View source for Ray Donn

{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{Infobox person
| name        = Ray Donn
| image       = Ray-Donn-RK1.jpg
| caption     =
| birth_name     = Raphael Siratsky
| birth_date     = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1937|8|7}}
| birth_place    = [[Poplar, London|Poplar]], London, England
| death_date     = <!-- {{Death date and age|df=yes|2022|12|26|1937|8|7}} -->
| occupation     = {{hlist|Businessman|[[background actor]]}}
| years_active   = {{ubl|Business: 1961–1997|Acting: 1997–present}}
| spouse         = {{marriage|Patricia Ann Donn|1959}}
| children       = 2
| website        = {{Official website|http://www.donn.co.uk/}}
}}
'''Ray Donn''' (7 August 1937, in [[Poplar, London|Poplar, East London]], England) was an English entrepreneur and businessman-turned-actor.<ref name="The Guardian"/><ref name="Choice"/><ref name="Viva"/><ref name="Sunday Times"/>
Raphael Siratsky (Ray Donn) born London's East End 7 August 1937 eldest of four children his single mother Rose Siratsky (aka Donn) 1906–1979 (Seamstress) born Wapping 26 October 1906.
Mothers parents, Israel (1878–1933) & Hilda Siratsky (1885–1950) Jewish/Polish emigrants (1905), they had 8 children (6 girls 2 boys) & settled in Upper North Street Poplar East London trading as a barber.
==Businessman==
Donn began his professional life in 1961 and spent 36 years running pubs, clubs and hotels, such as the Pegasus from 1961 to 1968,<ref name="Pegasus"/> the Goat from 1968 to 1970,<ref name="PVS"/> the [[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Valley Club]] from 1970 to 1984,<ref name="Valley"/> and Syndale Park Motel from 1984 to 1997.
In addition, from 1970 to 1985, he directed Ray Donn (Leisure) Ltd. as an entertainment and management agency,<ref name="Valley"/> booking artists for clubs, theatre and TV clients, with clients at the time including [[Jim Bowen]] and [[Bobby Davro]].
From 1966 to 1980 he produced and directed the annual Publand Variety Show featuring the top performers from pub and club entertainment, presenting the show at major London theatres and concluding at the [[London Palladium]]. Proceeds from the shows going to the [[Entertainment Artistes' Benevolent Fund]].<ref name="PVS"/>
==Service==
Donn served on the management committee of the Entertainment Artistes' Benevolent Fund for 35 years from 1974 to 2009.
The fund provides and maintains [[Brinsworth House]] as a residential home for retired members of the entertainment profession and/or their dependents. Brinsworth House is itself supported by income from the proceeds of the annual [[Royal Variety Performance]] and other fund-raising events.<ref name="Surrey Life"/> Donn has been presented to [[Elizabeth II|the Queen]], [[Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother|the Queen Mother]] and [[Charles, Prince of Wales|Prince Charles]] on numerous occasions in the capacity of Honorable Treasurer for the fund,<ref name="MQ1"/><ref name="MQ2"/> a position he held for the 13 years from 1995 to 2008.
