Ron Tarr

Ron Tarr

Born: November 14, 1936
Died: October 20, 1997
in Willesden, Middlesex, England, UK
Ronald Lawrence Morisco-Tarr, known as Ron Tarr and 'Big' Ron Tarr, was a British actor and supporting artiste famed for his hirsute physical stature. Born in Willesden in Middlesex, England, Tarr got his first acting role in the 1973 Carry On film Carry On Girls where he played a bearded audience member. This was followed by appearances in many television series such as Doctor Who, Blake’s 7, Space 1999, Are You Being Served?, The Gentle Touch, The Comic Strip Presents: 5 Go Mad in Dorset and Dramarama. He also notched up a number of film appearances including A View To A Kill, Eat the Rich (he also cameos in Motorhead’s music video soundtrack of the film) and Willow. However, it is his role as Big Ron in the BBC soap opera Eastenders that Tarr is best remembered. He played the friendly ducking and diving market trader Big Ron from the show’s inception in 1985 to just before his untimely death from cancer at the age of 60 in October 1997. Although he was only a supporting actor and therefore his character had very few central storylines, he was often seen interacting with the main characters in the show who could always rely on his physically intimidating presence whenever trouble was brewing. After his death, he appeared in pre-recorded episodes of the soap. To explain the absence of his character, in early 1998 Big Ron was written out of the series in a storyline concerning him winning the lottery and moving to Spain.

Movies for Ron Tarr...

Doctor Who: Dimensions in Time
Title: Doctor Who: Dimensions in Time
Character: Big Ron
Released: November 27, 1993
Type: Movie
All of the Doctor's incarnations are in crisis when The Rani creates a time-loop in the East-end of London in this 30th Anniversary Special.
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South Atlantic Raiders: Part 1
Title: South Atlantic Raiders: Part 1
Character: Ron
Released: February 8, 1990
Type: Movie
Two security van personnel plan to rob a bank in an attempt to raise enough cash to mount a rescue mission when a dictator invades the Falklands.
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GLC: The Carnage Continues
Title: GLC: The Carnage Continues
Character: Albert Pierrepoint/Heffer
Released: February 5, 1990
Type: Movie
The Greater London Council fight to save the capital against the wicked Ice Maiden.
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Vroom
Title: Vroom
Character: Mr Roache (The Fat Man)
Released: November 11, 1988
Type: Movie
Two young men and a sultry divorcee flee their drab hometown existence, taking to the road in a bubblegum pink chevrolet.
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Willow
Title: Willow
Character: Llug
Released: May 20, 1988
Type: Movie
The evil Queen Bavmorda hunts the newborn princess Elora Danan, a child prophesied to bring about her downfall. When the royal infant is found by Willow, a timid farmer and aspiring sorcerer, he's entrusted with delivering her from evil.
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Eat the Rich
Title: Eat the Rich
Character: Ron
Released: October 23, 1987
Type: Movie
Alex is a disgruntled waiter at a snobby exclusive restaurant who falls on hard times. Forced to deal with the contempt and disgust of the upper class, Alex & cohorts attempt to go on a rampage. Meanwhile, General Karprov and Spider plot to involve the inept anarchists into their plans to derail the prime-minister-to-be's campaign.
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Title: Lovejoy
Character: Loader
Released: January 10, 1986
Type: TV
The adventures of the eponymous Lovejoy, a likeable but roguish antiques dealer based in East Anglia. Within the trade, he has a reputation as a “divvie”, a person with an almost supernatural powers for recognising exceptional items as well as distinguishing genuine antique from clever fakes or forgeries.
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A View to a Kill
Title: A View to a Kill
Character: Guard I
Released: May 24, 1985
Type: Movie
A newly-developed microchip designed by Zorin Industries for the British Government that can survive the electromagnetic radiation caused by a nuclear explosion has landed in the hands of the KGB. James Bond must find out how and why. His suspicions soon lead him to big industry leader Max Zorin who forms a plan to destroy his only competition in Silicon Valley by triggering a massive earthquake in the San Francisco Bay.
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Title: EastEnders
Character: Big Ron
Released: February 19, 1985
Type: TV
The everyday lives of working-class residents of Albert Square, a traditional Victorian square of terrace houses surrounding a park in the East End of London's Walford borough.
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Five Go Mad on Mescalin
Title: Five Go Mad on Mescalin
Character: Red
Released: November 2, 1983
Type: Movie
On their way to stay with Mrs French at Hot Turkey Farm, the Famous Five hear on the radio their Uncle Quentin's escaped prison. Arriving at the farm they're appalled to meet the vulgar millionaire, Mr Budweiser, and his spoilt son, Willy. Julian and Dick are so incensed, they sleep outdoors where they spy 2 heavies being secretly villainous. The trail leads to Love Island, where they discover Uncle Quentin and his boyfriend Toby.
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Title: The Comic Strip Presents...
Character: Dirty Dick
Released: November 2, 1982
Type: TV
The Comic Strip is a group of British comedians, who came to prominence in the 1980s. They are known for their television series The Comic Strip Presents... which was labelled as an example of alternative comedy. The core members are Adrian Edmondson, Dawn French, Rik Mayall, Nigel Planer, Peter Richardson, Jennifer Saunders and Alexei Sayle with frequent appearances by Keith Allen, Robbie Coltrane and others.
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Title: The Comic Strip Presents...
Character: Pierrepoint/Heffer
Released: November 2, 1982
Type: TV
The Comic Strip is a group of British comedians, who came to prominence in the 1980s. They are known for their television series The Comic Strip Presents... which was labelled as an example of alternative comedy. The core members are Adrian Edmondson, Dawn French, Rik Mayall, Nigel Planer, Peter Richardson, Jennifer Saunders and Alexei Sayle with frequent appearances by Keith Allen, Robbie Coltrane and others.
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Title: The Comic Strip Presents...
Character: Red
Released: November 2, 1982
Type: TV
The Comic Strip is a group of British comedians, who came to prominence in the 1980s. They are known for their television series The Comic Strip Presents... which was labelled as an example of alternative comedy. The core members are Adrian Edmondson, Dawn French, Rik Mayall, Nigel Planer, Peter Richardson, Jennifer Saunders and Alexei Sayle with frequent appearances by Keith Allen, Robbie Coltrane and others.
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Title: The Comic Strip Presents...
Character: Ron
Released: November 2, 1982
Type: TV
The Comic Strip is a group of British comedians, who came to prominence in the 1980s. They are known for their television series The Comic Strip Presents... which was labelled as an example of alternative comedy. The core members are Adrian Edmondson, Dawn French, Rik Mayall, Nigel Planer, Peter Richardson, Jennifer Saunders and Alexei Sayle with frequent appearances by Keith Allen, Robbie Coltrane and others.
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Five Go Mad in Dorset
Title: Five Go Mad in Dorset
Character: Dirty Dick
Released: November 2, 1982
Type: Movie
In the 1950s, four children, Anne, described as a 'proper little housewife', the rather butch George who has an unhealthy relationship with her dog Timmy and their brothers Dick and Julian, whose relationship seems to be more than fraternal, go on a cycling holiday in Dorset where their flair for detection - plus their snobbery and xenophobia - gets a whole string of suspicious characters arrested.
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Title: Terry and June
Character: McMahon
Released: October 24, 1979
Type: TV
Terry and June Medford are both middle aged and beginning to find the trials of life are more difficult as they try to succeed in their daily lives. The couple have just moved to Purley, south-east London... Aunt Lucy and the mynah bird had disappeared, as had the occasionally visiting daughters. Terry and June now mixed with a friendly next door neighbour, Beattie; Terry's chatty work colleague, Malcolm; and their gruff boss Sir Dennis Hodge. Otherwise, things were much as before, with Terry's pigheaded childishness causing no end of problems, usually thwarting June's attempts at leading a cosy life.
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Title: Return of the Saint
Character: The Gorilla
Released: September 10, 1978
Type: TV
Follow the swashbuckling exploits of Simon Templar, a modern-day Robin Hood of sorts.
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Title: Blake's 7
Character: Patrol Leader
Released: January 2, 1978
Type: TV
A group of convicts and outcasts fight a guerrilla war against the totalitarian Terran Federation from a highly advanced alien spaceship.
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Star Wars
Title: Star Wars
Character: Jabba's Henchman (uncredited)
Released: May 25, 1977
Type: Movie
Princess Leia is captured and held hostage by the evil Imperial forces in their effort to take over the galactic Empire. Venturesome Luke Skywalker and dashing captain Han Solo team together with the loveable robot duo R2-D2 and C-3PO to rescue the beautiful princess and restore peace and justice in the Empire.
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Title: Space: 1999
Character: Survivor
Released: September 4, 1975
Type: TV
The crew of Moonbase Alpha must struggle to survive when a massive explosion throws the Moon from orbit into deep space.
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Carry On Girls
Title: Carry On Girls
Character: Bearded Audience Member (uncredited)
Released: November 9, 1973
Type: Movie
Local councillor Sidney Fiddler persuades the Mayor to help improve the image of their rundown seaside town by holding a beauty contest. But formidable Councillor Prodworthy, head of the local women's liberation movement, has other ideas. It's open warfare as the women's lib attempt to sabotage the contest.
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Title: Are You Being Served?
Character: Truck Driver
Released: September 8, 1972
Type: TV
This comedy series, which follows the exploits of employees at London's fictional "Grace Brothers" department store, is full of sexual innuendo, slapstick, visual gags, and double entendres. Much of the show's humor parodies Britain's class system, and many of the show's characters are based on stereotypes of the period, including the effeminate Mr. Humphries and the rich, but stingy, store owner.