Ralph William John Brown[1](born 18 June 1957)[1]is an English actor and writer, known for playing Danny the drug dealer inWithnail and I,[2]the security guard Aaron (a.k.a. "85" ) inAlien 3,DJ Bob Silver inThe Boat That RockedakaPirate Radio,super-roadie Del Preston inWayne's World 2,the pilot Ric Olié inStar Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace,[3]andHenry ClintoninTurn: Washington's Spies.He won the Samuel Beckett Award for his first playSanctuarywritten forJoint Stock Theatre Companyin 1987, and the Raindance and Sapporo Film Festival awards for his first screenplay for the British filmNew Year's Dayin 2001.
Ralph Brown | |
|---|---|
 Brown on 26 March 2009 | |
| Born | Ralph William John Brown 18 June 1957 |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1982–present |
| Spouse | |
| Website | twitter |
Early life
editBrown was born inCambridge,the son of Heather R. and John F. W. Brown. He has two younger brothers, Paul and Andrew. He lived inPortsmouth,Hampshireuntil the age of seven, then moved toEast Sussexwhere he attendedLewes Priory School.He graduated from theLondon School of Economics and Political Sciencewith aBachelor of Laws(LLB) in 1979.
Career
editFilms
editHis film roles include Dil's on-off boyfriend Dave in theAcademy Award-winning filmThe Crying Game,Danny the drug dealer inWithnail & I,Great Train RobberRonnie BiggsinBuster,roadie Del Preston inWayne's World 2,teacher andrugby leagueplayer Phil inUp 'n' Under,prison guard captain Mr Burton inMean Machine,Sgt Major Harris in thePaul SchraderfilmDominion: Prequel to the Exorcist,andCIArenegade Mr Collins alongsideWesley SnipesinThe Contractor.In 1997, Brown appeared inSteven Spielberg'sslaveryepicAmistad.In 2007, he was cast inCaught in the Act,an independent British film. Brown starred as DJ Bob Silver inThe Boat That RockedakaPirate Radio(2009), written and directed byRichard Curtis,Hugedirected byBen Miller(2009),The Kid(2010), directed byNick Moran,Mission: London,a Bulgarian comedy directed by Dimitar Mitoviski which premiered inSofiaon 13 April 2010, andSus(2010), written byBarrie Keeffeand directed by Robert Heath. He worked on the filmKilling Bono(2010) and the feature filmDark Tide(2010) inCape Town,oppositeHalle Berry,I, Anna(2011) withGabriel ByrneandCharlotte Rampling,then went on to work onTower Block(2012) in London,Jack the Giant Slayer(2013) directed byBryan Singer,andStoker(2013) inNashville,directed byPark Chan-wook.In 2018 he appeared inFinal ScorewithDave Bautista,directed byScott Mann,aboutWest Ham United's now-abandonedBoleyn Ground.He worked withWill SmithinAng Lee'sGemini Man(2019).
Television
editAmong TV appearances, Brown appeared as PC Pete Muswell inThe Billfrom 1985 to 1986;[4]guest starred as Captain Carlisle inA Touch of Frostin 1996; appeared inDennis Potter'sKaraokein 1995; portrayedPrince Johnin the BBC's adaptation ofSir Walter Scott'sIvanhoein 1997; appeared as John Geddes in the ITV post-apocalyptic drama serialThe Last Train;appeared as the moustachioed policeman Wintersgill in theChannel 4/ShowtimeseriesCape Wrath;and did a memorable turn as shaven-headed gang-boss "Miami Vice" in the 2000 seriesLock, Stock...The Series.
In 2005, he appeared inCoronation Streetas Barney, roadie toStatus Quo,and withJulia Davisin the cult TV sitcomNighty Nightas perverted new-age sex therapist Jacques. In 2007, he appeared in the final two episodes ofLife on Marsas Frank Morgan, an interim DCI in 1973 sequences, and Sam's (John Simm's) surgeon in 2006 sequences.[5]
Brown playedSarah Solemani's father inHim & Her,which began airing in 2010 and continued through 2014 forBBC Threecomedy, winning a BAFTA for the final series, "The Wedding." In 2012, he worked onInspector George GentlywithMartin Shaw,The Poison Treefor ITV, andThe Mimicfor C4. In 2013, he worked on the abortedMarvin GayefilmSexual Healingdirected byJulian Temple,and the ABC seriesThe AssetsinVilnius,Lithuania. In 2014, he was cast inBabylonfor C4 andElementaryforCBS,followed byTURN: Washington's SpiesforAMC,playingGeneral Sir Henry Clinton,leader of the redcoats. Brown returned for seasons 3 and 4 of the series. He also playedJohann Fennhoff / Ivchenko,inAgent CarterforMarvel,[6]and guest starred onBlacklist.
