Ron Randell Makes Good

Chronicle (Levin), 14 February 1948, Page 6

Ron Randell Makes Good

When Ron Randeli, now a Columbia star, was a child, he spent some time in th.e Australian goldmining town of Clunes, Vic.toria. Attending a stage play,' he noticed that when the miners liked an actor, they were not only free with applause, but they also tossed pouches of gold' dust on to the boards. To the youngster being an actor seemed a quick and wonderful way to get rich, and there and then he decided on an acting career. • Ron Randeli was born in Sydney, Australia. His father, Ernest Ran-

deli , was born in Broken Hill, ' N.S.W. His mother's birthplace was. New York City. As a child, Ron spent most of his time in the aforementioned town of Clunes, in Sydney and in Melbourne. After attending high school, and having that brief fling at business, he concentrated for a time on radio. In this field.- he received a thorough workout. Radio didn't however, satisfy Ron's acting ambitions, and he turned his attention to the stage. In 1938, he fnade his debut behind ' f ootlights in "Quiet Wedding," in Sydney. He was a success. "But," he adds," no one threw a pouch of gold dust at me." It wasn't long before Ron was playing leads, and star billing f ollowed soon thereafter. Among the popular were "Of 'Mice and Meh," "My Sister' Eileen," "Voice of the Turtle," and "Dangerous Corner." Australian film producers saw the young star as fine screen piaterial. The actor dodged movie offers until just the right. part came along; it came in "A Son is Born." Then the Australian division- of Columbia Pictures signed him to star in "Smithy," the most important film ever to be made Down Under. Ron's work in "Smithy" proved so outstanding that Columbia signed him to a long term acting agreement, and Hollywood was the next step. The actor arrived in Hollywood in November, 1946, and Was immediately cast as the i&med "Sapper," Bulldog Drummond, in "Bulldog Drummond at Bay," made by Venture Pictures for Columbia release. Ron Randeli has brown hair and eyes. He measures 5 feet 10 inches, and weighs 165 pounds. He is unmarried. ~