Ron Bain obit

'Naked Video' actor and director Ron Bain dies aged 79

 

He was not on the list.

Tributes have been paid to the actor and director Ron Bain, who has died at the age of 79.

His career spanned stage and screen for more than 50 years and he was involved with some of the most successful TV comedy shows to come out of Scotland.

He was closely associated with the late actor Rikki Fulton. The two first appeared on stage together in an acclaimed productin of the Moliere play The Miser in 1971.

He went on to act with and direct Fulton in his TV sketch show Scotch and Wry and its spin-offs featuring the character Reverend IM Jolly.

Ron Bain was born in Grangemouth and trained at the then Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (RSAMD).

He made his television debut alongside the actor Roddy McMillan in the gritty BBC Scotland drama The View from Daniel Pike in 1971.

His long career as a character actor included appearances in Play of the Month in 1975 as well as The XYY Men, Taggart and The Tales of Para Handy.

He was perhaps best known from his appearances in a series of 1980s comedies which came out of BBC Scotland's Comedy Unit.

These included A Kick of the 80s, Laugh I Almost Paid My Licence Fee, City Lights, Naked Radio and its successor Naked Video.

The latter launched the career of actor Gregor Fisher and the two also worked on the programmes Rab C Nesbitt and Snoddy.

Bain moved behind the camera during this period, working as a producer and director on a wide range of comedy and drama programmes including The Bill, River City and the Karen Dunbar Show.

He continued to work in theatre too, appearing onstage and encouraging other actors into the business.

Posting on X, the actor Colin McCredie wrote: "A dear friend for over 40 years. A brilliant actor & director. We’ll miss you Ron Bain".

The actress Gerda Stevenson wrote on Facebook: "Very sad to hear of the death of Ron Bain - a terrific actor. So clever and funny.

"I loved working with him in the Scottish Theatre Company way back in the '80s, the precursor to the National Theatre of Scotland.

"Ron was brilliant, fearless and utterly charismatic in the title role, a wonderfully comedic and intelligent performance. A joy to work with."

The actor and singer Tom Urie wrote: "Such sad news that Ron Bain has left us.

"Ron directed the first two series of The Karen Dunbar Show, and was responsible for directing all those classic Almost Angelic sketches.

"A unique, funny and kind man."

Luke McCullough, head of corporate affairs at BBC Scotland, said:

“We’re saddened to hear about the death of Ron Bain. He was an important part of much-loved BBC Scotland comedies including Naked Video, Laugh? I nearly Paid My Licence Fee and Rab C Nesbitt.

"Our thoughts are with his family and friends, and all who worked with him across his career.”

 

Filmography

As actor (Television)

The View from Daniel Pike (1 episode, 1971)

Adam Smith (4 episodes, 1972)

Weir of Hermiston (1 episode, 1973)

BBC Play of the Month (1 episode, 1975)

ITV Playhouse (1 episode, 1977)

The XYY Man (1 episode, 1977)

The Standard (1 episode, 1978)

Tycoon (1 episode, 1978)

Kids (1 episode, 1979)

Play for Today (1 episode, 1980)

Juliet Bravo (1 episode, 1980)

Strangers (1 episode, 1980)

Boswell for the Defence (1981)

A Kick Up the Eighties (1981)

Laugh??? I Nearly Paid My Licence Fee (1984)

Taggart (1 episode, 1985)

Naked Video (1986–1987)

The Tales of Para Handy (1 episode, 1994)

Rab C. Nesbitt (3 episodes, 1991–1998)

As actor (film)

Experience Preferred... But Not Essential (1982)

As director (TV)

City Lights (1986)

I, Lovett (1989)

Rab C. Nesbitt (1990)

Tis' the Season to be Jolly (1993)

Jolly a Man for All Seasons (1994)

Jolly: A Life (1995)

Pulp Video (1995)

The Tales of Para Handy (3 episodes, 1994–1995)

Bad Boys (1 episode, 1996)

It's a Jolly Life (1999)

Rikki Fulton: The Time of his Life (1999)

Brotherly Love (6 episodes, 2000)

The Bill (4 episodes, 2001–2002)

Snoddy (2002)

Only an Excuse? (2003)

The Karen Dunbar Show (2003)

River City (1 episode, 2008)

As director (Video)

Scotch & Wry 4: Rikki Fulton Prince of Pochlers (1992)

Francie & Josie: The Farewell Performance (1996)

The Best of Rikki Fulton: Rikki Fulton's Scotch & Wry Hogmanay 1996 (1997)

Rikki Fulton's Rev. IM Jolly & Friends (2004)