Ralph Riach

Ralph McKenzie Riach (26 January 1936[1] – 20 March 2022)[2] was a Scottish actor from Elgin, Moray.

Early years

[edit]

Riach was born in Elgin, Scotland. He was educated at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow, and he worked in Perth on a variety of jobs before he began his acting career.[3]

Career

[edit]

Riach portrayed John McIver (better known as "TV John") in BBC One Scotland's comedy/drama Hamish Macbeth. His career began at the age of 50, when he appeared in Lost Empires (1986). He appeared in television shows including Chancer, Mosley, Taggart, Monarch of the Glen, Peak Practice, Doctor Finlay, and Tutti Frutti.

Film appearances included The House of Mirth (2000), The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc (1999), Braveheart (1995), Copying Beethoven (2006) and Cloud Atlas (2012).[4] He also portrayed John Laurie in We're Doomed! The Dad's Army Story (2015). In 2014, he played a scene in Scottish feature film Time Teens: The Beginning directed by Ryan Alexander Dewar. He appeared in the short film Darkness in The Afternoon in 1999.[citation needed]

Filmography

[edit]

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1990 Crossing the Line Laundry Manager
1995 Braveheart Priest No. 1
1997 In Praise of Older Women Conde
1998 Dangerous Beauty Lorenzo Gritti
1998 The Governess Mr. Hewlett
1999 My Life So Far Sir David Drummond
1999 The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc English Judge
2000 The House of Mirth Lord Hubert Dacy
2002 Anazapta Physician
2004 One Last Chance Mr. Murray
2004 The Rocket Post Old Donald
2006 Copying Beethoven Wenzel Schlemmer
2007 Death Defying Acts Mr. Robertson
2008 Is Anybody There? Clive
2008 Good Brunau
2012 Cloud Atlas Ernie
2014 What We Did on Our Holiday Jimmy Cazzarotto
2015 Time Teens The Meridian
2018 The Party's Just Beginning The Caller

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1986 Lost Empires Edinburgh Empire M.D. Episode #1.1
1986–2003 Taggart Various roles 5 episodes
1986 First Among Equals Frank Boyle Episode #1.8
1987 Tutti Frutti Barman Episode: "Don't You Rock Me Daddy-O"
1987 Watching Mr. Ambrose 2 episodes
1988 City Lights Glasgow Museum Official Episode: "I'm Willie, Fly Me"
1990 The Play on One Fr Maxwell Episode: "Changing Step"
1990–1991 Chancer Willy Stebbings 15 episodes
1991 4 Play John Breck Episode: "Ball on the States"
1991 Clarissa Uncle Anthony 3 episodes
1991, 1998 Casualty Mr. Nichol / Alex 2 episodes
1992 Rides Mr. Goodwin Episode: "Which One of You Is the Victim?"
1992 The Bill Gordon Ellis Episode: "Priorities"
1993 Screen Two Dr. Sutherland Episode: "The Long Roads"
1993–1994 Doctor Finlay Dr. Gilmore 10 episodes
1995 Kavanagh QC Malcolm Gibson Episode: "Heartland"
1995 Wycliffe Dr. Bonner Episode: "Lost Contact"
1995–1997 Hamish Macbeth TV John / Euan McIver 20 episodes
1997 Lloyds Bank Channel 4 Film Challenge Ted Episode: "Nurse Ajax"
1997, 2000 Peak Practice Malcolm McReadie / Mr. Rees 2 episodes
1998 Mosley Ramsay MacDonald 3 episodes
2000 Murder Rooms: Mysteries of theReal Sherlock Holmes The Strand Editor Episode: "The Dark Beginnings

of Sherlock Holmes"

2000 Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) Mr. Asmodius Episode: "A Man of Substance"
2000 Brotherly Love Reverend McDonald 5 episodes
2000, 2001 Monarch of the Glen Geordie McCann 2 episodes
2001 The Russian Bride Larry Television film
2003 Canterbury Tales Mr Malcolm Wickens Episode: "The Miller's Tale"
2004 55 Degrees North Stanley Hanson Episode #1.5
2004 Quite Ugly One Morning Alexander Kinross Television film
2005 The Strange Case of Sherlock

Holmes & Arthur Conan Doyle

Cleeve
2006 Low Winter Sun Mister Gillot
2007 Wedding Belles John Eddie
2010–2011 Rosamunde Pilcher's Shades of Love Noel's Lawyer 3 episodes
2011 South Riding Lord Sedgmire Episode #1.3
2011 Young James Herriot Professor Henry Legge 3 episodes
2011–2013 Doctors Marcus Tidwell / Ron Wise
2012 New Tricks Colin Ogilvy Episode: "Glasgow UCOS"
2013 M.I. High Bodger Episode: "Grosse Encounters"
2015 Holby City Frank Thorpe Episode: "Cover Up"
2015 We're Doomed! The Dad's Army Story John Laurie Television film
2016 Shetland Man on Beach Episode #3.1
2017–2018 Fortitude Ralfi Sigurdson 9 episodes
2018 Grandpa's Great Escape Mr. Willkins Television film
2018 Still Game Old Ricky Episode: "Balls Up"

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Ralph Riach | TVSA". www.tvsa.co.za. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  2. ^ Marshall, Michelle (21 March 2022). "Ralph Riach dead: Braveheart and Taggart star dies aged 83 as tributes pour in for actor". Express.co.uk. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  3. ^ "Ralph Riach, 86". Classic Images. July 2022. p. 46.
  4. ^ "Copying Beethoven - Film Reviews". Sydney Morning Herald. 21 April 2007. Retrieved 14 July 2010.
[edit]