--- name: "Ronald Pickup" canonical: "https://film.one/person/ronald-pickup" fi1m_id: "ronald-pickup" imdb_id: "nm0681975" tmdb_id: 32556 wikidata_id: "Q4356744" roles: ["Actor"] born: "7 June 1940" died: "25 February 2021" reviewed_on_fi1m: 8 average_fi1m_score: 65 average_as: "actor" average_over: 8 updated: "2026-10-07T14:12:00.594758+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Ronald Pickup ## Identity Ronald Pickup - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/ronald-pickup - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** ronald-pickup - **IMDb ID:** nm0681975 - **TMDB ID:** 32556 - **Wikidata ID:** Q4356744 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Pickup, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4356744, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0681975/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/32556 Actor. Born 7 June 1940 in Chester, England, UK. Died 25 February 2021. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 7 June 1940, Chester, England, UK - **Died:** 25 February 2021 - **Active:** 1973–2017 - **Also known as:** Рональд Альфред Пикап, Ronald Alfred Pickup - **Frequently works with:** [Bill Nighy](https://film.one/person/bill-nighy.md), [Dev Patel](https://film.one/person/dev-patel.md), [Graham Broadbent](https://film.one/person/graham-broadbent.md), [John Madden](https://film.one/person/john-madden.md), [Judi Dench](https://film.one/person/judi-dench.md), [Maggie Smith](https://film.one/person/maggie-smith.md), [Ol Parker](https://film.one/person/ol-parker.md), [Peter Czernin](https://film.one/person/peter-czernin.md) - **Average Fi1m score:** 65, as actor, over 8 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1970s 84 (1), 1980s 62 (3), 2010s 63 (4) - **Fi1m against the critics:** 66 to 62 across 7 titles - **Score spread:** 1 at 80+, 4 at 60–79, 3 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 0 of 5 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Action 5, Drama 4, Adventure 3, Thriller 3, Comedy 2, History 2 - **Screen time:** 17 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $929m across 8 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Pickup, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4356744, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0681975/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/32556 ## Streaming the US now - **Amazon Prime Video:** [*The Mission*](https://film.one/film/the-mission-1986.md) (64) - **Disney+:** [*Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time*](https://film.one/film/prince-of-persia-the-sands-of-time.md) (56) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Ronald Pickup > Ronald Pickup made a career of the man at the edge of the frame, the governor, the minister, the archbishop, and gave each one an inner life using only his eyes and his bearing. We hold two of his films, and neither uses him well. Gary Oldman's Churchill takes up all the air in *Darkest Hour* (2017), and Stephen Dillane's Halifax gets the best of the arguments. Ronald Pickup, as Neville Chamberlain, gets neither. He plays the man Churchill replaced as tired and already ill, and he does it the way he did most things, with almost nothing on his face but his face: no makeup to speak of, just the eyes and the way he holds himself. We came out feeling sorrier for Chamberlain than the script meant us to, and that was Pickup's work, not Anthony McCarten's, whose Chamberlain is there so that Churchill can be right. He was a stage actor first and for longest. He joined the National Theatre under Laurence Olivier and worked up from small parts to leads, Rosalind in the all-male *As You Like It* of 1967 among them, and he was still on stage in the 2010s. Television found him early, in *Doctor Who* in 1964; film used him sparingly. He was the Forger in *The Day of the Jackal* (1973) and Hontar, the Portuguese governor, in *The Mission* (1986). On television he was Prince Yakimov, the down-at-heel aristocrat in *Fortunes of War* (1987), opposite Kenneth Branagh and Emma