Ryan Davies
Encyclopedia
Ryan Davies was a popular Welsh
entertainer of the 1960s and 1970s. He was born in the Carmarthenshire
village of Glanamman
in the Black Mountain, Wales
, and was educated in Bangor
and at the Central School of Speech and Drama
. His first professional appearance was in the National Eisteddfod of Wales
in 1966. He made his name on Welsh language
television shows such as the sitcom Fo a Fe and Ryan a Ronnie, in which he appeared with Ronnie Williams
. Davies had a simultaneous solo career as a singer, pianist
and songwriter
. His best-known compositions are: "Ceiliog y Gwynt", "Nadolig Pwy a Wyr" and "Blodwen a Mary". His album, Ryan at the Rank, is now regarded as a classic. Davies starred as "2nd Voice" in the 1972 film Under Milk Wood
with Richard Burton
.
Ryan and Ronnie's show became so popular that it was moved to BBC1 and broadcast in English
, winning them a much wider audience, and three series were shown between 1971 and 1973. Ryan's speciality was dressing up as a "typical" Welsh housewife
for a weekly sketch on the show known as Our House, in which Ryan played "Mam" and Ronnie played Will, the father. Ryan and Ronnie were hugely popular in Wales. They were the first comedians ever to make TV series in Welsh and English, and were thought of fondly as the Welsh answer to Morecambe and Wise
.
In 1975, the duo split (the official reason being Ronnie's ill-health), with Ryan continuing to appear extensively on television and making a traditional Christmas
appearance in pantomime
at the Swansea Grand Theatre
. However, it was Ryan who, in 1977, died suddenly of an asthma
attack while visiting friends in Buffalo, New York
, USA. The story goes that he had just been offered the part of Compo in Last of the Summer Wine
, although the series had already been running for four years, and Bill Owen
was well established in the role.
Ronnie's career never flourished after the break with Ryan and he had a problem with alcohol and severe depression. His final role was in the comedy film Twin Town
. He eventually committed suicide in 1997.
Ryan's son, Arwyn Davies
, has been an actor in the Welsh television serial Pobol Y Cwm
since 1993.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
entertainer of the 1960s and 1970s. He was born in the Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire is a unitary authority in the south west of Wales and one of thirteen historic counties. It is the 3rd largest in Wales. Its three largest towns are Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford...
village of Glanamman
Glanamman
Glanaman is a small town lying on the River Amman in Carmarthenshire, Wales. It has a population of around 2,000 people...
in the Black Mountain, Wales
Black Mountain (range)
The Black Mountain is a mountain range in Mid and West Wales, straddling the county boundary between Carmarthenshire and Powys and forming the westernmost range of the Brecon Beacons National Park. Its highest point is Fan Brycheiniog at 802 metres or 2,631 ft. The Black Mountain also forms a part...
, and was educated in Bangor
Bangor, Wales
Bangor is a city in Gwynedd, north west Wales, and one of the smallest cities in Britain. It is a university city with a population of 13,725 at the 2001 census, not including around 10,000 students at Bangor University. Including nearby Menai Bridge on Anglesey, which does not however form part of...
and at the Central School of Speech and Drama
Central School of Speech and Drama
The Central School of Speech and Drama was founded in London in 1906 by Elsie Fogerty to offer a new form of training in speech and drama for young actors and other students...
. His first professional appearance was in the National Eisteddfod of Wales
National Eisteddfod of Wales
The National Eisteddfod of Wales is the most important of several eisteddfodau that are held annually, mostly in Wales.- Organisation :...
in 1966. He made his name on Welsh language
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
television shows such as the sitcom Fo a Fe and Ryan a Ronnie, in which he appeared with Ronnie Williams
Ronnie Williams
Ronnie Williams was a Welsh actor and comedian.Williams struggled with his choice of an acting career, making an isolated television appearance in The Wednesday Play in 1966...
