Ronald Pickup

Ronald Pickup

Acting
Born 1940-06-07 - Died 2021-02-25Chester, England, UK

Biography

Pickup was born in Chester, England, the son of Daisy (née Williams) and Eric Pickup, who was a lecturer.[1] Pickup was educated at The King's School, Chester, trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London, and became an Associate Member of RADA. His television work began with an episode during the second series of Doctor Who in 1964, for which he was paid £30. Pickup worked with Laurence Olivier at the Royal National Theatre, most notably in Three Sisters and Long Day's Journey Into Night. In 1973, he starred in the BBC drama series The Dragon's Opponent, playing a World War II bomb disposal expert and also appeared in The Day of the Jackal. He played Lt. Harford in Zulu Dawn in 1979, portrayed Igor Stravinsky in Nijinsky in 1980, Prince John in Ivanhoe in 1982, and in 1983 he appeared opposite Penelope Keith in Moving, in 1988 in the BBC miniseries The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (1988 TV Serial) as the voice of Aslan, and in 1990 he starred in the short lived sit-com, Not with a Bang. More modern roles have included parts in Hornblower, Hustle, Foyle's War, Midsomer Murders, Waking the Dead, The Bill, Silent Witness, Sherlock Holmes, and Inspector Morse. He is also a regular character in the BBC sitcom The Worst Week of My Life. His most recent appearance was in Holby City as Lord Charles Byrne. Pickup gave a highly acclaimed performance as a decayed Russian aristocrat in the BBC series Fortunes of War, based on a work by Olivia Manning. He also provided the voice for Aslan in the BBC's adaptation of the Chronicles of Narnia and starred opposite Judi Dench in the 1989 Channel 4 serial Behaving Badly. He is also an accomplished stage actor. He was nominated for a 1998 Laurence Olivier Theatre Award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role of 1997 for his performance in Amy's View. Pickup had the starring role as composer Giuseppe Verdi in the acclaimed The Life of Verdi, written and directed by Renato Castellani. In 2005, he had a supporting role in the family-based film, The Adventures of Greyfriars Bobby. Between March and August 2009, he starred as Lucky in Sean Mathias' production of Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett opposite Sir Ian McKellen (Estragon), Patrick Stewart (Vladimir) and also Simon Callow (Pozzo). The tour opened in Malvern before travelling to Milton Keynes, Brighton, Bath, Norwich, Edinburgh and Newcastle; its run at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket was extended due to demand. In February 2010 he also appeared as 'Pegleg' in the BBC's period drama Lark Rise to Candleford. Description above from the Wikipedia article Ronald Pickup, licensed under CC-BY-SA,full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Movies (86)

Lolita
7.1

Lolita

1997Movie7.1
Never Say Never Again
6.1

Never Say Never Again

1983Movie6.1
Darkest Hour
7.4

Darkest Hour

2017Movie7.4
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
6.3

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

2010Movie6.3
The Day of the Jackal
7.5

The Day of the Jackal

1973Movie7.5
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
7.0

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

2012Movie7.0
The Fourth Protocol
6.3

The Fourth Protocol

1987Movie6.3
The Mission
7.4

The Mission

1986Movie7.4
Jekyll & Hyde
5.9

Jekyll & Hyde

1990Movie5.9
The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
6.4

The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

2015Movie6.4
Zulu Dawn
6.1

Zulu Dawn

1979Movie6.1
A Very Open Prison
8.5

A Very Open Prison

1995Movie8.5
The Happy Prince
6.2

The Happy Prince

2018Movie6.2
The Hound of the Baskervilles
7.3

The Hound of the Baskervilles

1988Movie7.3
Ivanhoe
6.4

Ivanhoe

1982Movie6.4
Mahler
6.8

Mahler

1974Movie6.8
The Adventures of Greyfriars Bobby
5.7

The Adventures of Greyfriars Bobby

2005Movie5.7
A Murder of Quality
5.7

A Murder of Quality

1991Movie5.7
Danny the Champion of the World
6.1

Danny the Champion of the World

1989Movie6.1
Camille
5.5

Camille

1984Movie5.5
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Silver Chair
6.6

