Andrew Ray

Andrew Ray was born in north London on May 31 1939. He was the son of the famous radio comic Ted Ray and his wife, showgirl Dorothy (Sybil). Andrew's life was transformed at the age of 10 when he was cast in the title part of The Mudlark, a 20th Century Fox film also starring Alec Guinness and Irene Dunne. He played a street urchin who ends up meeting Queen Victoria. The film was chosen as the Royal Command Performance in 1950 and catapulted Ray to child stardom.

He went on to star in numerous film and theatre roles over the next few years, including on screen performances in The Yellow Balloon (with Kenneth More), Escapade (with Sir John Mills), Woman in a Dressing Gown (with Sylvia Sims), Serious Charge (with Anthony Quayle and Cliff Richard), The System (with Oliver Reed and David Hemmings) and Twice Round the Daffodils (with Juliet Mills and Kenneth Williams). Noteworthy theatre roles included Flowering Cherry (with Sir Ralph Richardson and Celia Johnson), and Taste of Honey on Broadway (with Angela Lansbury and Joan Plowright).

At 20 he married the Zimbabwean actress Susan Burnet, and they had two children.

Despite a rocky period in his twenties, Andrew went on to star in numerous film, theatre and television roles over the years - including as King George VI in Crown Matrimonial on stage and television, and as nuclear scientist Klaus Fuchs for Anglia Television. He also featured in TV series' such as, Tales of the Unexpected, Upstairs Downstairs, Inspector Morse and Peak Practice.

In later years Andrew was a committed member of the Actors' union, Equity.

His brother Robin Ray was a well-known television and radio personality, who died in 1999 at the age of 64.

Andrew died on August 20 2003, also at the age of 64.

Official Andrew Ray memorial site: http://www.andrewray.org.uk