In 2015 Brown starred in all ten episodes ofLegends[7]withSean Bean,with whom he had worked onExtremely Dangerousin the early 1990s. In 2016-17 he returned toPraguewith showrunnerKen Billerto shootGenius: EinsteinforNat Geo,which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in April 2017.
In June 2016, Brown played the role ofBob Clayin the BBC filmReg.[8]
In September 2017 Brown travelled toGuadeloupefor a guest role in the BBC showDeath In Paradise.
In 2021, Brown portrayed former U.S. PresidentLyndon Johnsonin two episodes ofGodfather of Harlem,a series on EPIX which explores the intersection between the criminal underworld and civil rights movement in the 1960s.[9]
Theatre
editIn his early years, Brown was involved with the Moving Parts Theatre Company with Rachel Feldberg,Ruth Mackenzie,Anita Lewton, and Saffron Myers.John GodberadaptedA Clockwork Orangefor Man In The Moon, King's Road, then Brown appeared inWestwritten & directed bySteven Berkoffat theDonmarfor five months (also shot for C4), followed byRoyal Court Theatre'sPanic,Joint Stock'sDeadlines,TheRSC'sEarwigbyPaula Milne,and TheEverymanin Liverpool playing the title role inMacbeth.He retired from the stage shortly thereafter, and returned briefly 20 years later at TheBush Theatreto play guitar in punk playThe Dysfunkshonalzby writerMike Packer.After only appearing in one play in 30 years Brown joined the company ofThe Ferrymanon Broadway in February 2019[10]which won four Tony Awards for Best Play, Best Director, Best Set Design and Best Costume. Brown starred as IRA Commander Jimmy Muldoon inThe Ferryman,which played at theBernard B. Jacobs Theatrefrom 19 February until 7 July 2019.
As a writer
editRalph Brown wrote the playSanctuaryforJoint Stock Theatre Companyin 1987 which toured the UK and won theSamuel Beckett Awardin 1987 for best first play.
The No-Neck Monsters Theatre Company brought the playwright and actor to Washington, D.C. from London to adapt his 1987 Samuel Beckett Award-winning new playSanctuary.[11]Re-written as a rap musical for the "No Necks", the show became a successful and controversial production capturing homelessness, runaways and crack hitting the streets of D.C. Scott Davenport Richards wrote the music for the rap musical and it was directed byGwendolyn Wynne.[11]The first rap musical in the regionThe Washington Post, NPR, American Theatre MagazineandMcNeil/Lehrer Newshouramongst others reported on the production.[12]The production was nominated for three Helen Hayes Awards:[13]Outstanding Resident Musical, Outstanding Lead Actress (Deidre L. Johnson) in a Resident Musical, and Outstanding Sound Design. Performers featured were Teagle F. Bougere, Erik Todd Dellums, Paul G. Griffin, Deidra L. Johnson, Helen Patton and Barbara Robinson.
Writing
editBrown has written two plays, bothrapmusicals:Sanctuaryfor Joint Stock Theatre Company (Samuel Beckett Award1987), adapted for the stage inWashington, D.C.,asSanctuary D.C.produced by No-Neck Monsters Theatre Company (three nominations forHelen Hayes Award1988). His second playThe House That Crack Builthas never beenproduced.
Brown wrote thescreenplayfor the filmNew Year's Daydirected bySuri Krishnammain 1999, released in 2001 after screening atSundance Film Festivaland winningRaindance Film Festivalaward in 2001 and Sapporo Film Festival in the same year.
Brown also wrote the screenplays for the abandoned filmsRed Light Runners,High TimesandIn God's Footsteps.
He was a regular contributor to the Readers Recommend music blog inThe Guardian,now at Song-Bar.com
Social media
editBrown joinedTwitterin November 2008.[14]His blog is titledMy Pop Life.
