Richard Ainley (22 December 1910 – 18 May 1967)[1] was a British stage and film actor.

Richard Ainley
Ainley in 1937.
Born(1910-12-22)22 December 1910
Died18 May 1967(1967-05-18) (aged 56)
Years active1936–1943
Spouses
  • Ethel Glendinning
  • Betzi Beaton
  • Rowena Woolf
FatherHenry Ainley
RelativesAnthony Ainley (half-brother)

Biography

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He was born in Middlesex, England, the son of Henry Ainley[2] and a half-brother of Anthony Ainley.

Ainley made his stage debut in 1928, initially using the stage name Richard Riddle,[1] taking his mother's maiden name.[citation needed] His American debut came in Foreigners at the Belasco Theater in 1939.[2]

His first motion picture appearance was in 1936 as Sylvius in As You Like It, in which his father also appeared.[1] Other roles included Ferdinand in the television movie of The Tempest (1939), Dr. Hale in Shining Victory (1941), and a Foreign Office official in the thriller Above Suspicion (1943).

Ainley married three times, firstly to actress Ethel Glendinning. He was divorced from his first two wives; his third wife Rowena Woolf died in 1968.

He retired from film work following a disabling wound received while he was serving in the army[which?] during World War II to return to the stage. He was briefly principal of the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School in the early 1960s.

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1936 As You Like It Sylvius
1937 The Frog Ray Bennett
Our Fighting Navy Lieutenant Uncredited
The Gang Show, aka The Gang Whipple
1938 Old Iron Harry Woodstock
Lily of Laguna Roger Fielding
1939 Stolen Life Morgan
There Ain't No Justice Billy Frist
1940 An Englishman's Home Geoffrey Brown
Lady with Red Hair Lou Payne
1941 Here Comes Happiness Jelliffe Blaine
Knockout Allison
Singapore Woman John Wetherby
Shining Victory Dr. Hale
Bullets for O'Hara McKay Standish
The Smiling Ghost Cousin Tennant Bentley
Passage from Hong Kong Lt. Norman MacNeil-Fraser
1942 White Cargo Mr. Worthing
1943 Three Hearts for Julia Philip Barrows
Du Barry Was a Lady Marching Rebel Behind King Louis Uncredited
Above Suspicion Peter Galt
The Man from Down Under Military Doctor Uncredited
I Dood It Larry West

References

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  1. ^ a b c Erickson, Hal. "Richard Ainley". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 19 May 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Meet Richard Ainley". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. 3 December 1939. p. 35. Retrieved 19 May 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
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