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Ronald Lacey

Ronald Lacey

Actor · Died May 15, 1991, aged 55 · Harrow, Greater London, England, United Kingdom

Ronald William Lacey (28 September 1935 – 15 May 1991) was an English actor. He made numerous television and film appearances over a 30 year period and is perhaps best remembered for his villainous roles in Hollywood films, most famously Major Arnold Toht in Raiders of the Lost Ark.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
September 28, 1935
Died
May 15, 1991 (aged 55)
From
Harrow, Greater London, England, United Kingdom
Works as
Actor
Titles
47 on MovieCove · 130 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 38 days to Oct 27Down 3% in 30 days

What are Ronald Lacey's films like?

Across their 27 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Genres

Adventure7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 58th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Comedy7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 33rd percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Action6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 13th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 75th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Drama2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 34th percentile
: browse their Drama movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Self
26%
Bonds
21%
Morality
20%
Survival
13%
Power
8%
Society
7%
Ideas
5%
Romantic love7 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth4 titles, browse their movies with this themeObsession3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival4 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception3 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 26 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 11 · Serious 8 · Dark 7

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 9 · Stylized 14 · Heightened 3

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 6 · Charged 12 · Intense 8

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 11 · Shifting 11 · Whiplash 4

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 13 · Some laughs 7 · Funny 6

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 11 · Even-paced 13 · Relentless 2

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

A split, not a type: Casual 13 · Engaged 11 · Full focus 2

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 22 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

5 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 2 of 5 analyzed roles.

Shadow
2 of 5
Ally
1 of 5
Shapeshifter
1 of 5
Threshold guardian
1 of 5

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
16
Thrilling
8
Melancholic
8
Absurd
6
Contemplative
7
Other
22

How their films linger

Fun14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 4 with a twist

  • Happy10
  • Bittersweet12
  • Tragic3
  • Ambiguous2

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Ronald Lacey's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 25 of their 47 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (13).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Ronald Lacey's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

130 credits, 47 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • Experiments in Terror (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Actor

  • Landslide (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Fred Donner

  • The Assassinator (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Stewart

  • The Strauss Dynasty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 1 episode · as Bauer

  • TECX (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Face to Face(1990)

    as Dr. Brinkman

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Valmont(1989)

    as José

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade(1989)

    as Gestapo (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • The Great Escape II: The Untold Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Winston Churchill

  • Jailbird Rock (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Warden Bauman (as Ron Lacey)

  • Dawn of an Evil Millennium (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Actor

  • Manifesto (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Conductor

  • Crossbow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • The Sign of Four(1987)

    as Thaddeus und Bartholomew Sholto

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Unnatural Causes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Eric

  • The Lone Runner(1986)

    as Misha

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Sky Bandits(1986)

    as Fritz

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Mad Mission 4: You Never Die Twice(1986)

    as The Boss

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Into the Darkness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Andrew Golding

  • Flesh+Blood(1985)

    as Cardinal

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Connie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 4 episodes · as Crawder

  • The Ray Bradbury Theater(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as The Listener

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • Red Sonja(1985)

    as Ikol

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Sword of the Valiant(1984)

    as Oswald

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension(1984)

    as President Widmark

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • The Bengal Lancers! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Monsieur Yves

  • Making the Grade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Nicky

  • Sherlock Holmes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Thaddeus & Bartholomew Sholto

  • Sahara(1983)

    as Beg

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • The Hound of the Baskervilles(1983)

    as Inspector Lestrade

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Scarecrow and Mrs. King(1983)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Dramarama (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 1 episode · as Chris Dexter

  • Yellowbeard(1983)

    as Man with Parrot

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • The Black Adder(1983)

    Show 1 episode · as Bishop of Bath & Wells

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Trenchcoat(1983)

    as Princess Aida

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Invitation to the Wedding(1983)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Firefox(1982)

    as Semelovsky

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Q.E.D. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Medium

  • Aubrey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Leonard Smithers

  • American Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Frank Lloyd

  • Tangiers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Wedderburn

  • Bergerac(1981)

    Show 1 episode · as Joey Brown

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • The Day of the Janitor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Julius

  • Raiders of the Lost Ark(1981)

    as Major Arnold Toht

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Magnum, P.I.(1980)

    Show 1 episode · as Archer Hayes/Picasso/Lowell Xavier Jameson

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Lady Killers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 1 episode · as Inspector Bannister

  • Cribb (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 1 episode · as Percy Bustard

  • Nijinsky(1980)

    as Leon Bakst

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Minder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · as Harry Ridler

  • Hart to Hart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · as Inspector Michelot

  • Zulu Dawn(1979)

    as Norris Newman

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Dylan(1978)

    as Dylan

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Mayor of Casterbridge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 4 episodes · as Joshua Jopp

  • Do You Remember? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Leicester Paton

  • All Creatures Great & Small(1978)

    Show 1 episode · as Stewie Brannon

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Blake's 7(1978)

    Show 1 episode · as Tynus

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Target (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Charlie Walker

  • Charleston(1977)

    as Frankie

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • The New Avengers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · as Hong Kong Harry

  • The Duchess of Duke Street(1976)

    Show 1 episode · as Arthur Shepherd

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Second Verdict (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · as Marinus Van der Lubbe

  • Our Mutual Friend (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 5 episodes · as Mr Venus

