Ronald Lacey, standing at exactly 5ft 8 ½ (174 cm), was an English actor whose compact height perfectly suited his memorable portrayals of cunning villains and eccentric characters.
His stature enhanced the menacing presence of Gestapo agent Major Arnold Toht in Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), allowing him to exude threat without relying on physical dominance. Lacey's 174 cm frame also brought agility and intensity to roles in Firefox (1982), Red Sonja (1985), and The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984).
Beginning his career in 1959 with the TV play The Secret Agent, Lacey's height contributed to his versatility in character parts across film and television until his death in 1991.