Ronald Eaglesham Porter (born 26 April 1956), known professionally as Ron Donachie, is a Scottish character actor. He has appeared in supporting roles in films The Jungle Book (1994), Titanic, and television series Game of Thrones, in which he recurred as Ser Rodrik Cassel. He is, however, perhaps best known for portraying DI John Rebus in the BBC Radio 4 dramatisations of Sir Ian Rankin's Rebus detective novels, a role he reprised for the stage play Rebus: Long Shadows.
Biography Early life and career Ronald Porter was born in Dundee, Scotland and educated at Madras College, St Andrews Madras College school photo September 1971, class 4Y, Ronald Porter is back row, fifth from left – The Madras College Archive(This photo with caption is the third photo on this page) where he performed in three school plays: Serjeant Musgrave's Dance Serjeant Musgrave's Dance – The Madras College Archive in 1972, A Man For All Seasons A Man For All Seasons – The Madras College Archive in 1973 for which the newspaper review said "Ron Porter was impressive from start to finish, handling a mammoth part with apparent ease, giving a sensitive, subtle and well-controlled performance, especially in the second act", and Taming of the Shrew Taming of the Shrew – The Madras College Archive in 1974 for which the newspaper review said "Ron Porter's affability shines out like the proverbial beacon ... as the most experienced member of the cast, he has the confidence to be able to establish an immediate rapport with the audience. ... [He] turned in his usual high standard of performance as the enormously arrogant Petruchio".
His education continued at the University of Glasgow where he was President of the Glasgow University Students' Representative Council (1976–1977) and graduated MA (Hons) in English Literature and Drama in 1979.Here are the Scottish actors made famous by Game of Thrones – Alex Nelson, The Scotsman, 12 April 2019
He joined John McGrath's 7:84 theatre group for their 1980–1981 touring production, John Burrows' One Big Blow, in which the cast mimicked a traditional colliery band by singing in six part harmony. Following the success of this play members of the cast founded the a cappella vocal group The Flying Pickets in 1982, but Donachie left before their 1983 Christmas number one hit.
Acclaim Although Donachie has been prolific in television and films, these have all been ensemble or supporting parts. His leading roles on radio and the theatre have achieved acclaim:
"Ron Donachie plays [Rebus] in the BBC radio versions and he's really got the voice" — Ian Rankin, author of the Rebus novels Rebus Festival planned to mark 30th anniversary of top cop – The Scotsman, 30 October 2016
Ron Donachie plays her father with an authority that makes his role as a sexual predator even more creepy. — Six Characters in Search of an Author – Mark Fisher, The Guardian
When Ron Donachie takes the stage as Deputy Governor Danforth in the second half of Arthur Miller's classic, it's as if this 17th century parable of superstition and intolerance has a new centre of gravity. It's partly that Donachie seems three times bigger than everyone else, a bullish figure, no less fearsome for his legal attire. It's partly that his charismatic stillness commands attention and defies contradiction. But it's also that, in presenting himself as reasonable, considerate and fair, he puts you in mind of every leader who gets his way by masking ruthless force with politeness.— The Crucible review – Mark Fisher, The Guardian
Personal life Donachie married Fiona Biggar, a complementary therapist,"Game of Thrones' Daniel Portman: 'People expect Podrick – that's not what they get'" – Chris Wiegand, The Guardian, 19 August 2019 in 1989; the couple have two children: the actor Daniel Portman and Naomi Porter, a linguist. His brother, Stewart Porter, is also an actor and his sister-in-law is Scottish film costume designer Trisha Biggar.