  • The Likely Lads (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Ernie

  • The Prince and the Pauper (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 6 episodes · as Lord Rushden

  • Mr. Quilp(1975)

    as Harris

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • The Next Victim (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Bartlett

  • Shades of Greene (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as Mike

  • Quiller (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Visto

  • The Sweeney(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as Barry Monk

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Churchill's People (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Peter of Pomfret

  • Porridge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 3 episodes · as Harris

  • Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Leonard Smithers

  • The Final Programme(1973)

    as Shades

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Gawain and the Green Knight(1973)

    as Oswald

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Thriller(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Bartlett

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Ernie

  • The Adventures Of Don Quixote (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Barber

  • Last of the Summer Wine(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Walter

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all shows

  • Colditz (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Major Zibnek

  • Crown Court (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Sgt. Philip Ross

  • The Protectors(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Cribbs

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows

  • Disciple Of Death (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Parson

  • Crucible of Terror(1971)

    as Michael Clare

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Macbeth(1971)

    as Macbeths man - killed Banquo (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Jason King (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 4 episodes · as Ryland

  • Take a Girl Like You(1970)

    as Graham McClintoch

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • The Adventures of Don Quick (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 6 episodes · as Sergeant Sam Czopanser

  • Play for Today (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Lang

  • Big Brother (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 1 episode · as Arthur Wicks

  • The Sinners (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 1 episode · as Lipseen

  • Don't Touch Him, He Might Resent It (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Mr. Halliday

  • Catweazle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 1 episode · as Tearful Ted

  • Department S (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Jeremy Standish

  • W. Somerset Maugham (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Controleur

  • Target Generation (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Joe Manx

  • Otley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Curtis

  • Civilisation(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Gravedigger

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Game, Set and Match (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as The Prisoner

  • Mille Miglia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Denis Jenkinson

  • The Fearless Vampire Killers(1967)

    as Village Idiot

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • How I Won the War(1967)

    as Spool

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • The Gamblers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 20 episodes · as Lionel

  • ITV Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Julius · as Mr. Halliday

  • Sam and Janet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Flash Harry

  • Great Expectations (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 4 episodes · as Orlick

  • Dead Silence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as Len Ferris

  • Who's a Good Boy Then? I Am! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as Billy Oates

  • BBC Play of the Month (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Barber

  • Thirty-Minute Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Frankie Three · as Reinhold Hanisch · as The Prisoner

  • Out of the Unknown (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Joe Manx

  • Blackmail (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as 'Beat'

  • Having a Wild Weekend(1965)

    as Yeano

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Londoners (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Arthur

  • Gideon's Way (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Jerry Blake

  • Fable (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    as Len

  • Thursday Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · as Private Gross

  • The Wednesday Play (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · as Billy Oates · as George · as Len

  • Of Human Bondage(1964)

    as 'Matty' Mathews

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • The Comedy Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as Assistant Director

  • Theatre 625 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · as Barley Oates · as Denis Jenkinson · as Jubb · as Marinus van der Lubbe · as Moritz Scharf · as SS Block Senior

  • Festival (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Little Monk

  • Doctor in Distress(1963)

    as Mum's Diner Customer (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • The Boys(1962)

    as William Henry "Billy" Herne

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Dr. Finlay's Casebook (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Hard Knock (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Trevor Williams

  • A Chance of Thunder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 6 episodes · as Johnny Travers

  • The Younger Generation (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · as Barman · as Bruce Day · as Clock · as Geoff · as Jonathan · as Peter Suddaby · as Ted

  • The Avengers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · as Humbert · as Strange Young Man

  • Armchair Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · as Arthur · as Len Ferris · as Tom · as Trevor Williams · as Valentine

  • Hallmark Hall of Fame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Brinkman

Career shape

Star power in the 96th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 130 titles from 1951 to 2003; peak year 1984.

Biggest box office

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

$390M worldwide

Highest rated

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

Midcredits 99th

Film career

MilestoneBreakout
19512003

Peak 1984 · steadily prominent in film for years. Top draw in 1 MovieCove title. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting130 of 130: 130 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score56th

By decade

1950s2 · acting1960s36 · acting1970s44 · acting1980s42 · acting1990s5 · acting2000s1 · acting

Billing

usually 7th · top billed in 0% of 18 roles
6782

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Ronald Lacey's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 37th percentile, the median of all 34; across their 26 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 39th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

39thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 26

Approval · how many liked their films

35thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 26

Reach · how many have seen their films

55thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 26

Midcredits score across 47 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up15
  • 50th to 74th10
  • 25th to 49th14
  • Below 25th8

Shape of the crowd

18 of their 47 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved7
  • Universally Panned1
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser18
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed16

Most divisive · actor

Dylan (1978)

89th percentile spread · 25% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

Midcredits 99th · 93% liked

Reviewers score the acting 56/100 in their films, across 24 reviewed titles; fans 69, detractors 35. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Ronald Lacey's work okay for kids?

Across up to 7 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore5 titles41–88 · median 59 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity7 titles17–68 · median 34 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity6 titles1–50 · median 33 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs5 titles11–43 · median 40 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense5 titles27–76 · median 41 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Ronald Lacey work with?

People who share at least 2 of Ronald Lacey's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; John Rhys-Davies shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers