Al Hunter Ashton
A beloved character actor and writer whose warmth and wit brought to life some of British television's most memorable comic roles.
1957–2007 (age 50)·British actor and scriptwriter·Birthday: June 26·Baby Boomers
Biography
Al Hunter Ashton was a fixture of British comedy in the 1990s and 2000s, a face instantly recognizable for its gentle, rumpled charm. Born Alan Hunter, he carved a unique path as both a performer and a writer, often collaborating with close friends like comedians Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer. On screen, he had a knack for playing endearing, slightly hapless everymen, most famously as the lovable security guard Ron in the cult classic 'I'm Alan Partridge'. Off screen, he was a prolific script doctor and writer, contributing his sharp, observational humor to shows like 'Smack the Pony' and 'The Sketch Show'. His career was a testament to the collaborative spirit of alternative comedy, moving seamlessly between writing rooms and sets. His untimely death left a void in a generation of comedy, remembered by colleagues for his immense talent and his even greater kindness.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Al was born in 1957, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Al Was Born
The biggest hits of 1957
#1 Movie
The Bridge on the River Kwai
Best Picture
The Bridge on the River Kwai
#1 TV Show
Gunsmoke
Al's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1957Born
Sputnik launches the Space Age
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $10,550Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"All Shook Up" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: The Bridge on the River Kwai
1962Started school
Cuban Missile Crisis brings the world to the brink
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,800Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Stranger on the Shore" — Acker BilkBest Picture: Lawrence of Arabia
1970Became a teenager
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1973Could drive
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1975Could vote
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1978Turned 21
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1987Turned 30
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1997Turned 40
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2007Turned 50
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
Key Achievements
- Co-wrote and performed in the influential comedy series 'Smack the Pony'.
- Played the iconic supporting role of Ron, the security guard, in 'I'm Alan Partridge'.
- Wrote for and appeared in 'The Sketch Show', which later inspired the American version 'MADtv'.
- Was a frequent collaborator and writer for the comedy duo Vic and Bob.
Did You Know?
He changed his professional name to avoid confusion with another actor named Alan Hunter.
He was a talented musician and played in a band called 'The Once Were Farmers'.
His brother is the actor and writer Dean Sullivan, who played Jimmy Corkhill in 'Brookside'.
He was a close friend of comedian Bob Mortimer, who was a witness at his wedding.
“I'm just a fat bloke from the North who got lucky.”
