Randle Ayrton


Frederick Randle Ayrton, known as Randle Ayrton, was a British actor of stage and screen, and was also a producer and director.

Early life

Ayrton was born in Chester, one of ten children - from two marriages - of William Frances Ayrton, a wealthy wine-merchant. William was a partner and co-founder of the firm of Ayrton & Groome. William's second wife, mother to seven of his children, was the German-born Pauline . Two of Randle's full brothers also gained prominence. The eldest, William Ayrton, was an artist based in Suffolk. The youngest, Maxwell Ayrton, was a leading architect.
The Ayrton family originated in Yorkshire. Randle's forebear Edward Ayrton was mayor of Ripon in 1760, and laid the foundations for the family's subsequent prominence.
Ayrton was educated at The King's School, Chester and Geneva University.

Career

Ayrton made his stage debut in 1890, at the Old Avenue Theatre in London and was successful on stage in London and in America into the late 1930s.
In 1913, he began his film career with the old London Film Company. He made a successful transition from silents to talkies, working for a number of film studios during his screen career. Randle Ayrton was also the producer, and director, of several films.

Selected filmography