Ralph Bates

Ralph Bates (born 12th February 1940 in Bristol, died 17th March 1991 in London) appeared in Coronation Street in October 1967 as Russ Parks.

The great-great-nephew of the French scientist Louis Pasteur, he attended the University of Dublin and studied at the Yale Drama School. After small parts in series such as Mrs Thursday, ITV Play of the Week and The Wednesday Play, he came to prominence when he played the part of Caligula in the 1968 Granada Television series The Caesars. His career then moved partly into films starring in cult classic Hammer horrors such as Taste the Blood of Dracula, The Horror of Frankenstein, Lust for a Vampire and Dr Jekyll & Sister Hyde.

Television roles were still plenty though as he also appeared in The Six Wives of Henry VIII, Jason King, The Persuaders, Moonbase 3, Softly Softly: Task Force and Z Cars. He had a memorable role in the mid-1970s as the villainous George Warleggan in Poldark and went on to appear in Penmarric, Secret Army, The Agatha Christie Hour, Minder and the starring title role in the John Sullivan-scripted Dear John.

He died soon after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. His daughter is the actress Daisy Bates.