Personal life
editBrown has been married to actressJenny Julessince 1992.[citation needed]He lives inNew York Cityand is a lifelong fan ofBrighton and Hove Albion.WhenAttila the Stockbrokerwas the club's DJ at theWithdean Stadium,he put together a version ofSussex by the Seawhich featured Brown onsaxophoneand was played at home matches.[15]
Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | The Merry Wives of Windsor | John | TV film |
| 1984 | The Hit | Second Man | |
| 1985-1986 | The Bill | P.C. Pete Muswell | 11 episodes |
| 1986 | London's Burning: The Movie | Second Policeman | TV film |
| 1987 | Withnail & I | Danny | |
| 1988 | Screenplay | Insp. Drury | 1 episode |
| Buster | Ronnie Biggs | ||
| Christabel | Lange | TV mini-series 1 episode | |
| 1989 | Scandal | Paul Mann | |
| Rules of Engagement | Mick Rendall | TV mini-series 5 episodes | |
| Diamond Skulls | Jack | ||
| 1990 | Mistress of Suspense | Detective Inspector Rollason | 1 episode |
| 1991 | 4 Play | Archie Heckle | 1 episode |
| Impromptu | Eugène Delacroix | ||
| The Pope Must Die | Doctor | ||
| 1992 | Van der Valk | Inspector Rep | 1 episode |
| Alien 3 | Francis Aaron ( "85" ) | ||
| The Crying Game | Dave | ||
| The Ruth Rendell Mysteries | Peter Mullin | 1 episode | |
| 1993 | Undercover Blues | Leamington | |
| Between the Lines | D.A.C. John Convey | 1 episode | |
| Wayne's World 2 | Del Preston | ||
| 1994 | Don't Get Me Started | Larry Swift | |
| Requiem Apache | Mick | TV film | |
| 1995 | Devil's Advocate | Demagio | TV film |
| 1996 | A Touch of Frost | Captain Carlisle | 1 episode |
| Dalziel and Pascoe | Sam Connon | 1 episode | |
| Karaoke | Peter Beasley | 1 episode | |
| Cold Lazarus | Peter Beasley | 1 episode | |
| 1997 | The Place of the Dead | Sgt Bob Mann | TV film |
| Ivanhoe | Prince John | TV mini-series 6 episodes | |
| Jonathan Creek | Roy Pilgrim | 1 episode | |
| Amistad | Lieutenant Gedney | ||
| 1998 | Up 'n' Under | Phil | |
| A Respectable Trade | Dr. Hadley | TV mini-series 2 episodes | |
| 1999 | Peak Practice | Stephen Westwood | 1 episode |
| The Last Train | Jonathan Geddes | 2 episodes | |
| Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace | Ric Olié | ||
| Cleopatra | Guevarius | TV mini-series 2 episodes | |
| Extremely Dangerous | Joe Connor | 4 episodes | |
| 2000 | Lexx | Duke | 4 episodes |
| New Year's Day | Mr. Diamond | Also writer | |
| Lock, Stock... | Miami Vice | 7 episodes | |
| 2001 | NCS: Manhunt | Ray du Barriatte | TV film |
| The Grimleys | Frankie Fate | 1 episode | |
| Waking the Dead | Mike Coleman | 2 episodes | |
| Last Run | Simon | ||
| Mean Machine | Burton | ||
| 2002 | Julius Caesar | Xanthus | |
| NCS: Manhunt | Ray du Barriatte | 5 episodes | |
| A Tribute to the Likely Lads | Gary | TV film | |
| The Final Curtain | Timothy (Channel Controller) | ||
| 2003 | The Agency | Andrei Kachan | 1 episode |
| I'll Be There | Digger | ||
| 2004 | Exorcist: The Beginning | Sergeant Major | |
| Lawless | Phil Howell | TV film | |
| 2005 | Big Dippers | Dave | TV film |
| Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist | Sergeant Major | ||
| Puritan | Mickey Conway | ||
| Stoned | Gysin | ||
| Nighty Night | Jacques | 6 episodes | |
| Spooks | Paul Seymour | 1 episode | |
| Coronation Street | Barney | 6 episodes | |
| 2006 | Cattle Drive | Truesdale | 4 episodes |