Thompson, and that is the performance his admirers name first. Then, late, came the two Marigold Hotel films (2012, 2015) for John Madden, with Judi Dench, with whom he made three films, and a wider audience learned his name. The pattern in those parts is the pattern of the career. He was cast as authority: governors, ministers, archbishops, crusty academics, men whose job in the script is to stand for an institution and then step aside. He gave them something the script rarely asked for, a private life going on behind the official face. That is what we mean by his eyes and his bearing, and it is also why the parts stayed small. An actor who can make a type credible in two scenes is asked to do exactly that, film after film. Our review of *The Mission* does not mention him, and we stand by that: Robert Bolt's script leaves its people underdeveloped, and Hontar is one of the people it leaves. The obituaries were unanimous in his favour, and that is worth a moment's suspicion. Nobody has a reservation about Ronald Pickup because nobody gave him a part big enough to fail in. He died in 2021. If you want to see what he could do, *Darkest Hour* is the one we have and the one where it shows. Watch him when the film is not watching him. ## Biography Ronald Pickup (1940–2021) was an English actor known for work in film, television and theatre. Born in Chester, he trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) and began his screen career with an appearance in *Doctor Who* in 1964. He was a member of Laurence Olivier’s National Theatre company and appeared in productions including *Three Sisters* and *Long Day’s Journey Into Night*. On screen he played Hontar in *The Mission* (1986), Elliott in *Never Say Never Again* (1983), Norman Cousins in *The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel* (2012) and its sequel, and the Archbishop of Canterbury in *The Crown* (2016). Other notable roles include Neville Chamberlain in *Darkest Hour* (2017) and King Sharaman in *Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time* (2010). *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, theguardian.com.* ## On Fi1m (8) - *Darkest Hour* (2017), Fi1m 66, as Neville Chamberlain — [page](https://film.one/film/darkest-hour.md) - *The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel* (2015), Fi1m 58, as Norman Cousins — [page](https://film.one/film/the-second-best-exotic-marigold-hotel.md) - *The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel* (2012), Fi1m 71, as Norman Cousins — [page](https://film.one/film/the-best-exotic-marigold-hotel.md) - *Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time* (2010), Fi1m 56, as King Sharaman — [page](https://film.one/film/prince-of-persia-the-sands-of-time.md) - *The Fourth Protocol* (1987), Fi1m 57, as Wynne-Evans — [page](https://film.one/film/the-fourth-protocol.md) - *The Mission* (1986), Fi1m 64, as Hontar — [page](https://film.one/film/the-mission-1986.md) - *Never Say Never Again* (1983), Fi1m 64, as Elliott — [page](https://film.one/film/never-say-never-again.md) - *The Day of the Jackal* (1973), Fi1m 84, as The Forger — [page](https://film.one/film/the-day-of-the-jackal.md) ## Complete filmography (146) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Schadenfreude* (2025), as The Gambler - *End of Term* (2021), as Damian Self - *The Happy Prince* (2018), as Judge - *Darkest Hour* (2017), as Neville Chamberlain — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/film/darkest-hour.md) - *Stealing Silver* (2017), as Udo - *The Time of Their Lives* (2017), as Frank - *The Crown* (2016), series, as Archbishop of Canterbury — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-crown.md) - *The Have-Nots* (2016), as Bentham - *The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel* (2015), as Norman Cousins — Fi1m 58, [page](https://film.one/film/the-second-best-exotic-marigold-hotel.md) - *A Little Place Off the Edgware Road* (2014), as Bearded Man - *Atlantis* (2013), series, as Orpheus - *The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel* (2012), as Norman Cousins — Fi1m 71, [page](https://film.one/film/the-best-exotic-marigold-hotel.md) - *Pramface* (2012), series, Actor - *Vera* (2011), series, as Mr. Kipford — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/vera.md) - *Downton Abbey* (2010), series, as Sir Michael Reresby — Fi1m 75, [page](https://film.one/tv/downton-abbey.md) - *Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time* (2010), as King Sharaman — Fi1m 56, [page](https://film.one/film/prince-of-persia-the-sands-of-time.md) - *Dark Floors* (2008), as Tobias - *Lark Rise to Candleford* (2008), series, Actor - *The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey* (2007), as William McDowell - *Lewis* (2007), series, as Fr Moreno Mancini - *The Adventures of Greyfriars Bobby* (2005), as Cecil Johnson - *Supernova* (2005), as Dr. Malcolm Handey - *A Life in Suitcases: A History of Tulse Luper* (2005), as Monsieur Moitessier - *The Tulse Luper Suitcases, Part 3: From Sark to the Finish* (2005), as Monsieur Moitessier - *Cherished* (2005), as Professor Sir Roy Meadow - *The Tulse Luper Suitcases, Part 2: Vaux to the Sea* (2004), as Monsieur Moitessier (uncredited) - *Evilenko* (2004), as Aron Richter - *Feather Boy* (2004), series, as Ernest Sorrel - *The Worst Week of My Life* (2004), series, as Fraser Cook - *Benefit to Mankind* (2004), as Professor Quentin Tapscott - *Hustle* (2004), series, as Harry Holmes - *Sea of Souls* (2004), series, as Alex Galt - *New Tricks* (2004), series, as Sir Wilfred Felspar - *Secret Passage* (2004), as Da Monte - *The Tulse Luper Suitcases, Part 1: The Moab Story* (2003), as Monsieur Moitessier - *Cambridge Spies* (2003), series, as Colonel Winter - *Foyle's War* (2002), series, as Sir Giles Messinger — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/foyles-war.md) - *The Inspector Lynley Mysteries* (2002), series, as Sir Stuart Stinhurst - *The Jury* (2002), series, as Jeffrey Livingstone - *Murder Rooms: The Dark Beginnings of Sherlock Holmes* (2001), series, as Sir John Starr - *Waking the Dead* (2001), series, as Charles Sutton - *Breathtaking* (2000), as Dr. Maclaren - *Hornblower: The Duchess and the Devil* (1999), as Don Massaredo - *Hornblower* (1998), series, as Don Massaredo - *The Untitled* (1998), as Robert Kennings - *Lolita* (1997), as Young Humbert's Father - *Midsomer Murders* (1997), series, as Rupert Smythe-Webster, Ernest Balliol — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/tv/midsomer-murders.md) - *Bring Me the Head of Mavis Davis* (1997), as Percy Stone - *Ivanhoe* (1997), series, as Waldemar Fitzurse - *Samuel Beckett: As the Story Was Told* (1996), as Narrator - *Dalziel and Pascoe* (1996), series, as Walter Wulfstan - *Der Blinde* (1996), as Dr. Bartnik - *Silent Witness* (1996), series, Actor - *Hetty Wainthropp Investigates* (1996), series, as Lester Rose - *Black Hearts in Battersea* (1995), series, as Duke Of Battersea - *A Very Open Prison* (1995), as Brian Silcott - *Henry IV* (1995), as Henry IV - *Milner* (1994), as Jocelyn Fry - *Scarlett* (1994), series, as Whitlock - *Message for Posterity* (1994), as Richard Browning - *In The Cold Light Of Day* (1994), as Morris - *The Riff Raff Element* (1994), series, as Roger Tundish - *The Rector's Wife* (1994), series, as Daniel Byrne - *Bethune: The Making of a Hero* (1993), as Alan Coleman - *My Friend Walter* (1992), as Sir Walter Raleigh - *A Time to Dance* (1992), series, as Andrew Powell - *The Golden Years* (1992), Actor - *Absolute Hell* (1991), as Siegfried Shrager - *Performance* (1991), series, as King Henry IV, Siegfried Shrager, Richard Browning - *A Murder of Quality* (1991), as Felix D'Arcy - *Journey of Honor* (1991), as Capt. Crawford - *The War That Never Ends* (1991), as Diodotus - *The Chronicles of Narnia: The Silver Chair* (1990), as Aslan (voice) - *Not with a Bang* (1990), series, as Brian Appleyard - *El C.I.D.* (1990), series, as Jack - *Jekyll & Hyde* (1990), as Jeffrey Utterson, Esquire - *The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian & The Voyage of the Dawn Treader* (1989), as Aslan (voice) - *A Dry White Season* (1989), as Louw - *Danny the Champion of the World* (1989), as Captain Lancaster - *Behaving Badly* (1989), series, Actor - *The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe* (1988), as Aslan (voice) - *The Chronicles of Narnia* (1988), series, as Aslan (voice) - *Testimony* (1988), as Marshall Tukhachevsky - *The Hound of the Baskervilles* (1988), as Barrymore - *Chekhov in Yalta* (1988), as Konstantin Stanislavski - *Fortunes of War* (1987), series, as Prince Yakimov - *The Ruth Rendell Mysteries* (1987), series, as Chief Inspector Moore - *The Fourth Protocol* (1987), as Wynne-Evans — Fi1m 57, [page](https://film.one/film/the-fourth-protocol.md) - *Inspector Morse* (1987), series, as Ian Matthews — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/inspector-morse.md) - *Ladies' Night* (1986), as James Tripp - *Unnatural Causes* (1986), series, as James Tripp - *The Mission* (1986), as Hontar — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/the-mission-1986.md) - *Casualty* (1986), series, as Martin / Reginald Freeborn — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/tv/casualty.md) - *Matlock* (1986), series, as Sir Alec Moore - *Lovejoy* (1986), series, as Edwin Felt - *Eleni* (1985), as Spiro - *Moving* (1985), series, Actor - *Screen Two* (1985), series, as Brian Silcott - *Camille* (1984), as Jean - *Sharing Time* (1984), series, as Philip - *Sherlock Holmes* (1984), series, as Barrymore - *Pope John Paul II* (1984), as Jan Tyranowski - *Albert Einstein* (1984), series, as Albert Einstein - *Puccini* (1984), as Giulio Ricordi - *Waters of the Moon* (1983), as Julius Winterhalter - *The Crystal Spirit: Orwell on Jura* (1983), as George Orwell - *Never Say Never Again* (1983), as Elliott — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/never-say-never-again.md) - *Verdi* (1982), series, as Giuseppe Verdi - *The Letter* (1982), as Howard Joyce - *Ivanhoe* (1982), as Prince John - *Verdi* (1982), as Giuseppe Verdi - *Bergerac* (1981), series, as Sir Antony Villiers - *Nijinsky* (1980), as Igor Stravinsky - *In England's Green and Pleasant Land* (1979), as Norman Reynolds - *Zulu Dawn* (1979), as Lt. Harford - *Henry VIII* (1979), as Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury - *The BBC Television Shakespeare* (1978), series, as Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury - *The Thirty Nine Steps* (1978), as Bayliss - *For Tea on Sunday* (1978), as Ian - *BBC2 Play of the Week* (1977), series, as Ian, Norman Reynolds - *Ghost Trio* (1977), Actor - *...but the clouds...* (1977), Actor - *Joseph Andrews* (1977), as Mr. Wilson - *Romance* (1977), series, as Rory Balneath - *The Philanthropist* (1975), as Philip - *King Lear* (1975), as Edgar - *The Fight Against Slavery* (1975), series, as William Pitt - *Jennie: Lady Randolph Churchill* (1974), series, as Randolph Churchill - *Jennie: Lady Randolph Churchill* (1974), as Lord Randolph Churchill - *Father Brown* (1974), series, as Kalon - *Mahler* (1974), as Nick - *All Good Men* (1974), Actor - *The Dragon's Opponent* (1973), series, as Charles "Mad Jack" Howard - *The Roses of Eyam* (1973), as Reverend William Mompesson - *The Day of the Jackal* (1973), as The Forger — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/the-day-of-the-jackal.md) - *Long Day's Journey Into Night* (1973), as Edmund Tyrone - *Play for Today* (1970), series, as Richard Massingham - *Three Sisters* (1970), as Baron Tusenbach - *ITV Saturday Night Theatre* (1969), series, as Edmund Tyrone - *ITV Playhouse* (1967), series, as Graham - *Romeo and Juliet* (1967), as Mercutio - *Much Ado About Nothing* (1967), as Don Pedro - *BBC Play of the Month* (1965), series, as Mercutio, Ariel, Brother Martin Ladvenu, Edgar - *Doctor Who: The Reign of Terror* (1964), as Physician - *Doctor Who* (1963), series, as Physician — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/doctor-who.md) - *Hallmark Hall of Fame* (1951), series, as Jean --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/ronald-pickup