returning audiences and events like the Olympics. Hines, hailing from a working-class background in , pursued formal to enter the profession. Hines enrolled at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), one of Britain's premier institutions for actor training, where the curriculum emphasized foundational skills essential for stage work in the post-war era. He trained alongside fellow aspiring actors in this cohort, benefiting from RADA's collaborative atmosphere that fostered and critique under experienced faculty. He completed his studies successfully, graduating with the RADA Diploma in Acting in 1950.

Career

Theatre

Ronald Hines began his professional stage career shortly after graduating from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in 1950, making his debut at the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre in during the 1951 season. He appeared in supporting roles in Shakespeare's history plays, including the Carrier in and Bullcalf in , both directed by as part of a celebrated cycle that revitalized post-war Shakespearean productions at the venue. These early ensemble appearances showcased his ability to contribute to large-scale classical revivals, establishing a foundation for his work in British theatre. Throughout the 1950s, Hines performed with esteemed companies such as and the Old Vic, where he took on varied roles in both Shakespearean and non-Shakespearean works. At the , he appeared in productions like (1953–1954 season) and (1954), often in ensemble capacities that highlighted his reliability in classical repertory. With the Old Vic, he played Angus in and participated in (1954–1955), further demonstrating his versatility in tragic and pastoral Shakespearean contexts. He also featured in George Bernard Shaw's Caesar and Cleopatra (1956) at the , blending with his emerging character-acting strengths. Hines's theatre career extended into the 1970s and 1980s with engagements at the Royal Court Theatre and the National Theatre, where he tackled both classic and contemporary plays. At the Royal Court, he portrayed George Tesman in Henrik Ibsen's (1972), an adaptation by that emphasized domestic tensions in a modern psychological framework. With the National Theatre, he appeared in David Hare's A Map of the World (1983) at the Lyttelton Theatre and as Busiris in Jean Giraudoux's (also 1983), contributing to politically charged ensemble pieces. Other notable later roles included Dan in Don Taylor's The Exorcism (1975) and Father Hooligan in Syd Cheatle's Straight Up (1980s), underscoring his adaptability across genres over four decades.

Television

Ronald Hines began his television career in 1958, appearing in the ITV anthology series as Charles Hatley in the episode "The Report on Jessie Dean." Over the following years, he built his presence through roles in early anthology dramas and sitcoms, establishing himself as a reliable in British . Hines achieved a breakthrough with his portrayal of the mild-mannered husband Henry Corner in the BBC sitcom Not in Front of the Children (1967–1970), appearing in three of the four series opposite as his wife Mary. The series, which depicted the everyday trials of a middle-class , showcased Hines's skill in understated and domestic nuance. In 1971, he took on a more dramatic role as William Cecil, Lord Burghley, the shrewd advisor to Queen Elizabeth I, appearing in five episodes of the acclaimed BBC historical miniseries , starring . Later in his career, Hines continued to diversify his television work with authoritative figures in period and crime dramas. He played Henry Matthews in the 1988 ITV miniseries , a production that dramatized the infamous . Guest spots highlighted his range, including the role of Copeland in the 1980 episode "The Acorn Syndrome" of the action series The Professionals. He also portrayed Hoofd Commissaris Samson, the police chief, in the fourth and fifth series of the ITV detective show (1991–1992). Across his extensive television output for the and ITV, Hines excelled as a versatile , bringing depth to supporting roles in comedies, historical epics, and thrillers that spanned over four decades.

Ronald Hines made his screen debut in the 1958 war film , directed by Leslie Norman, where he portrayed Private Miles, a supporting soldier in the dramatization of the 1940 evacuation of British forces from . His early film work often featured uncredited or minor military roles in British productions, reflecting the period's focus on historical and wartime narratives. In 1960, Hines appeared in the war epic Sink the Bismarck!, directed by , as the uncredited Officer on the Bridge of the 'Prince of Wales', contributing to the ensemble cast depicting the Royal Navy's pursuit of the German battleship. He gained a more prominent supporting role in 1961's Whistle Down the Wind, a crime drama directed by , playing P.C. Thurstow, a local policeman investigating a case involving children who mistake a fugitive for , opposite young star . This performance highlighted his ability to portray authoritative yet sympathetic figures in family-oriented thrillers. Hines continued with character parts in genre-spanning British films, including the 1964 psychological thriller Seance on a Wet Afternoon, directed by , where he played a policeman outside Clayton's, supporting leads and in a story of a medium's descent into crime. Later, in the 1972 biographical drama , directed by , he took on the role of in the 35th , adding to the film's depiction of Winston Churchill's early military career. His filmography culminated in comedic territory with (1980), a directed by , in which he portrayed Capt. Small amid stars and . Though primarily known for , Hines's small-screen success occasionally bridged to cinematic roles, allowing him to amass around 20 film credits, predominantly supporting character parts in British productions across , , and thriller genres. One later appearance was in the 1987 TV movie Pack of Lies, directed by Anthony Page, where he played Bob Jackson in a tense tale with a cinematic scope, opposite .

Personal life and death

Family

Ronald Hines married Clements, a former Tiller Girl dancer, and the couple had three children: daughters and , and son Rupert. The family resided in during Hines's early career before relocating to Tatsfield in in the 1970s, and later to in , where they spent his later years. A significant family event from his childhood was the death of his father when Hines was very young.

Death

Ronald Hines died on 28 March 2017 in , , , at the age of 87. The was not publicly disclosed. He passed away at his home on 52 Barlavington Way in , where he had resided in his later years following a career primarily based in .

References

  1. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0385711/
  2. https://www.themoviedb.org/person/153148-ronald-hines
  3. https://www.whosdatedwho.com/dating/ronald-hines
  4. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/ronald_hines
  5. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061283/
  6. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0385711/trivia/
  7. https://mcmweb.co.uk/tvtimes/1977/Feb%205th%201977%20NFPA.pdf
  8. https://www.rada.ac.uk/profiles/ronald-hines/
  9. https://officiallondontheatre.com/news/1948-1957-98395/
  10. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/theatre/what-to-see/blitz-changed-british-theatre-forever/
  11. https://www.rada.ac.uk/about-us/rada-through-archive-120/
  12. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0385711/otherworks/
  13. https://theatricalia.com/play/1s/henry-iv-part-2/production/ww
  14. https://www.abouttheartists.com/productions/88615-henry-iv-part-1-at-shakespeare-memorial-theatre-april-3-1951
  15. https://www.theatricalia.co.uk/03vic/vic49-56.htm
  16. https://www.dresscircle.co.uk/people/ronald-hines-78
  17. https://theatricalia.com/play/t/macbeth/production/x5
  18. https://theatricalia.com/play/1v/the-winters-tale/production/8t3
  19. https://theatricalia.com/play/9k/hedda-gabler/production/akx
  20. https://theatricalia.com/play/7m9/a-map-of-the-world/production/pve
  21. http://www.haroldpinter.org/directing/directing_trojan.shtml
  22. https://theatricalia.com/play/g6v/the-exorcism/production/11nb
  23. https://theatricalia.com/play/g72/straight-up/production/11t2
  24. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0863230/
  25. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001zyvy
  26. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066652/
  27. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0679336/
  28. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054310/fullcredits/
  29. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/whistle_down_the_wind/cast-and-crew
  30. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/seance_on_a_wet_afternoon/cast-and-crew
  31. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/rough_cut/cast-and-crew
  32. https://www.filmaffinity.com/us/name.php?name-id=509034126
  33. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/pack_of_lies
  34. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0385711/bio/
  35. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/notice/2813061
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