Editing Ronald Howard (British actor)

{{Short description|British actor (1918–1996)}}
{{more citations needed|date=June 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2012}}
{{Infobox person
| honorific_prefix          = 
| name                      = Ronald Howard
| honorific_suffix          = 
| image                     = Ronald Howard 1967.jpg
| alt                       = Ronald Howard in 1967
| caption                   = Howard as [[Cowboy in Africa|Wing Commander Hayes]], 1967.
| birth_date                = {{Birth date|df=yes|1918|4|7}}
| birth_place               = [[South Norwood|Norwood]], [[London]], England
| death_date                = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1997|12|19|1918|4|7}}
| death_place               = [[Bridport]], [[Dorset]], England
| resting_place             = 
| resting_place_coordinates = <!-- {{Coord|LAT|LONG|type:landmark|display=inline}} -->
| nationality               = British
| citizenship               = 
| alma_mater                = [[Jesus College, Cambridge]]
| occupation                = Actor
| years_active              = 1936–1975 
| known_for                 = 
| notable_works             = [[Sherlock Holmes (1954 TV series)]]
| spouse                    = {{ubl|{{marriage|Patricia Horsman|1941|1945}}|{{marriage|Jean Millar|1946}}}}
| children                  = 
| parents                   = [[Leslie Howard]] (father)<br>Ruth Evelyn Martin (mother)
| relatives                 = [[Arthur Howard]] (uncle)<br>[[Irene Howard]] (aunt)<br>[[Alan Howard (actor)|Alan Howard]] (cousin)
| awards                    = 
| website                   = <!-- {{URL|www.example.com}} -->
| footnotes                 = 
}}

'''Ronald Howard''' (7 April 1918{{snd}}19 December 1997) was an English actor and writer. He appeared as [[Sherlock Holmes]] in a weekly television series of [[Sherlock Holmes (1954 TV series)|the same name]] in 1954. He was the son of the actor [[Leslie Howard]].

==Early life and education==
Ronald Howard was born on 7 April 1918 in [[South Norwood]], [[London]],<ref name=bfi>{{cite web|url=http://explore.bfi.org.uk/4ce2b9f09096a|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120714084001/http://explore.bfi.org.uk/4ce2b9f09096a|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-07-14|title=Ronald Howard|work=BFI}}</ref> the son of actor [[Leslie Howard]] and Ruth Evelyn (née Martin).{{cn|date=December 2024}} 

He attended [[Tonbridge School]]. After graduating from [[Jesus College, Cambridge]], Howard became a newspaper reporter for a while, but then decided to become an actor.{{cn|date=December 2024}}

==Film career==
His first movie role was an uncredited [[bit part]] in ''[[Pimpernel Smith]]'' (1941), a film directed by and starring his father in the title role, though young Howard's part ended up on the [[cutting room floor]]. In the early 1940s, Howard gained acting experience in regional theatre, the [[London]] stage and eventually films; his official debut was in 1947's ''[[While the Sun Shines]]''.{{cn|date=December 2024}} Howard received varying degrees of exposure in some well-known films, such as ''[[The Queen of Spades (1949 film)|The Queen of Spades]]'' (1949) and ''[[The Browning Version (1951 film)|The Browning Version]]'' (1951). Howard played [[Will Scarlet]] in the episode of the same name of the 1950s British television classic ''[[The Adventures of Robin Hood (TV series)|The Adventures of Robin Hood]]'' starring [[Richard Greene]]. The character of Scarlet was later portrayed by [[Paul Eddington]].{{cn|date=December 2024}}

The 1954 ''[[Sherlock Holmes (1954 TV series)|Sherlock Holmes]]'' television series, based on the [[Arthur Conan Doyle]] characters and produced by [[Sheldon Reynolds (producer)|Sheldon Reynolds]], ran for 39 episodes starring Howard as [[Sherlock Holmes|Holmes]] and [[Howard Marion-Crawford]] as [[Doctor Watson|Watson]]. In addition to 21st century DVD releases, in 2006 and 2014 this series was broadcast in the UK on the satellite channel Bonanza, before being repeated in May 2021 on [[Talking Pictures TV]].{{cn|date=December 2024}}

