Ralph William John Brown^[1] (born 18 June 1957)^[1] is an English actor, known for playing Danny the drug dealer in Withnail and I, the security guard Aaron (aka "85") in Alien 3 and the pilot Ric Olié in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace.

[edit] Early life and career

Brown was born in Cambridgeshire, England, the son of Heather R. and John F. W. Brown.^[1] His many and various film roles include Jaye Davidson's boyfriend Dave in the Academy Award-winning film The Crying Game, a drug dealer in Withnail & I, Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs in Buster, roadie Del Preston in Wayne's World 2, teacher and rugby league player Phil in Up 'n' Under, prison guard captain Mr Burton in Mean Machine, Sergeant Major Harris in the Paul Schrader film Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist), and CIA renegade Mr Collins alongside Wesley Snipes in The Contractor. In 1995 Brown appeared in Steven Spielberg's slavery epic Amistad. In 2007 he filmed Caught In The Act, an independent British film, and appeared in the series Cape Wrath for Channel 4/Showtime as the moustachioed policeman Wintersgill.

Among a myriad of TV appearances, Brown also played the memorable "Miami Vice" in the 2000 series Lock, Stock...The Series.

In 2005, he appeared in Coronation Street as Barney, roadie to Status Quo, and with Julia Davis in the cult TV sitcom Nighty Night. He appeared in the final two episodes of Life on Mars as Frank Morgan, an interim DCI in 1973 sequences, and Sam's surgeon in 2006 sequences.

As a writer, Brown won the Samuel Beckett Award in 1987 for his first play, Sanctuary, which was produced by Joint Stock Theatre Company. This was also performed in the USA as Sanctuary D.C. where it was nominated for two Helen Hayes Awards in 1989. Brown wrote the screenplay for New Year's Day, which won the Raindance Film Festival and the Sapporo Film Festival in 2001. He also wrote the screenplay for the aborted film Red Light Runners.

He stars as DJ Bob Silver in The Boat That Rocked, a film by Richard Curtis released in April 2009. Since then, he has made four films: The Kid, Huge, Mission: London and Sus.

[edit] Personal life

Brown is a fan of Brighton & Hove Albion F.C., and is a member of a Brighton-based Beach Boys tribute band, The Brighton Beach Boys, who performed Pet Sounds and The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper albums live onstage in St George's church at the Brighton Festival Fringe in May 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009. In 2007, the Brighton Beach Boys won both the Argus Angel Award and the Latest Festival Award during the Brighton Festival Fringe.^[2] He is credited for playing saxophone on Monster Bobby's 2007 album Gaps, and is the voice on Midfield General's "Teddy Bear" off his 2008 album, General Disarray.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Ralph Brown at the Internet Movie Database
• Ralph Brown's MySpace
• Brighton Beach Boys
• Brighton Festival Fringe
• [1]