Film Year Title Role Director 1983 Ill Fares the Land 1984 Comfort and Joy George 1986 Heavenly Pursuits(The Gospel According to Vic) Big Man in Bar 1987 White Mischief Club Manager 1988 Biker 1994 Sergeant Harley 1996 Lucky Suit High on the short leet — The Herald, 16 August 1996 Failed comedian 1997 Fierce Creatures Sergeant Scott Titanic Master at Arms 1999 Happy Feet 2000 Beautiful Creatures Police Pathologist 2002 Sportscaster Al's Lads Birch 2003 Man Dancin' Billy Maddison 2005 Man to Man Sir Walter Stephenson Laurie 2006 Scobie 2008 Made of Honour Horse Owner Stone of Destiny Night Watchman The Daisy Chain Doctor Ferguson Max Manus Colonel J.S. Wilson 2011 Blitz Cross 2012 Filth Hector 2014 What We Did on Our Holiday Sergeant Murdoch 2015 Sunset Song Uncle Tam 2017 Steel Rain Michael Dobbs, US Secretary of State Yang Woo-suk 2018 Outlaw King Robert Wishart, Bishop of Glasgow 2022 Rocketry: The Nambi Effect Val Cleaver 2025 I Swear Headmaster Donald Watkins
Television Year Title Role Notes Goodnight and God Bless Bouncer Episode: "Ronnie's Wonderful Day" Grey Granite Provost James Speight Episodes: "Duncalm" & "Stone Circle" Those Glory Glory Days 1961 Spurs Team Member Television film Sakharov Play for Today Big Lick Episode: "It Could Happen to Anybody" Coronation Street Joe Schofield Episode: 2461 Bulman Bill Allison Episode: "A Man of Conviction" Strachan Episodes: "Before the Shambles" & "When the Hurly-Burly's Done" Blood Red Roses Charles Riggins Tutti Frutti Dennis Sproul All 6 episodes Taggart Pat Connolly Episode: "Funeral Rites" Bust Willie McGraw Episode: "Family Business" Down Where the Buffalo Go Drunk on ferry Television film Al Hake City Lights Shughie McGlinchey Episode: "Catch 23" God's Frontiersmen Allen Television dramatised documentary Alex Patterson All 4 episodes, series 1 Snakes and Ladders Mr Pym Episodes 1, 2 & 6 Mornin' Sarge Stanley the Knife Episode: "Stan the Knife" (Crossing to Freedom) RAF corporal Television film Hatted Man All 4 episodes Screen One Big Mac Episode: "Sweet Nothing" Stay Lucky Jock Episode: "Burning Your Boats" Rab C Nesbitt James Balloon McSwaggerty Episode: "Rat" Sgt. Willis Episode: "Effective Persuaders" Coasting Frank Episode: "Another Fine Mess" Jute City Ginger McCrindle Boon Dougie Episode: "Stamp Duty" Specials Special Constable Freddy Calder All 12 episodes Me, You and Him Todd All 6 episodes Casualty PC Pewsey Episode: "Rates of Exchange" – Take the High Road Duncan Strachan Recurring, 15 episodes Taggart Marco Cellini Episode: "Death Benefits" Strathblair Bob Scott Episode: "2.1" Lie Down with Lions Kelly Television film Alec McLean Television serial Cracker Barney, the psychologically damaged war veteran Episode: "Brotherly Love" William Hall Episode: "Pointing the Finger" – Hamish Macbeth Zoot McPherrin Episodes: "West Coast Story" & "A Perfectly Simple Explanation" Prison Officer Russell Morgan Main cast, both series Casualty Ralph Sutcliffe Episode: "Mother's Little Helper" Ivanhoe Friar Tuck Episodes 3, 4 & 6 Supply & Demand Supt. Brent Episode: "Supply & Demand" Mike Shearon Episode: "Strange Meeting" Ain't Misbehavin' Billy the Book All 3 episodes Looking After Jo Jo Des Episodes: "Working Week" & "Sink the Belgrano" Magic with Everything Police sergeant Episode: "Imagine the Unimaginable" Taggart Hamish Baird Episode: "Dead Reckoning" The Life and Crimes of William Palmer Leonard Bladon Television film Mazarini 4 episodes Rab C Nesbitt Huggett Episode: "Commons" Extremely Dangerous Gebbert All 4 episodes – Starhunter McDuff Episodes: "The Divinity Cluster" & "Dark and Stormy Night" Too Much Sun Arnold Wyckoff Episode: "Hollywood Phonies" Taggart Peter Jenkins Episode: "Falling in Love" Rebus CS Wilson