. Davies had a simultaneous solo career as a singer, pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
and songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
. His best-known compositions are: "Ceiliog y Gwynt", "Nadolig Pwy a Wyr" and "Blodwen a Mary". His album, Ryan at the Rank, is now regarded as a classic. Davies starred as "2nd Voice" in the 1972 film Under Milk Wood
Under Milk Wood
Under Milk Wood is a 1954 radio drama by Welsh poet Dylan Thomas, adapted later as a stage play. A movie version, Under Milk Wood directed by Andrew Sinclair, was released during 1972....
with Richard Burton
Richard Burton
Richard Burton, CBE was a Welsh actor. He was nominated seven times for an Academy Award, six of which were for Best Actor in a Leading Role , and was a recipient of BAFTA, Golden Globe and Tony Awards for Best Actor. Although never trained as an actor, Burton was, at one time, the highest-paid...
.
Ryan and Ronnie's show became so popular that it was moved to BBC1 and broadcast in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, winning them a much wider audience, and three series were shown between 1971 and 1973. Ryan's speciality was dressing up as a "typical" Welsh housewife
Welsh Mam
The Welsh Mam was an archetypal image of Welsh married women that emerged in 19th century industrial South Wales. Described as "hardworking, ‘pious’ and clean, a mother to her sons and responsible for the home", this image of women was depicted in Richard Llewellyn's 1939 novel How Green Was My...
for a weekly sketch on the show known as Our House, in which Ryan played "Mam" and Ronnie played Will, the father. Ryan and Ronnie were hugely popular in Wales. They were the first comedians ever to make TV series in Welsh and English, and were thought of fondly as the Welsh answer to Morecambe and Wise
Morecambe and Wise
Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise, usually referred to as Morecambe and Wise, or Eric and Ernie, were a British comic double act, working in variety, radio, film and most successfully in television. Their partnership lasted from 1941 until Morecambe's death in 1984...
.
In 1975, the duo split (the official reason being Ronnie's ill-health), with Ryan continuing to appear extensively on television and making a traditional Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
appearance in pantomime
Pantomime
Pantomime — not to be confused with a mime artist, a theatrical performer of mime—is a musical-comedy theatrical production traditionally found in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Jamaica, South Africa, India, Ireland, Gibraltar and Malta, and is mostly performed during the...
at the Swansea Grand Theatre
Swansea Grand Theatre
The Grand Theatre is a performing arts venue in the centre of Swansea, Wales. The theatre stages plays, pantomimes and touring theatrical acts visiting Swansea. The Grand Theatre is the base for the UK's only Russian ballet company, the Swansea Ballet Russe....
. However, it was Ryan who, in 1977, died suddenly of an asthma
Asthma
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...
attack while visiting friends in Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, USA. The story goes that he had just been offered the part of Compo in Last of the Summer Wine
Last of the Summer Wine
Last of the Summer Wine is a British sitcom written by Roy Clarke that was broadcast on BBC One. Last of the Summer Wine premiered as an episode of Comedy Playhouse on 4 January 1973 and the first series of episodes followed on 12 November 1973. From 1983 to 2010, Alan J. W. Bell produced and...
, although the series had already been running for four years, and Bill Owen
Bill Owen
William John Owen Rowbotham MBE , better known as Bill Owen, was an English actor and songwriter.-Career:...
was well established in the role.
Ronnie's career never flourished after the break with Ryan and he had a problem with alcohol and severe depression. His final role was in the comedy film Twin Town
Twin Town
Twin Town is a 1997 revenge comedy film made and set in South West Wales. It was directed by Kevin Allen and had a working title of Hot Dog; a hot dog van features in a number of scenes in the film. It stars real-life brothers Rhys Ifans and Llŷr Ifans and also features Dougray Scott...
. He eventually committed suicide in 1997.
Ryan's son, Arwyn Davies
Arwyn Davies
Arwyn Davies is a Welsh actor, best-known for playing the character of Mark Jones since 1993 on the long-running Welsh-language soap Pobol y Cwm. Arwyn Davies's father was the Welsh comedian Ryan Davies.-External links:...
, has been an actor in the Welsh television serial Pobol Y Cwm
Pobol y Cwm
Pobol y Cwm is a Welsh-language television soap opera which has been produced by the BBC since October 1974. The longest-running television soap opera produced by the BBC, Pobol y Cwm was originally transmitted on BBC Wales television and later transferred to the Welsh-language station S4C when it...
since 1993.
External links
- TV Heroes: Ryan Davies, Nigel Stapley, Transdiffusion Broadcasting System. Accessed on 24 June 2008.