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Silver Chair

1990Movie6.6
Bring Me the Head of Mavis Davis
4.6

Bring Me the Head of Mavis Davis

1997Movie4.6
Evilenko
5.8

Evilenko

2004Movie5.8
The Have-Nots
5.1

The Have-Nots

2016Movie5.1
Dark Floors
4.9

Dark Floors

2008Movie4.9
Journey of Honor
5.1

Journey of Honor

1991Movie5.1
Absolute Hell
6.0

Absolute Hell

1991Movie6.0
Joseph Andrews
5.1

Joseph Andrews

1977Movie5.1
A Dry White Season
6.7

A Dry White Season

1989Movie6.7
Eleni
5.9

Eleni

1985Movie5.9
The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey
6.0

The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey

2007Movie6.0
The Thirty Nine Steps
6.8

The Thirty Nine Steps

1978Movie6.8
The Tulse Luper Suitcases, Part 2: Vaux to the Sea
4.9

The Tulse Luper Suitcases, Part 2: Vaux to the Sea

2004Movie4.9
Supernova
4.3

Supernova

2005Movie4.3
Ladies' Night

Ladies' Night

1986Movie
The Untitled

The Untitled

1998Movie
My Friend Walter
7.0

My Friend Walter

1992Movie7.0
Nijinsky
4.9

Nijinsky

1980Movie4.9
Romeo and Juliet

Romeo and Juliet

1967Movie
The Tulse Luper Suitcases, Part 1: The Moab Story
5.2

The Tulse Luper Suitcases, Part 1: The Moab Story

2003Movie5.2
Milner
8.0

Milner

1994Movie8.0
Pope John Paul II
7.5

Pope John Paul II

1984Movie7.5
Much Ado About Nothing
6.3

Much Ado About Nothing

1967Movie6.3
Schadenfreude

Schadenfreude

2025Movie
Theatreland

Theatreland

2009Movie
Hornblower: The Duchess and the Devil
7.2

Hornblower: The Duchess and the Devil

1999Movie7.2
The War That Never Ends
5.0

The War That Never Ends

1991Movie5.0
Bethune: The Making of a Hero
5.2

Bethune: The Making of a Hero

1993Movie5.2
Three Sisters
4.3

Three Sisters

1970Movie4.3
The Time of Their Lives
5.0

The Time of Their Lives

2017Movie5.0
The Tulse Luper Suitcases, Part 3: From Sark to the Finish
5.0

The Tulse Luper Suitcases, Part 3: From Sark to the Finish

2005Movie5.0
A Life in Suitcases: A History of Tulse Luper
5.8

A Life in Suitcases: A History of Tulse Luper

2005Movie5.8
The Letter
4.7

The Letter

1982Movie4.7
Henry VIII
6.6

Henry VIII

1979Movie6.6
Henry IV
8.5

Henry IV

1995Movie8.5
Doctor Who: The Reign of Terror
6.3

Doctor Who: The Reign of Terror

1964Movie6.3
In The Cold Light Of Day

In The Cold Light Of Day

1994Movie
Secret Passage
4.7

Secret Passage

2004Movie4.7
Puccini
4.3

Puccini

1984Movie4.3
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian & The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
6.1

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian & The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

1989Movie6.1
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe
6.5

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe

1988Movie6.5
Breathtaking
3.6

Breathtaking

2000Movie3.6
Jennie: Lady Randolph Churchill
8.0

Jennie: Lady Randolph Churchill

1974Movie8.0
End of Term

End of Term

2021Movie
Waters of the Moon

Waters of the Moon

1983Movie
The Roses of Eyam
7.0

The Roses of Eyam

1973Movie7.0
All Good Men

All Good Men

1974Movie
Testimony
5.6

Testimony

1988Movie5.6
The Philanthropist
8.0

The Philanthropist

1975Movie8.0
King Lear
10.0

King Lear

1975Movie10.0
Stealing Silver
7.2

Stealing Silver

2017Movie7.2
Der Blinde
7.0

Der Blinde

1996Movie7.0
The Golden Years
10.0

The Golden Years

1992Movie10.0
Benefit to Mankind

Benefit to Mankind

2004Movie
A Little Place Off the Edgware Road

A Little Place Off the Edgware Road

2014Movie
Cherished
8.0

Cherished

2005Movie8.0
For Tea on Sunday

For Tea on Sunday

1978Movie
Chekhov in Yalta

Chekhov in Yalta

1988Movie
Verdi
10.0

Verdi

1982Movie10.0
Long Day's Journey Into Night
7.0

Long Day's Journey Into Night

1973Movie7.0
The Crystal Spirit: Orwell on Jura
7.0

The Crystal Spirit: Orwell on Jura

1983Movie7.0
Ghost Trio

Ghost Trio

1977Movie
...but the clouds...
9.0

...but the clouds...

