Editing Robin Ray (section)

==Early life==
Born Robin Olden in [[Fulham]], London on 17 September 1934, he was the eldest son of Charles Olden, later known as the comedian [[Ted Ray (comedian)|Ted Ray]], and the dancer Dorothy Sybil Stevens.<ref name="odnb">{{Cite ODNB|last=T. Stearn|first=Roger|id=71286|title=Ray, Robin [real name Robin Olden]|orig-date=23 September 2004|date=3 October 2013}}</ref> His younger brother, [[Andrew Ray|Andrew]], also became an actor.<ref name="odnb" /> At age 10, Ray received records of [[Franz Schubert]]'s [[Symphony No. 8 (Schubert)|Unfinished Symphony]] and [[Ludwig van Beethoven]]'s [[Piano Sonata No. 14 (Beethoven)|Piano Sonata No. 14]] from his father and briefly harboured aspirations of becoming a classical conductor.<ref name="DTObituary">{{cite news |date=30 November 1998 |title=Robin Ray |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-telegraph-robin-ray-obituary/155414966/ |access-date=16 September 2024 |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |page=23 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> 

From the age of 15,<ref name="LDP1970Profile">{{cite news |last=Pulson |first=Diana |date=7 October 1970 |title=Making success an old family tradition |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/liverpool-daily-post-merseyside-ed-ma/155455808/ |access-date=17 September 2024 |work=[[Liverpool Daily Post]] |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> he also wanted to become a concert pianist after an unsuccessful venture with the violin until he realised his lack of skill.<ref name="odnb" /><ref name=":0" /> Ray was taught at [[Highgate School]] in [[North London]] and decided to enrol at the [[Royal Academy of Dramatic Art]] (RADA) after his brother began working as an actor.<ref name="DTObituary" /><ref name="GuardianObit">{{cite news |last=Barker |first=Dennis |date=30 November 1998 |title=Robin Ray – Love affair with music |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-guardian-obituary-for-robin-ray/155414888/ |access-date=16 September 2024 |work=[[The Guardian]] |page=15 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> He did his national service in the [[Royal Army Service Corps]] and rose to the rank of second lieutenant.<ref name="odnb" />