Ray Donn was initiated into Chelsea Lodge No.3098 on 19 September 1997,<ref name="MQ1"/> and installed as 100th Master, May 2004.<ref name="Chelsea Lodge No. 3098"/><ref name="Keith Skues"/>
He was also a founder member and first secretary of the Comedians' Golfing Society from 1978 to 1984,<ref name="CGS"/> and since 1997 has been Honorary Treasurer of the Vaudeville Golfing Society, a fraternity of professional entertainers.<ref name="VGS"/>
2011 Hon.Member [http://www.thecaa.org Concert Artistes Association]
==Acting==
Donn took early retirement from the trade in 1997 and began a new career as a [[film extra]] (or supporting artist).<ref name="The Guardian"/><ref name="Sunday Times"/> His first appearance was in the film ''[[Notting Hill (film)|Notting Hill]]''.<ref name="Choice"/> Since then he has appeared in many films and television productions, as well as a [[David Suchet]] ([[Hercule Poirot]]) [[body double]].<ref name="Viva"/>
==Partial filmography==
Donn has had a large number of uncredited roles in both film and episodic television. Credited roles include:
===As David Suchet stunt double===
* ''[[NCS: Manhunt]]'' (7 episodes 2001–02) (TV)
* ''[[Henry VIII (TV serial)|Henry VIII]]'' (2003) (TV)
* ''[[Agatha Christie's Poirot]]'' (8 episodes, 2003–06) (TV)
* ''[[Flood]]'' (2007)
===Television===
{{columns-list|colwidth=22em|
* ''[[Oliver Twist (1999 TV series)|Oliver Twist]]'' (1 episode, 1999)
* ''[[The Vice]]'' (1 episode, 2000)
* ''[[Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) (2000 TV series)|Randall & Hopkirk]]'' (1 episode, 2000)
* ''[[The Bill]]'' (1 episode, 2000)
* ''[[Smack the Pony]]'' (1 episode, 2000)
* ''[[Burnside (TV series)|Burnside]]'' (2 episodes, 2000)
* ''[[My Family]]'' (1 episode, 2000)
* ''[[Close & True]]'' (1 episode, 2000)
* ''[[Perfect Strangers (BBC TV series)|Perfect Strangers]]'' (2001) (Series)
* ''[[Dream Team (TV series)|Dream Team]]'' (1 episode, 2001)
* ''[[Night and Day (TV series)|Night and Day]]'' (1 episode, 2001)
* ''[[The American Embassy]]'' (1 episode, 2002)
* ''[[The Jury (TV serial)|The Jury]]'' (2002) (Mini-series)
* ''[[London's Burning (TV series)|London's Burning]]'' (1 episode, 2002)
* ''[[Ultimate Force]]'' (1 episode, 2002)
* ''[[Tipping the Velvet]]'' (2002) (Mini-series)
* ''[[Bodily Harm (2002 film)|Bodily Harm]]'' (1 episode, 2002)
* ''[[The League of Gentlemen]]'' (1 episode, 2002)
* ''[[Judge John Deed]]'' (1 episode, 2002)
* ''[[15 Storeys High]]'' (1 episode, 2002)
* ''Family'' (2003) (Mini-series)
* ''[[Two Thousand Acres of Sky]]'' (1 episode, 2003)
* ''[[Trust (UK TV series)|Trust]]'' (1 episode, 2003)
* ''[[Mile High]]'' (1 episode, 2003)
* ''[[Murphy's Law]]'' (1 episode, 2003)
* ''[[Family Affairs]]'' (1 episode, 2003)
* ''[[Canterbury Tales]]'' (1 episode, 2003)
* ''[[Footballers' Wives]]'' (1 episode, 2004)
* ''[[The Brief (ITV)|The Brief]]'' (1 episode, 2004)
* ''[[The Long Firm]]'' (2004) (Series)
* ''[[The Grid]]'' (1 episode, 2004)
* ''[[Spooks (TV series)|MI-5]]'' (1 episode, 2004)
* ''[[Down to Earth (2000 TV series)|Down to Earth]]'' (1 episode, 2005)
* ''[[Life Begins (TV series)|Life Begins]]'' (1 episode, 2005)
* ''[[Hustle (TV series)|Hustle]]'' (1 episode, 2005)
* ''[[Silent Witness]]'' (1 episode, 2005)
* ''[[EastEnders]]'' (1 episode, 2005)
* ''[[Waking the Dead (TV series)|Waking the Dead]]'' (1 episode, 2005)
* ''[[Hotel Babylon (BBC series)|Hotel Babylon]]'' (1 episode, 2006)
* ''[[Bombshell (TV series)|Bombshell]]'' (1 episode, 2006)
* ''[[Bad Girls (TV series)|Bad Girls]]'' (1 episode, 2006)
* ''[[Tittybangbang]]'' (3 episodes, 2006)
* ''[[Katy Brand's Big Ass Show]]'' (2007) (Series)
* ''[[Party Animals (TV series)|Party Animals]]'' (1 episode, 2007)
* ''[[M.I.High]]'' (1 episode, 2007)
* ''[[Holby Blue]]'' (1 episode, 2007)
* ''[[Harley Street]]'' (1 episode, 2008)
}}
==See also==
* [[Charlton Athletic F.C.]]
