Ray Lonnen

Ray Lonnen (18 May 1940 – 11 July 2014) was an English stage and television actor. His most prominent roles include Willie Caine in the cold-war spy drama series The Sandbaggers (1978–80), and also as Harry Brown in the television miniseries Harry's Game (1982).

Early life

Lonnen was born in Bournemouth where he attended the Stourfield School and drama school. At 19 he gained his first acting job at a theatre in Belfast.

Television career

His early television appearances include The Power Game (1966) and Honey Lane (1968). He then had a semi-regular role in the British crime drama series Z-Cars between 1972–77, and also appeared in the cult TV series Doctor Who ("Frontier in Space").

Lonnen played one of the leads in the 1978 ITV espionage series The Sandbaggers, in which he played Willie Caine (aka "Sandbagger 1"). The Sandbaggers ran for three series until 1980. His next lead role was in the 1982 ITV mini-series Harry's Game, based on the novel by Gerald Seymour, playing Harry Brown, a British agent sent to Northern Ireland to smoke out the IRA assassin of a cabinet minister. In 1984, Lonnen went on to star in yet another spy-themed drama series, The Brief, in which he played a British barrister who travels to Germany to represent a British soldier accused of spying and treason. Aside from his lead roles, Lonnen also continued to appear in guest roles throughout the 1980s, including episodes of The Gentle Touch, Hammer House of Horror, Tales of the Unexpected, Lovejoy and the French film Mangeuses d'Hommes.

In 1990, Lonnen played Detective Inspector Alex Vale in the ITV detective drama series Yellowthread Street, which was set in Hong Kong. Based on the novels by William Leonard Marshall, the series ran for 13 episodes. Throughout the 1990s, Lonnen continued to make guest appearances in various television series and even voiced several characters in the children's animated series Budgie the Little Helicopter. In 2001, he had a recurring role in the ITV police series The Bill. He appeared in several episodes of the Canadian sci-fi series Starhunter as well as a recurring role in the short-lived revival of the ITV soap-opera Crossroads.

Stage roles

Since the 1960s, Lonnen has performed in a variety of stage roles, including drama, comedy and musicals. His stage credits include Under Milk Wood (as the Narrator), Same Time, Next Year, In Praise of Love, Run for Your Wife, Wonderful Town, Lock Up Your Daughters, Guys and Dolls, Bells Are Ringing, Rebecca and The Perfect Murder.

Personal life

Lonnen's first wife was the actress Lynn Dalby. That marriage ended in divorce. His second wife was the actress Tara Ward.

Death

Lonnen died on 11 July 2014 from cancer, aged 74.