Ronald Egan Randell, also known as Ron Randell, was born on October 8, 1918, in Sydney, Australia. He was the youngest of three boys, and his father was an accountant. Randell began his career in radio at a young age, working for the Australian Broadcasting Commission. He soon transitioned to the stage, making his debut in the 1937 production of "Quiet Wedding" with the Minerva Theatre Group.
Randell's career continued to flourish, with appearances in war propaganda short films and a stint at the Mayo Clinic in the United States for treatment of tuberculosis. During his time in the US, he earned an unbilled bit part in the film noir classic "To Have and Have Not" (1944).
Randell's breakthrough role came in the 1946 biopic "Pacific Adventure," in which he played aviator Charles "Smithy" Kingsford-Smith. This led to a Hollywood contract and a move back to the United States. He went on to appear in a range of films, including "It Had to Be You" (1947),"Bulldog Drummond at Bay" (1947),and "The Lone Wolf and His Lady" (1949).
In the early 1950s, Randell's quality of pictures began to decline, and he appeared in a number of forgettable "B" films. However, he continued to work in film and television throughout his career, taking on a range of roles in films such as "Most Dangerous Man Alive" (1961) and "King of Kings" (1961).
Randell also had a successful stage career, appearing in a number of Broadway productions, including "The Browning Version" (1949),"Candida" (1952),and "The World of Suzie Wong" (1958). He continued to work on stage throughout his career, including a stint with the National Actors Theater (NAT) in the 1990s.
Randell died on June 11, 2005, at the age of 86, following complications from a stroke. He was survived by his third wife, Laya Raki, and did not have any children from his three marriages.
