Randle Ayrton, a renowned performer, was born in Chester in the year 1869. His educational pursuits took him to Geneva University, where he honed his skills and laid the foundation for a successful career in classical theatre. Making his acting debut at the esteemed Old Avenue Theatre in London in 1890, Ayrton went on to achieve great acclaim in both London's West End and America, enjoying a prosperous run until the late 1930s.
A sophisticated gentleman with a flair for the silver screen, Ayrton made his mark in English silent and sound films. One of his earliest starring roles was as Jenkins in 'Profit and the Loss', a production directed by A.V. Bramble for the London Film Company, in 1917.
Perhaps Ayrton will be most fondly remembered for his portrayal of Charles II in 'Nell Gwynne', a 1926 co-starring vehicle with the talented Dorothy Gish. He also made a lasting impression as Caesar Cregeen in Alfred Hitchcock's 'The Manxman', released in 1929, and later as King Louis XIV in 'Me and Marlborough', a 1935 production starring Cicely Courtneidge.
In addition to his impressive filmography, Ayrton was a driving force behind the establishment of the College of Drama in Stratford-on-Avon in 1937, leaving a lasting legacy in the world of drama and the performing arts.