==References==
<references>
<ref name="The Guardian">{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2005/apr/02/culture.features16 | title=Extra helping | accessdate=14 March 2011 | author=Sam Delaney | date=2 April 2005 | work=The Guardian}}</ref>
<ref name="Choice">{{cite news | url=http://www.btinternet.com/~eabf/Choice-March03.htm | title=Become a Film and Television Extra | accessdate=14 March 2011 | author=Simon Evans | date=March 2003 | work=[[Choice (British magazine)|Choice]] |publisher=btinternet.com|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080829233401/http://www.btinternet.com/~eabf/Choice-March03.htm|archivedate=29 August 2008}}</ref>
<ref name="Viva">{{cite news | url=http://www.btinternet.com/~eabf/Viva-March03.htm | title=How to Become a Movie Extra | accessdate=14 March 2011 | author=Simon Evans | date=March 2003 | work=[[Viva Magazine]] |publisher=btinternet.com|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007131450/http://www.btinternet.com/~eabf/Viva-March03.htm|archivedate=7 October 2008}}</ref>
<ref name="VGS">{{cite web | url=http://www.vaudeville-golfing-society.uk7.net/ | title=VGS Officers 2011 | accessdate=14 March 2011 | work=Vaudevile Golfing Society}}</ref>
<ref name="CGS">{{cite web | url=http://www.donn.co.uk/CGS.htm | title=The History of the CGS | accessdate=20 February 2013 | work=Comedians Golfing Society}}</ref>
<ref name="PVS">{{cite web | url=http://www.thepublandshow.uk7.net/ | title=Publand Variety Show, 1966 – 1980 | accessdate=14 March 2011 | work=Publand Variety Show}}</ref>
<ref name="Pegasus">{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1966/02/27/archives/tinpan-alley-pub-crawl-british-music-hall-bars-retain-their-appeal.html | title=TIN-PAN ALLEY PUB CRAWL; British Music Hall Bars Retain Their Appeal in Changing World | accessdate=14 March 2011 | author=Robert Perez | date=27 February 1966 | work=The New York Times}}</ref>
<ref name="Valley">{{cite web | url=http://www.7tt77.co.uk/VALLEY.html | title=Valey records | accessdate=14 March 2011 | work=Valley}}</ref>
<ref name="Surrey Life">{{cite news | title=The Show Must Go on at Brinsworth House | date=November 2008 | work= Surrey Life Magazine }}</ref>
<ref name="MQ1">{{cite news | url=http://www.mqmagazine.co.uk/issue-13/p-39.php | title=That's Entertainment | accessdate=14 March 2011 | date=April 2005|issue=13 | work=MQ Magazine}}</ref>
<ref name="MQ2">{{cite news | url=http://www.mqmagazine.co.uk/issue-20/p-18.php | title=London Evening Gala | accessdate=14 March 2011 | date=January 2007|issue=20 | work=MQ Magazine}}</ref>
<ref name="Keith Skues">{{cite book | title=That's Entertainment : 100 Years of Chelsea Lodge No. 3098: The Centenary 1905–2005 | author=Keith Skues | year=2005 | publisher=Lamb's Meadow Publications | isbn=978-0-907398-04-2}}</ref>
<ref name="Chelsea Lodge No. 3098">{{cite web | url=http://www.chelsea-lodge.org.uk | title=That's Entertainment: Chelsea Lodge 3098, 100 Years 1905–2005 | accessdate=14 March 2011 | work=Chelsea Lodge}}</ref>
<ref name="Sunday Times">{{cite news | url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/article394920.ece | title=Extras! Extras! Read all about them... | accessdate=14 March 2011 | author=Lottie Moggach | date=25 November 2004 | work=[[Sunday Times]]}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
</references>
==External links==
* [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1693530/filmotype Ray Donn] at the [[Internet Movie Database]]
* {{Official website|http://www.donn.co.uk/}}
* {{YouTube|ohsTFTbvT50|Brinsworth House Video}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Donn, Ray}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1937 births]]
[[Category:English businesspeople]]
[[Category:English male film actors]]
[[Category:English male television actors]]
[[Category:Actors from the London Borough of Tower Hamlets]]
[[Category:Male actors from London]]
[[Category:People from Poplar, London]]