| Eragon | Psychic Twins | Additional Scene | |
| Modern Toss | Various | 6 episodes | |
| 2007 | Cold Blood | Bob Massum | 7 episodes |
| Flood | Mel's Dad | ||
| Life on Mars | Frank Morgan | 2 episodes | |
| Straightheads | Jamie | ||
| The Contractor | Jeremy Collins | Direct-to-Video Film | |
| Cape Wrath | Wintersgill | 8 episodes | |
| Nearly Famous | Dominic Soloman | 5 episodes | |
| 2008 | Caught in the Act | Joep | |
| 2009 | The Boat That Rocked | DJ Bob | |
| 2010 | The Guards | Sutton | TV film |
| Mission London | Detective Collway | ||
| The Kid | Gordon Peters | ||
| Sus | Karn | ||
| Huge | Neil | ||
| Copelia | Hathaway | Short | |
| 2010–2013 | Him & Her | Nigel | 8 episodes |
| 2011 | The Trigger | Gamekeeper | Short |
| Killing Bono | Leo | ||
| 2012 | I, Anna | George Stone | |
| Dark Tide | Brady | ||
| Tower Block | Neville | ||
| 2013 | Stoker | Sheriff Howard | |
| Jack the Giant Slayer | General Entin | ||
| All Things to All Men | McDeer | ||
| Walking with the Enemy | Grudez | ||
| 2014 | Elementary | Tim Sherrington | 2 episodes |
| 2015 | Agent Carter | Johann Fennhoff / Ivchenko | 4 episodes |
| The Blacklist | Roger Hobbs | Episode: "Vanessa Cruz (No. 117)" | |
| Legends | Terrence Graves | 10 episodes | |
| Hard Tide | Gaz | ||
| 2015–2017 | Turn: Washington's Spies | GeneralHenry Clinton | 12 episodes |
| 2016 | Reg | Bob Clay | TV movie |
| Jackie | Dave Powers | ||
| 2017 | Genius: Einstein | Max Planck | 6 episodes |
| 2018 | Death in Paradise | Charlie Blake | S7E7 |
| Final Score | Steed | ||
| 2019 | Gemini Man | Del Patterson | |
| 2021–2023 | Godfather of Harlem | PresidentLyndon Johnson | 4 episodes |
| 2022 | New Amsterdam | Sid Chiltern | Episode: "The Crossover" |
| 2023 | Leverage: Redemption | Ramsey | Episode: "The Museum Makeover Job" |
| Genie | Sorcerer | ||
| 2024 | War Game | Lieutenant General Roger Simms | Documentary |
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Red Dead Redemption II | The Local Pedestrian Population |
| 2022 | Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga | Ric Olié |
References
edit- ^ab"Ralph Brown Biography (1957–)".filmreference.com.
- ^"Withnail's Ralph Brown".Telegraph. 2016.
- ^"Actor Ralph Brown: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know".
- ^Crocker, Oliver (2020).Witness Statements: Making The Bill: Series 1-3.Devonfire Books.ISBN978-1838281908.
- ^"The Bill Podcast 17 - Ralph Brown (PC Pete Muswell)".The Bill Podcast.
- ^"Actor Ralph Brown: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know".Heavy on Marvel.
- ^"Ralph Brown & Klara Issova Round Out 'Legends' Cast".Deadline.9 July 2015.
- ^"BBC One: Reg".BBC Online.Retrieved7 June2016.
- ^"EPIX | Hit Movies, TV Series and More".www.epix.com.
- ^"BWW Exclusive: Meet Broadway Couple Jenny Jules and Ralph Brown!".
- ^abBrown, Joe (6 December 1988). "The Washington Post".Sanctuary: Worthy but Unresolved.
- ^Greer, Ann (1 January 1989). "American Theatre Magazine"."Rap Musical About D.C's Homeless, Ralph Brown's Sanctuary crosses the Atlantic".
- ^Brown, Joe (22 March 1989). "The Washington Post".Arena Top Hayes Nominee, Local Theater Awards Contenders Announced.
- ^"Ralph Brown Official Twitter".Twitter.
- ^"'Goosebump moments', Greasy Chip Butties & Ange's Angels – how clubs soundtrack their victories ".The Athletic.24 March 2024.Retrieved27 March2024.