Ronnie Williams

Ronald Clive "Ronnie" Williams (29 March 1939 – 28 December 1997) was a Welsh actor and comedian.^[1] He struggled with his choice of an acting career, making an isolated television appearance in The Wednesday Play in 1966. He worked as a bus conductor before finding fame with his appearances on Welsh language television, working as a continuity announcer and newsreader for BBC Wales. In 1970, he created a double act with Ryan Davies; their comedy series, Ryan & Ronnie, was broadcast first on BBC Wales and later, in English, on BBC1.

Although Davies was seen as the more talented member of the duo, Williams made a major contribution to the writing of the series.^[2] The break-up of the partnership in 1975 was attributed to Williams' ill health, but it was Davies who suddenly died in 1977. In the 1970s, Williams also owned the White Lion pub at Cerrigydrudion. He continued to appear on Welsh television and played Mr. Vissianni, a cafe owner, in the S4C series Tan Tro Nesa in 1985. He was also one of the stars of the film Twin Town (1997). He starred in Crime Pays (Mae'n Talu Weithe), a bilingual S4C film.

Williams suffered from severe depression; on 28 December 1997, he committed suicide in Cardigan, Ceredigion.

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