REMEMBERING:
Born today in 1940, RALPH BATES. Sadly, no longer with us. A talented
actor and a truly gentle and kind man. The great, great nephew of the
renowned French scientist Louis Pasteur developed into a strangely
handsome dark haired, pale complexioned English actor. Ralph Bates was
born in 1940 in Bristol, England and attended the University of Dublin
and studied at the Yale Drama School. His dramatic talents first came to
audiences attention playing the evil Emperor Caligula in the well
received BBC TV series The Caesar's (1968). However, the Hammer studios
resurrection of the horror genre was then in full stride, and Bates was
soon engulfed in the swirling cloak of Hammer's success as he appeared
in several horror films in quick succession.
FIRSTLY
in a support role as demonic Lord Courtley in 'Taste the Blood of
Dracula' (1970), followed as the lead character Baron Frankenstein in The
Horror of Frankenstein (1970), then as Giles Barton in the sexy Lust
for a Vampire (1971) and as the well meaning Dr. Jekyll in an unusual
spin on the Robert Louis Stevenson story in Dr Jekyll & Sister Hyde
(1971) and 'Fear in the Night' with Peter Cushing in 1972. Bates brought
a new zest to Hammer and with his stylish dialogue delivery and film
acting methods, he quickly won himself quite a few fans in both critics
and regular film goers!
UNFORTUNATELY,
by the early 1970s there had been a downturn in Hammer studios
fortunes, and Bates then found himself turning to more traditional
character work in other production houses and he appeared in several
films before snaring other superb villainous role as George Warleggan in
the 18th century period piece Poldark (1975). After Poldark, Bates
himself kept busy in a few forgettable UK made TV shows and television
film roles which did not really do justice to his remarkable talents.
The best of these and affectionately remembered by many was, Dear John, a
British sitcom, written by John Sullivan. There were two series and a
special broadcast in 1986 and 1987.
Sadly, in late 1980s his health rapidly deteriorated. Ralph Bates passed from cancer aged only 51 on 27th March 1991.
The
Ralph Bates Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund, was established in Ralph's
name, firstly by his wife Virginia. They are
now a registered charity with trustees of Virginia Bates, Dr John Glees MD FRCR, Michael Bridge FCA,
Sharon Sullivan, Nigel Baly BSC, Les Biggs ACIS (Secretary) and Sir
Peter Blake CBE,RDI,RA. If you need their help or want to make a contribution or contact
them , here is a LINK and their location. HERE and here: Bates Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund 317 Old Bedford Road, LUTON, LU2 7BL England.