Howard continued mainly in British "B" films throughout the 1950s and 1960s, most notably ''[[The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb]]'' (1964), along with a few plum television guest roles in British and American television in the 1960s, including the TV series, ''[[Combat!]]'' s.2 ep.25: "What Are the Bugles Blowin' For?" - Pt.1 & 2 (1964) [[Wing Commander (rank)|Wing Commander]] Hayes in the 1967 ''[[Cowboy in Africa]]'' TV show with [[Chuck Connors]] and [[Tom Nardini]]; two episodes of Boris Karloff's TV series ''Thriller'', S1 E23 "Well of Doom" and S2 E5 "God Grante that She Lye Stille" (both 1961). Of his career in [[B movies|British B films]] the film historians Steve Chibnall and [[Brian McFarlane (writer)|Brian McFarlane]] wrote, "Despite his blond good looks (and resemblance to his father) and his agreeable demeanour, he lacked genuine star quality."<ref>Steve Chibnall & [[Brian McFarlane (writer)|Brian McFarlane]], ''The British 'B' Film'', Palgrave Macmillan, London, 2009, p. 176.</ref>

Additionally in 1960 he appeared in the television series ''[[Danger Man]]'' in the episode entitled "The Traitor" as Noel Goddard.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Danger Man - The Traitor |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0553807/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250305203954/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0553807/ |archive-date=March 5, 2025 |access-date=March 5, 2025 |website=IMDb}}</ref>

In the mid-1970s, he reluctantly put aside his acting career to run an art gallery.{{cn|date=December 2024}}

==''In Search of My Father''==
In the 1980s he wrote ''In Search of My Father: A Portrait of Leslie Howard'', a biography covering the career and mysterious death of his father, whose [[BOAC Flight 777|plane was shot down over the Bay of Biscay]] on 1 June 1943. His conclusion (which remains in dispute) was that the Germans' goal in shooting down the plane was to kill his father, who was Jewish and who had been travelling through Spain and Portugal, ostensibly lecturing on film, but also meeting with local activists and shoring up support for the [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] cause.<ref name="ron">Howard, Ronald. In Search of My Father: A Portrait of Leslie Howard. London: St. Martin's Press, 1984; {{ISBN|0-312-41161-8}}.</ref>

The Nazis suspected surreptitious activities since German agents were active throughout Spain and Portugal, which, like Switzerland, was a crossroads for persons from both sides of the conflict, but even more accessible to Allied citizens.<ref>[http://lesliehowardsociety.multiply.com "Leslie Howard."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101024013919/http://lesliehowardsociety.multiply.com/ |date=24 October 2010 }} ''lesliehowardsociety.multiply.com''; Retrieved 22 July 2010.</ref>

The book explores in detail written German orders to the Ju 88 ''Staffel'' based in France which was assigned to intercept the aircraft, as well as communiqués on the British side that verify intelligence reports of the time indicating a deliberate attack on Howard.<ref name="ron"/> Ronald Howard was convinced that the order to shoot down the airliner came directly from [[Joseph Goebbels]], the [[Nazi]] [[Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda|Minister of Propaganda]], who had been ridiculed in one of Leslie Howard's films, and who believed him to be the most dangerous British propagandist.<ref name="ron"/>

==Personal life==
Howard married Patricia Horsman in 1941, which ended in divorce in 1945. He married Jean Millar in 1946.{{cn|date=December 2024}}<!---from infobox--->

==Death==
He died on 19 December 1997 in Dorset.<ref name=bfi/>

==Filmography==

===Television===

{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* ''[[Sherlock Holmes (1954 TV series)|Sherlock Holmes]]'' (1954) - Sherlock Holmes
* ''[[The Adventures of Robin Hood (TV series)|The Adventures of Robin Hood]]'' (1955) (Two episodes)) -  Will Scarlet two episodes)
* ''[[The Adventures of Aggie]]'' (1956) (Season 1, episode 6: "The Chiseller") - Heinrich
* ''[[Mary Britten, M.D.]]'' (1958) - Stephen Britten
* ''[[Alfred Hitchcock Presents]]'' (1959) (Season 5, episode 13: "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge") - Peyton Farquhar
* ''[[Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond|One Step Beyond]]'' (1960) (Season 2, episode 25 "The Haunting") - Colin Chandler
* ''[[Alfred Hitchcock Presents]]'' (1961) (Season 6, episode 33: "A Secret Life") - James Howgill
* ''[[Combat!]]'' (1964) (Season 2, episodes 25 and 26 "What Are the Bugles Blowin'For?" pt 1 and pt 2) - Captain Johns
* ''[[Run a Crooked Mile]]'' (1969, TV Movie) - Inspector Huntington
{{div col end}}

