Years active 1959–2006 Role Television Director | Name Ray Austin Website www.raymondaustin.com | |
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Full Name Raymond John Austin Residence Charlottesville, Virginia, United StatesBath, Somerset, England Other names Raymond John DeVere-Austin Baron of Delvin Occupation TV and film director, stunt performer; TV writer; actor; crime novelist and lecturer Movies Virgin Witch, House of the Living Dead Spouse Wendy DeVere Knigh-Brisley (m. 1984), Alison Seebohm (m. 1966–1970) Books The Eagle Heist, Find Me a Spy - Catch Me a Trait, Your Turn to Die, Dead Again: A Beauford Similar People Patricia Haines, Keith Buckley, Ann Michelle, Neil Hallett, Yasuko Nagazumi |
Ray Austin (born 5 December 1932) is an English television and film director, television writer, novelist and former stunt performer and actor who has worked in both the United Kingdom and the United States. He served as director on episodes of some 50 programmes between 1968 and 1998.
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Life and career
Austin started his career as a stunt performer on such films as North by Northwest (1959) and Spartacus (1960). From 1965 to 1967 he served as stunt coordinator on 50 episodes of The Avengers. For The Champions he initially became involved as a second unit director, subsequently rising to the position of full director. Perhaps on account of his background as a stunt performer, his style of direction was often highly visual and physical.
His work as a TV director includes episodes of The Avengers (1968), Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) (1969–70), Space: 1999 (1975–76), The New Avengers (1976–77), and V (1984). He directed 50 of the 88 episodes of the series Zorro, which was filmed in Madrid between 1989 and 1992 for the American ABC Family Channel. He has also directed some made-for-TV films, including The Return of the Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1983), and some feature films such as Virgin Witch (1972) and House of the Living Dead (1974).
The Guinness world record site states that "In 1965, Dame Diana Rigg (UK) became the first western actress to perform kung fu on Television when the combat choreographers Ray Austin (UK) and Chee Soo (UK/China) worked elements of the martial art into her fight scenes on The Avengers. Certificate presentation was done on The New Paul O'Grady Show."
Stunts
Actor
Producer
Stunts
Director
Actor
Author
Personal life
Austin is married to Wendy DeVere Knight-Bisley; Now: Wendy DeVere-Austin Baroness of Delvin.