Scottish actor

Ronald Eaglesham Porter (born 26 April 1956), known professionally as Ron Donachie, is a Scottish actor. He is known for starring as DI John Rebus in the BBC Radio 4 dramatisations of the Ian Rankin "Rebus" detective novels and for his supporting roles in films The Jungle Book (1994), *anic and television series Doctor Who and Game of Thrones.

Contents

• 1 Biography
• 2 Film
• 3 Television
• 4 Theatre
• 5 Radio
• 6 References
• 7 External links

Biography

Ronald Porter was born in Dundee, Scotland and educated at Madras College, St Andrews: where he performed in three school plays: Serjeant Musgrave's Dance: in 1972, A Man For All Seasons: in 1973 for which the newspaper review said "Ron Porter was impressive from start to finish, handling a mammoth part with apparent ease, giving a sensitive, subtle and well-controlled performance, especially in the second act", and Taming of the Shrew: in 1974 for which the newspaper review said "Ron Porter’s affability shines out like the proverbial beacon ... as the most experienced member of the cast, he has the confidence to be able to establish an immediate rapport with the audience. ... turned in his usual high standard of performance as the enormously arrogant Petruchio".

His education continued at the University of Glasgow where he was President of the Glasgow University Students' Representative Council (1976–1977) and graduated MA (Hons) in English Literature and Drama in 1979.

He joined John McGrath's 7:84 theatre group for their 1980–1981 touring production, John Burrows' One Big Blow, in which the cast mimicked a traditional colliery band by singing in six part harmony. Following the success of this play members of the cast founded the a cappella vocal group The Flying Pickets in 1982, but Donachie left before their 1983 Christmas number one hit.

Donachie married Fiona Biggar, a complementary therapist, in 1989; the couple have two children: the actor Daniel Portman and Naomi Porter, a linguist. His brother, Stewart Porter, is also an actor and his sister-in-law is Scottish film costume designer Trisha Biggar.

Although Donachie has been prolific in television and films, these have all been ensemble or supporting parts. His leading roles on radio and the theatre have achieved acclaim:

“Ron Donachie plays in the BBC radio versions and he’s really got the voice”
— Ian Rankin, author of the Rebus novels:

Ron Donachie plays her father with an authority that makes his role as a sexual predator even more creepy.
— Six Characters in Search of an Author – Mark Fisher, The Guardian:

When Ron Donachie takes the stage as Deputy Governor Danforth in the second half of Arthur Miller’s cl*ic, it’s as if this 17th century parable of supers*ion and intolerance has a new centre of gravity. It’s partly that Donachie seems three times bigger than everyone else, a bullish figure, no less fearsome for his legal attire. It’s partly that his charismatic stillness commands attention and defies contradiction. But it’s also that, in presenting himself as reasonable, considerate and fair, he puts you in mind of every leader who gets his way by masking ruthless force with politeness.
— The Crucible review – Mark Fisher, The Guardian:

Film

Television

Theatre

– Death of a SalesmanWilly LomanGiles HavergalGlasgow Citizens Theatre – 'Tis Pity She's a *SoranzoPhilip ProwseGlasgow Citizens Theatre – The Merchant of Venice:ShylockPhilip ProwseGlasgow Citizens TheatreJanuary 1989 – The AlchemistSir Epicure MammonRobert David MacDonaldGlasgow Citizens Theatre – DouglasLord RandolphRobert David MacDonaldGlasgow Citizens Theatre – A Tale of Two CitiesEtienne DefargePhilip ProwseGlasgow Citizens Theatre30 August 1984 – 22 September 1984Submariners:HouseyPhilip PartridgeGateway Theatre, Chester27 September 1984 – 20 October 1984Trafford Tanzi:DadNoreen KershawGateway Theatre, Chester1 November 1984 – 24 November 1984Macbeth:MacduffPhil PartridgeGateway Theatre, Chester – A View from the BridgeEddie CarbonePhil PartridgeGateway Theatre, Chester26 February 1985 – 30 March 1985Scrap:MulliganChris BondHalf Moon Theatre, London11 July 1985 – 10 August 1985Destiny:Major RolfeChris BondHalf Moon Theatre, LondonNovember 1985 – 11 January 1986Dracula:Sir Robert HewardChris BondHalf Moon Theatre, London21 February 1986 – 15 March 1986A Streetcar Named Desire:Stanley KowalskiIan WooldridgeRoyal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh6 October 1987 – 7 November 1987Macbeth:MacbethChris BondHalf Moon Theatre, LondonMay 1990 – Mother CouragePhilip ProwseMermaid Theatre, London31 October 1990 – 24 November 1990The PriceVictor FranzCaroline SmithStephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough11 April 2003 – 21 June 2003Scenes from the Big Picture:BobbyNicholas HytnerNational Theatre, London26 October 2007 – 17 November 2007Living Quarters:Commandant Frank ButlerJohn DoveRoyal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh15 February 2008 – 8 March 2008Six Characters in Search of an Author:FatherMark ThomsonRoyal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh16 January 2009 – 14 February 2009The Man Who Had All the Luck:Patterson BeevesJohn DoveRoyal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh4 May 2009 – 9 May 2009The Oddest Couple:KenEleanor YuleÒran Mór, Glasgow22 June 2009 – 4 July 2009Everything Must Go!:VariousLisa Goldman & Esther RichardsonSoho Theatre, London25 September 2013 – 19 October 2013Dark Road:Black Fergus McLintockMark ThomsonRoyal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh6 April 2015 – 11 April 2015Broth:JimmyAndy McNammeÒran Mór, Glasgow14 April 2015 – 18 April 2015Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh18 February 2016 – 19 March 2016The Crucible:Deputy Governor DanforthJohn DoveRoyal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh20 April 2016 – 14 May 2016The Iliad:Agamemnon / PriamMark ThomsonRoyal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh6 March 2017 – 11 March 2017The Beaches of St Valery:Callum:/ McGregor:/ McLeanStuart HepburnÒran Mór, Glasgow11 August 2017 – 26 August 2017Stand By:Joe Dougl*ummerhall, Edinburgh12 November 2018 – 17 November 2018Oscar Slater – The Trial That Shamed a City:Arthur Conan DoyleStuart HepburnÒran Mór, Glasgow29 January 2019 – 1 February 2019Rebus: Long Shadows:Inspector RebusRobin LefevreTheatre Royal, Glasgow4 February 2019 – 9 February 2019New Theatre, Cardiff11 February 2019 – 18 February 2019Cambridge Arts Theatre25 February 2019 – 2 March 2019Theatre Royal, Newcastle4 March 2019 – 9 March 2019Theatre Royal, Bath12 March 2019 – 16 March 2019Rose Theatre, Kingston16 March 2020 – 17 March 2020The Beaches of St Valery:Callum:/ McGregor:/ McLeanStuart HepburnÒran Mór, GlasgowNotes:

Radio

References

External links

• Ron Donachie at IMDb
• Ron Donachie at AllMovie
• Ron Donachie at Theatricalia
• Ron Donachie at CDA Theatrical Agency

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