Episode: "Dead Souls" Murder Rooms: Mysteries of the Real Sherlock Holmes Fergusson Episode: "The White Knight Stratagem" 'Orrible DI Chris Dodds Episodes: "Dirty Dozen" & "New Best Friend" Shackleton Keltie Television serial / film Nova Chippy McNeish Episode: "Shackleton's Voyage of Endurance" John Ross Episode: "Payment in Blood" Auf Wiedersehen, Pet Dan Calhoun Episodes: "Heavy Metal", "Bridge Over Troubled Water" & "A Bridge Too Far" Silent Witness DCI Luke Telford Episode: "Tell No Tales" – DCI Andrew Ross Recurring, 15 episodes MacKaveny All 3 episodes Monarch of the Glen Alec McTavish Episode: "Series 5, episode 10" Joseph Haydn Episode: "The First Romantic" BBC – The Genius of Mozart: The First Romantic Uncle Adolf Martin Bormann Television film George Hart Episodes: "Virus" & "Blackdog" Heartbeat Mr Gordon Episode: "Services Rendered" Where the Heart Is Gavin Morley Episode: "Legacy" David Tremaine Episode: "Episode 3" Summer Solstice Macgregor Television film Taggart Harry Stein Episode: "Law" Doctor Who Steward Episode: "Tooth and Claw" Mr Allen Lane Television film – Rebus DCS Wilson/DCS Jack Gunner Episodes: "Dead Souls", "Let It Bleed", "Resurrection Men" & "The Naming of the Dead" Party Animals Roger Brenton Episode: "Episode 1" Recovery Len Hamilton Television film Sea of Souls Minister Episode: "The Prayer Tree: Part 1" Still Game Cameron Episode: "Fly Society" Heartbeat Ken Dekin Episode: "Where There's Smoke" Love Soup Inspector Harbin Episode: "The Menaced Assassin" No Holds Bard Prison Officer Television film Lewis Professor Angus Rawbone Episode: "Falling Darkness" Sturridge Television serial Doctors John Harold Doric Episode: "Doric's Column" Garrow's Law Sir Alexander Lamb Episode: "Episode 3" – Game of Thrones Ser Rodrik Cassel Recurring, 13 episodesScreen Actors Guild Award – nominated Waterloo Road Billy Byrne Recurring, 7 episodes Silk Alasdair McKinley QC Episode: "Wooden Overcoat" Downton Abbey Mr McCree Episode: "A Journey to the Highlands" Bob Servant Independent Medical Director Episode: "A Local Man" Shameless 'Biddy' Baxter Episode: "Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang" DCI Sullivan Episode: "The Dead Hour" Atlantis Theos Episode: "The Earth Bull" Major Bloomberg Television film – Blandings Angus McAllister Episodes: "Lord Emsworth and the Girlfriend", "Throwing Eggs", "Sticky Wicket at Blandings" & "Custody of the Pumpkin" Bob Servant Medical Director Episode: "Court" Father Brown Jock Hamilton Episode: "The Owl of Minerva" Casualty DI John Hartley Episode: "The Rita Supremacy" Doctors Jack Rayburn Episode: "Play Date" Agatha Raisin Ron Allen Episode: "The Wellspring of Death" River City Dr Michael ‘Mikey’ Rosenburg Recurring, 4 episodes Iain Sutherland Television serial Vera Jesse Hennings Episode: "Blood and Bone" Starhunter ReduX McDuff Episodes: "The Divinity Cluster" & "Dark and Stormy Night" Casualty Ben Loksley Episode: "Episode 39" Holby City Richard MacDonagh Episode: "Mothers and Their Daughters" Deadwater Fell Callum McKenzie Episodes: "Episode 1" & "Episode 2" Screw Don Carpenter 12 episodesGame of Thrones' Ron Donachie stars alongside Derry Girl in new drama ScrewScrew | Interview with Ron Donachie (Don Carpenter) Karen Pirie Archie Duff In this series his son Daniel Portman plays his character's son Colin Duff. Granite Harbour Clellan Coburn BBC – Granite Harbour
Theatre
Date Title Role Director Company / Theatre Easter Serjeant Musgrave's Dance Pte. Attercliffe Madras CollegeThe Byre Easter Sir Thomas More Easter Taming of the Shrew Petruchio – One Big Blow 7:84 theatre group tour – Civilians Scottish Theatre CompanyTheatre Royal, Glasgow – The Threepenny Opera – Opera Scotland MacHeath Borderline Theatre Company