Colonel Ross
Encyclopedia
Colonel Ross is a fictional character in the Harry Palmer
series of novels by Len Deighton
and the film adaptations of the books where he was portrayed by New Zealand
actor Guy Doleman
. A senior officer in British military intelligence
Ross oversees a department whose activities are similar to those of MI6. His first name is not revealed.
He was introduced in the Ipcress File when he led his department's efforts to recover leading scientists and ultimately expose a traitor in British intelligence. Due to his tendency to play his cards close to his chest, the hero Harry Palmer
wrongly comes to suspect that it is Ross who is the traitor. Palmer soon realises his mistake, and shoots the real traitor Major Dalby. When Palmer complains to Ross that he has been using him, Ross coolly replies that is what he is being paid for.
In Funeral in Berlin
he is shown to be a keen gardener. Briefing Palmer about his impending mission in Berlin while attending to his large suburban garden. His ruthless side is further revealed during this affair, when Palmer becomes aware that Ross has been sheltering a former Nazi and forcing him to work for British intelligence by means of blackmail. When the German ceases to be of use to Ross, and threatens British interests, he orders Palmer to kill him.
methods to achieve his ends, which generally involve not telling things to his subordinates, something which frustrates Palmer. He is happily married and lives with his wife in a large house in the London suburbs.
Harry Palmer
Harry Palmer is the name of the protagonist of a number of films based on the main character from the spy novels written by Len Deighton. Michael Caine played Harry Palmer in the films based on three of the first four of the published novels featuring this character, and also later in two films not...
series of novels by Len Deighton
Len Deighton
Leonard Cyril Deighton is a British military historian, cookery writer, and novelist. He is perhaps most famous for his spy novel The IPCRESS File, which was made into a film starring Michael Caine....
and the film adaptations of the books where he was portrayed by New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
actor Guy Doleman
Guy Doleman
Guy Doleman was a New Zealand actor.He is perhaps best known for his role as "Count Lippe" in the 1965 James Bond film Thunderball, and as "Colonel Ross" in the three film adaptations of Len Deighton's "Harry Palmer" novels, starring Michael Caine, in the 1960s...
. A senior officer in British military intelligence
Military intelligence
Military intelligence is a military discipline that exploits a number of information collection and analysis approaches to provide guidance and direction to commanders in support of their decisions....
Ross oversees a department whose activities are similar to those of MI6. His first name is not revealed.
He was introduced in the Ipcress File when he led his department's efforts to recover leading scientists and ultimately expose a traitor in British intelligence. Due to his tendency to play his cards close to his chest, the hero Harry Palmer
Harry Palmer
Harry Palmer is the name of the protagonist of a number of films based on the main character from the spy novels written by Len Deighton. Michael Caine played Harry Palmer in the films based on three of the first four of the published novels featuring this character, and also later in two films not...
wrongly comes to suspect that it is Ross who is the traitor. Palmer soon realises his mistake, and shoots the real traitor Major Dalby. When Palmer complains to Ross that he has been using him, Ross coolly replies that is what he is being paid for.
In Funeral in Berlin
Funeral in Berlin
Funeral in Berlin is a spy novel by Len Deighton.- Plot :The protagonist, who is unnamed, travels to Berlin to arrange the defection of a Soviet scientist named Semitsa, this being brokered by Johnny Vulkan of the Berlin intelligence community...
he is shown to be a keen gardener. Briefing Palmer about his impending mission in Berlin while attending to his large suburban garden. His ruthless side is further revealed during this affair, when Palmer becomes aware that Ross has been sheltering a former Nazi and forcing him to work for British intelligence by means of blackmail. When the German ceases to be of use to Ross, and threatens British interests, he orders Palmer to kill him.
Personality
Ross is portrayed as an old-school military officer, fond of his London Gentleman's Club. He is both brilliant and duplicitous. He generally resorts to blackmail to achieve his goals, such as threatening to have Palmer returned to the military prison which he had had him prematurely released from. He uses MachiavellianNiccolò Machiavelli
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli was an Italian historian, philosopher, humanist, and writer based in Florence during the Renaissance. He is one of the main founders of modern political science. He was a diplomat, political philosopher, playwright, and a civil servant of the Florentine Republic...
methods to achieve his ends, which generally involve not telling things to his subordinates, something which frustrates Palmer. He is happily married and lives with his wife in a large house in the London suburbs.