Ron Cook

Ronald G. Cook (born 1 December 1948) is an English actor. He has been active in film, television and theatre since the 1970s.

Early life Cook was born in 1948 in South Shields, County Durham, the son of a school cook and a car worker. When he was 6, his family moved to Coventry; he went to Wyken Croft Junior School and then Caludon Castle School and is a graduate of Rose Bruford College.

Career On stage, he appeared in the original 1988 production of Timberlake Wertenbaker's play Our Country's Good. He was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award in the category of Best Supporting Actor in 2000 for his role in Juno and the Paycock at the Donmar Warehouse. He appeared at the same theatre the same year in Helpless.

He appeared in Conor McPherson's play The Seafarer, In 2011, he played The Fool in King Lear starring Derek Jacobi at the Donmar and on an 8-week tour. In 2013, Cook played the part of Pistol in Michael Grandage's Henry V (with Jude Law in the title role). From November 2015 to February 2016 he played Max in The Homecoming at Trafalgar Studios, From November 2016 to January 2017, Cook appeared in Lucy Kirkwood's new play The Children at The Royal Court Theatre with Francesca Annis and Deborah Findlay. In July 2017, he appeared as Dr Walker at The Old Vic in Girl from the North Country. Cook played the father of Dawn Sturgess who was the only fatality in the crisis. In 2022, Cook played the role of the ‘Wise Owl’ and its voice actor Wilf in the show “Inside No.9” in the episode “Wise Owl”.

He has played Napoleon Bonaparte twice, in his 1994 guest appearance in Sharpe and again in the 2000 feature film Quills. Other film roles have included parts in The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover (1989, as Mews), Secrets & Lies (1996), The Odyssey (1997, as Eurybates), Topsy-Turvy (1999, as Richard D'Oyly Carte), Chocolat (2000), Charlotte Gray (2001), 24 Hour Party People (2002, as Derek Ryder), Thunderbirds (2004, as Parker), 102 Dalmatians, Hot Fuzz (2007, as George Merchant) and The King's Man (2021, as Archduke Franz Ferdinand). Cook also appeared in Feeling Good, a short film written by Dexter Fletcher and directed by Dalia Ibelhauptaite.

Cook has also acted in radio drama. In 2007 he played the part of confidence trickster Captain Wragge in a BBC Radio 4 adaption of the Wilkie Collins novel No Name. In July 2007, he played the part of Kris Kelvin, the protagonist psychologist on the BBC Radio 4 adaptation of Solaris, Stanislaw Lem's novel. In December 2014, he played Jacob Marley in Neil Brand's BBC Radio 4 adaptation of A Christmas Carol.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1976 Secrets of a Superstud Telegram Boy 1984 Scandalous 3rd Taxi Driver 1989 The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover Mews 1996 Secrets & Lies Stuart 1999 Topsy-Turvy Richard D'Oyly Carte 2000 Quills Napoleon Bonaparte 102 Dalmatians Mr. Button Chocolat Alphonse Marceau 2001 Lucky Break Mr. Perry Charlotte Gray Mirabel 2002 24 Hour Party People Derek Ryder 2004 Thunderbirds Aloysius Parker The Merchant of Venice Old Gobbo 2005 On a Clear Day Norman 2006 Land of the Blind Doc Confetti Sam's Father 2007 Hot Fuzz George Merchant 2021 The King's Man Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria 2022 Empire of Light Mr. Cooper 2023 The Critic Hugh Morris 2024 Sew Torn Oskar

Television Year Title Role Notes 1975 Ballet Shoes Frank Miniseries, 1 episode 1978 Will Shakespeare Jack Rice Miniseries, 6 episodes 1982 Whoops Apocalypse Arab Beggar 1 episode BBC Television Shakespeare Various roles Recurring role, 5 episodes 1983 Blackadder Sean, The Irish Bastard 1 episode 1984 The Young Ones Prisoner on Ship Episode: "Nasty" 1985 Girls on Top Ian 1 episode 1986 The Singing Detective First Mysterious Man Miniseries, 6 episodes Day To Remember Graham Television film 1988 Bergerac Reggie Betts 1 episode Theatre Night La Fleche 1 episode 1990 Boon Derek Kline 1 episode 1990, 1994 The Bill Peter Angell/Thomas Ellis 2 episodes 1992 Maigret Pernelle 1 episode Boys from the Bush George 1 episode 1993 The Chief James Baddeley 1 episode 1994 The Detectives Blind Billy 1 episode Sharpe Napoleon Bonaparte Episode: "Sharpe's Honour" 1995 Hawkeye Black Eagle 1 episode 1996 Bramwell Percy Banks 1 episode 1997 The Odyssey Eurybates Miniseries, 2 episodes The History of Tom Jones: a Foundling Benjamin Partridge Miniseries, 5 episodes 2001 Armadillo Phil Miniseries, 2 episodes 2002 Murder Gareth McGuinness Miniseries, 1 episode The Hound of the Baskervilles Mr. Barrymore Television film 2003 Hornblower Steward James Doughty 2 episodes The Lost Prince David Lloyd George Miniseries, 2 episodes The Other Boleyn Girl Thomas Cromwell Television film Thursday the 12th Liam Donnelly Television film Seven Wonders of the Industrial World Isambard Kingdom Brunel Miniseries, 1 episode 2004 He Knew He Was Right Mr. Bozzle Miniseries, 4 episodes 2005 Casanova Prisoner Miniseries, 2 episodes Funland Hitman 1 Miniseries, 7 episodes 2006 Kenneth Williams: Fantabulosa! Peter Eade Television film Doctor Who Mr. Magpie Episode: "The Idiot's Lantern" 2007 Foyle's War Eddie Baker 1 episode 2008 10 Days to War Peter Miniseries, 1 episode Waking the Dead Dr. Milan Vaspovic 2 episodes Filth: The Mary Whitehouse Story Charles Hill, Baron Hill of Luton Television film Burn Up Sir Richard Langham Miniseries, 1 episode Silent Witness Rabbi Marowski 2 episodes Little Dorrit Mr. Chivery Miniseries, 9 episodes Summerhill Wharton Television film 2009 The Diary of Anne Frank Hermann van Daan Miniseries, 5 episodes Personal Affairs Bernie Lerner 4 episodes 2010 Garrow's Law Captain Baillie 1 episode 2011 Midsomer Murders Bernard Flack 1 episode 2012 Bert and Dickie Albert Television film Mrs Biggs Peter Miniseries, 2 episodes 2013–2016 Mr Selfridge Mr. Crabb Main role, 40 episodes 2018 The City and the City Commissar Gadlem Miniseries, 4 episodes 2019 Les Misérables Hair and Teeth Dealer Miniseries, 2 episodes Death in Paradise Billy Calder 1 episode Chernobyl Old Maternity Doctor Miniseries, 2 episodes The Witcher Borch Three Jackdaws 1 episode 2020 The Salisbury Poisonings Stan Sturgess Miniseries, 2 episodes Des DSI Geoff Chambers Miniseries, 3 episodes 2022 Life After Life Dr. Fellowes Miniseries, 3 episodes Inside No. 9 Wilf Episode "Wise Owl" Andor Willi 2 episodes Doc Martin Leonard Maitland 1 episode