1977Movie9.0
In England's Green and Pleasant Land

In England's Green and Pleasant Land

1979Movie
Message for Posterity
8.0

Message for Posterity

1994Movie8.0
Samuel Beckett: As the Story Was Told

Samuel Beckett: As the Story Was Told

1996Movie

TV Shows (62)

Midsomer Murders
7.5

Midsomer Murders

1997Series7.5
Play for Today
6.6

Play for Today

1970Series6.6
Doctor Who
7.9

Doctor Who

1963Series7.9
Silent Witness
7.6

Silent Witness

1996Series7.6
The Crown
8.2

The Crown

2016Series8.2
Casualty
6.2

Casualty

1986Series6.2
Downton Abbey
8.1

Downton Abbey

2010Series8.1
Vera
7.4

Vera

2011Series7.4
BBC Play of the Month
5.2

BBC Play of the Month

1965Series5.2
Matlock
7.1

Matlock

1986Series7.1
Lewis
7.6

Lewis

2007Series7.6
Screen Two
7.1

Screen Two

1985Series7.1
Sherlock Holmes
8.2

Sherlock Holmes

1984Series8.2
New Tricks
7.3

New Tricks

2004Series7.3
Hustle
7.7

Hustle

2004Series7.7
Inspector Morse
7.9

Inspector Morse

1987Series7.9
Foyle's War
7.9

Foyle's War

2002Series7.9
Waking the Dead
7.2

Waking the Dead

2001Series7.2
Bergerac
7.0

Bergerac

1981Series7.0
ITV Playhouse
7.0

ITV Playhouse

1967Series7.0
ITV Saturday Night Theatre
7.0

ITV Saturday Night Theatre

1969Series7.0
Dalziel and Pascoe
6.4

Dalziel and Pascoe

1996Series6.4
Performance
6.3

Performance

1991Series6.3
The Ruth Rendell Mysteries
6.6

The Ruth Rendell Mysteries

1987Series6.6
The Inspector Lynley Mysteries
7.4

The Inspector Lynley Mysteries

2002Series7.4
Lark Rise to Candleford
8.4

Lark Rise to Candleford

2008Series8.4
The BBC Television Shakespeare
6.0

The BBC Television Shakespeare

1978Series6.0
BBC2 Play of the Week
7.0

BBC2 Play of the Week

1977Series7.0
Atlantis
6.4

Atlantis

2013Series6.4
Lovejoy
7.4

Lovejoy

1986Series7.4
Hornblower
7.8

Hornblower

1998Series7.8
Hetty Wainthropp Investigates
7.3

Hetty Wainthropp Investigates

1996Series7.3
The Chronicles of Narnia
7.5

The Chronicles of Narnia

1988Series7.5
Scarlett
6.6

Scarlett

1994Series6.6
Fortunes of War
6.3

Fortunes of War

1987Series6.3
Ivanhoe
7.1

Ivanhoe

1997Series7.1
The Jury
7.0

The Jury

2002Series7.0
Unnatural Causes
6.3

Unnatural Causes

1986Series6.3
Sharing Time

Sharing Time

1984Series
Sea of Souls
8.0

Sea of Souls

2004Series8.0
Father Brown
6.8

Father Brown

1974Series6.8
The Worst Week of My Life
8.2

The Worst Week of My Life

2004Series8.2
Pramface
6.9

Pramface

2012Series6.9
Murder Rooms: The Dark Beginnings of Sherlock Holmes
7.9

Murder Rooms: The Dark Beginnings of Sherlock Holmes

2001Series7.9
The Lively Arts

The Lively Arts

1976Series
Cambridge Spies
6.4

Cambridge Spies

2003Series6.4
Romance

Romance

1977Series
Verdi
7.3

Verdi

1982Series7.3
Feather Boy
8.0

Feather Boy

2004Series8.0
Hallmark Hall of Fame
8.8

Hallmark Hall of Fame

1951Series8.8
A Time to Dance
3.8

A Time to Dance

1992Series3.8
El C.I.D.
10.0

El C.I.D.

1990Series10.0
Behaving Badly
4.3

Behaving Badly

1989Series4.3
The Rector's Wife
9.0

The Rector's Wife

1994Series9.0
Jennie: Lady Randolph Churchill
7.3

Jennie: Lady Randolph Churchill

1974Series7.3
Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein

1984Series
The Riff Raff Element
5.6

The Riff Raff Element

1994Series5.6
The Dragon's Opponent

The Dragon's Opponent

1973Series
Black Hearts in Battersea

Black Hearts in Battersea

1995Series
Moving
8.5

Moving

1985Series8.5
Not with a Bang
6.0

Not with a Bang

1990Series6.0
The Fight Against Slavery
9.0

The Fight Against Slavery

1975Series9.0