===Film===
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* ''[[Romeo and Juliet (1936 film)|Romeo and Juliet]]'' (1936) - Minor Secondary Role (uncredited)
* ''[["Pimpernel" Smith]]'' (1941) - Minor Role (uncredited)
* ''[[While the Sun Shines]]'' (1947) - Earl of Harpenden
* ''[[Night Beat (1947 film)|Night Beat]]'' (1947) - Andy Kendall
* ''[[My Brother Jonathan]]'' (1948) - Harold Dakers
* ''[[Bond Street (film)|Bond Street]]'' (1948) - Steve Winter
* ''[[The Queen of Spades (1949 film)|The Queen of Spades]]'' (1949) - Andrei
* ''[[Now Barabbas]]'' (1949) - Roberts Bank Cashier
* ''[[Double Confession]]'' (1950) - Hilary Boscombe
* ''[[Portrait of Clare (film)|Portrait of Clare]]'' (1950) - Ralph Hingston
* ''[[Flesh and Blood (1951 film)|Flesh and Blood]]'' (1951) - Purley
* ''[[The Browning Version (1951 film)|The Browning Version]]'' (1951) - Gilbert
* ''[[Assassin for Hire]]'' (1951) - Detective Inspector Carson
* ''[[Night Was Our Friend]]'' (1951) - John Harper
* ''[[Wide Boy (film)|Wide Boy]]'' (1952) - Inspector Carson
* ''[[Black Orchid (1953 film)|Black Orchid]]'' (1953) - Dr. John Winnington
* ''[[Street Corner (1953 film)|Street Corner]]'' (1953) (aka ''Both Sides of the Law'') - David Evans
* ''[[Noose for a Lady]]'' (1953) - Dr. Evershed
* ''[[Glad Tidings (film)|Glad Tidings]]'' (1953) - Corporal Brayne R.A.F.
* ''[[Flannelfoot]]'' (1953) - Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald
* ''[[The Hideout (1956 film)|The Hideout]]'' (1956) - Robert Grant
* ''[[Drango]]'' (1957) - Clay Allen
* ''[[Light Fingers]]'' (1957) - Michael Lacey
* ''[[The House in the Woods (1957 film)|The House in the Woods]]'' (1957) - Spencer Rowland
* ''[[I Accuse!]]'' (1958) - Captain Avril
* ''[[Gideon's Day (film)|Gideon's Day]]'' (1958) - Paul Delafield
* ''[[Moment of Indiscretion]]'' (1958) - John Miller
* ''[[No Trees in the Street]]'' (1959) - Detective Sergeant Frank Collins
* ''[[Babette Goes to War]]'' (1959) - Fitzpatrick
* ''[[Man Accused]]'' (1959) - Bob Jenson
* ''[[The Malpas Mystery]]'' - Dick Shannon
* ''[[The Spider's Web (1960 film)|The Spider's Web]]'' (1960) - Jeremy
* ''[[Compelled]]'' (1960) - Paul Adams
* ''[[The Monster of Highgate Ponds]]'' (1961) - Uncle Dick
* ''[[The Naked Edge]]'' (1961) - Mr. Claridge
* ''[[Come September]]'' (1961) - Spencer
* ''[[Murder She Said]]'' (1961) - Eastley
* ''[[Fate Takes a Hand]]'' (1961) - Tony
* ''[[The Spanish Sword]]'' (1962) - Sir Richard Clovell
* ''[[Skin Game]]'' (1962) - Inspector Gordon
* ''[[Live Now, Pay Later]]'' (1962) - Cedric Mason
* ''[[Nurse on Wheels]]'' (1963) - Dr. Harold Golfrey
* ''[[The Bay of St Michel]]'' (1963) - Bill Webb
* ''[[Siege of the Saxons]]'' (1963) - Edmund
* ''[[Bomb in the High Street]]'' (1963) - Captain Manning
* ''[[The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb]]'' (1964) - John Bray
* ''[[Weekend at Dunkirk]]'' (1964) - Robinson
* ''[[You Must Be Joking! (1965 film)|You Must be Joking]]'' (1965) - Cecil
* ''[[Africa Texas Style]]'' (1967) - Hugo Copp
* ''[[The Hunting Party (1971 film)|The Hunting Party]]'' (1971) - Watt Nelson
* ''[[Persecution (film)|Persecution]]'' (1974) - Dr. Ross
* ''[[Take a Hard Ride]]'' (1975) - Halsey (final film role)
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* ''In Search of My Father: A Portrait of Leslie Howard'', {{ISBN|0-312-41161-8}}
* ''Trivial Fond Records - Leslie Howard'' (editor), {{ISBN|0-7183-0418-7}}

==External links==
*{{commonscat-inline}}
*{{IMDb name|397580|Ronald Howard}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Howard, Ronald}}
[[Category:1918 births]]
[[Category:1997 deaths]]
[[Category:Alumni of Jesus College, Cambridge]]
[[Category:English male film actors]]
[[Category:English male stage actors]]
[[Category:English male television actors]]
[[Category:English people of Hungarian-Jewish descent]]
[[Category:Actors from the London Borough of Croydon]]
[[Category:People educated at Tonbridge School]]
[[Category:20th-century English male actors]]
[[Category:Male actors from London]]
[[Category:People from South Norwood]]