Comedy veteran Ronnie Stevens dies at 81

Published Monday 13 November 2006 at 16:10

Veteran British comedy actor Ronnie Stevens has died aged 81.

The Peckham-born star began his career in West End revues during fifties and went on to play comic roles in a host of films including I’m Alright Jack (1958) with Peter Sellers, Dentist in the Chair (1960) with Bob Monkhouse, and he was one of the many comic talents on board in Carry On Crusing (1962). More recently he co-starred with Dennis Quaid in the 1998 remake of The Parent Trap.

In the seventies he was a leading member of the Prospect Theatre Company and played the Fool in King Lear and Sir Nathaniel in Love’s Labours Lost. He was also a founder member with Ian McKellen of The Actor’s Company.

His many television credits included Goodnight Sweetheart, As Times Goes By, Rumpole of the Bailey and Hetty Wainthrop Investigates.

He died in Denville Hall, the actor’s retirement home in Northwood, Middlesex, on November 11, 2006.